As anyone who has lived in both China and the United States will tell you, there are major cultural differences between the two countries. For example, the toilets in the U.S actually provide toilet paper. One of the differences that struck me the most when I moved to the United States are the difference in names.
Jinna Wang
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When I was growing up in China, before any weddings, parties, or family reunions, my mom always pulled me aside for an extensive study session.
“Jinna, what do you call my older brother?”
This one’s easy-peasy. “舅舅 (Jiùjiu).”
“Good…what do you call my older brother’s oldest son?”
Getting a little harder now. “Erm…表哥 (Biǎo gē).”
The increasingly complicated quiz questions go on until we get to the party. I usually get completely lost by the time she asks me about her older brother’s youngest daughter’s daughter, and end up walking around the party parroting whatever kinship term my mother tells me to say (much to her dismay.)
In my defense, the Chinese family tree is really, really, ridiculously complicated. But why?
