Ｍｙ　Ｎｅｉｇｈｂｏｒ’ｓ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ　Ｋｉｄｓ.docVIP

Ｍｙ　Ｎｅｉｇｈｂｏｒ’ｓ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ　Ｋｉｄｓ 　　 　　EVERY time we had dinner, I felt awkward when my Chinese mom repeatedly asked me to eat more. My mom in America would never push me like that. Finally I couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so I asked why she did that. She told me it was because she loved me and really looked upon me as her own child, and she worried about whether I felt hungry. From that point I understood that Chinese people had led a poor life in the past. What worries parents most is whether their children have enough food. Although their lives have dramatically improved, they are used to voicing the old concerns. I still don’t feel easy with constant requests to eat, but when my Chinese mom tries to persuade me to eat more, I always thank her with a smile instead of feeling angry.” 　　This story comes from Tyler, an American youngster who once lived in my neighbor’s home. His Chinese mom is Wang Huirong, a retiree from Beijing Normal University. 　　As economic exchanges between the US and China become more frequent, an increasing number of American teenagers have become interested in Chinese culture, which seems very new and different to them. Chinese has gradually become a hot choice for American high school students studying a second language. Tyler’s father has a trade relationship with China stretching back to the beginning of reform and opening-up, which gave Tyler the opportunity to have access to China from a very young age. 　　In the 1990s the American teaching and study exchange organization SYA initiated cooperation with the No.2 High School affiliated to Beijing Normal University, allowing American high school students to study in China and enjoy a home stay. Tyler was among them. Initially the procedure for such programs was complicated, but things are now much easier, and more and more American students are coming to China. 　　This time Tyler came to Beijing to visit his Chinese mom, and I joined them for a chat. 　　“Only reform and opening-up has allowe