0:00 - Introduction, Yan was born on March 18th, 1950 in Guangzhou, China. Yan talks about his early childhood and family life in Guangdong and also details his early education and recreational activities. Yan also talks about the Guangdong community and his participation in local recreational events and working in the local company as a repairman and later recreational activities manager.
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10:04 - Yan describes activities that he prepared for the community and company events, such as musical chairs and sports festivals. He details different aspects of event planning and emphasizes creating inclusive events that can cater to all ages and genders. These activities were designed for entertainment but also to encourage physical exercise, teamwork, and community participation.
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22:51 - Interviewer inquires as to why Yan left China and he describes the circumstances leading to his decision, stating that education for his child was the most important reason for his decision. He also talks about his knowledge of the United States before immigrating and understood that his job options would be severely limited and difficult. Yan immigrated to the United States in 1999 through the sponsorship of his brother and lived in Brooklyn and worked in a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.
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28:23 - After the 9/11 attacks, Yan talks about the difficulty of continuing work at the restaurant, noting unstable work and pay in addition to missing pay due to the poor state of the local Chinatown economy. Yan describes trying to find other jobs after the restaurant closed and noted that it was exceedingly difficult due to his age and the economy post-9/11.
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32:52 - On September 11, 2001, Yan recalls that he was home with his wife on a day off. He remembers that he did not learn about the attacks until his relatives and friends called him from Hong Kong, as they do not often turn on the news because they only had access to English channels. When inquired about applying for 9/11 assistance and benefits, Yan stated that he only found out later from his co-workers and received assistance from the Red Cross and took English language classes.
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39:30 - When inquired about his impressions upon arriving in the United States, Yan responded that he was most impressed by the better air quality and better traffic rules and regulations. When asked about his perceptions of the Chinese community in the US, Yan believes that there are many cultural misunderstandings and limitations for a newly immigrated individual who has limited English and does not understand US etiquettes.
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43:43 - Yan talks about the limited recreational activities of Chinese immigrants who work long hours and have little English proficiency, such as late-night karaoke or watching VCR-recorded shows. He also talks about the circumstances leading to him and his wife immigrating to the United States and the economic, familial, and educational opportunities that contributed to his decision.
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49:18 - Yan talks about his daughter coming to the United States during middle school age and her initial struggles in school due to the language barrier. He talks about her assimilation into US society and whether she is still able to speak and write Chinese. The discussion turns towards parenting and what his expectations are for his child. He emphasizes letting his daughter decide and pursue her own interests and career.
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57:05 - The conversation transitions into topics related to his legal status as a resident of the US, his trips back to China, and whether the US has an appeal as an immigration destination among Chinese. The conversation returns to his job as a restaurant worker and the inherent difficulties of this industry before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Yan talks about the English language lessons funded following the 9/11 attacks and their efficacy in teaching him to utilize the language.
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