Born Glocal: Youth Identity and Suburban Spaces in the U.S

Amerasia Journal 36:3 (2010): 29-51

Born Glocal: Youth Identity and Suburban Spaces in the U.S. and Taiwan

Shenglin Elijah Chang and Willow Lung Amam

Introduction The youngest generation of diaspora societies wrestle constantly to find an enabling interlocking of the different cultures in which they find themselves: it is a struggle indeed to build another, different hybrid culture. —Doreen Massey1 Inside a San Francisco Bay area mall, four pan-Asian teens head spin and body pop to modern Taiwanese and American hip hop beats. In these hallways of what western observers have termed the “Asian mall,” these youth have found a place to express the complex cultural milieu that they inhabit as both Asians and Americans.2 As they contest and simultaneously redefine the cultural norms of this space, they work to build a hybrid culture from the materials they encounter as diasporic youth. This paper explores this struggle among transnational Taiwanese youth who spend their lives straddling cultural and national borders, as part of what Shenglin Chang has termed “transpacific com- muter families.”3 In both Taiwan and the U.S., the suburbs are increasingly the spaces where the majority of these transpacific youth grow up.

Dr. Shenglin Elijah Chang is Associate Professor in the Graduate In- stitute of Building and Planning at National Taiwan University. Her book, The Global Silicon Valley Home: Lives and Landscapes within Taiwan- ese American Trans-Pacific Culture, was published by Stanford University Press in 2006. Willow Lung Amam is a Ph.D. Candidate in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of California, Berkeley. Her dissertation examines the cultural landscape of ethnically diverse suburbs in the San Francisco Bay Area.

29 30 Amerasia Journal 2010 andcultural studies. cal approaches have emerged, primarily within fields of sociology toJonathan Epstein andPaul Hodkinson, respectively, three criti Youth culture and identity have been studied at length. According Youth Identity as Articulated in Local Space suburban environments to express their cross-border identities. everydaytheir materialsof the themselvesuseyouth how tigate encePark inTaiwan. Finally, weextend the case studies toinves cific examples from the Silicon Valley in the U.S. and Hsinchu Sci withinmultiethnic suburbs and transnational families, using spe how youth identities are shaped by cultural and spatial conditions moredeeplyatlook Second,we space. identity youthandon es derscoretheimportance ouroffindings within existing discours culture and identity. Taiwanesetoyouth relevantmaterials archival other and media analysisof popular youth hangouts, as well as content analysis of landscape physical and observations behaviorial by plemented sup are interviews These Taiwaneseschools. and American in educators with together youth and parents immigrant new and studyemploys in-depth interviews andsurveys with transpacific pertino,andHsinchu andTaizhong Science Park inTaiwan. This Cu and Fremont, Richmond, including area, Bay Francisco San the communitiessuburbaninvarious fromdecade past the over reflection of Taiwanese transnational youth identity and culture. Taiwanin importantserveasdestinations expression thefor and fields soccer and U.S. the in malls Asianlike spacesrespect, this ronmentsreflectionsas individual of collectiveand identities. In envieverydaylocaltheir craft struggling toother,youth see we parental and dominant cultural norms regarding education; on the transnationalgeographiesyouthidentitiesto tiedhighlyandare flicting cultural norms and values. On the one hand, we find that andnegotiated within and between multiple and sometimes con national youth identity as complex and contextual—often situated Asian and American identities. These liminal spaces revealtheir trans both of symbols and markers with inhabit they spaces the articulate to learn youth migration, American Taiwanese pacific crossingexperiences. We argue that through the process of trans ionedtheir everyday suburban landscapes reflectto their border- refash have youth suburbantransnational how asks study This This article is organized into three main sections. First, we un This study is based upon fieldnotes and observations gathered 4 5

These approaches include: thesociological ------Born Glocal 31

------cause Scholars in Scholars 9 8 Global youth culture refers to fashions, fashions, to refers culture youth Global 10 has This approach been by cul refined postmodern 7

