Letter from Thomas Sun, Middlebury College, to Alfred E. Stearns, February 14, 1928
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Thomas Sun, Middlebury College, to Alfred E. Stearns, February 14, 1928
Subject
Letter from Thomas Sun, Middlebury College, to Alfred E. Stearns, February 14, 1928
Transcription
Dear Mr. Stearns,
I went down to New York for a few days this last Christmas vacation with Charlie, and I dare say that I learn much from the trip. The thing that I have in mind is that I can not get along with the Chinese very well, not that I don’t like them, but I can not talk to them.
I am ashamed to admit this, but as the circumstances are, I have to do so. I can talk to them, but with very simple Chinese; I forgot all my good Chinese. When they say something I must hesitate that I might give them the wrong answer. Whenever I write home I will have to look up the words in the dictionary. I forgot so much of my Chinese that I think that it time for me to do something.
The only thing left for me to do is that I must come in contact more with the Chinese than I do now. Columbia, N.Y.U., Harvard, or Amherst have Chinese there, but I have such a place in my heart for Middlebury, that it is very hard for me to transfer to any other college. I really love this college more than I can express with words, but on the other hand I must do something to get back my Chinese. College fraternity and popularity are all right, but after all when I go home I will have to work shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Chinese. As the situation stands now I do not know any Chinese so that I can write to them even, and how are they going to work with me and trust me.
When I was down New York, I was very lonely, and the same is true when I was in Boston last summer. I mingle with American boys, and as you might say that "I am Americanized.” It is good to know the American while I am in this country, but to a certain extent only, but I have gone a little too far in knowing them. And as a result I became one of them.
The fellows and girls in College here look at me as an American, and I was glad when the Y.W.C.A. asked me to speak before them on something about China. That was the only sign that I received here in College that reminds me that I am a Chinese.
Don’t you think that it is time that I should do something. I am completely lost and don’t know what to do. I hope that you can enlighten me to this matter.
Very sincerely yours
I went down to New York for a few days this last Christmas vacation with Charlie, and I dare say that I learn much from the trip. The thing that I have in mind is that I can not get along with the Chinese very well, not that I don’t like them, but I can not talk to them.
I am ashamed to admit this, but as the circumstances are, I have to do so. I can talk to them, but with very simple Chinese; I forgot all my good Chinese. When they say something I must hesitate that I might give them the wrong answer. Whenever I write home I will have to look up the words in the dictionary. I forgot so much of my Chinese that I think that it time for me to do something.
The only thing left for me to do is that I must come in contact more with the Chinese than I do now. Columbia, N.Y.U., Harvard, or Amherst have Chinese there, but I have such a place in my heart for Middlebury, that it is very hard for me to transfer to any other college. I really love this college more than I can express with words, but on the other hand I must do something to get back my Chinese. College fraternity and popularity are all right, but after all when I go home I will have to work shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Chinese. As the situation stands now I do not know any Chinese so that I can write to them even, and how are they going to work with me and trust me.
When I was down New York, I was very lonely, and the same is true when I was in Boston last summer. I mingle with American boys, and as you might say that "I am Americanized.” It is good to know the American while I am in this country, but to a certain extent only, but I have gone a little too far in knowing them. And as a result I became one of them.
The fellows and girls in College here look at me as an American, and I was glad when the Y.W.C.A. asked me to speak before them on something about China. That was the only sign that I received here in College that reminds me that I am a Chinese.
Don’t you think that it is time that I should do something. I am completely lost and don’t know what to do. I hope that you can enlighten me to this matter.
Very sincerely yours
Creator
Thomas Sun
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
March 23, 1928
Rights
All Rights Reserved by Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence