Mr. Ng Sing Man, Age: 80                                                  Record by Wu Hui Fang

          Ng Sing Man is nearly eighty years old. He has lived in San Francisco for thirteen years. He has five children and sixteen grandchildren. He cannot only cook, but also can do crafts. In his life, he went thought ups and downs, but he has never given up.

          When he was still a high school student, he got married. He got a diploma after graduated.

          Because of the changing policy in China after the Cultural Revolution, the government had chosen some educators to teach in high schools. Mr. Ng was one of the educators. He had already taught in a high school for several years. He liked teaching and being with students. He still keeps a photo that he took with his students. He misses his students.

          After a few years, the policy changed, and therefore he lost his job. He tried hard to look for a new job. He found a job in a company working as an accountant. Unfortunately, it would not last long. He decided to move to Canton, China. He left behind his wife and children in his village. He worked different jobs in Canton. Finally, he learned cooking and became a cook.

          Mr. Ng and his wife immigrated to San Francisco in 1989. When he came here, he was sixty-seven years old. He still tried hard to find a job and study at school.

He knew it was hard to find a job at his age, but he never gave up. He studied because he desired so strongly to successfully apply for his children and grandchildren to move here.

          He is currently retired, but he still attends activities and does volunteer work in the senior center. He believes that he should give back to the community. He is very active in the center. He likes playing Chinese chess and singing, so he joins the competition every year. He gets some prizes from the events. He also likes doing crafts. I see different kinds of crafts in his living room such as a dragon boat, snowman, vase and dragon. These are beautiful artistic items.

          He enjoys his life very much. He likes living in America because he can do what he wants. 

Name: Zhao Hong  Age: 70                                          Record by Tony Chan

          I visited an elder who is named Zhao Hong. He is seventy years old living in San Francisco. He shared his life experiences with me.

          He came from Kai Ping, China. His father lived in Singapore, when he was small. Therefore, he lived with his mother. His father came to China to visit him and his mother every three years. He seldom met and talked to his father. He did not have many memories of his father.

          The main family financial support was from his father. His father sent the money draft from Singapore. Besides, his mother worked on a farm to earn some money. He did not have to worry about his basic needs. He also had the opportunity to go to school.

          When he was a high school student, the war had already begun. His life had changed. He was suffering. His family could not get money from his father because all of the banks around the world had collapsed. His family faced a financial problem. It was a very hard time.

          The war had ended. After high school graduation, he went to Canton to take a class that the government held. Finishing this class, he could work in the government. He had been chosen to work in the Department of Market Analysis. It was hard work.

          Mr. Zhao got married and settled down in Canton, China. He decided that he would like to live with his mother, so she moved to Canton. He has seven children. He took care of his family very well.

          While his first five children graduated high school, the Cultural Revolution had begun. His children had been chosen for the Civil Service jobs that required that they had to go to a particular place to work on a particular job such as farming, construction, or fishing. They went to different places. It was a very difficult time for them. Their father, Mr. Zhao, was worried about them. He sometimes visited and brought some clothes and food for them. About eight years later, the hard times passed. The President Ding changed the rules. His children could go home. He was so happy.

          He has lived in America since 1990. When he arrived, he lived in a very small town. There were hardly any Chinese people there, so he moved to San Francisco. There are more Chinese people in San Francisco. He likes going shopping and eating in Chinatown. He appreciates what he has right now.

Name: Nancy Choy Age:    81                                              Record by Ray Wei

          Nancy Choy came from China. She is eighty-one years old. She went through some difficulties in her life.

          The war began; her family had been moved to Shiu Kwan, China. Her husband worked in the Department of Health. He also opened a motel in Shiu Kwan. They lived in Shiu Kwan about one year. Her husband with her daughter went to Toi Shan to visit her parents. After the visiting, the road had been cancelled by the soldiers. They could not go back to Shiu Kwan, so they had to stay at Toi Shan. Nancy lived in Shiu Kwan by herself about one year.

          The war was ended. She decided to go to Toi Shan to meet her husband. Unfortunately, some thieve stole her food. She only had left a golden ring in her pocket. Before passing through the customs agents, she put her golden ring in her mouth. If the soldiers found her ring, they would not give it back to her. She paid one dollar for the ferry fare to Canton. In Canton, she sold her golden ring, so she with her friends could have some money to go to Toi Shan. She liked helping others, but after that she never saw her friends again.

          She came to America in 1968. Sorrowfully, her husband died in 1967. She felt a lot of pain in the beginning because she could do nothing. She learned how to sew in a sewing company, but it was too hard for her. She only earned about thirty dollars a month. Consequently, she quit that job. After that, she found a job washing the dishes in a restaurant. She could not stand it, so quit again. Then, her friend introduced her to work in another restaurant as a cook. She did not like it. She made up her mind to quit, but her boss needed her. She worked for him about six months. Finally, she left.

          Nancy took an English class in Chinatown. She had prepared dinner for an American family for five years. When she was sixty-three years old, she finally retried.

          She has more spare time to study English and to learn singing, now. She also does volunteering at Self Help for Elderly.  

Name: Mr. Lee              Age:   80                                Record by Wu Hong Liang

           Mr. Lee who was born in Canton, China, and is now 80 years old. Forty-five years ago, he got an American immigrant visa. Beginning his journey, he left behind his wife, a son and a daughter in China.

          Having the dream in his heart, he believes that could succeed in the United States. He lived in his relative�s house when he was just arrived. He knew he could not live there for a long period of time, so he found a studio with a shared bath and kitchen in Chinatown.