6 Another contribution of this work is to the existing critique of of critique existing the to is work this of contribution Another Within all of these paradigms, everyday material landscapes material everyday paradigms, these of all Within In In all three approaches, youths’ social psychology is the fo helped to identify the centrality of two opposing trends: the emer the trends: opposing two of centrality the identify to helped of localization the and culture” youth “global a so-called of gence practices. cultural youth world. the of parts many in youth by shared practices and trends, identities. studies. in youth thought of Western the dominance non-Eurocentric inclusive, more a towards push to tend camp this agenda in studies of youth through especially studies, marginal has work Their world. non-Western the in youth and groups ized theoretical focus, nor are they assigned any significantshaping youthrole identity and culture. in In contrast, our work pres play to shown are spaces everyday which in cases of series a ents a critical role in how youth construct and sustain their variable social and cultural identities. Through deliberate acts and strat egies of spatial occupation and manipulation,make spaces that legitimize and youthfoster their own meaningsliterally and tural studies that subsume youth space analyses under the themes themes the under analyses space youth subsume that studies tural and Youthidentity and consumerism. fluidity, of fragmentation, the spaces they inhabit are those most often dictated by popular culture. consumer and media and spatial practices of youth seldom receive any substantive vironments served as not only as the stage, but actually the as not as but served only actually the stage, vironments was concerned approach The actions. CCCS’s anomic of youths’ ar They space. physical than rather space, symbolic with largely and gued that are to youth created subcultures claim symbolic social fashion like subcultures, youth of symbols material The space. landscapes social of landmarks the considered therefore are music, for youths. role. Of the three, the Chicago School approach was the most spa most the was approach School Chicago the three, the Of role. devi with concerned primarily however, were, They acute. tially and crime, membership, gang use, drug like behaviors ant youth which they asserted were more likely to occur within ethnically concentrated, marginalized urban areas. The Chicago School’s theories suggested deterministic that urban environmentally en approach begun at the University of Chicago in of at begun Chicago the the twenti early University approach Culture Contemporary for Centre the of approach the century; eth to “Genera approach studies cultural the recent (CCCS); Studies X.” tion cus, while space plays a if secondary, not an altogether absent, 32 Amerasia Journal 2010 ket, is the largest Asian supermarket chain in the United States United the in chain supermarket Asian largest the is ket, TawaRanch,orpopularlyalso99 Ranch99 known as Supermar Transpacific Youth Geographies of youth within their everyday suburban environments. whilealsoadding criticala non-Western perspective tothestudy disciplinary divide between the social sciences and urban studies, lyimmigrant and minority youth, occupy. Our work bridges the understanding the complex spaces that modern youth, particular youths’ everyday lives. of spaces predominant the are suburbs the Taiwan that in ingly increasandrecognize realityU.S.legitimize thetowithin or fails focus scholarly This youth. suburban into inquiry serious any exclusionof the atsettings, oftenurban in youthcentrate on sign, and city and regional planning. This literature tends to con eratureonyouth inurban studies, geography, environmental de studies in sociology and cultural studies, but also to emergent lit youth of fields traditional the to only not contribution a as tices and multiple cultural values and meanings. nation-states,friends,and family bordersbetweenmultiple tiate tual,that emerge from their constant efforts to straddle and nego identity,and virglobal,therealfromthe tothe fromlocalto the izedidentities. We emphasize the characteristics ofyouth culture ioningtheir local environments with aspects oftheir more global refash by dichotomylocal-global this withinthemselves situate Taiwanesetransnationalyouth how American on focuses rather debates between local and global cultural practices for youths, but cultures. systemtional have all had significant impacts on local youth sub educa Taiwan’s competitive and revival, Islamist post-9/11 the policy, one-child China’s instance, For traditions. and politics, events, cultural and local specific by impacted powerfully more is formation identity youth that suggest practice cultural local of scholars contrast, In world. the around youth between borders technology,and media new particular,in cultural the blurring in of availability the stress Scholars slang. same the adopt and sic, mu same the to listen shows, television same the watch styles, clothing same the wear to youth fortendency theinclude These Chinatown isfortheoldimmigrant; 99Ranchisforthenew. Finally, our work theorizes transnational youths’ spatial prac 11 Ourresearch does notdismiss theimportance ofthese 12 Far too little attention has been given to —Patricia LeighBrown

------Born Glocal 33 - - - - -

14 With the With 15

18 Among Asians, ethnoburbs tend to be be to tend ethnoburbs Asians, Among 16 Their daily lives weave in and out of multiple multiple of out and in weave lives daily Their 17 There There are a number of ways in which youth, especially Tai New immigrant suburbanites from prosperous Asian countries countries Asian prosperous from suburbanites immigrant New Within the past half-century, this shift from urban to suburban suburban to urban from shift this half-century, past the Within can university. Taiwanese foreign students also often come to the the to come often also students foreign Taiwanese university. can United States on temporary visas for their received has university that education group A graduation. upon Taiwan to return and the off “fresh or transnational are literature the in attention less far with relatives, with friends, relatives, or to “caretakers” pursue their education while their abroad. remain parents entrance exams Competitive for high school often and many prompt college in youth Taiwan who have not or are feared to not “make the cut” to be sent to the U.S. to complete their middle school or high school years, or simply to increase their chances of entering a reputable Ameri blur blur or even transcend national borders. In the new and vocabulary “astronauts” to refer scholars transnationalism, transpacific of as part “spacemen” of a elite that, global as are “as Li maintains, Street.” Main as oceans crossing comfortable take youth, wanese journeys. part in So-called these transpacific States United the in left youth immigrant are children “parachute” often engage in what Chang calls, the “transpacific commute,” reg commute,” “transpacific the calls, Chang what in engage often and business for Pacific the across forth and back shuttling ularly obligations. family host and home their of that worlds—including cultural and social to countries, the of point the where conception “home” seems to immigrants are now immigrants much more likely to well be non-European, contained longer no While suburban. and middle-class, educated, more still are immigrants new centers, urban within restricted and likely than other groups to cluster in Li suburban areas that Wei “ethnoburbs.” termed has groups, successful educationally and economically by dominated Taiwan. and Kong Hong from immigrants particularly residence has been a predominant geographic trend among Amer among trend geographic predominant a been has residence ican minorities, especially new immigrants. gateways,” immigrant “new The calls suburbs Singer have Audrey what as emerged as to opposed the urban centers. within old gateways new Act, Naturalization and Immigration U.S. 1965 the of passage with thirty-three stores nationwide. But unlike many Asian food Asian many But unlike nationwide. stores thirty-three with eth urban traditional within found be cannot stores these markets, serve they Instead, Chinatown. Francisco’s San like enclaves, nic now who Americans Asian middle-class of population a growing of 54 over percent in the Nationwide, suburbs. primarily resides areas. suburban Census-defined in live Americans Asian all 34 Amerasia Journal 2010 in the Valley are most likely to engage in transpacific commuting. national. Among groups,immigrant Asian Taiwanese engineers income of$119,994, 29percent abovethe city’s median. Fremont’s most among economically successfully are groups, with a sectors, median Valley Silicon high-tech in employed often India. and China from coming those of ity major with population, the of percent 43 up make now grants 2007. in plurality percent Asian 46 a to 1970 in ity major Caucasian percent 97 a from decade half last the within city the of balance ethnic and racial the shifted has particularly now hasthefastestgrowing Asian populationintheentire U.S. Taiwan,and Kong Hong and Indians. Asian from Chinese of up made largely 2000, in percent 34 was lation often loosely defined as the Silicon Valley, the foreign-born popu County, Clara area an Santa In industries. high-tech in work by impacted particularly been have geographies immigrant Asian Silicon Valley, California educationally. school rankings and place extreme pressures on youth to succeed residentialtheir choose who on families primarily to-do location transpacific youth are more likely to be from high-tech and well- Taiwanese education. higher around norms cultural dominant and parental to are identities and geographies youth American Taiwanese transnational linked intricately Park how Taiwan show in Science Hsinchu and Valley Silicon the of suburbs the in tional youth share more in common than less. other, the or Pacific transnaTaiwanese the of side one either on exist between them, compared to other youth who have grown up gether spatially, socially, and culturally. Whiletional differences experiences, andcertainly suburban geographies link both groups to educasharedinternationaltravel, thatWe argue transnational. born youth who regularly engage in transpacific commuting as the In our paper, we define both Taiwanese-born youth and American-youth who travel to the U.S. with their families for work or school. overseas attendto Chinese language schools andTaiwanese-born wanese American children, born in the U.S., who are regularly sentandforth between multiple countries. Amongthese manyisTai back travel regularly who families of children the youth, place” Silicon Valley Asians are also particularly likely to be trans be to likely particularly also Valleyare Silicon Asians immigration new Area, Bay the in suburb a Fremont, In The following case studies of Taiwanese transnational youth 21 19 Asian immigrants, immigrants, Asian The Silicon ValleySilicon The 20 New immi New 22 ------Born Glocal 35

