ABC in Chinese American lingo means American Born Chinese and is not a complimentary term. It means a person of Chinese heritage born in the US, who is ignorant of the Chinese culture. When I was growing up in the US, I wished I were ABC because then I wouldn’t be burdened by knowing how to behave culturally appropriately. I had been envious of the idea, ignorance is bliss. Knowing how to explain Chinese culture as easily as ABC, I train people in cultural intelligence.
About Author
yvonne.liu.wolf
Yvonne Wolf was born in Taiwan and educated in the U.S. and Europe. She has extensive experience living and working internationally (Denmark and Japan). She is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Danish, and has studied Japanese, Spanish, and Greek. Between work and personal travel, she has visited more than 20 countries and well-traveled within the U.S. and Canada. She has worked with organizations and business executives focusing on communication strategies working with Chinese and East Asian partners. Among her many skills is mediating across cultural misunderstandings.