Unit 3 7.The Experiences of a Chinese Immigrant,1880-1903
Unit 3 7. The Experiences of a Chinese Immigrant, 1880-1903
Contents Information Related to the Text Text Analysis Exercises Ouestions for Consideration
Contents Information Related to the Text Text Analysis Exercises Questions for Consideration
Information Related to the Text 1.Californian Gold Rush On January 24,1848,James W.Marshall discovered gold in the sawmill on the South Fork of the American River at Coloma,which led to a concerted rush to the place.Within a few months one of the greatest international migrations of all time was on. People poured into California by land and sea, among them were Chinese. The land was booming
Information Related to the Text 1.Californian Gold Rush On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold in the sawmill on the South Fork of the American River at Coloma, which led to a concerted rush to the place. Within a few months one of the greatest international migrations of all time was on. People poured into California by land and sea, among them were Chinese. The land was booming
By 1852,its population had grown to nearly 250,000 from 800 in 1848.It was a time of violence and lawlessness,for some of the immigrants were reckless and unruly thieves,holdup men,gamblers and outlaws.From the mid-1850's,the yield of the gold mines declined,but the discovery of rich deposits in Nevada in 1859 and the opening of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 encouraged the influx of more immigrants
By 1852, its population had grown to nearly 250,000 from 800 in 1848. It was a time of violence and lawlessness, for some of the immigrants were reckless and unruly thieves, holdup men, gamblers and outlaws. From the mid-1850’s, the yield of the gold mines declined, but the discovery of rich deposits in Nevada in 1859 and the opening of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 encouraged the influx of more immigrants
Text How did the early Chinese immigrants to the United States make a living?How did they get along with the Americans?This story gives us a vivid description of the life of the early Chinese immigrants,one full of bitter experiences as well as joys
Text How did the early Chinese immigrants to the United States make a living? How did they get along with the Americans? This story gives us a vivid description of the life of the early Chinese immigrants, one full of bitter experiences as well as joys
1.My father gave me $100,and I went to Hong Kong with five other boys from our place and we got steerage passage on a steamer,paying $50 each.Everything was new to me.All my life I had been used to sleeping on a board bed with a wooden pillow,and I found the steamer's bunk very uncomfortable,because it was so soft.The food was different from that which I had been used to,and I did not like it at all.I was afraid of the stews.for the thought of what they might be made of by the wicked wizards of the ship made me ill.Of the great power of these people I saw many signs
1. My father gave me $100, and I went to Hong Kong with five other boys from our place and we got steerage passage on a steamer, paying $50 each. Everything was new to me. All my life I had been used to sleeping on a board bed with a wooden pillow, and I found the steamer’s bunk very uncomfortable, because it was so soft. The food was different from that which I had been used to, and I did not like it at all. I was afraid of the stews, for the thought of what they might be made of by the wicked wizards of the ship made me ill. Of the great power of these people I saw many signs
The engines that moved the ship were wonderful monsters, strong enough to lift mountains.When I got to San Francisco,which was before the passage of the Exclusion Act,I was half starved,because I was afraid to eat the provisions of the barbarians,but a few days'living in the Chinese quarter made me happy again.A man got me work as a house servant in an American family,and my start was the same as that of almost all the Chinese in this country
The engines that moved the ship were wonderful monsters, strong enough to lift mountains. When I got to San Francisco, which was before the passage of the Exclusion Act, I was half starved, because I was afraid to eat the provisions of the barbarians, but a few days’ living in the Chinese quarter made me happy again. A man got me work as a house servant in an American family, and my start was the same as that of almost all the Chinese in this country
2.The Chinese laundryman does not learn his trade in China;there are no laundries in China.The women there do the washing in tubs and have no washboards or flat irons.All the Chinese laundrymen here were taught in the first place by American women just as I was taught. 3.When I went to work for that American family I could not speak a word of English,and I did not know anything about housework.The family consisted of husband,wife and two children.They were very good to me and paid me $3.50 a week,of which I could save $3
2. The Chinese laundryman does not learn his trade in China; there are no laundries in China. The women there do the washing in tubs and have no washboards or flat irons. All the Chinese laundrymen here were taught in the first place by American women just as I was taught. 3. When I went to work for that American family I could not speak a word of English, and I did not know anything about housework. The family consisted of husband, wife and two children. They were very good to me and paid me $3.50 a week, of which I could save $3
4.I did not know how to do anything,and I did not understand what the lady said to me,but she showed me how to cook,wash,iron,sweep,dust,make beds,wash dishes,clean windows,and polish the knives and forks, etc.,by dong the things herself and then overseeing my efforts to imitate her.She would take my hands and show them how to do things.She and her husband and children laughed at me a great deal,but it was all good natured
4. I did not know how to do anything, and I did not understand what the lady said to me, but she showed me how to cook, wash, iron, sweep, dust, make beds, wash dishes, clean windows, and polish the knives and forks, etc., by dong the things herself and then overseeing my efforts to imitate her. She would take my hands and show them how to do things. She and her husband and children laughed at me a great deal, but it was all good natured…
5.In six months I had learned how to do the work of our house quite well,and I was getting $5 a week and board,and putting away about $4.25 a week.I had also learned some English,and by going to a Sunday school I learned more English and something about Jesus,who was a great Sage,and whose precepts are like those of Kong-footsze
5. In six months I had learned how to do the work of our house quite well, and I was getting $5 a week and board, and putting away about $4.25 a week. I had also learned some English, and by going to a Sunday school I learned more English and something about Jesus, who was a great Sage, and whose precepts are like those of Kong-footsze