Hunxue

I went looking for a term that means half-blooded in the sense of being half-Chinese.

In Thailand, everyone refers to me as a Luk Kreung. Actually I usually introduce myself as such when Thais are caught off guard by my ability to speak almost accent-less Thai (and the fact that at first glance I look mostly caucasian). They usually use the word "chat" when describing how well I speak, which has a meaning somewhere in the middle between "fluently" and "clearly." In Thailand, at least where I lived in Bangkok, luk kreungs are well accepted, sometimes even idolized. I'm sure this wasn't the case decades ago, and may not be the case in less developed areas or with more conservative Thais. But these days, foreign presence, especially American, is growing, widely embraced, and simply part of every day life in Bangkok. I've never had any issues being half Thai in the country. In fact, it has been a huge asset and I'm proud of it.

Technically, however, I'm half-Chinese. I don't have a drop of Thai blood in me. My ancestors are from China, somewhere around Fujian. My mother's grandparents on both sides immigrated to Thailand, and her parents lived and met in Thailand. She considers herself full Thai because of how little connection she has had to her roots in China. She was born and lived in Thailand her whole life before she met my American father. Thai is her native language, she is fluent in English, but knows very little Mandarin. Her mother, however knows Thai, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

I have no idea what Chinese attitudes toward Hunxue er (literally mixed-blood child) are where I will be serving. Until I get a good idea of what connotations come with the term, I'll refrain from openly referring to myself as one to Chinese people. I am, however, proud of it, and excited to learn more about my Chinese heritage that I know so little about. I am aware that the area around Sichuan where I'll be serving is in a completely different region than where my ancestors came from. And the turbulent history of China has churned up the social and cultural construct of Chinese society so that even if I were to visit Fujian, it would not be quite the Fujian of my great grandparents.

For now I'll use the word Hunxue because I like it.