A Pair of Ticket Research Paper, by Su Ting

           A Pair of Ticket Research Paper

        “Who are you?” this question sounds simple, but actually has profound meaning. Many people have been wondering about this question and have been trying to define who they are throughout the ages, but why? What is the matter with finding out our personal identification? The article, “A Pair of Tickets” in fact, reflects on the issue of self-identification. The author uses various, unique perspectives to describe how a thirty-year-old woman started recognizing who she was while traveling to China and meeting her half-sisters who she had never seen in her life. Furthermore, she particularly implies how the cultural difference does not influence self-identify, but helps to recognize and cherish it. For example, when Jing-Mei Woo learned the meaning of her sisters, her mother, and her name were, she felt more connected to her mother and felt proud of being Chinese. The author emphasizes that people find their true self-identification by understanding where they originally are from. There are two main supportive aspects to observe: the Chinese culture and the relationship of the family.

        At the beginning of the article, the author brought up the fact that Jiang-Mei was reluctant to admit she is Chinese. She has been raised in American culture viewing herself as an American since she was young. However, her mother kept telling her the significance of understanding who she really is. “You could be anything you want to be in America. Of course, you can be prodigy, too. You can be best anything.” Fong, Yem Siu, an assistant professor, currently conducting an intergenerational study of Chinese-American women in the United States, pointed out his opinions about what Jing – Mei’s mother said to Jing-Mei. He believes that the reason why people like Jing-Mei who have been raised in the USA do not want to accept they are Chinese is because they feel they unfairly be assigned to a stereotype. In most people’s memory, the people in China had less freedom, and were restricted by many different sorts of things like the freedom of speech. Also, they would consider China as a third-world country, so they did not want to be a part of this country. Interestingly enough, in my own life, I have met people who were born in other countries, but have tried to learn about Chinese culture since they were young. These kinds of people say they are just like Chinese and that it is not necessary to grow up in China to be a Chinese. In short, Jing-Mei kept refusing to be a Chinese until her mother passed away, and she decided to go to China where she visited her mother’s home-town. Through her whole experience in China, she finally accepted that she is a Chinese. She finally understood more fully about why her mother wanted her to be a Chinese.

        Culture is one of the elements that made Jing-Mei change her perspective as well. In the journal article, the author Radner, Susan G. stated that, “It is important to give students the opportunity to read about the lives of Chinese and Chinese-American women, a subject usually not covered by the standard texts; and the book serves well as a bridge to compare the immigrant experience of other groups.” Radner is a professor, and he thinks that understanding the culture of a country is one of the ways to be connected to the country and the people. I agree with Radner’s view about how culture is significant to understanding the background of people. He showed his students the cultural difference between Chinese and the Chinese-American and pointed out that because Jing-Mei grew up in the USA she did not know anything about China so in turn she acted like an American. Because of the lack of knowledge of China and its culture, she is not only reluctant to change but is also afraid to be changed. Therefore, she decided to go to China and to experience the Chinese culture. In “A Pair of Tickets”, when Jing-Mei went to China for the first time, everything was astonishing for her. When she first got to the hotel, she was completely shocked. In her mind, she thought China was a third-world country. However, she was impressed by the tall building and the whole construction and interior design of the hotel that she was going to stay in. She could not believe what she saw, and she immediately changed her perspective of China. Moreover, when Jing-Mei and her father were ready for the Chinese food at dinner, but her aunt ordered American food- french fries and hamburgers- for them. She instantly realized that China is a very diverse place. The restaurant not only provided Chinese food, but it also provided other kinds of food from other countries. Furthermore, there was one point that Jing-Mei was interested about, her Chinese name. When her father told her about the meaning of her mother and her twin sisters’ name, she began to wonder about her own Chinese name too. In Chinese, everyone’s name has a special meaning. Parents put a lot of effort into naming their children in Chinese culture. Parents will name their children according to some unique circumstances, weather, or genders. After Jing – Mei ‘s father explained the meaning of everyone’s name, she felt closer to the Chinese culture. She understood what the meaning of the name given to her by her mother was. Even though she was born in America, she had a meaningful Chinese name. She started thinking about her genetics, and she thought deeper about what her mother had told her. She became more comfortable to accept she was Chinese. In short, by understanding a little more about the Chinese culture, it made her think about the Chinese blood flowing through her body.

