Analysis Of The Story 'Clean-WAI' By Taien Ng

The New Chinese Generation

The story “SHUN-WAI” by Taien Ng investigates the changes and differences of the Chinese culture over time as well and between generations. The narrator Taien is Chinese-Canadian, and talks about her experiences in life and how they affect her. In the story Taien first describes her mother as being a strong woman, and how her mother would only say “You see? Mothers know best!” (Taien 54). Her mother also then switches the topic to the problems of Taien’s vegetarian diet. My mother says the same exact things as Taien’s mother, which means that therefore I can relate to all the feelings she had when her mother said those phrases. However I didn’t have a diet anywhere close to one of a vegetarian’s but for some reason my mom always complains about it. I often listen and do as my mother says, but when I ignore her that's when there's a sense of regret which leads to her telling me “You see? Mothers know best!”. The main difference between Taien’s mother and mine are the culture differences. My mother is an atheist, but our family is Buddhist which irritates her when she has to perform Buddhist rituals. Much like how Taien’s mother who’s a
However, I do not consider immigration to be an issue or any changes that emigration may cause to be an issue either. I’ve visited China and Hong Kong before when I was around five to seven years old and my experience was much like the experience of Taien had. In Hong Kong, there wasn't much to appreciate: The whole crowded, busy, and hot atmosphere of Hong Kong did not fit my liking. Even after having visited Hong Kong and China, I struggled to communicate in Cantonese. Just like the narrator I understood Chinese, but I wouldn't be able to say anything if someone told me to. “I understand Chinese well enough, but if you asked me to say anything in it, I’d probably stare at you dumbfounded” (Taien