A Chinese Peasant's Italian Roots (2001)
Xu Xiangshun, a full-blooded Italian, was raised in a Chinese village after his family was affected by World War II. Despite facing hardship and prejudice, he assimilated into the local culture and became a respected figure in his community. A recent reunion with his surviving Italian relatives helped him reconnect with his roots, although he still identifies more with his Chinese upbringing.
- ▪Xu Xiangshun is a full-blooded Italian who was raised in a Chinese village after his parents' struggles during World War II.
- ▪He faced significant challenges growing up, including teasing from peers and a lack of formal education.
- ▪A reunion with his surviving aunts in Italy allowed him to rediscover his heritage, yet he still feels more Chinese than Italian.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By CHING-CHING NI Dec. 23, 2001 12 AM PT Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print TIMES STAFF WRITER SHENAO, China — He answers to the name Xu Xiangshun. He speaks only the local Wenzhou dialect. Like many in this coastal village of shoe assemblers, he chain-smokes, hacking and spitting on the concrete floor.But the thick bronze curls on his head, the aquamarine eyes and prominent European nose make it clear that Xu’s parentage is anything but Chinese. In fact, Xu is a full-blooded Italian who, through the vagaries of war and helplessness, was raised and completely absorbed into the Chinese peasant culture.Chinese immigrants have long assimilated into Western culture.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Los Angeles Times.