Hello TCSers!
Throughout the school year, my life drawing teacher has left us with a lot of things to think about, not just about art, but about life and appreciation. One of the things that hit home for me was talking to our parents and grandparents (especially those who made the migration to our current country) and hearing from them the entire story, including the bad and scary things they're hesitant to tell us when we're young.
My dad's mother's father (great grandpa) and his wife came to Canada following his father, though I don't recall the year. He sponsored over a bunch of family members bit by bit, along with some family friends from Hong Kong and China. During this time, there was a lot of conflict with the Communist party and neighbours of my dad's side of the family (some Vietnamese as well, whose descendants we're still friends with) were joining the Communist party's army. They were brutal in destroying property and detaining or beating people. Some were serious about their commitment to the ruling party, and some were in place to help their friends and families get out of China.
I'm told that my grandfather swam from southern China to Hong Kong during the night to avoid getting caught, and boarded a boat bound for Canada with no more than $100 in his pocket. He was an avid swimmer when he was alive, and the gap of water isn't an impossible distance, so I toss back and forth in my mind whether or not it really happened. It sure does solidify the image of my hero grandfather though!
My dad came in 1959 and lived with my great grandparents, and then my dad sponsored over my mom and her family in 1987, I believe. My aunt had more ease coming over because she came for school but the rest of the family came as dependents of their sponsors.
Throughout the school year, my life drawing teacher has left us with a lot of things to think about, not just about art, but about life and appreciation. One of the things that hit home for me was talking to our parents and grandparents (especially those who made the migration to our current country) and hearing from them the entire story, including the bad and scary things they're hesitant to tell us when we're young.
So... What's your origin story? How did you and your family get to where you are today?
My dad's mother's father (great grandpa) and his wife came to Canada following his father, though I don't recall the year. He sponsored over a bunch of family members bit by bit, along with some family friends from Hong Kong and China. During this time, there was a lot of conflict with the Communist party and neighbours of my dad's side of the family (some Vietnamese as well, whose descendants we're still friends with) were joining the Communist party's army. They were brutal in destroying property and detaining or beating people. Some were serious about their commitment to the ruling party, and some were in place to help their friends and families get out of China.
I'm told that my grandfather swam from southern China to Hong Kong during the night to avoid getting caught, and boarded a boat bound for Canada with no more than $100 in his pocket. He was an avid swimmer when he was alive, and the gap of water isn't an impossible distance, so I toss back and forth in my mind whether or not it really happened. It sure does solidify the image of my hero grandfather though!
My dad came in 1959 and lived with my great grandparents, and then my dad sponsored over my mom and her family in 1987, I believe. My aunt had more ease coming over because she came for school but the rest of the family came as dependents of their sponsors.