American Born Chinese go back to China - vpro Metropolis 2009

ABCs are American-Born Chinese: and since China has been economically booming in the last few years, more and more Chinese Americans decide to go back to China.
vpro Metropolis was a video project by Dutch broadcast organisation vpro, that ran from 2008 to 2015. Metropolis is made by a global collective of young filmmakers and TV producers, reporting on remarkable stories from their own country/city. We made a trip around the globe on one single issue: from local beauty ideals to Elvis impersonators, to what's it like being gay, or an outcast or a dog in different cultures.
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[@TitoTimTravels]

"When I am in America I feel more Chinese. When I am in China I feel more American." Speaks volumes!

[@davidwong6805]

I was born in Los Angeles and have lived here for about 19 years, ever since I went back to China to visit my relatives, I really loved it there! Despite the pollutions and the strict government, I find it more lively over there all the time and even at night! There are a lot of places to explore and to go!

[@seanq5233]

'very thankful that my parents moved' well, she's being honest

[@xinzhang2244]

Your dad bribed you with a BATMOBILE!!? Is he Bruce Wang?

[@xkoko2819x]

I was born in the U.S. I am Chinese and I love China and its culture, history, etc., etc., etc.

[@emberN]

she clearly loves what she's doing. leave her alone. if you would be asked you would do what you want to do. this just goes to show there are other people who are just happy in China. so be happy that they are happy and not hurting people or themselves.

[@jamesmaseobrown]

She's lovely. I would love to go to China. That food looked really delicious. When I was a teenager back in the 70's, China was seen as a place where cheap products were made and was full of evil communism. Now, it's just another destination. I've met several Americans that were there and they loved it.

[@msdrakegx]

The girl in this interview seems like an amazing person. So kind and nonjudgmental

[@kimberlycabanas5131]

I admire anyone who can pack up and start a new life somewhere else. I wish her much happiness and success.

[@angbi]

discussion in the comment section of this video is as inspiring as ever

[@sebastiansheen4808]

Whenever you go from being a minority in a country and you go and become one of the majority with all the benefits of being usually it will be an improvement.

[@teepayn]

interesting perspectives

[@LilMissTravelPants]

:)! When were you last there? That's so great. I definitely hope I can, some year soon. And I hope you also can get back there quickly xo

[@lancejohnson454]

A new book/ebook: "What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more.” Endorsed worldwide by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it paints a revealing picture of complex America to help those who will benefit from a better understanding, including international students. It also has chapters that identify the most common English grammar and speech problems foreigners have. Good luck to all!

[@danpaul6915]

Lao Wai here, I spent 5 years in China and am so grateful that I am an American.

[@moonwave8191]

Live your life !! Awesome

[@LilMissTravelPants]

Wow, I was also two years old, LOL, no lie! That's crazy. Definitely understand how you feel! I will wish you luck, you will def get there! We both will!

[@pwkid]

LOL did u see how the guys were checkin out Jessica Wang as she walked by?

[@wonphi]

I'd think about her Dad's proposal if he was going to bye a Tumbler. haha

[@EconCat88]

Interesting.

[@SuperTruthful]

She's Chinese by birth..but culturally American. Culture is a huge influence on a person's personality regardless of race.

[@balancedactguy]

@Apache Apachean Athabaskan I would... but BEING A WHITE MAN is IRRELEVANT ANYWAYS!

[@silverxu4983]

It was a calling to comeback here

[@Rakkasans2006]

lol you should make a movie about this. I am sure people will love your story.

[@dre3k78]

From 2009....$100 says she is back in LA with mom and dad.

[@noblerare]

This is really interesting. I look at her and the lady in pink. Both are Chinese by blood and from the same hometown yet one was raised in the US and one in China. It's quite stark the physical differences in the two. I wonder how much of a factor nature versus nurture plays in physical differences between Chinese-Americans and native Chinese.

[@beingbanana]

:O im abc too~ btw the reporter is really pretty u_u

[@gericharles6024]

Jessica is Beautiful,but anyway i think everybody in america in one way or the other want to visit or return to live in country where their heritage or ancestors are from,its a beautiful experience..this is a very positive video,

[@SuperZFunkey]

You can buy and drive that stuff in the states?

[@christian1572]

The culture is different and more strict in China, same goes for Japan and South Korea. Many people would be surprised that the majority work 6 days a week. I am just happy that i live in Europe and its more relaxed and normal working days.That's why the father don't want her to be in China, because the competition is hard, things are getting expensive, bad smog.

