by Diana
Serbe
The Chinese immigrated to America
in vast numbers, establishing communities in the larger cities. As other
ethnic groups assimilated, the Chinese remained a coherent whole, always
apart from the mainstream. Westerners stood outside the cultural enclaves,
fascinated, confused and bedazzled. Understanding was reduced to deciphering
a take-out food menu. "Chinese food" it was called, though
the long list of dishes on those menus were culled from varying regions
of China, each with its own cuisine. We were like children with our
noses pressed to the glass. Happily for us, Good Luck Life throws
open the door to the fullness of an ancient culture.
With wit and warmth, author Rosemary
Gong invites us to step over the threshold, and it is a step into rewarding
discoveries. Going beyond Chinese New Year parades, she guides us through
several holidays, and explains the Chinese rituals used for significant
events, be they weddings, birthdays or funerals. She gives us tips on
the etiquette of dining which means we can venture into a restaurant
with confidence. Her chapters are laced with old village recipes for
celebratory foods and reference guides to help if you want to plan a
Chinese celebration of your own.
Do you want to know what sign of
the Chinese Zodiac you belong to? What your characteristics might be
under that influence? The answer is here, lucid in its presentation.
Would you like to know the stories behind the various holidays? They
are here too and reveal the poetic nature of the Chinese peoples.
Gong's clear explanation of rituals
opens a culture to us. We discern the deep respect for family, and an
even more profound respect for the elders of a family. We no longer
stand on the outside looking in, but are welcomed into the heart of
the family engaged in rituals that speak of similarity, not of separateness.
In an age of multiculturalism, of global awareness, we are happy to
find such warm and loving people. We thank Rosemary Gong for opening
the door so wide.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR: Rosemary Gong was born and raised in California.
A graduate of San Jose State University's School of Journalism and Mass
Communications, she moved to San Francisco to join Saatchi and Saatchi
Corporate Communications Group. Chinatown was her choice of residence
- just around the corner from her immigrant grandparents. There, she
developed an affinity for the places and the customs inherent in her
culture.
Rosemary has kindly allowed us to reprint
a section of her book which explains the different types of Chinese
cuisine. click
here to read her article.
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