          The main obstacle in his situation was a language: English. He looked for a job as a bellboy in a hotel, but he just worked there a short time. He had never thought it was so difficult to make a living in the US. He earned not very much per month, however he not only paid for the rent, but also sent money home. He could not have much savings.

          Never giving up was his aspiration. He had a dream that he would accomplish something in this foreign country. He could not �surrender�. Time was gone. His life was steadier; subsequently he took an English class after work and during his free time. He wanted to become a citizen in order to be applying for his family to come to America.

          Seven years later, he got his citizenship. His beautiful wife and two gorgeous children immigrated to the US. He told me it was the happiest and most unforgettable day in his life. He was thrilled.

          From being a bus boy to a manager, his hard work was rewarded. He had worked in the restaurant for ten years. He was pleased.

          He retired. He goes with his friends to the playground to do exercise everyday. After lunch, he plays Chinese Chess with his friends. He is satisfied. He likes living here and his family like it too.

          He has something to tell to younger people, �What you give may not be returned, but don�t give, and you can be sure that nothing will be returned.�  I learned a lot from Mr. Lee.

Name: Lee Fung Jie                                                                            Record by Leo Wei

           Lee Fung Jie was born in Hong Kong. After the war was began, her parents and she moved to China. She lived in China for a long period of time. After the war, she went to Hong Kong.

          Her daughter married and immigrated to America. Her daughter and son-in-law had a restaurant in Los Angles. They had no time to take care of their children. As a result, her daughter felt like it would be good to have her here to help out. She did not want to go to America because her mother was about ninety years old. She was the only one who could take care of her mother. After her daughter and son-in-law requested her to move to America, she finally moved here, to live with her daughter, a few years later.

          She had nothing to do besides stay home and take care of her grandchildren. She wanted to go to the restaurant to help out, but her daughter did not allow it.

          Her grandchildren grew up, and she moved to San Francisco by herself. She is so pleased that she can still see her daughter and grandchildren. She feels that people in America are nice and kind. Elders can receive health care and other public services in America. She likes living in America more than in China.

Name:  Lin Hui Pin       Age: 72                                        Record by Lin Qin Fu

           Lin Hui Pin is seventy-two years old. She was born in a poor family. She did not have an opportunity to go to school. She had to work when she was small.

She got married and gave birth to five children. As she was about to turn thirty, she had been working every day because her family did not have enough money.

            In 1979, she found a job in Macao. She not only had to work, but also had to take care of her family. It was a Chinese tradition: women did all the housework even though they had to work at a job, too. She earned about $1000 per month, but she paid half of her salary for rent on an apartment every month. It was a hard time for her. She was very stressed.

            Her burden was taken away once her children grew up. She was delighted because her children built up their own families. In 1982, one of her daughters got married to an American. Her daughter moved to the United States. After seven years, she also went to here live with her daughter.

            Now she gets the SSI from the government. She enjoys her life very much.

Name:  Mrs. Lam     Age: about 63                               Record by Cheng Sin Yee

             Mrs. Lam was born in a village in China. Her family was not rich. It was a traditional Chinese family; the rules in her family were very strict. In China, men rule everything. The men were made more important than the women. Therefore she had very little respect from her family. She had to do all the housework and obey everyone. She could not say no in her family. She had had a very difficult life since she was small.

            The war was begun when she was only ten years old. The terrible life began. Everyone had suffered. They didn�t have much to eat. Everything that came to her family gave them black luck.

            They could not live in their village anymore, so they started the journey to Hong Kong. They were in for a very hard on the journey. When they arrived to Hong Kong, all her family members had to find a job to support their family. Even she had to work. She found a job in a factory.

            The time passed and their lives became good. Until she was 18, when she met her husband and they got married. They had three daughters and a son. After a few years, her family moved to San Francisco. She doesn�t need to suffer anymore. She enjoys her life so much. 

Name:  Lee Sun Feng       Age:72      Record by Frances Yuan & Wendy Yang   

            Lee Sun Feng, who came from Canton, China, is seventy-two years old. She has lived in San Francisco since 1990. She has six children: five daughters and a son. She lives with her children. Chinese say, �Having an old person in the family is a treasure.�

            She likes eating vegetables and fruits. Her favorite fruit is papaya. Her daughters often buy papayas for her.         

When she was a young girl, her family was very rich. She could buy anything she wanted. Unfortunately, her family became bankrupt. After her family�s financial problems, her moral values and attitude toward living life changed. She learned how to save money and how to spend money.  As a result, she became frugal. She has never wasted money. She doesn�t buy anything expensive and spends most of her money on food and clothes. She also fully supports the effort to save energy. If someone forgets to turn off lights, she will turn them off. She collects paper for recycling.

She likes wearing old clothes and shoes, but in fact, her children always buy many new clothes and shoes for her. She would like her children not to spend money on clothing.

            She is not a good cook, but she can make delicious rice wrapped in triangles. It is her secret recipe. She is happy when her family likes eating her food.

            She thinks the main concern in her family is safety. Everyone should live in safe and happy places.

Name: Rachel (Not her real name)        Age:  70               Record by Wilson Qiu

             Rachel was born in the United States. Her father was born in the Middle East. She would never want to live in the Middle East because she would not have the same freedoms as a woman, sometimes even as a human being.

            She considers herself very lucky to be born in America, even though there are problems sometimes, like racism and sexism. She is happy to be here because, even though these things exist, she has the right to rebel and refuse what she considers injustice without being persecuted for her thoughts, her speech, or her feelings about the government and society. The most important thing about the US is that she is allowed to fight to make it better. It is a country that allows room for improvement, and is always changing.