[@roggy12345]

she was born in China not America, sure she grew up there but still born in China. If u was born in American u will be a true ABC

[@roggy12345]

Lyssa W she went to USA when she was 6, she is not an ABC.

[@aacv]

I love your comment.

[@inachu]

I visited ZhengZhou and the city is awsome and very clean and no smog at all and the water tasted normal for any city. Just super humid like crazy! I stayed at the hotel in front of the experimental kindergarden

[@btbrotherton]

Hahaha, I love how they show the picture of the bat mobile after she says he tried to bribe her with a car! Like he was gonna buy her the bat mobile! Hilarious!

[@DT-cm7vz]

Jessica is an ARC (American Raised Chinese) not ABC (American Born Chinese). Just terms but important terms.

[@JogvanJespersenPGA]

Yes, let's just put labels on people you really know nothing about. I think she would rather like to define what she is herself, rather then you and others doing it. This is not only disrespectful, but also a source for ridiculous arguments among ethic groups who try to claim or reject people in relation to their own group.

[@adayinothersshoes]

As i do. Every language comes from somewhere that makes everyone of them special.

[@emkplayboy6]

I would love to be able visit Asia one day!

[@vinnypharmacist]

Wow, the food look so good.

[@stump325]

Anybody else notice the bat mobile nonchalantly pictured at 4:30...

[@enriquejaramillo4244]

My son is ABC. ASIAN BORN CUBAN. HE DOES NOT THINK is a big deal. In fact he says I'm cyban my grandfathers are pure spanish. Just be what you look like oh well.

[@22Aozora]

I think you should go back. It is an amazing place. I hope I can go back again too.

[@rickytan3483]

apples does not fall too far from the apple tree. Very good Chinese ethic, the call from home.

[@kliudrsfhlih]

4:00 super interesting answer.

[@cherritown]

I went back to China last summer after 12 years in LA and I have to say, I defiantly don't want to live there permanently.

[@Missycandylips]

Agreed.

[@concernedhermit7153]

There's a calling to come back... that's so beautiful

[@LilMissTravelPants]

It's not American-Born if you weren't actually born in America, lol. I was born in Japan but raised in America, it is cool watching something like this :) I've always dreamed of revisiting the place of my birth.

[@MsHoneyDropp]

0:30 look at the 2 guys leaning on the fence. They're like 'DEM ASSES' xD

[@Professicchio]

@HombreLobo214 Absolutely! As a lawyer you will be definitely make something out if it, actually since you are a law student you should definitely be checking out this clip on YT: "Devil's Advocate speech part 2" or even better watch the whole film, it's the one with Al Pacino, sure you could learn a trick or two.

[@TheHmongCat]

I should visit china one day and get in touch with my heritage like the lady in this video did .

[@hzzn]

If I lived in Los Angeles I'd want to move as far away as possible too!

[@MegaAstrodude]

My sister read her articles when she went to Beijing.

[@logosfabula]

@JaneSanFrancisco too bad she was meaning: "among foreign countries this one was the most favorable in terms of career opportunities". At least it seemed to me, noticing the general discomfort...

[@chhampton38]

@lexxi3 It clearly says it in the video. She was born in Zhengzhou. Hence, "Chinese Born" not "American Born". It was even circled on the map. Did you even watch the video?

[@yeluliao]

it's the unreasonable calling...

[@ReelGuyTv]

@Rocketeer1001, what is an American?

[@danielnegash893]

why am I watching this. 😪

[@arielyolee]

one of the smartes novelist i've seen was "Aaran P.JuWinn-Vang" He can speak many languages influently such as: Chinese, French, Spanish, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea I just can't to see his new project novel comes out this near future which is actually confirm to be post-production. Aaran P.JuWinn-Vang may certainly return very huge as worldwide after years of working on his future project and will remember as a very special person to his belove ones

[@southiphong]

I did that man, i know exactly how it feels. It's damn confusing. The thing i hate the most is being mixed between two cultures. I feel alot more asian in america

[@aperfecte]

American Born Chinese means you were born in America at 0:25 she clearly says she was born in central china and moved to the states when she was 6 years old.

