Meeting People

[Little Devil]

I'm guessing this doesn't happen to other people so often..

Seems when i head back and forth from the city centre i encounter other Chinese who seem at least vaguely to moderately familiar with me.. and i have no idea who they are (my memory may be bad, but it's not that wrecked!). Not that i don't appreciate meeting more kin, but i feel at a disadvantage in such encounters (plus there's my heightened sense of paranoia ). Talking does prove interesting, not sure if it's the differences of the accents or the speed (not that i speak slowly, but sometimes its like there's no spaces between their words!); but i usually manage to communicate 2 things - 1. Yes i'm of the Lee family 2 We need to speak English, i don't know any Chinise (but i do know moderate French and some Irish ).

I know it's definetly unbalanced as an IBC to not know any Chinise (unless you count those Chinise threats i received in my younger years in regards to some rather mischievous activites i undertook -i've always had a rather pronouced sense of humour ). Though i think i would really embrace the Irish culture more than the Chinise one. Irish folklore, mythology, and customs just seem more to my liking; and my parents always seem to have an indirect undercurrent of "Chinise culture is better in all aspects" that i never really heeded (on the contary it mildly annoys me at this stage). Oh well asian genes (though almost most people remar ked that if they hadn't seen my face they would have guessed me of British origin) and Irish upbringing...

BTW is there something in Chinise culture about marriage? It's obvious that my parents would only "approve" of courting with other Chinise girls (yet another point we conflict on). I would perfectly be happy with an Irish girl or any other in Ireland as long as we've got a happy relationship; i'm not inclined to "limit" myself because of reasons i can't phantom nor a tradition / culture that i hardly know or take stock in.

Well enough of my babbling;
Over & Out for now. [/u]

[William_juve_lee]

It is true that the streets of any city, town, village is filled with Oriental people. I myself am not too happy about this conglomorate of Chinese.
I was happy with just 1 or 2 here and there cause at least you have seen them before, even if you don't talk to them.
Today you would be lucky to walk the streets and meet a familiar Chinese face. They are all strangers.

Don't get me wrong.
Its actually cool to witness other cultures in Ireland
I have nothing against anybody coming into Ireland as long as it is for the right reason, eg) working or schooling, not just talking up social welfare.
But I think it has gone overboard.
Hundreds a year is ok. Thousands and its like an epidemic.

Too many in at too little time.
I mean there are enough social and demographic problems in Ireland even before this investation.
Even the amount of students is over the top.
There are too many people who live in Ireland who want to go to 3rd level but can't. Instead these are filled by thousands and thousands of outsiders.

I am Chinese, but I still have Irish pride in me. Irish born etc. etc.
Ireland is definitely not what it used to be.
I don't want the racism or anything, but I thought Ireland was such a nice, clean quiet nation before the last 5 years.
Now we are like those Beneton ads

[whykay]

So the concerns are that many so-called students are not students and are causing problems for local Chinese folks, and give Chinese people a bad name.
It's a problem all over though. It's the minority causing problems. But it's publicity like that we all don't want to see. Chinese always try and keep a low profile, but the spate of oversea's Chinese behaviour in the past few years is causing annoyance amongst us. Chinese people here have a pride to hold up our heads, but this is making us look so bad.

[Little Devil]

I definetly concur with the views expressed. Maybe its only our generation of IBCs that has this POV? After all we grew up in the Ireland that once was... The current social and economic pressures are indeed intense; and the level of resentment has grown proportionally... I mean its ridiculous that there's a not inconsiderable number of homeless Irish on the streets... the local people should be looked after first.... ah heck; i hope we don't end up like California (with billions of debt) or the U.S (last i checked 8 million unemployed and they're actually exporting their operations to other countries such as India -even their tax work i've read!). I'm not against foreigners etc, i echo Wil's sentiments almost exactly; Ireland is just a small country with inadequate leadership to handle the current situation properly. If we had more down to earth and modern thinking blood in the government than the multi-national diversity could have been channeled advantageously to the benefit of the whole nation as opposed to a slowly expanding mess that might not be fixed. Oh well if anything the high cost of living and the backwards technological forefront of Ireland (with some exceptions) is bound to make people think twice about staying here pernamently... I myself am tempted to move to Sweden when possible; given the outstanding telecommunications technology they have as well as many other obvious reasons; though i probably won't, Ireland is my home to which i have grown quite fond of (i guess the culture / history / folklore has grown on me).... Call me foolhardy, but i'm devoted to the green lady

[whykay]