- - - - - In 2010, its 24 U.S. U.S. News and World Report 23 Clearly, Taiwanese high-tech families invest heavily in a high- a in heavily invest families high-tech Taiwanese Clearly, While many Taiwanese immigrant families may reside in the reside may families immigrant Taiwanese many While quality education for their children. Believing in the old Chinese old the in Believing children. their for education quality of fate the control many point,” starting the at lose “Don’t adage, their children’s education from day one. Over the past decade are regularly displayed in television and print ads in Taiwan and in ads Taiwan print and in television displayed regularly are Mis 1). (Figure ads estate real local in headlined prominently are that families Taiwanese to asset important an such are schools sion af can they than homes smaller much or buy rent often will they a single through members family related several shuttle and ford district. school the within stay to order in house of of its high quality schools. academ In best 2010, thirty-sixth the School High Jose San Mission ranked best fourth and schools) private and public both (among school ic public open enrollment high school in the nation. School, High Junior Hopkins Asian. percent 74 was body student ju public for score API highest the had Mission, to school feeder a schools Jose San Mission 2007. and 2005 both in schools high nior According to a 2002 report, approximately 38 percent of Taiwan 38 percent approximately to a 2002 report, According ese engineers employed in regularly the travel Valley to Taiwan at least once a year for business. because Fremont within locate to tend they work, for Valley Silicon Figure 1: Mission San Jose homes often appear in television and print ads in Taiwan. Taiwan. in ads print and television in appear often homes Jose San Mission 1: Figure San the within Mission its location home emphasizes for a listing single-family This nation. the in districts school public performing top the of one district, school Jose 2010) 1, October accessed (http://classify.yibada.com/sfhouse/view.php?house_id=1285343857, 36 Amerasia Journal 2010 ceed led Mission San Jose High School to be one of the first schools byMission students, especially Asianimmigrant students, to suc home. at punishedgetting of fear for ber of gray-haired, stressed-out peers, who throw away A- grades getspaper.“C”aona Students themselves report seeing numa notunusual toget call a from parenta inTaiwan, when studenta Taiwanesethe or Army.”this whole family success is riding on them, that “they’re told it’s eitherdents, in particular, she claims many of the students feel that their TaiwaneseFor stu failure.” is less anything “indoctrinatedthat privatetopa tocollegegowantnot to upon graduation, theyare er explained that students are so competitive that, while they may of stress and severe mental health problems. numbers of the students in seeking trends permission troubling to studynote at homeMission because at Administrators youth. take 5 APs.” all SATs/Andwe on sine/3.14159/2400ssine/Cosine,yes, sine, “Co students: Mission perception common of the affirms cheer GPAs.4.0Apopular with valedictorians, all 31 graduated 2010, in and,severalyearsfor rate passpercent exam100nearlyexit a Placementcourses, sevenperiods day. a Mission hasmaintained sion San Jose High School now offers mostly honors and Advanced advantage. andsometimes separation tohelp give them anearly competitive dren,manyTaiwanese families sacrifice long distance commutes, Pursuing the dream of the highest quality education for their chil by mostofthesefamiliesfortheirchildren. Theseinclude: held priorities of series a identified Taiwanesehave we families, high-tech transpacific, with interviews and observations field of Such high stakes educational pursuits entail high costs for for costs high entail pursuits educational stakes high Such Driven by parental demands for more and harder classes, Mis • • • • • • them forentryintoprestigious American universities. Attendance at an American middle or high school to prepare International summercampsandvacations language, dance,andcustoms traditional learn to clubs and schools Chinese After-school lingual schooltoimprove theirChineselanguageskills bi or Taiwaneseelementary ranked highly a in Attendance English-speaking daycares andkindergartens Being bornintheU.S.andobtaining American citizenship 25 26

28 Principal Sandy Prairie says it is it says Prairie SandyPrincipal 29 The intense pressurefeltintense The 27 One Mission teach ------Born Glocal 37 - Photograph by Shenglin Elijah Chang by Photograph

