Identity and family of American Chinese

There are about 4 million people living in the United States who identify themselves as members of the Chinese diaspora. Many are highly educated and successful in their chosen fields, such as the prominent physicist and US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the basketball start Jeremy Lin. Yet many who have moved to the United States still maintain a strong sense of their Chinese identity and ties with China.

A year ago Joan Wang decided to make a leap of faith by setting up her own civil engineering business from her home-office in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's been a success so far, with the company obtaining federal, state and local agency contracts. Joan credits her Chinese upbringing for helping her to find success here.

Hoan Wang said:"There are so many different ways to approach a problem, but you could always come up with the most creative and most effective way. And that makes the difference between a mediocre engineer and a good engineer."

Joan says she was inspired to become a designer of highways, bridges, water resources, traffic systems and public transport projects by experiences she has in the United States, most notably during a trip to Disney World in Florida.

Joan Wang said:"I was impressed by the perfectionism. That was demonstrated everywhere, from the theme park facility to the shows and customer services. It just clicked with me because I am a perfectionist."

During her nineteen and a half years in the United States, Joan obtained a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering and has spent fifteen years contributing to the vast public infrastructure of the United States.

But every two of three years she returns with her family to China.

Joan Wang said:"As a child you are responsible for taking care of your elders. So going back to see them and find out they are doing well and also get to spend time with them, is very important to us."

The trips have helped her younger son Raphael forge a strong sense of identity, especially through his grandparents.

Raphael Mu said:"I do feel very connected to them since I do speak Chinese fluently, so there's no language barrier or anything."

Raphael, who's thirteen years old, has decided he would like one day to live in the region and hopes to become a biologist.

Raphael Mu said:"Well, it's part of the Chinese culture to excel in school and I just think that's fitting."

Joan would also like to return to China, to develop innovative engineer projects designed to remove pollutants from storm water.

Joan Wang said:"The storm water runoff from the highways into the river carries a lot of pollutions and is harming the wildlife as well as the quality of human brings."

So despite all the success that Joan has achieved in the United States, she still feels a strong pull to China and wants to contribute to the success of a rising nation that has changed dramatically since she left almost two decades ago.