Felix HU Question: Jung-Sum, do you have any memories of your birth parents? Jung-Sum's Response: Well, you see, I was adopted by the Chen family after the deaths of birth parents. But after few months living with them My memory about them had start to been fuzzy. Poh-Poh told me they were kind-hearted people who couldn't take care of me, and that's how l ended up here. Question: What kind of experiences did you have before and after coming to this new family? Jung-Sum’s Response: Actually after I came to this family, the memory of the past has been blocked. But after the fight between me and Frank, that dark time has been released from the deep mind. It was a horrible time. My Dad are extremely abusive, and killed himself after strangling my mother to death. When I first come to the new family I was very timid and scared, at that time I still thinks that my birth parents will come for me. But I soon becomes more comfortable with new family and accepts that they are gone. Question: Jung-Sum, what thoughts went through your mind when you realized you had feelings for Frank Yuen? Jung-Sum’s Response: Ah, Frank, he's a special guy. Frank embodies an ideal masculinity for me , At first, I was confused about these feelings, but then l realized love doesn't always follow what people expect. Frank is my best friend, and I guess it just grew into something more beautiful. When we had a fight, I had been taken back to my traumatizing childhood of abuse by my father. And cries like a girl, I suddenly realizes that I’m in love with Frank. I felt glories in the fact that Frank has called me “Champ, I had never felt the same about Felix HU anything after this encounter with Frank. But this desire of mine is prohibited and unmasculine at that time, I understands that my love for Frank is not socially-acceptable and that I must hide it before I even fully realizing what it is for Myself Question: Can you provide an introduction to the situation of Chinese people in Canada? Jung-Sum’s Response: Well, you see, in Canada, especially during the times we're living in. being Chinese isn't always easy. We face discrimination and struggle to find our place in this new land. But we also have a strong sense of community and family, which helps us get through the challenges. We, the first-generation Chinese-Canadians, find ourselves in this delicate balance, this liminal space, you see? It's like we're straddling two worlds. On one hand, we hold tight to our ancestral roots and the rich traditions that our community still cherishes and upholds. But on the other, there's this longing, this need, to gain acceptance in a Western Canada that's largely dominated by the white culture. It's a constant dance between our heritage and the yearning for belonging." After I had the turtle my Canadian friend says, "It's got to have a - you know - British or Canadian name." Eventually I named it King George after the King of England. Question: Jung-Sum, what does masculinity mean to you? Jung-Sum's Response: Masculinity, hmm, it's a complex thing. To me, it means being responsible, protecting your loved ones, and showing strength when times get tough. At the time I found the turtle, and I was permitted by my Stepmother to take care of it as my own. I was in charge of feeding the turtle and cleaning its crate, and I was very thrilled to Felix HU have my own pet that I had the responsibility of caring for. Nevertheless masculinity also means being true to yourself and those you care about, even if it means going against the expectations of society, just like my father, his quiet industriousness, and his unwavering loyalty to China.
