Emma Zhao — Family questionnaire

The questionnaireanswers as written; unanswered questions are not shown

What languages get spoken in your house, and who speaks which to whom?

Everyone speaks mandarin to each other

Describe a normal weeknight dinner at your house.

My mom usually makes dinner. A weeknight dinner might be rice, sweet and sour pork ribs, tomato and egg stir fried, stir fried water spinach, and sometimes steamed fish or other seafood, or just soup.

Is there a dish your family makes that you have never seen anywhere else?

My mom makes a lot of traditional Chinese dishes and often times she would switch recipe or ingredients slightly, but I wouldn't say there is a dish I've never seen anywhere else.

What is in your kitchen that would not be in most of your friends' kitchens?

probably a jar of my mom's homemade marinara sauce.

Where does your family food shop, and how far do they drive to do it?

Often times, my family food shop at farms. Some are around half an hour away while some are closer. Other times we would just go to grocery stores near our house, usually around 10 minute drives or less.

What sport, instrument or activity did you end up doing — and who decided?

Violin, I chose it when I was younger because my brother played viola and I wanted to be like him. I also played piano when I was younger because my parents really liked the instrument.

What do you get asked about being Asian American that you are tired of being asked?

Probably if I am able to read and write in Chinese.

Is there something about your family you did not understand until recently?

Probably why my parents decided to move to the US in the first place.

What was the first job or business anyone in your family had in America?

My dad mainly does investing now in the US.

What city or neighbourhood did your family first live in when they arrived?

We first lived in Chestnut Hill, we recently moved to Acton.

What is one thing about America that someone in your family still finds strange, or funny?

Sometimes, my parents find the tipping culture in restaurants quite different to China.

What do you want someone to know about your family in a hundred years?

In a hundred years, I would hope that stories and memories of my childhood would be passed down. This includes the several years of covid, how days were before Chatgpt and apple phones were introduced, and many other stories of our family of 5.

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