Mark Kitto wrote a challenging piece in Prospect Magazine recently that highlighted a few realities about life in China today. Not least was the issue bound up in the title of his article: “You’ll Never Be Chinese”.
Now, Mark, as he explains, was never trying to don the cap and gown, or learn to spit in places that really should never be spat in. What he did want to do, however, was build and live a life in China with his family, and live it “normally”. This seemed to mean to him a life where wealth and status, and the “Great China” narrative didn’t infect all forms of social interaction, all business opportunities, and all educational institutions. It also meant a life lived with the laws of the land applying equally to all, no matter their background.
Mark’s discussion does not, though, simply orientate around his own personal experiences but attempts to outline a few worries he has about Chinese society generally. His views are particularly noteworthy given that his love affair with China – nearly 25 years in the making – has, in his own words, now died. You can read his article to get a much clearer and more nuanced sense of his experiences and where he is coming from.
Mark Kitto
I will briefly note a couple of my own thoughts on Mark’s basic premise: that one will never be Chinese.
First, it seems to me that the sooner one acknowledges to oneself this reality the better. No matter how long we foreigners stay in China, we will always be perceived – by a majority – as coming from outside and treated as a visitor. If we can assimilate this fact it into an “it is what it is” worldview, then we should be able to go on with a “normal” life, quite happily. In this way, we will be more equipped to bear the ubiquitous reminders of the fact that we are “not from around here” without high levels of surprise or frustration, disappointment or anger.
I remember quite early on in my time in Xi’an becoming very conscious of having this feeling: that no matter how long I lived here, how much I did here, or how well I spoke Chinese, I would always be the alien, the “not from around here” guy, even if I felt happily at home. And, that feeling hasn’t changed. It may turn out that one day I have a more subtle appreciation of ancient Chinese philosophy than some, use chopsticks with the dexterity and precision that many can only dream of, and I may even be able to speak Putonghua better than a fair few; but it won’t matter. I will always be to many the “where do you come from, how long have you lived here, wow, you can use kuaizi” guy, who can be easily disparaged with a quick laowai quip.
Second, this is – even if I do basically understand it and even if I do keep in mind the many advantages that non-Chinese do gain from living here – somewhat of a sad reality. And certainly is, in part, an indictment of the view which exists amongst many Chinese, that there is a distinct division between the autochthonous* Chinese-self (an obviously wholly contestable phenomenon) and “the other”: the non-Chinese/ the outsider/ the foreigner. It is also a stark reminder that pluralism – in all its various guises – is still a long way from penetrating Chinese social and political life, with a tendency towards rabid defensiveness and rampant nationalism existing not far from the surface of any dispute with non- ‘Chinese’ people.
This latter theme – of limited pluralism and rife nationalism – I will continue in a subsequent Note, particularly in relation to ‘The China Story’ site, and New Sinology; a term and academic approach espoused by the site’s founder, Professor Geremie Barmé.** We must hope that those, like Barmé, who continuously engage with the Chinese are able to help work on the edges of some of these perceptions, attitudes and behaviors, and the processes through which they are formed. So, we can, in the long-term, engage each other with a greater sense of empathy and respect. In turn, allowing “normality” to come bound with a deeper relationship to pluralism and equality. The ‘China Story’ site, in collaboration with Danwei Media, has been – in part – set up to help this process.
*My apologies to those who are unfamiliar with the word autochthonous [ ô-t
k
th
-ns]. I had originally used indigenous but came across autochthonous on The China Story site and liked it, even though I at first had no idea what it meant.
**Here you can listen to Geremie Barmé’s Inaugural 2011 ‘China In The World Annual Lecture’ for the Australian Centre on China in the World (CIW) at the Australian National University (ANU). In it he discusses New Sinology. There is also this talk – recorded at Sydney University – where he outlines his aims for the ‘The China Story’ site.
Tags: "New" Sinology, Geremie Barmé, Mark Kitto, Prospect Magazine, The China Story, You'll Never Be Chinese
A page of the more Xi'an Centred Notes
What Is It About Xi’an That Makes It Xi’an And Makes It The Place People Like To Live?
