Chao Ye’s Interview
as told to Devina Persaud
Chao Ye was a post-undergraduate student in Jiaxing, China, when he decided to move to America to pursue higher education and a better life. With his parent’s support and a dream, Chao made his way to Long Island University at C.W. Post, where he pursued his Master’s degree in Biology/Biomedical Applications. Approximately four and a half years later, Chao reflects on his experience with this interview. Read on!
Growing Up in Jiaxing
“… I was born in China, in a province called Jiaxing. It’s near Shanghai… It’s a city. It’s a kinda big city. When I was born, it’s fine, it’s good, but… at that time, almost everybody was poor. So, life was not that easy. “
Life in Jiaxing
“… Not lots of homeless people, it’s just poor. It was all Chinese people. When I was growing up, within ten years, the situation is getting better and better. And my parents found a new job, and our life is going to be a little bit richer, and when I was growing up, when I was in college, they started making lots of money. Then, I have the opportunity to go to America, you know?”
Chao’s Family
“… My family is like, not that close. We just have my grandparents, and they live by themselves, and we all live by ourselves.”
I’ll take a pause from directly quoting Chao, because I found this part so cool! Upon being asked if Chao had any siblings, he explained that he is an only child, because at the time he was born, the One-Child-POlicy was being enforced. And so, not many people had more than one child. For those that did, they were forced to pay unimaginable fines to keep the child.
“… [continuing the above discussion about siblings/children] That has changed now. Now, you can only have two children.”
Chao’s Childhood
“… When I was in middle school, haha, my parents sent me to a private school, and we just all lived there, but at that time we were all really young, so… Life is like really happy there, because we are all really young and no parents are near us, and we all live in the school, and at that time, it was really good.”
Why I Decided to Move to America
“… My father thought that in America, I could get a better education, then if I go back to China after I study in America, I’ll find a better job. And, he thinks America, the environment is better. Like, for jobs, and he always wanted me to be a doctor or a scientist, and he saw that America had a higher level of things here, so he wanted me to study here.”
“… The economy, when I left there, the poor people were always going to be poor, and the rich people would only get richer. [The income distribution] is unequal. The poor people can always get jobs, but the pay is really, really low. You need education, or you need a good relationship to get a good job.”
“… Even if I never left China, I would still be able to get a job. And, because I graduated from a medical school, I could work in a hospital, and in the hospital the payment is good, and I would be able to support myself and my children. But, people always want a better life. I thought if I went to America, I would have more choices, and I could get a higher education.”
Coming to America
“… I expected lots of freedom, and when I was growing up, like in middle school, I already lived in school, and in college, I lived in another city without my parents. So, things didn’t change that much. But, it was the first time I went abroad, to a different country. I was excited about it. But, before I came here, I was still nervous, because it was still… I didn’t have parents to help me if I really need it. So, it’s a little bit scary, haha!”
First Impressions of NYC
“… My first impression was that the air is clean, much cleaner than China. When I first got to America, I went to the school’s orientation. They took the new students to the city, and we went to see the Statue of Liberty and after that, I just walked through Manhattan. Then, in the train station or something, I saw some people, a couple with pizza and coffee which they gave to a homeless guy. And I was shocked, I was really shocked at that. I never forgot that.”
Expectations about LIU/Life in America
“… I thought the college would be parties, and not so much homework. It’s a lot. It’s like when I got here, the people I hung out with were still Chinese guys. So, at first here, I don’t think my English improved that much. After, I joined the lab, I think it’s much better since I got here.”
“… The transition was not that hard. I grew up all by myself, you know? I went to a different place for college, and I can say it was easier than I expected… as long as I had money. If you don’t have money, your life will be worse, because after I got a job, I supported myself, and suddenly, life became not that easy.”
Living in America
“…I live in Flushing, and [before that] I lived around my school LIU Post, and I changed to a lot of places, but all near school. So, near Oyster Bay and Syosset.”
“I always lived with Chinese students, and once I lived all by myself. I lived there for 2 years… When you are looking for roommates that are not Chinese, you do not know their lifestyles, and you will want to hangout with Chinese guys more, so…. You want your main life with Chinese guys, so you can talk, and you have the same culture and you can hang out. It’s easier for us. But, if you stay with an American, maybe your lifestyles are not the same, and you have to speak English to each other, and it’s not as easy as speaking Chinese. So, we can have American friends, but we will think it’s better to live with Chinese guys.”
“… [my parents] are still working, and they are trying to call me, but no big changes. My mother worries about me, but my father has said ‘stay there, don’t come back’. He never worried about me, but my mother, and my grandmother want me to go back to China to have a wife and children and stay in China. I think [my parents] like American culture, but they have not gotten used to it.”
Having known Chao for over three years, I can truly say that this experience has allowed him to open up about his life in China more than ever before, thereby allowing me to better understand him and his background. Overall, Chao has said that he does not regret his decision to move to America for many reasons, including a better environment, and a greater opportunity for higher education.
Chao Ye (third in from left) with the rest of the Gucwa Lab at LIU Post, 2013
Chao is currently a research assistant at Mt. Sinai’s Medical School, where he works on research in Drosophila melanogaster. While Chao is currently deciding whether to move back to China or stay in America, he would like to explore his career possibilities further regardless of where he lives.
