Creation

This is my first time in Seattle and it was fun. Today we heard and learned a lot of the history and stories in the Chinatown community of Seattle, and many of these relate back to cultural and individual identities. So it brings us the the questions of "what does it mean to be an American" and "why is it so hard to accept a different ethnicity?"

From the past to the present, a lot of people immigrated to America to seek better opportunities or to chase the American Dream but what they find here is the American nightmare. When they first arrived at the shore, they see an unfamiliar sight and they were faced with discrimination and segregation. So, with the constant oppression, the only option they had was to form their own community by banding together to create a family association, to defend themselves and in the process, assimilate and adapt to American culture.

The problems that both Chinatown face is gentrification and the difference between the community is Seattle's Chinatown is not only Chinatown but it consist of other ethnicities and communities; also known as the International District. San Francisco Chinatown is a mixed of tourism, grocery shopping, and residential. Also, in the alleyways of SF's Chinatown, it is more vibrant and lively compared to Seattle's because San Francisco's Chinatown alleyways are back doors to many people's homes, playground for kids, and shortcuts. Therefore, the life and character of each Chinatown is different but the reason of its creations are similar.

-Lisa Yu

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