30 31 Figure 2: Hsinchu is a city of 400,000 in northwest Taiwan. More than one-third of one-third than More Taiwan. northwest in 400,000 of city a is Hsinchu 2: Figure suburb outside the city. a high-tech Science Park, in Hsinchu the population works about 130,000 are employed in one of the Park’s 430 high-tech firms (Figure 2). Indeed, the Park has provided plentiful job op portunities for young engineers and entrepreneurs in pursuit of lucrative high-tech careers. Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan Park, Science Hsinchu the over all found be can Valley Silicon California’s of Reflections world in high-tech, middle-class suburbs, like Hsinchu Science Park in northwest Taiwan. The Park employs a labor forcemore than 180,000 of Hshinchu’s 400,000 residents, out of of which in in the country to in participate the Out (S.O.S) Stressed Students by started Program. program S.O.S. is a University-led Stanford their manage to how students teaches that grad Mission a former stress, while also engaging parents in reducing the on pressures costs. all at well do to kids their 38 Amerasia Journal 2010 ence Park, makingitaconvenient anddesirable locationfortransnational youth. Sci Hsinchu the to close located are two campuses, four its policy. Among only Figure 3: Stanford American Language School in Hsinchu maintains a strict English- Taiwanesemilliontwo aboutspent summer.dollarsThey every family the with abroad go to tutor private a hired reportedly ily by covered case one In tutors. speaking were little. Parents often hire high-priced private native English- they since countries other and in America camps summer to ing travel been have youth Hsinchu Taiwanese-born the of Many 3). (Figure education bicultural and bilingual quality a receive they that insistent education, children’sEnglish their about astic and other countries. Their parents are usually extremely enthusi of its denser urban neighborhoods. Hsinchu’smany gated communities, rather than moving tosome cially those who have lived in the U.S., often favor living in one of Valley.Siliconespe engineers,the Hsinchu in mid-1990s the in fortunesreachedtheirstocksthatmadefromITtheirpeakstheir who generation the among are engineers young these of Many turn and settle in wealthy, globally-connected places like Hsinchu. capital,families that emigrate tothe U.S. are farmore likely tore hasemerged asone ofthe many centers ofglobal technology and to the U.S. for work or education and never return. But as Taiwan ogy (IT) leader, many Taiwanese engineers would simply emigrate The Park’s youth are often raised between Hsinchu, the U.S., Before Taiwan became known as a global information technol 32 Photograph by ShenglinElijahChang Business Weekly Business , a fam a , ------Born Glocal 39 ------

34 in in Hsinchu Science

Meanwhile, Sara, Vincent’s close friend friend close Vincent’s Sara, Meanwhile, 35 school school that all want their parents Hsinchu the the For many American-born Taiwanese youth, Hsinchu is is Hsinchu youth, Taiwanese American-born many For 33 Whether American-born or Taiwanese-born, Hsinchu’s trans Hsinchu’s Taiwanese-born, or American-born Whether Taiwanese transnational youth not Taiwanese only speak more English The The National Experimental High School making within the shifting borders between their multiple home their multiple between the borders within making shifting (as opposed to host and home) countries. In this section, we ex youth to look at transnational tend the of case studies Taiwanese fluid the with landscapes everyday local, their embed youth how Transnational Youths’ “Glocal” Suburban Landscapes Suburban “Glocal” Youths’ Transnational is a signifi attainment educational high that it clear While seems of transnational and identities the experiences shaping force cant youth that assert we Hsinchu, and Valley Silicon the both in youth identity- and meaning self-constructed of processes in engage also national youth share similar educational experiences and lifestyles lifestyles and experiences educational similar share youth national cur school Their space. virtual and real both in them connect that ricula, home landscapes, and social networking habits are much youth, who neither those from of other local different Taiwanese such with English speak nor communities gated in suburban live separated are youth transnational Hsinchu, In ease. or enthusiasm peers. local their from culturally and physically both system for National Taiwan University students. my both “I met students. University Taiwan National for system states. he PPT,” on exes has never used PPC transnational, American who is a Taiwanese exclu on friends with chatting prefers instead and friends meet to Twitter. or Facebook of versions English-language sively Ya-Wei Lin and Wei-Yun Yang about Hsinchu youth. Hsinchu about Yang Wei-Yun and Lin Ya-Wei inside the real world, but also in their virtual worlds. Though by youth in shared sites are many parts of networks many social net social influence barriers and preferences language world, the board youth, ex a works and local habits. Taiwanese Internet bulletin Vincent, social Chinese-only a PPT, of importance the plained children to attend. The curriculum includes many standard Amer standard many includes curriculum The attend. to children ican materials. American read Students learn American history, newspapers, and American play sports. They grow up going to Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties, and dinners, Thanksgiving practices unfamiliar to youth in otherreporters claim partsChinese,” than ofEnglish speaking Taiwan. time more spend “They (equivalent to $70,000 U.S. dollars) for two semesters of private bi private of semesters two for dollars) U.S. $70,000 to (equivalent the during tutor private a of cost the plus education, school lingual summer. vacations. and camps summer their of destination the often Park is considered 40 Amerasia Journal 2010 Ranch 99 Market by a dating couple can serve as almost a couple’s Asian malls serve as such an important social hub that a trip to the socializingwithfamilyfriendsand local atrestaurants cafés.and stores, checking in on local and international grocery the of news, aisles and the eating cruising and hours spend often Consumers merce, but also of cultural gathering, celebration, and socialization. shops. medicine herbal and tea and services, travel acupuncture, and massage cafes, and restaurants boutiques, clothing salons, hair sonal services as dentists, bakeries, banks, book and music stores, by a supermarket. as a host of local and national retailers, and are usually anchored home to a large number of independent pan-Asian stores, as well leased. than rather condos, as owned typically are and malls, other than configurations and uses flexible more Their design includes a predominance of Asian stores, often with al American shopping mall, while also incorporating new forms. urban communities. in Asian malls, a more common feature of many multiethnic sub undoubtedly occur within traditional malls, but also increasingly stitial zones. For many transnational Asian youth, such practices inter and leftover,undefined, within experimentation and play dis cultural of spaces craft often youth malls, suburban ditional Within markers. cultural unique into landscapes ubiquitous tra and homogenous seemingly these make often youth fact, in But youth. modern of pursuits culture-driven consumer, mass mass the for trope common a as serves mall suburban American The Asian Malls in the San Francisco Bay Area environments thatreflect whotheyare. everyday their in spaces cultivate Taiwaneseyouth lives, tional transna driven, educationally their within how, display cases Both communities. gated within fields soccer on congregating youth Taiwanese-born and American-born of phenomenon the definitive lack of youth in the shopping malls and instead explore the Taiwan,note In we spaces. these withinarticulate and from malls and the types of identities, values, and meanings they derive U.S., we look at youth who spend their time hanging out in Asian dling both real and imagined national and cultural borders. In the stradcontinuouslyfrom derive theyidentities multistoried and Functionally, Asian malls serve not only as spaces of com of spaces as only not serve malls Asian Functionally, Asian malls have adapted many of elements of the tradition 38 They typically include professional and per