[@donnazhang1805]

aperfecte yea, I know right so she isn't really an ABC (American born Chinese)

[@peterke146]

She an ARC. American Raised Chinese

[@daytrader1656]

But she has US citizenship, which means that Jessica does NOT have a houkou nor a Chinese nationality. She has to return to China on a visa. Going to USA as a 6 year old and being an ABC is almost the same thing. Reading and writing in hanzi will be a challenge when returning to China unless one had tiger parenting.

[@HKPBA]

Real ABC like my two younger siblings have a zero desire to be working nor living in China. Compared myself being born in HK but raised in Alaska and the PacNW, my stigma shall always be my American Dream that is offered at school stops when they say I can be anything I want, even President of the USA. Naturalized is not all the rights from the Bill of Rights...

[@jwjohnson999]

She Never Did Thanked America; For The Opportunity She Got.

[@zyliu4926]

我很好奇，这视频又是英语又是汉语的，还没字幕。这视频是给谁看的？This vedio only for ABC?

[@theskyandstarsshine]

the food looks good...

[@heerollie447]

i like and respect the Chinese, i am Moroccan-dutch greetings from the Netherlands.

[@TheEternalScream]

Belgium represent! But it's nice to see someone Moroccan respect the Chinese, usually they don't and the feeling is mutual from the Chinese as well. I don't know why though.

[@heerollie447]

TheEternalScream those people are narrow minded unfortunately, i actually think the Chinese are cool people.. i hope you and i can make them see that hate is excess baggage my friend.

[@TheEternalScream]

Heer Ollie Completely agree! Groetjes!

[@HellsHector]

I´m Mexican, Love to Live in Mexico, I´ve a great Live in here,,, used to live in China as well at the States, Loves all the colors of people and trust me, no one take others peoples jobs, is the person that choose to be better and push him/her self to be the best and get what they want. People try to be blind for races comes about. We should be united not separated, that is how we could ALL live better, I love USA, Wo AI Zhongguo, Te Amo MEXICO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jukio02]

i read about the chinese history in america, beginning way back when the nation was born, they had it tough. pretty interesting stuff, check it out

[@danpaul6915]

Way to go Joy! Fight the power! American exceptionalism rules!

[@nanky432]

...children of immigrant families that dont assimilate that well to a new country tend to always fine it best to go back to there country of origin, the thing thats new is that actually most of them can actually afford to do such a thing. Usually this happens in cultures that are very different then the one they were from...

[@MrTynanDraper]

you can tell the girl who got US quality dental care.

[@throttlehard]

When she said; she had to put on an act of "being this perfect little angel," what she actually meant was that she had become spoiled and unrefined as she adopted western ways whilst growing up in the states? I think so. Most people do.

[@jerrywu78]

Wow! Shes from my hometown, ZhengZhou, Henan. I wonder if she can speak mandarin with Henan dialect.

[@BobbytheCanadiankid]

What ? Jessica Wang was born in central China , but she moved to USA when she was 6 years old ! She wasn't born in USA at all !

[@TheDebchan]

I feel bad for her parents that worked so hard to get to the U.S. and having their child moving back is kind of like a slap in the face.

[@Darkened359]

Love you too :D

[@sha1b]

The Next Magazine, a weekly publication from Hong Kong, reported that infant corpses and fetuses have become the newest supplements for health and beauty in China. Not only is the placenta considered a beauty remedy, but also aborted fetuses are much sought after delicacies. In Guangdong, gourmet body parts are in high demand and can even be purchased through hospitals. The magazine's investigations into this form of cannibalism took them to Liaoning province.

[@LT0WnWaRi0]

@WotTehPhok i agree but many of them feel the same way i do.

[@MacAppleJack]

It's amazing how people hate there own culture, she said her parents did not want her to go back.

[@stevenlimviolaviolin]

She grew up in USA, pretty much Americanized and perhaps even holding USA citizenship, therefore it's safe to just take her as a "Chinese American"

[@ArnoldTeras]

China is a beautiful place, but I personally would like to visit as many countries as possible.

[@TheAdamie]

4:17 "when I told my dad I was moving to China he tried to bribe me with a car" BATMOBILE**

[@deistmutt]

She wasn't born in US... Oh well. I was born in Harlem but speaks/write/read fluently in Mandarin up to 9th grade level. I'm leaving to China for work and so hoping to learn something but not what I expected but still useful since she grew up in US

[@newmanwong]

i wach chinese tv from internet, i feel chinese culture is very powerful to me, and the economic is very strong.