And let's not forget about eduacation. I am disappointed with the government on messing everyone around with cutbacks to eduacation, health, and encourage this social welfare! Ireland has been an easy target, and I feel angry (as so many of my relatives) that many would come here to take advantage of that! Some would be here for eduacation, but charged outrageous amount of fees (as other countries). Local young folks who should be allowed access the 3rd level education (and acceptable primary and seconday level) should come first. And then inviting overseas students, afterall, not all students will stay in Ireland after they finish their studies, but why charge them so high a fee, when everything here is so expensive? Would this be a reason for easy money? The evil thought of this must ensue some impressionable young person who needs to do study and live here and send money home! I hear stories of troubles and Chinese giving Chinese students bad name, not in Ireland, but online news source about problems as far as Japan.
Are we being too selfish? Maybe we should also pay some sympathy on these folks as it must be very hard for them (the ones that deserve the sympathy of course).

[whykay]

BTW is there something in Chinise culture about marriage? It's obvious that my parents would only "approve" of courting with other Chinise girls (yet another point we conflict on). I would perfectly be happy with an Irish girl or any other in Ireland as long as we've got a happy relationship; i'm not inclined to "limit" myself because of reasons i can't phantom nor a tradition / culture that i hardly know or take stock in.

Traditions are been worn down. Check this article out Wedding sends culture shock
I have an Irish BF, and my dad accepts him. Mom however is another story. But it's just communication barrier. My BF can speak a few key phrases of Cantonese. Granted it is my job to teach him more. (I'm working on it). But I'll be participating in Mandarin classes soon with him.
My grandmother in HK love my BF! And was even asking when I will tie the knot! Eep... But I know it does not have to Chinese person you marry nowadays. They will accept if you love that person, and trusts your judgement. It's not like the old days where all the older male generation would gather in a meeting and would yay or nay the relationship. Not that I know of, of any family I know anyway.

[Treetypie]

Right, well from the way I look at it lots of Chinese people come here for education because it's supposedly easier then in HK and in England and the degrees look good cause they're from Europe. Everytime I go back to HK it's like people trying to throw their daughters at my Mum and Dad to ask them to take their children in and have them schooled here...

I dunno about the fees thing cause even they weren't born here there's lots of people here who want to go to college even if they can't be seen. How high are the fees though?? We're not really being selfish cause there's only so much lil ireland can provide and having zillions of people coming along and using it up really bites...

It sucks meeting some chinese people and then not knowing them cause i remember when i was small we knew EVERYBODY! Nowadays it's just everyone trying not to meet each others eyes and if you know them then it's just embarassing! (well with some people anyhow)

With the whole guys thing.. well my parents really aren't accepting that even though i haven't done anythign.. they're convinced that i'm like the irish teenagers you see here.. smoking drinking... doing everything and anything that they want really... I'm not too sure but they don't qite trust me well i'm not sure about that either actually...

My siter has an Irish boyfriend and that's good it's kinda cool really cause Mum and Dad love him too and Mum keeps talking about marriage with her but it's like ewww...... Chinese peopel have a thing with getting married at the early 20's like I'm talkign about the older generation tryign to get this generation to do it and I've seen a couple of people get married at like 23-25 which isn't young but isn't quite old either... I dunno.

The chinese people of the older generation are pretty open minded about some thigns but have you ever noticed how they always criticise the way Irish people do everything!!! Absolutely everything dude... like pubs food culture sometimes i'm really annoyed by hearing people talk about Irish people the way they do. Is that just me or are the most racist people here the older chinese generation??

[William_juve_lee]

emmm.
Its true enough I guess.
Most of the 1st generation Chinese came in the 50's and 60's .
And back in those days, from what I heard, manyt Irish had never been outside Ireland , let alone seen a foreigner.....

The Irish were not as open to other culture as they are today, so racism towards Chinese would have occured.
This will inevitably link in with how the 1st generation Chinese see in the Irish, so they always have some sort of hatred I guess.

This 2nd generation, us, who were born in Ireland would prob grow up in a less racist nation and thus see less of this abuse.....

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And the fees, well there around 3K per year, usually 2 semester.
But at the moment the gov subsidise this so the student only pay, an ever increasing annual fee ranging from 500 to 800 euro.

Many foreign student eg) non EU. who are in college as undergrads are genuine, cause they have to pay fees even higher than us. A normal €3k course annually would sometimes cost around €6-10k.
I know a few guys when I did business studies, and they had huge debts.
Don't know why they come here to study, as it is so expensive......

If you do postgrad courses, then you have to pay full fees no matter what, unless you get scholarship.