37 They serve as as serve They ------Born Glocal 41 ------As further testa As further 39 Photograph by Willow Lung Amam Lung Willow by Photograph 40 The Bay Area is home to at 41 Transnational Asian youth appear to be among the most pop most the among be to appear youth Asian Transnational There are around 140 Asian shopping malls nationwide, near nationwide, malls shopping Asian 140 around are There Figure 4: Fremont’s “Little Taipei” mall displays Taipei” many “LittleFigure of 4: the Fremont’s typical characteristics Asian malls in terms of both form and function. of Lion Supermarket. Lion ular Asian mall users. Many spend several hours at local malls more popular restaurants, like the Aberdeen Café and Café Oph and Café Café Aberdeen the like restaurants, popular more space in overlap cultures and generations Multiple 4). (Figure elia Tai to listen teens pan-Asian While ease. seeming with time and wanese and Hong Kong pop music at boba milk tea, shaved ice, and frozen yogurt shops, elderly Chinese and stake Vietnamese over on up catch and socialize to benches lot parking in turf their seas news from the many Asian language newspapers outside ly ly half of which are in California. least fifteenof these shopping centers,Sat the majorityand of which Friday are Fremont. particularly Valley, Silicon the in located urday nights are especially popular in Fremont’s “Little Taipei” mall, when families can pan-Asian be found lined up outside its official “coming out” to the larger community. tolarger the out” “coming official ment to the their federal popularity, government stationed 2010 Census takers at Ranch Af 99 across the supermarkets country. Black Roger scholar malls, Asian of significance social the firming but shop, to mall the to go not “do Asians many that observes well vacation.” weekend their take to rather 42 Amerasia Journal 2010 Yoswirl (Figure 5). ern” and “hip,” such as Fremont Auto Mall’s trendy Café Zen and and Twitter, are insteadFacebook forlike mall sites stores networking that theysocial describe and asblog “mod through shared and “old fashioned” mall stores. Their preferences, often widely “dirty,”and designs, knock-offs,”“traditional” “cheap “smelly,” about complain to youth transnational lead often products, ern” wear. surf and hop hip that Asian American teens display above average preferences for note studies marketing mall Asian selections. popular be to en like markets, nese shops. Even American products, translated and adapted for Chi mall many at abundance in Taiwanese available arethe markets flood Kitty, that Hello Kuromi like and Keroppi, characters nese Japa with Products comics. animation Japanese many cluding in Chinese, into translated titles Korean and Japanese of range Popularmalls. music film and selections most mallsin include a helpto dictate the selection and availability of items within Asian consumers,expresssophisticated,thatpan-Asiantastes modern, in” to everyday life in Taiwan via the Asian mall. “linked constantly are Taiwaneseyouth community. American Asian local the about and overseas from news broadcast ously Flat-screentransfers.money televisions severalcontinucafés in arrange and arrangements,travel make cards, phone cheap and also overseas. Most malls also offer places to purchase cell phones laptops to communicate not only with local friends and family, but popular among transnational youth who use their cell phones and national youthrefer toas“Taiwanese street food.” study,trans to many ends what grab and friends, with socialize of pan-Asian youth customers come in after school and on week decor, hip Taiwanese pop music, and snacks. funky feature malls, AreaBay Asian several in found chains tea Tapioca cafes. Quickly,and and Expressmilk boba popular two in mall book and music stores as well as in several local teashops found be can Junior Super and Generation Girl’s as bands such like Taiwanesemagazines Taiwanese“authentic” offeringPopular comforting, and goods. many,For cafés. representsfamiliar mall the both is that space a and restaurants trendy at out hanging and shops, local the ing cruis booths, photo Asian-style in pictures taking friends with Taiwanese immigrant youth, and other Asian American youth Caféswithfree wireless service, likeQuickly, are particularly Vogue 43 and Their sophisticated tastes for “mod for tastes sophisticated Their éf and and Marie Claire Marie Body , movies, and music from music and movies, , magazines, have prov have magazines, 42 Constant streams ------Born Glocal 43 - - - Photograph by Willow Lung Amam Lung Willow by Photograph Youth simultaneously appropriate mall mall appropriate simultaneously Youth 44 , allowing youth to engage what scholar Rob am Asian malls seem to serve as important spaces that reflect the the reflect that spaces important as serve to seem malls Asian Figure 5: Café Zen inside Fremont’s Auto Mall (an Asian mall) is a favored hangout Asian mall) is a favored Mall (an Auto 5: Café Zen inside Fremont’s Figure youth. It offers “modern” amenities like wireless Taiwanese for transnational many Internet connections, and popular Taiwanese music, magazines, and videos thatTaiwan. life in to “link in” to everyday youth allow Drew Drew calls their “vocal alter egos.” By selecting among KTV’s 110,000 English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, as able music youth claims, videos, are, to Drew them “position and Korean selves physically, socially, and culturally through the choice of renderings.” and songs spaces that further crafts these spaces as reflectionsof cross-cul products and services than traditional suburban malls. They offer offer They malls. suburban traditional than services and products youth a safe spot at night and after school with spaces for dance lessons, and and Chinese- music English-language performance, and karaoke. In Richmond’s Pacific East Mall, KTV Karaoke is a particularly popular transnational youth hangout that open until stays2:00 liminal zone between cultures that transnational youth occupy. At the same time, Asian malls are dynamic spaces where youth can construct and constitute their own, sometimes tenuous, re lationship to local space. Catering to their large youth clientele, Asian malls usually stay open later and offer a wider range of 44 Amerasia Journal 2010 national experiences. Transnational youth are increasingly likely trans and cross-cultural identities reflect their that spaces opted co- have youth these Instead, youth.” Hsinchu “typical the of at or pubs andbarsinHsinchu or Taipei. McDonald’s, or KFC, KTVs, districts, shopping theaters, Heart, creasingly popular breakdancing crowd, hang out in the Hsinchu in the especially teens, many organizer, community Hsinchu a tains a vibrant and active role in Taiwan. According to Ms. Mao, main space public hangouts, youth popular most the as spaces Unlike in the U.S., where malls have come to overshadow public Gated Soccer Fields in Hsinchu, Taiwan and symbolic spaces of transnational youth identity (Figure 6). realboth claim lot, parking 99 Ranch skateboardingthroughthe boards,breakdancing to andAsian Americanhip-hopbeats,and bill café on graffiti Chinese andcharacters style animeJapanese in notes love leaving of acts simple Their global. and local the tural identities and experiences of simultaneously inhabiting both youth claimspacethatreflectstheircross-cultural ties. Figure 6: FranciscoSan a inside billboard A Bay Area showsmall Asian how Asian Interestingly,however, bill the fit not do youth transnational the public place for “cool” youth. Others meet at movie movie at meet Others youth. “cool” for place public Photograph by Willow Lung Amam - - - - Born Glocal 45 ------

