Lost in Translation: Struggles and Hopes of Asian Immigrants By Serena Hu

Feature photo: The Chinatown Gate welcomes people to the community. (Serena Hu/NEHSJC)

Qingling Mei received a middle school education and worked at a doorknob factory in Guangdong Province. But because of the highly competitive nature of GaoKao, China’s national college entrance exam, she was unable to advance her education.

Mei, 41, immigrated to the United States eight years ago, but she is unable to speak English. Having spent her entire life in Guangdong Province, Mei decided to move with her two children to join her husband, who had immigrated three years earlier.

Though she personally struggles with English, Mei hopes her children can take advantage of the opportunities here otherwise not found in her homeland.

Mei’s comments were translated from her native dialect into Mandarin, which was then translated to English for this interview.

Due to her lack of English proficiency, Mei struggled to find employment in Boston, and the challenge intensified when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, causing many restaurants that Chinese immigrants relied on for work to close down.

Mei is not alone in her immigration journey. According to the city of Boston, 25% of the foreign-born population in the city are Asian or Pacific Islanders.

For younger Asian American immigrants like her 16-year-old child, Mei recounted how they wrestled with adapting to a foreign culture and language at school.

Immigrants often cannot sign important documents for special benefit programs, Lio said. The organization provides Mei and other low-income families with financial assistance for housing and food. It also offers emergency aid to the elderly, disabled, and children and education programs to help immigrants achieve economic independence.

Angelina O’Connor, a college student from Boston who also assists in Asian community work, said she often sees immigrants encounter racial prejudice and struggle to familiarize themselves with their new country.