西安
Another expat leaving story, yet rather different in tone, is Chris Devonshire’s over at China Briefing. Its quite a contrast to Mark Kitto’s “You’ll Never Be Chinese” whine: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2012/08/13/why-im-leaving-china.html
Cheers Jess for the link. I can’t say I am particularly in to all these expat leaving stories, they do not seem too much more significant – other than for the fact that I too am an expat – than the huge numbers of Chinese also leaving the country, or, at least, those sending their kids overseas to study and settle.
I am more interested in the issues all these stories – even Chris Devonshire’s – throw up. Particularly, the fact that this may indeed be the end of one era or phase of China’s development. But, while many leave, the issues continue. And, that’s the interesting and challenging aspect. The questions about how to deal with the political, environmental, cultural (including inter-cultural) and economic realities and legacies of the last 25 years are – may be now – becoming a whole lot more real.
Whether people go or stay (here or anywhere), the world is – contrary to some people’s thinking – going to keep spinning. It is, as it has always been, about working out how best we can all live with each other. And I for one think we could do a whole lot better.
I like the ‘China Story’ site and Geremie Barmé’s perspective, because it and he are at least trying to work on the edges of some of these relationships.
And, whether he lives in Australia or China, it’s all good.
Cheers,
Richard.李志
PS. Jess, I don’t know if you checked out that last link at the bottom of my Note above, but if you didn’t you might enjoy it.
Hey Richard, seems this is necessary to grab your attention. I am a bit worried as I haven’t heard from you in a while and I still don’t have your email, so I am using this channel to get through. Send me an email. Also, I have a comment on the same topic on my new blog, a much more positive take on the issue I guess. Check it out! Reto
Sorry Reto, the course has started and found myself – happily – lost in books and articles. Email on its way. Although first, I’ll check out your new blog!! R
PS. Checked it out, and lovin’ it. About time you started getting those Reto thoughts down in the public domain – looking forward to more from you chillinginthepressurecooker. Email sent.
Well… is it Chinese or just a rather unfortunate human thing?
I’m in South Africa. A friend, who is black, an artist, and gay, was welcomed into the art circles of one of Europe’s cultured, ‘open-minded’ and cosmopolitan cities. I visited him there. After an initial period of dinner invitations as an ‘interesting guest’, social contact beyond the superficial has dried up. No matter how good his accent in the local language, or how much he loves their local desserts, or makes art to their tastes, or jokes in their humour…. he will never be one of them, even years into his residence.
Let me add that this guy is extremely personable and a joy to be with.
Hi Elizabeth,
You have touched on something that has been nagging away at the back of my mind since I wrote that Note, and that is the question of whether what I described is any different to how many of us, in many different countries, treat people from outside our designated circle. Whatever kind of group we may belong to.
I remember some time ago – although I forget now where I read them – seeing a selection of interesting interviews with Asian students who had studied at college and University in the States. These students were commenting about their lives at University, and how – even if they excelled academically – they could never feel part of the dominant social cliques of campus life.
With regard to your friend’s experience, his nationality, his color or his sexuality, or all three together, may well have contributed to him not being accepted into the art circles he was interacting in. It may have also just been down to the precious nature of the members of those groups – and their focus on fads and fashions, rather than deeper human interaction. There are, obviously, numerous reasons to explain why different people are or are not accepted into different circles, and we are all guilty of judgement to some extent or another. I certainly agree with you about that.
It just seems to me that here in China there is such a dominant sense of ‘the other’, a sense of a person ‘not being Chinese’, that even when you are made to feel welcome and at ease, and when one does feel at home, that there is still something discernible in the attitudes of many people that makes you feel like the ‘not from around here guy’. Which I don’t think comes down to much more than the fact that a very strong element of political nationalism still runs through Chinese society, that and the existence of a certain sense of cultural defensiveness and insecurity. It is also true that there are still reasonably high levels of ignorance amongst many Chinese about the lives and attitudes of non-Chinese people– not to mention about their own history, government and society. Which I think makes this ‘human [in-group/out-group] thing’ a slightly more dominant aspect of foreigners’ lives here, than may be – generally – it would be in other places.
Thanks Elizabeth for your thoughts, they have made me think more about this issue again – although, I’m sure I’m still not done thinking about it!
Best,
Richard.李志