45 Huang Huang 46 Photograph by Shenglin Elijah Chang by Photograph In 1998, Mr. Wan pointed to a common distinction among Figure 7: The green space in the gated Grand Silicon Villa neighborhood of Hsinchu Hsinchu of neighborhood Villa Silicon Grand gated the in space green The 7: Figure is the soccer fieldwhereTaiwanese transnationalyouth often play soccer and ex identities. press their multicultural but they all adore basketball. Most of her students come small or from professionals, business professors, university of families “whether youth play soccer or basketball is a good way of identify of way good a is basketball or soccer play youth “whether youth.” local Taiwanese and transnational Taiwanese ing devel newly the in program English after-school an operated Hsin has of south drive one-hour a about Park, Science Taizhong oped between differences that argues She years. sixteen past the for chu, soccer and basketball largely represent cultural, not class, ferences.dif Among her sixty or so students, no one plays soccer, our community on the weekend is like taking a walk in America. in walk a taking like is weekend the on community our soccer on the field all speak English.” The youth playing speak and soccer play youth transnational the While youth: Villa Chi speak and basketball play youth local Taiwanese the English, that case the still was it that agreed Huang Principal 2009, In nese. to gather on soccer fields inside their protected gated communi ties. A decade ago, when we first investigated youth activities within transpacific families in Hsinchu,Taiwanese we observed transnational youth playing soccer and speaking English at soc cer fields in theVilla area known (Figure Valley as Grant Silicon commented that, “coming in Wan Mr. of resident the Villa, A 7). 46 Amerasia Journal 2010 spaces andlives. everyday their within interaction social for need fundamental youths’ these replace cannot they help, friends and family seas networks. social primary fromtheir displaced when isolation boredomand of sense a feel Taiwanese, who come to TaiwanAmerican-born everymany summer and winter break,lead to that distance social a still maintain youth transnational and local Rather, spaces. and works, net social friendships, shared to translate always not do culture popular in interests shared these However, youth. Taiwanese transnational and local both among popular are body-Nobody” Wonderand “Sorry-Sorry” “No Girls’ Junior’s Super like songs Pacific, the of sides both On share. groups these that qualities late a more globally connected culture within local space. zones they claim as “home,” transnational youth are able to articu publicHsinchuplacesincity. Within theirprivatized secureand residentshardlyencounter these Americanized popularinyouth wanese Americanyouth from other local children. Local Hsinchu nitiesembodysensethedetachment of differenceand Taifeltby bilingual school yards and open spaces of Hsinchu’s gateding theircommu common cultural experiences, like speaking English. The whereTaiwanese transnational youth spend time together nurtur transnational youthontheballfields. tive English speakers, but still na hesitate when they first encounter by tutored were and school her in up” “grew students the of many that comments Huang Principal Still, competitive. and ementary schools and English after-school programs are popular Taiwan’s in el course core a is English years. many for studied have they reluc though even skills, are language English their use youth to tant local Taiwanese most that out points Huang Principal Hsinchu. in groups youth transnational and local ese ments in Taiwan’s dense urban areas. requirespacelimitedgame’s the bypossibleeverywhere, made middleschool, or high school campuses. But basketball courts are elementary, nearby any in fields soccer nosoccer, aretheresince backgrounds, cio-economic her students did not grow up playing so similar of youth transnational Hsinchu’s Unlike Taiwan. in werestudents her of all But grew and owners. business born up To highlight their differences, however, is not to dismiss the the dismiss to however,differences,To not their is highlight soccer gatedHsinchu’s Taiwanthe separates that divide cultural another is English 48 While online connections with over with connections online While

fields appear to be a protected place a be to appear fields 47 ------Born Glocal 47 - - - (New Cool Places: Geographies of Youth Cultures York: Routledge, 1998): 123. York: In other literatures, this mall typology has been termed “Chinese mall,” “pan-Asian mall,” or “Asian-themed malls.” Doreen Massey, “Spatial Construction of Youth Cultures,” Tracey Skelton “Spatial Cultures,” Tracey Construction Doreen of Youth Massey, and Gill Valentine, eds., This process may not be an easy one. Transnational youth Our research informs the existing scholarship in youth stud Our research 2. 1.

tional youths’ location at the national and cultural margins—their margins—their cultural and national the at location youths’ tional “in-betweeness”—makes their everyday landscapes all the more identities. of their multicultural salient spaces for the expression Notes through which to express their identity and culture, whether it the or speak, they language the wear, they clothes the through be their own. spaces that they inhabit and claim as often feel a sense of ambivalence and unease about their as roles transcultural interpreters and sojourners. Nonetheless, transna Taiwan, they may seem more “Asian” in the United States as they they as States United the in “Asian” more seem may they Taiwan, negotiate between their multiple home landscapes. Their lives, nor at once neither wholly Taiwanese are identities, and cultures American. Whether in suburban Hsinchu or the Silicon Valley, they are part of an emerging global elite that belongs neither to one society but nor rather This another, to both simultaneously. seeming contradiction forces youth to construct a new position their multicultural identities are sites that show how transnational transnational how show that sites are identities multicultural their of thespaces andmeaning thevalue in defining part take youths home. of geographies everyday their constitute that ies that transnational youth engender fluid, hybrid, andmultiple cultural often identities. While they may act “American” in This case study of Taiwanese transnational youth has shown that, that, shown has youth transnational Taiwanese of study case This while their geographies may be very much dictated by parental and claim, engage, they actively norms, educational and cultural of mark and with social their local spaces symbols their complex Asian malls that act identities. as cultural youth hubs social and out play youth American Taiwanese where fields soccer exclusive Conclusion: Locating Youth Space within a Global Diaspora Diaspora Global a within Space Youth Locating Conclusion: spaces local within identities their construct youths Transnational high- strad even and of between, forth and back move constantly they as emergence The borders. cultural and national multiple to dle, which with materials new youth offers suburbs multiethnic tech, spaces. cultural multiple negotiating of experiences their articulate 48 Amerasia Journal 2010

