Date: 2023-05-24

Degree: Doctoral Thesis

Programme: Doctor of History

Authors: Leong Wong Un Na

Supervisors: Prof. Wah Kwan Cheng, University of Saint Joseph

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Abstract:

The Macanese, Luso-Asians and the Portuguese in Asia began to move between various regions of Asia in the 19th century. Later they immigrated to the United States in the 20th century due to political and economic reasons. They mainly lived in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. This dissertation focuses on the life history of the above immigrants in the Bay Area through oral history (interview), which is characterized by the fact that most of them have lived in two or more regions in Asia since their elder generation. When there was uncertainty in the economic and political environment, they decided to travel a long way to move to the United States. This can be called a “”second immigrant”” family situation. They have been living in the Bay Area for decades, formed a social circle, gradually integrated into the local culture and adapted to life in the United States. At the same time they preserve the cultural customs and etiquette of the Portuguese such as communicating and keeping contact with each other in various sources, and mantaining the patriotic sentiments. In addition, they keep the faith of Catholicism despite of the different religious beliefs in a country of immigrations. And also, they always keep Portuguese and Macanese cuisine as their family dishes and so on.

世界上雖然有很多移民人士，但每一位都不同，由於他們的背景和經驗，都有其獨特性。而在灣區的「土生葡人」和「亞洲葡裔」的經歷，就有其移民美國的獨特性和重要性：在地域廣闊的遷徙旅程中，他們創造了新的復合文化，在融入移居地的同時，保留自身原有的文化身份。 土生葡人和亞洲葡裔移民到一個遙遠陌生的國家，在那裡生活已經超過半個世紀。他們是如何成功地在一個新的國家融入主流社會、鞏固事業基礎、延續下一代幸福和承傳民族文化的呢？ 同樣地，他們要面對移民問題，相對其他移民人士，他們有很強的宗教凝聚力，而這種凝聚力又使他們有共同的理念甚至仿傚，相互之間逐步地融入新的社會。在這路途中，他們需要實施一些「融入」的策略、技巧和門路。加入軍隊是其中一個途徑，為了能迅速賺取收入，並且可以獲得福利在美國過著基本生活。美國是一個存在歧視的社會，如要融入也不一定容易，當兵是少有途徑的一種。另外，有些土生葡人和亞洲葡裔學習過去海外葡萄牙人祖先從商的天賦本能，在商貿中打拼闖出一番事業。又有些願意重新接受教育，提高學歷，從零做起等。