Due to some fluke of nature, I was born with lighter skin than my siblings, and features that made it hard for people to ascertain my race.
Most strangers think I am Chinese, until I open my mouth and confirm their guesses (I am multi lingual). Well, except that I am not Chinese.
But can we ever know for sure what blood flows through our veins? I do know that my mother is of Sumatran heritage, father of Javanese heritage. But except for a few obligatory celebrations, as a third generation family member I very seldom identify with either of these heritages. Race and culture is something I don't normally think about until someone reminds me of it.
I am lucky to have grown up in a true melting pot, to have experienced what its like to have a best friend whose great grandparents didn't come from the same clan or country mine came from. Unfortunately Ah Chai passed away many years ago due to illness. I was the only non-Chinese fellow who attended his funeral. I followed the entourage right up to his burial plot. I felt devastated for his widow and 6 year old son and donated to them what little I had stashed under the floorboard of our house. Money that would liberate me from my bicycle to a motorcycle. Ah Chai lived near the rubber estate I lived in.
Whenever I think of Ah Chai, I feel sad to see what our community has become, yet happy how he and I made possible what others said is not possible.
Ah Chai is a pretty common name for Chinese kids of our generation. Depending on how you write it in Chinese calligraphy, it can mean 'wealth' or 'talent'. I happen to go by that name too. But 'Charity' happens to be my middle name. So my wealth or talents usually goes to charity. hahaha...
ReplyDeleteI think my friend's name meant talent. He had aspirations to set up a business dealing in the rubber smallholders produce. He was one of the most interesting persons I ever met. The good die young.
ReplyDeleteThis is another heartwarming story! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you again!
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