About 12 years ago, my mom and I went to Hong Kong to visit my late grandmother (her mother).
About some time during the visit, I told my mom that I was sick of having long hair, and wanted it all chopped off. One of my aunts took us to a barber shop and the deed was done.
I could not wait to show my hair to my other grandmother (my dad's mother), with whom we were residing at the time. Did she react with joy and happiness?
WRONG!
She was mad as hell, venting and yelling about in Cantonese. Now, neither of my grandmothers speak English well at all (and I don't understand much Cantonese, either), so I was surprised to hear her say the word "BOY" in English. Implying that I looked like a boy now.
And then this gem, again in English so that I could understand:
"LONG HAIR IS BEAUTY!" and then more venting in Cantonese.
Sorry that I could not translate, since again, I don't understand much Cantonese, despite being Chinese myself (that's another story).
Did your friends and family have any reactions as strong as this? As in having a relative who doesn't speak much English becoming so angry as to try to speak in English to get his or her point across to you?
About some time during the visit, I told my mom that I was sick of having long hair, and wanted it all chopped off. One of my aunts took us to a barber shop and the deed was done.
I could not wait to show my hair to my other grandmother (my dad's mother), with whom we were residing at the time. Did she react with joy and happiness?
WRONG!
She was mad as hell, venting and yelling about in Cantonese. Now, neither of my grandmothers speak English well at all (and I don't understand much Cantonese, either), so I was surprised to hear her say the word "BOY" in English. Implying that I looked like a boy now.
And then this gem, again in English so that I could understand:
"LONG HAIR IS BEAUTY!" and then more venting in Cantonese.
Sorry that I could not translate, since again, I don't understand much Cantonese, despite being Chinese myself (that's another story).
Did your friends and family have any reactions as strong as this? As in having a relative who doesn't speak much English becoming so angry as to try to speak in English to get his or her point across to you?
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