Museum of Chinese in America

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Oral History Archive
2014.035.002 The Family Journey of The Chin Family-Interview with The Chin Sisters
The four sisters Grace Chin Chan, Judy Chin Wong, Anna Chin Tze, and Jennifer Chin Dussich sit down with MOCA to discuss their family history. They begin by describing growing up in Brooklyn and the communities and activities that they participated in there. They recount family stories from vacations and being rebellious teenagers. The sisters take turns discussing how grateful they are for their parents’ sacrifices, but also how they feel so grateful to have been raised with their parents’ values and how they cherish their parents’ legacy. The Chin sisters still have dinner with their parents and families every week and share other lessons from their childhood.

0:00 - Introduction.

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0:10 - Where the Chin sisters grew up, Harlem, Manhattan, Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York, Moving to Queens, Growing up in Queens.

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0:33 - Fond memories, Yearly road trips in America, Vacations, Chinese food, Rice cooker, Grandmas came on vacation.

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1:36 - Going to church, Chinese-Americans, Chinese-Americans in New York City, Chinese-American community, Chinese neighbors, Neighborhood.

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2:14 - Chinese-American identity, Feeling Chinese, Feeling American, Encompassing Chinese and American cultures, Exclusion from society, Practicing Chinese traditions, Eating homemade Chinese food, conforming to the “American Way”, American culture, American friends, Blend of cultures, Rebelling as teenagers, High School, Bronx Science High School, Skipping class, New York City high schools.

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4:18 - Memories, Favorite memory of parents, Fond memories of family, Reminiscing, Nostalgia, Parents while dating, Cousin, Father driving a Mazda.

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4:51 - Journey Wall Tile, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), Sacrifice, Recognition, Immigration, Feeling grateful, Parents immigrating to America, Parents emigrating from Burma.

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6:18 - American education, American opportunities, Experiencing freedom, American freedom, Family Generations, Legacy, American dream, Fortune in New York, Parents’ legacy. Best of both worlds, Retaining traditions, Enjoying opportunities, Hard-working parents, Grateful opportunities.

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8:20 - Close family, Vacations with each other, Fighting with siblings, Sibling rivalry, Dynamic of sisterhood, Youngest sibling, Oldest sibling, Weekly family reunions, Large family dynamic, Great-great grandchildren, Grandchildren, Cousins, Close family ties.

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9:22 - Father working two jobs, M.B.A., Night school, Mother working at UPS, Mother cooking handmade meals, Five-course meals, Mom always made soup, Supporting the family, Balancing work and children.

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10:13 - Family lessons, Family lectures, Valuable lessons from father, Task at hand, Lessons learned from upbringing, Optimism, Family hardships, Parents’ sacrifices.

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