10. 11. 6. 9. 5. 4. 3. 8. 7.

For works by the University of Chicago, see Robert Ezra Park, For works on global youth culture, see Alice Schlegel, “The Global Spread of Changing Environment,” Brown, Larson, and Saraswati, eds., 2002. On On 2002. eds., Saraswati, and Larson, Brown, Environment,” Changing a to Adapting Japan: and China Steven in W.“Adolescence Zusho, Harold Akane and son see policy, one-child China’s and culture youth On of Devout Muslim Youth in Indonesia,” Nilan and Feixa, eds., 2006. ing,” Nilan and Feixa, eds., 2006.; Pam Nilan, “The Reflexive Youth Culture Shahabi, “Youth Subcultures in Post-Revolution Iran: MahmoodAn Alternative2002; eds., ReadSaraswati, and Larson, Brown, TripleInheritance,” “AdolescenceSub-Saharanin Africa: ImageAn Constructed from Africa’s localizationOn2000). youthculturalof practice seeBame Nsamenang, A. talProcess and Social Intervention olescenceinTimes ofSocial Change: Cross-national Perspectives onDevelopmen Adolescent Culture,” R.K. Silbereisen and L.J. Crockett, eds., Plural Worlds Feixa, Carles and Nilan Pam 2002); Press, Adolescence in Eight Regions of the Globe eds., T.S. Century,”and Saraswati, 21st Larson, Brown, World’sthe of Experiences the Youthof of Adolescence: Beginning the at Kaleidoscope “The Larson, Reed BradfordBrownand B. example, for See Ibid. Their Music: If It’s Too Loud, You’re Too Old The Rise and Fall of Youth Culture,” Jonathon S. Epstein, ed., Garvey,Weinstein,andBergin Deena 1988); “ExpendableHadley:Youth: Giroux, HenryA. see theorists,studies cultural recent by works For 1988). ledge, DickHebdige, see Dick Hebdige, CultureGangtheof versityof Chicago Press, 1927); AlbertKircidel Cohen, Milton Thrasher, HeritageSociologyof Scenes, Subcultures, andTribes eds., Deicke, Wolfgang and Hodkinson Debates,” Key of Outline Critical A Cultures: “Youth Hodkinson, Paul 1998); Blackwell, ed., tity,”Epstein, JonathonS. Epstein, “Introduction: Generation X, YouthCulture, and Iden locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hsinchu, and Taizhong. youth, conducted landscapes analyses, and observed various youth hangout ence Park. In the second phase, we interviewed and Sci HsinchuValleysurveyedSilicon and the observationsinbehavioral educatorsconducted and 2007 to 2010. During the first phase, wefrom interviewedand high-tech1999 to families1998 and from phases, two during collected was data Field 2006). Press, in Taiwanese Trans-Pacific Culture American Chang, Shenglin Hodkinson. Teachers as Intellectuals: Toward a Critical Pedagogy of Learning (New York: Routledge,2006). HidingtheinLight:ImagesOn andThings The Gang: A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago The Global Silicon Valley Home: Lives and Landscapes with Valley Landscapes and Silicon Home: Lives Global The (NewYork: FreePress,CCCS,the worksForby 1955). Subculture, The Meaning of Style Youth Culture: Identity in a Postmodern World Postmodern a in Identity Youth Culture: (Chicago:University Chicagoof Press, 1925);Frederic (New York: Routledge,2007). (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, (New York: Cambridge University (New York: Garland, 1994). (Stanford: Stanford University University Stanford (Stanford: Global Youth? Global (London: Methuen,1979); DelinquentBoys: The (New York:Rout The World’s The Youth:

Hybrid Identities, Identities, Hybrid (Chicago: Uni Youth Cultures: YouthCultures: Negotiating Ad Adolescents and The City (Malden: (Malden: (South : The ------Born Glocal 49

