Chinese Surnames
Oct 15, 2008 23:46:01 GMT -5
Post by Ah Gin on Oct 15, 2008 23:46:01 GMT -5
OK folks. Let's have a laugh at ourselves. This is fiction. Don't take it seriously. But it does show how our Colonial Masters treated the recording of Chinese names. Also, in this story is a real place in San Francisco.
Picture this. Chinatown, San Francisco. Time: Present day. An overseas Chinese, Ah Gin, walked passed a laundry shop, "Olson's Laundry". And at the corner of the shop window, it proudly displayed "Established since 1901". Ah Gin scratched his head. Few more strands of hair dropped from his old skull. Muttered to himself, "Why lah. Heart of Chinatown. Chinese laundry. Long establishment. Why with such name lah?". Ah Gin plucked up courage, and walked into the laundry. Rang the bell at the counter.
"Yes", bellowed an old Chinese man, in perfect American accent. In fact, there is a hint of Arizona American cccent.
Ah Gin, in halting Hoisanwa, asked the old gentleman. "Ah Bak. You obviously Chinese. This shop obviously in existence for many years. Why with the name of Olson's Laundry?"
The old fellow responded. "Whaa, young fellow. What your Surname. What vilage you come from?" (See, in the old days, it was not enough to ask for ones Surname, but also down to the level of Village of origin.) "Aiyoo. We related lah. You also another Gin. How come you spell your surname Chin. Aiyah. It should be spelled Gin. Or maybe Yan. Ah, nevermind. You asked me a question. Since we belong to the same clan, I can tell you lah. My grandfather. He came through Angel Island. Good place. Right in the middle of the Bay. You must go there some day. Ah better than Alice Island (sounds like Ellis Island?). He was in a line (queue), when the Big American Officials asked everyone their names. Grandfather was behind this fellow, from Sweden. Ya. Sweden. The Sweden fellow was asked by the Big Official. "What your name". "Olson. Jim Olson".
Next was my gradfather. "What your name?" Grandfather said, "Sam Ting". Big Oficial said, good. Here your paper. You stay here on this Island, while we make up our mind to let you in or not. So Gin Sam Ting became Gin Olsen. (At least the Big Official got that one right. "Gin" instead of "Jim". ) Gin Olsen was detained at Angel Island for more months that he cared to remember. And his decendends now discovered that to change their name to "Gin" instead of "Olsen" will cost a few dollars.
Footnote:
In 2007 Ah Gin and his cousins did visit Angel Island. The "Immigration Centre" was not yet open (re-open) for visitors. The Warden said it will be open in March 2009. It's a sad place, and Ah Gin did feel the sad atmosphere, and have family members who to this day, refused to visit Angel Island and only talked about their real Surname to family members.
Regards, Ah Gin
Picture this. Chinatown, San Francisco. Time: Present day. An overseas Chinese, Ah Gin, walked passed a laundry shop, "Olson's Laundry". And at the corner of the shop window, it proudly displayed "Established since 1901". Ah Gin scratched his head. Few more strands of hair dropped from his old skull. Muttered to himself, "Why lah. Heart of Chinatown. Chinese laundry. Long establishment. Why with such name lah?". Ah Gin plucked up courage, and walked into the laundry. Rang the bell at the counter.
"Yes", bellowed an old Chinese man, in perfect American accent. In fact, there is a hint of Arizona American cccent.
Ah Gin, in halting Hoisanwa, asked the old gentleman. "Ah Bak. You obviously Chinese. This shop obviously in existence for many years. Why with the name of Olson's Laundry?"
The old fellow responded. "Whaa, young fellow. What your Surname. What vilage you come from?" (See, in the old days, it was not enough to ask for ones Surname, but also down to the level of Village of origin.) "Aiyoo. We related lah. You also another Gin. How come you spell your surname Chin. Aiyah. It should be spelled Gin. Or maybe Yan. Ah, nevermind. You asked me a question. Since we belong to the same clan, I can tell you lah. My grandfather. He came through Angel Island. Good place. Right in the middle of the Bay. You must go there some day. Ah better than Alice Island (sounds like Ellis Island?). He was in a line (queue), when the Big American Officials asked everyone their names. Grandfather was behind this fellow, from Sweden. Ya. Sweden. The Sweden fellow was asked by the Big Official. "What your name". "Olson. Jim Olson".
Next was my gradfather. "What your name?" Grandfather said, "Sam Ting". Big Oficial said, good. Here your paper. You stay here on this Island, while we make up our mind to let you in or not. So Gin Sam Ting became Gin Olsen. (At least the Big Official got that one right. "Gin" instead of "Jim". ) Gin Olsen was detained at Angel Island for more months that he cared to remember. And his decendends now discovered that to change their name to "Gin" instead of "Olsen" will cost a few dollars.
Footnote:
In 2007 Ah Gin and his cousins did visit Angel Island. The "Immigration Centre" was not yet open (re-open) for visitors. The Warden said it will be open in March 2009. It's a sad place, and Ah Gin did feel the sad atmosphere, and have family members who to this day, refused to visit Angel Island and only talked about their real Surname to family members.
Regards, Ah Gin