Keeping ties to homeland

Immigrant parents want their children to keep in touch with their culture while becoming Americans. It is hard to keep the kids interested in the old stories. They should learn this as kids though, because they will probably regret it as adults if they don't do it. - - Donna Poisl

Many families face cultural quandaries about assimilation

By Kim Lamb Gregory

Twelve children dressed as signs of the Chinese zodiac stood in a classroom at the Ventura County Chinese Language School in Camarillo recently and rehearsed the song that means “happy New Year and congratulations.”

They were rehearsing for a play to present to their parents in celebration of the Chinese or Lunar New Year, which begins Thursday.

“I’m the jade emperor!” said Alden Huang, 10, of Camarillo, as he swept around the room in a red cape.

Although most of their kids were born in the U.S., their parents don’t want them to forget the Chinese part of their Chinese-American heritage. It’s a sentiment shared by many parents who were not born in this country, but want their children to know about their roots.
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