Fated to meet
Apart from having outgoing personalities, those who participate in these organizations must possess some wisdom in dealing with others. Among the old folk from Taiwan who have immigrated to America are a disproportionate number of soldiers, public servants and teachers, as well as many doctors and high-level executives. They are a talented group. All old people are all set in their ways to some degree. Many are unwilling to concede defeat, and others go on about their past glories or brag incessantly about the success of their children and grandchildren in America. Then there are those who scold others for talking too much or wanting always to be the center of attention.
"If this sort of behavior bothers you, you're not going to have any fun and you won't last a day. But in that case how will you ever make friends?" asks Sun Chao-han, co-chair of the Houston association, and leader in spirit to all 4000 members.
Lu Ju-jung, chairman of the Milpitas Chinese Seniors' Association, says that since he has been chairman, he has made only one demand of its 500-some members: "No matter how much power you used to wield and no matter how rich your family, when you come here you have to obey just one rule: 'Respect each other!'" Everyone who goes there wants to pass their days in peace, and so they shouldn't be concerned about trivial things.
For instance, in Taiwan people may be very particular about who they play mahjong with, but here they play with whoever sits at the table. As soon as they've got four people they'll start playing. "The farthest corners of the world are right here in our neighborhood," Lu Kuang-hua explains. "We were fated to meet the people in our lives." The mantra of many in the group is, "Don't bring up the past; don't bring up the past."
Past privilege does not bring popularity here. Rather, gratitude is bestowed on those who make a practical contribution to serving the group as a whole-for instance by teaching English or naturalization-prep classes, in which they go over the proper phrases one word at a time. The multi-talented Sun Chao-han painted two huge posters for the organization: one commemorating the Huanghuakang martyrs who died during the 1911 revolution, and another commemorating the Marco Polo Bridge incident that triggered the War of Resistance Against Japan. Yet to make a contribution no special skills are required: the volunteers who make nutritious lunches are also among the people these groups value most.
"What's most remarkable about these seniors' groups, is that their teachers and workers are all volunteers, and they don't get a cent in compensation," says Mr. Chang of the Milpitas association. In Taiwan, he also served as director of a Taipei County group for the elderly, but there the teachers were all paid, and teaching was viewed as a job. It's quite different in the States, where the teachers and other volunteers act in the spirit of giving. As a result, there is a particularly strong sense of cohesion.
Wendy Wu, who teaches dance at the Milpitas association and has led dance groups from there to perform in many different places, explains that teaching old people to dance requires great patience. A two-minute dance may require several days of indefatigable instruction. She has so devoted herself to teaching old folk to dance that she has begun to neglect her travel agency. But when she sees these seniors perform a folk dance, the joy that it brings to their faces is so moving that she finds it more precious than gold.
Solidarity
Sun Chao-han of the Houston association says, "Our group not only puts on activities for our members' enjoyment, we also hope to use Chinese culture as a weapon that we can wield to enter mainstream American society!" For instance, in America it has become fashionable to take a Chinese name, and so every year members of the association go to various fairs and charity activities all over Houston where they set up a stand for writing out Chinese names for people. At other times, they might put on an exhibit about Chinese poetry or give performances of song and dance.
But these seniors don't merely want to make a "show" of Chinese culture for the foreigners, even more they want Americans of Chinese descent to have a sense of connection to their roots. The association is now pushing to have its posters about the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the Huahuanggang Martyrs kept on permanent display at the Overseas Chinese Educational Center. "If even one child in ten develops an interest in understanding such history, then Chinese culture won't die here!" says the association's Chang Yun-wen, speaking from the heart.
The nutritious lunches are another main attraction of these seniors' associations. They're cheap and may be a senior's only meal that day that isn't eaten alone. As a result, a lot of people always show up for them. Because the Milpitas association is located in the city's seniors' center, its members are offered a good, nutritious lunch with two dishes, soup, fruit and milk, all for US$1.50. And because the Houston Chinese Seniors' Association is well attended and enjoys a good reputation, the city government specially prepares 60 meals for them, which are delivered to the Chinese Culture Center every morning at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Each meal costs only 50 cents.
Besides providing education, fun and food, these seniors' associations also allow old folk from Taiwan a chance to experience the power of ethnic solidarity.
The Silicon Valley cities of Milpitas and Cupertino both have ethnic-Chinese mayors. Lu Ju-jung says, "We can't provide any campaign help, but in English class I write the names of the overseas Chinese up on the blackboard in big letters, so that the students will take them home and tell their families about them. Electoral victories are built one vote at a time." There are large numbers of other Asians in the area, he notes, but rarely does one see the solidarity that is on display at the Taiwan seniors' association.
Another example of how these groups obtain strength through numbers is the naturalization services provided by the Houston association.
Heaven's wish: Respect thy elders
"In the past, when the elderly wanted to apply for citizenship, they would go for a consultation with a lawyer, fill out forms, and after passing the exam go to the Immigration and Naturalization Service to have their fingerprints taken and to be sworn in," says Terry Gee. "It was a costly and difficult process." Then the rapidly growing Houston Chinese Seniors' Association earned the trust of the INS, which took the unprecedented step of authorizing it to open its own naturalization services counter. This has meant more than simply easier access to forms: Whenever it is time for a citizenship exam, six to eight INS workers come to administer it right there in the center. Taking the test in a familiar environment and surrounded by familiar faces, the old people are put at ease and as many as 80%-90% of them pass. They are then notified when to come in and recite the Oath of Allegiance. In the past figuring out where to go for the oath caused all sorts of difficulties, and in this respect too, the new arrangement has proven far superior.
The association will acquire another unique feature when the Rainbow Apartment Complex it is building with US$400 million of city money opens. Close to a Tzu Chi Foundation center and the Houston Branch of the Metropolitan Bank and Trust, it has an attractive location for seniors from Taiwan. According to law, anyone can apply to live there, but, as Terry Gee notes, "Few Americans of other ethnic groups will be moved to apply by seeing advertisements written in Chinese!" But how the old Chinese are going to share it among themselves is sure to cause big problems.
While these seniors' groups are a boon for elderly Chinese, transportation problems limit the number that can regularly attend. Although the Houston association has more than 4000 members, only a few hundred show up for its seasonal banquets. For the many elderly who have difficulties moving about, the pleasures imparted by these groups' activities can not be experienced first hand. This problem, common to all these seniors' associations, is where they most need a helping hand.