Tears in My Heart

Wenyao Jiang

ESL100- Lost in Translation Essay

October 8,2018

Final Draft

Tears in My Heart

A wonderful memory is what everyone wants to have. For me, I have still not adapted as a new student in Chicago because of the difference of the cultural activities between China and the United States. For example, I remembered the activities of Chinese traditional festivals, but I still haven't learned much about some American holidays. Some Chinese cultural activities, including Cantonese Opera, the Lion Dance, and paper cutting can entertain me. However, they are lost for me and I have begun to hide to my heart deeply in the United States.

In my childhood, the Cantonese Opera, which is one of the famous operas, made my family and me have a lot of laughter. Cantonese Operas are shown by speaking and singing. They are one of the most important memories of the older generation in my hometown. In my family, my grandmother was also one of the members who loved dramas. After she saw a nice opera, she would share the fun with me. However, Chinese operas aren't popular among the American public due to the cultural differences between China and the United States. Since I have arrived in Chicago, I only have seen some operas in the library of Chinatown Square and on a big stage of Chinatown on the New Year. On the other hand, it shows the influence of operas is limited, so maybe I will miss more fun of Cantonese Opera in the United States.  

In addition, I love lion dance but it can not enjoy in the United States. Chinese people celebrate the coming New Year with the Lion Dance. Also, there will be a show of lion dance if a new store opens in my hometown. One day five years ago, I was so excited and had a little tension due to an upcoming shop because I needed to wear a lion head that was made of cloth and dance with music. If I didn’t dance before the music stops, the firecrackers would ring around me. After the nervousness was gone, I danced with the lion head like playing a toy. Because of the different cultural activities, it is a pity that I have had no opportunity to show in new shops when I arrived in Chicago. In short, I have lost my favorite activity and only cried in my heart because I can not play at all in Chicago.

Finally, paper cutting is a quite popular activity in my child. A great paper cutting is a huge project that it takes time and patience to finish. If we practice less, we must not finish well. For me, I learned it when I was five. As a part of my family, I was responsible for paper cutting whenever the Chinese New Year was coming. I wrote some words with a red pen and cut them carefully. However, there is no more paper cutting in Chicago because I found most people only celebrate the American holidays. I think I may forget it because the free time is less and less for me to practice in order to adapt to the new environment.

Since I left China and moved to Chicago, I have been broken-hearted because I lost my interesting and favorite activities which include Cantonese Opera, lion dance and paper cutting. I even forgot what the opera is and how to cut paper. I will not want a lion dance at all. When the Chinese New Year is coming, I do not go to visit the drama. When a huge market is opening, I lack interest in it because there is no lion dance. When the paper cutting will be appreciated, I have no more time to do it. I arrived in Chicago about two years ago, so I believe it is time for me to look for new activities that will help me adapt to enjoy my different life.