       Another point that made Jing-Mei changed her perspective was the family relationship that existed with her family who still lived in China. Jiang – Mei could not understand what she had been told by her mother until the turning point- her mother’s death. This tragic event influenced Jiang – Mei to desire to meet with her half-sisters who were abandoned by her mother during the war. The main reason she went to China was to meet her twin sisters. Before seeing her twin sisters, she met her aunt and her aunt’s family at the airport. Her aunt had grown up in China, and Jing-Mei described how her aunt looked with her white, messy hair and her outfit and how she treated people who she had just met. In this part, Jing-Mei was observing the differences between the Chinese and American cultures. Even though the appearance of her aunt was very slovenly, she was friendly and caring. For her, this was quite different from what she possibly felt an American would treat strangers. Besides, Jing-Mei, her father, her aunt, and her aunt’s family were spending a day together so that they were able to get to know each other. They were talking about the story of her mother, and why her mother abandoned her twin sisters. During this time, Jing-Mei got to know more about her mother and her twin sisters’ story. Her father told her that during the war, it had been rough to keep the children with her. Her mother’s husband was working for the government and it was dangerous at that time. Therefore, Jing – Mei’s mother decided to leave her twin daughters on the street. Her mother thought that if they got caught, all of them would die. So, there was a chance the twins would survive if there was a kind person would take care of them. Jing – Mei’s mother showed her love and did not want them to be killed. She made this hard decision. Moreover, in Jing – Mei’s mind she thought her mother was brave. Because of the situation, her mother could give up the most precious children of hers on the street. Quite possibly, in other countries or cultures, mothers probably will not do the same thing. They might bring the children with them no matter what happened. Because of her mother’s behavior, she changed her perspective of the Chinese. Her mother did the great sacrifice because she was wanting her children have chance to live. Her mother’s sacrifice made her think about her blood and DNA. After her mother settled down in the USA, she always wanted to go back to China to find her two twin daughters. China is a big country, and it would be hard to find them. Jing – Mei’s father told her mother to give up, there was no chance she would find her daughters. Moreover, while Jing – Mei’s mother was still alive, she could not have a chance to see her twin daughters. Jing-Mei knew about the whole story of her mother and her twin sisters, she decided to go to China to fulfill her mother’s dream. During this time, Jing-Mei got to know her Chinese family members and more fully understood her own family story. She was thinking about her identity. Everything she experienced in China made her feel like she was a true Chinese. Her twin sisters were Chinese, her parents were Chinese, her mother’s brave decision, and everything she saw in China made her Chinese blood pulse faster through her body.

        At the end, she finally saw her twin sisters at the airport. Jing-Mei and her sisters were so glad to see each other, even though their mother was not there. They embraced each other; they felt their mother with them as well. They all missed their mother, but they now have each other and they can support each other. The author Ben Xu in his article “Memory and the Ethnic Self: Reading Amy Tan’s the Joy Luck Club” claimed that “These two frame stories, ending with a family reunion in China, suggest strongly a journey of maturity, ethnic awakening, and return to home, not just for Jing-Mei, but metaphorically for all the daughters on the nook. This experience is like a revelation – a sudden unveiling of the authentic meaning of being “Chinese.” The ecstatic character of this experience is well expressed by Jing-Mei.” I agree with what Xu said about this story ending with the strong family reunion creating an experience like a revelation. Because Jing-Mei was willing to find her sisters, she found her identity through this powerful moment. She accepted herself as a Chinese. In Short, the family relationship Jing-Mei had in China made her think about her own personal identity, and allowed her to finally accept what her mother had been telling her for her whole life; she is indeed Chinese.

        In conclusion, it is hard to change a person’s perspective from considering oneself to be an American into considering oneself to be a Chinese. However, there are two main aspects that support how Jing-Mei changed her perspective. The culture made her realize that China is an advanced country, and it helped her understand her mother and her twin sisters’ background. Moreover, the family relationship made her think about her identity. She spent time with her aunt, and they talked about the story of her mother. In the end, she finally saw her twin sisters, and everything made her feel the Chinese blood running in her body. Jing-Mei felt a connection with her family who lived in China. As result, she changed her perspective to be a Chinese. She understood why her mother kept telling her she is Chinese. Knowing these things, she accepts who she is, no matter her broken Chinese or her love of American food.

Reference:

Fong, Yem Siu Fong. “Reviewed Work: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan” Frontiers: A Journal of 

        Women Studies Fong, Vol. 11, No. 2/3, Spirituality, Values, and Ethics (1990), pp. 122-123

Radner, Susan G. “Reviewed Work: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.” The Radical Teacher,

        No. 41 (Spring 1992), pp. 41-42

Xu, Ben. “Memory and the Ethnic Self: Reading Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club.”  MELUS Vol. 19, 

        No. 1, Varieties of Ethnic Criticism 1994, pp. 3-18 P14