Saturday, March 6, 2010

Adventures in Multicultural Living at JACL's Pacific Citizen: Who You Callin’ Uncle?

“I’m not your ‘mom!’” my girlfriend finally exploded at her kids.

The teenagers looked puzzled, “Then, whose mom are you?”

I know what she means, though. She does not want her children to call her the English word, “Mom,” but to call her by the Chinese term, “Ma Ma.” The dictionary may give the same meaning for both terms, but “mom” does not have the same feel, the same nuance, as “Ma Ma.” My children are not allowed to call me “Mom,” either. (click on link for more)

Who You Callin’ Uncle?

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