------3:1 , March March , Ethnoburb: The 5:4 (2005): 359-377; Teenagers in Suburbia: Suburbia: in Teenagers 40:4 (2006): 645-662; Growing Growing Up in Cities: New York Times York New Geography Compass Sociology (Berkeley: University of Califor (Honolulu: University of Hawaii (New York: (New Cambridge University York: Global Networks (unpublished manuscript, 1993). manuscript, (unpublished 35:3 (1998): 479; and Li, Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia’s Dead End Kids End Dead Suburbia’s Wasteland: Teenage (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1977); Joa McCord, McCord, Joa 1977); Press, MIT (Cambridge: (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2006); Jo Redefining Urban and Suburban American: Evidence Urban Studies (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 2003): 155-180. 155-180. 2003): Institution, Brookings D.C.: (Washington, The Transnational The Villagers Transnational , 39. Other examples in the transnational literature include: From From Urban Enclave to Ethnic Suburb: New Asian Communities Ethnoburb Patricia Leigh Brown, “In California Malls, New Chinatowns: Booming Many high-tech companies and their workers from the core of the Silicon since the 1980s. have located in this area Valley U.S. Census Bureau, 2007. In 2007, 37 percent of theAsian population in Fremont was Chinese and 34 percent were Indian. Fremont also includes Peggy Levitt, 2001); Chang. nia Press, 2000. U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Census 2007. Bureau, In 2007, Caucasians made up 32 percent of the population, Latinos 15 African-Americans percent, and 3 percent. Unlike Coun Clara Santa within located not is Fremont Valley, Silicon the of most ty. It is in Alameda County, adjoining Santa Clara at its northern edge. Wei Li, Wei ed., in Pacific Rim Countries hanna L. Waters, “Transnational Family Strategies and Education in the Contemporary Chinese Diaspora,” Subjects, New Detailing Unbound: “Transnationalism Collins, Leo Francis Registers and Spatialities of Cross-Border Lives,” (2009): 434-458; Hasmita Ramji, “British Indians ‘Returning Home’: An Exploration of Transnational Belongings,” Brookings Institution, 2004). Brookings Li,Wei “Anatomy of a New Ethnic Settlement: The Chinese Ethnoburb in Los Angeles,” New Ethnic Community in Urban America 2009). Press, Chang. Li, lated metropolitan areas, using Census 2000 data. See William H. Frey, “Melting Pot Suburbs: A Study of Suburban Diversity,” Bruce Katz and Robert E. Lang, eds., 2000 Census from of percentage largest the have Americans Asian that indicates study Frey’s of any racial minority group. suburban residents D.C.: (Washington, Gateways” Immigrant New of Rise “The Singer, Audrey urban youth, see Donna Gaines, Gaines, Donna see youth, urban Hall, L. 1991); Press, Chicago of University (Chicago: Suburb California a in Study Case A Centers,” Cultural as Serve Shops Asian-American A10. 24, 2003, This number is based on a study by William Frey of the 102 most popu the post-9/11 the Islamist post-9/11 revival, see Nilan, 2006. competiOn the Taiwan’s 2006. system, see Chang, tive educational See for example Kevin Lynch and Tridib Banerjee, Mexico Melbourne, Cracow, in Adolescence of Environment Spatial the of Studies Warszawa and Toluca, Salta, City, and Childhood in Violence the Inner City sub to particular studies For 1998. eds., Skelton, and Valentine 1997); Press, 13. 21. 19. 20. 16. 17. 18. 15. 14. 12.

50 Amerasia Journal 2010

36. 35. 33. 32. 31. 30. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 29. 34.

Interviewees explained other digital divides between Taiwanese Interview byShenglinElijahChang,2010. transnational use Google, while local Taiwanese youth more commonly useAOL. YahooIn terms of search Taiwan.engines, transnational and Americanyouth tend to instantmessaging, while transnational or American-bornyouth often prefer and local youth. For instance, Taiwanese youth more commonly use MSN for Ibid dren Take It?,” YourChil Can But Mushrooming, Is Education Bilingual Chinese: than Ya-WeiWei-Yunand Lin Yang,MoreSpend “They Time English Speaking Chang. in companies Hsinchu reached $1.008trillionNT(orabout$31.5billionUS)in2008. high-tech among revenue sales annual report, this to ing Accord R. 2009). Park Administration, Science Hsinchu Yen,2008,” (Hsinchu: ed. Report Annual Park Science “Hsinchu Park, Science Hsinchu Aratani, 2007. 2010. 5, March CA, Fremont, Amam, Lung Willow by interviews Anonymous Society fortheStudyofSocialProblems Migration,” Family of Processes in Children of Participation The hoods: Child “Transitional al. et Thorne, B. F.Orellana, M. See position. future families often stress the importance of education to enhance their families’ 2010. According 1, to Orellana, Thorne, Chee, and Lam (2001), transnational March CA, Fremont, Amam, Lung Willow by interview Anonymous tional Review, November5,2007. Students,” Out “Stressed Aratani, Lori 2010. 16, March CA, Fremont, Amam, Lung Willow by interview Anonymous San Josein2006was$831,000. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average housing cost in Mission fornia/mission_san_jose_high_school. available online at: http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/cali Report World and News U.S. (San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2002). GlobalImmigrantNetworks“LocalandofProfessionals SiliconValley”in account. See AnnaLee Saxenian, Yasuyuki Motoyama, and Xiaohong Quan, numbers of trips would be much higher these that if believe these we fieldwork, our otheron Basedfactors members. family were other by taken into takenthose reasonsor other for tripsreturninformationcollectabout not tech engineers, managers, and CEOs and the business trips they took. It did landChinese, and others) in the Silicon Valley. The survey focused on high- The report surveyed 2,000 foreign-born engineers (Taiwanese, Indian, main Ibid. nese, Korean andVietnamese. Japa Filipinos, groups,including other ethnic of Asian populations small . Business Weekly , “Best High Schools: Mission San Jose High,” Jose San Mission Schools: High “Best , (April2003):104-109. 48:4(2001):20. Washington Post Magazine Post Washington Educa ------Born Glocal 51 - - - - - . (Walnut Creek: Row Creek: (Walnut . Karaoke Nights: An Ethnographic Rhapsody Ethnographic An Nights: Karaoke tionalism and the Irish Diaspora” (Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Cali 1997). fornia, Berkeley, Interviews by Shenglin Elijah Chang, 2010. man and Littlefield, 2001): 22. man and Littlefield, 2001): Elijah Chang, 1998. Interview by Shenglin Interview by Shenglin Elijah Chang, 2009. Michael Black studied a similar phenomenon in the area among SanIrish immigrant youth who regularly gather Franciscoon public soccer Bay fields. See Michael Francis Black, “Cultural Identity: Sport, Na Gender, Chang. 7. Patricia Leigh Brown, Ibid. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Express Tapioca has 22 locations; Quickly has 43. Thomas. Drew, Rob For more on the design of Asian malls see D.C. Lai, “A Study of Asian- themed Malls in the Aberdeen District of City of Richmond, British for RIIM, 2001). of Excellence Centre Co Vancouver lumbia” (Vancouver: Asian-themed of “Assessment Strategies, Development Consultants Strat Thomas Development Consultants Thomas (Fremont: Fremont” of City Retail: 2005). egies,

48. 45. 46. 47. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 37. 38. 39.

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