[@SunnySunKansas]

please speak Chinese when you were china. i think Jessica is very brave. support her .

[@acumen321]

Standard Mandarin (not the Beijing accent) sounds really nice.

[@MilkByCow]

sorry, i meant CHOOSE TO interact with their own kind exclusively, and in addition not choose to integrate themselves with local culture. I gotta stress that many do this, but certainly not all.

[@ficsci]

yah, I think the older generation is really into the whole "flee Asia, be an American" thing...

[@souljaboi81]

not hating on the girl, but i thought abc requires a person to be born in the united states. she stated that she moved to the states at 6 so technically she is just chinese american. glad she is having a good time working in china and learning more about the culture.

[@JaeJae46]

Well, i guess it depends on how the economy is in the state you live in. If you are a graduate fresh out of college, it's not easy to find a job in Chicago (where I was born and raised and I am chinese). I would consider going back to China and working for a company there. Because I am sick of job hunting in Illinois, and I am fluent in the language. I don't mind if the government is strict. I just want to find a job and be independently capable.

[@lucyuen]

This question wouldn't even be asked if you are from Hong Kong, migrant to other countries, then move back to HK... Coz there are so many of them. so common.

[@paulkaikwonglee]

We North American all have our roots even though we were born in North America. President Ronald Regan cherished very much his Irish root.

[@donkeyjote0104]

Wow, I see her like a Brazil born Japanese in her attitude and behavior, just the language differs English and Portuguese. I'm a Brazil born Japanese and I feel that we Asians (Esp:Japanese, Chinese, Koreans) born in the Americas have a lot of similarities.

[@filthyswit]

She even says "Beijing" like an American. For some reason Americans Frenchified the word.

[@speedcubedude]

I'm American and from zhengzhou :D

[@JesusGodHolySpirit3]

I don't really know since I don't live there nor know their history or culture :I

[@AndiWeiqi]

Interesting video, but why is it labelled American-Born-Chinese? The young lady was born in China, not the USA.

[@cherritown]

No...but say what you will if it makes you feel better about yourself.

[@Kirralee09]

i admire and envy her

[@Innamoramento9]

@shirusubemonaku You're joking right? She speaks quite decent Mandarin and can obviously read it too. Have you ever been to China before btw? 知ってみようとするのもたまにはいいかも。

[@chrischoy9]

Same

[@525Lines]

I've been to a Chinese take out restaurant in Brussels and they had the exact same stuff as Chinese restaurants in the US but do Chinese people really eat there (besides the staff)? I don't think I've ever seen them buying the food.

[@UltramanII]

Well I'm from China but currently live in US for college education. I don't know about Belgium but the Chinese restaurant here in the states varies, yet they all have some shared menu like fortune cookies, general Tsaos chicken, orange chickens, etc. I've never seen these in China, they were invented by Chinese immigrants and usually sold with lower price. I do occationally go to Chinese restaurant for those more authentic and sophisticated dishes. But still there're many kinds of food that I routinely consume back in China I cannot find. I'm not sure about the American Chinese though maybe they are happy with what they have here.

[@525Lines]

UltramanII Yes, I agree. The food you find outside China in most Chinese restaurants aren't dishes you'd expect to find in China and are just affordable restaurant fare invented by Chinese in America or wherever they're doing business. The food at this point might not be what someone from China would even necessarily want. (Would Americans eat hot dogs from a hot dog vendor in Tokyo if they're in Japan?) . The small family run Chinese restaurants in the US and the one in Belgium I've been to don't really vary too much but it's always delicious.

[@TheEternalScream]

Nope! The food that gets sold in those restaurants isn't really seen as "real Chinese food" therefore you won't see many Chinese people there. Most of the sauces also comes from a jar, nothing is fresh so that also makes Chinese people not go there. For me personally, I love what they sell there as I don't know much about real Chinese food. But it's nice to try another cuisine.

[@chhampton38]

@Dorkwhenlearning Thanks for your insightful comment, however I still must disagree on your definition of "American Born Chinese". Semantically the term must refer to someone born in America. The "born" in "American Born Chinese" clearly modifies the word "American" and not "Chinese", therefore meaning someone who is of Chinese descent born in the US. Technically speaking, according to your definition, the "born" would be redundant in ABC, as all people are "born" regardless of their ancestry.