In Part Two of our journey with Jin, we move from the harrowing escape routes of the 1970s to the vibrant, complex grid of 1980s San Francisco Chinatown. This episode explores the different timelines of the Chinese diaspora—where four-generation American families collided with a new wave of Southeast Asian refugees. We trace a crazy meet-cute that involves a blind date gone wrong, the high costs of long-distance longing, and a relentless pursuit involving 150-pound bags of rice.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Chinatown’s Linguistic Map: Why 1980s San Francisco was a complex grid of mutually unintelligible dialects, from the Toisanese "Old Guard" to the prestige of Hong Kong Cantonese.
• The "Linguistic Chameleon": The double-silence faced by Teochew, Hokkien, and Hakka refugees who had to mask their origins to find work in garment factories and kitchens.
• The Logic of Lineage: A deep dive into the Confucian family structure and the strategic practice of child transfer (ti) to preserve family altars.
• The Gaokao Ceiling: How China’s high-stakes national exam served as a 5% gateway to social mobility—and how missing the cutoff changed the trajectory of Jin's mother’s life.

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Explore the Cultureful Heritage Collections:

✊🏾Black Voices Collection – Celebrating leadership, advocacy, and lived experience. The Collection on Spotify and YouTube

🏮Chinese and Taiwanese Voices Collection – Diversity of the diaspora and relating to family and identity. The Collection on Spotify and YouTube

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Support Our Mission: Become a Season 3 Supporter If you believe in our vision of a connected global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider becoming a Season 3 Supporter. Your contribution keeps these co-created memoirs independent, accessible, and powered by neighbors. Become a Supporter today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube: Link coming later today

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Historical References & Context

To maintain the integrity of our storytelling, we utilize peer-reviewed historical data and archival records. Key context for this episode includes:

• The Siyi Network: Documentation on the Toisanese (Taishanese) pioneers and their century-long influence on San Francisco property and commerce.
• Post-1965 Immigration: Records on the shift of Cantonese as the "prestige language" of business and media following the Hong Kong wave.
• The Gaokao System: Historical data on the 1977 reinstatement of the National College Entrance Exam and its role in defining the professional class.
• Confucian Hierarchy: Research on Filial Piety and the roles of the Da Xi Fu (Eldest Daughter-in-Law) within Teochew merchant family structures.

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Episode Credits

Host, Producer, Research & Sound Design: Jess Lin

Advising and Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Founding Supporter Shout-outs: Special thanks this week to the Zhou Family, HS, and James and Je

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

Cultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.

Thanks for being here!

“In a world that often feels divided, Cultureful is about the intersections—where we put ourselves in each other’s shoes.”

In the Season 3 premiere, we sit down with Jin - a 37 year old, Teochew Chinese American tech product manager from Peoria, IL- to trace a family lineage that spans the specialized merchant guilds of Southeastern China to the high-stakes escape from the outskirts of Saigon. This episode isn't just a survival story; it’s a deep dive into the historical backdrops of the 1970s—from the "Planned Economy" (jìhuà jīngjì) of the Cultural Revolution to the existential risk faced by the Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The Teochew Diaspora: How a 30-million-strong ethnic group came to dominate the rice and medicine trades across Southeast Asia.
• Survival by Rations: Life under China's Cultural Revolution coupon system and the preciousness of a single morsel of pork.
• Saigon Conditions: The different challenges in urban Saigon versus rural outskirts during the Vietnam War.
• The Gulf of Thailand: The harrowing reality of systematic pirate encounters and the informal economy of the Pulau Bidong refugee camp.

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Support Our Season 3 Fundraiser- STILL OPEN!

We are in the final days of our fundraiser to build a platform for cross-cultural storytelling that builds empathy across generations. Our goal is to find a few more Founding Supporters.

If you believe in our vision of a connected global neighborhood where no one is an outsider, please consider a donation today: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ni3HPWHS-Rg

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Historical References & Sources

To maintain the integrity of our storytelling, we utilize peer-reviewed historical data and archival records. Key sources for this episode include:

• The Vietnam Refugee Crisis: Statistics on the 1978–1980 exodus via the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) archives.
• China’s Planned Economy: Documentation on the Jìhuà Jīngjì and the 1960s and 70s rationing systems via the Journal of Chinese Political Science.
• Pulau Bidong: Records on the 1979 population density peak via the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.
• Teochew Merchant History: Research on the Cholon district commerce via The Overseas Chinese and South East Asia historical surveys.

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Episode Credits

• Host, Producer, Research & Sound Design: Jess Lin
• Advising and Production Support: Ruben Gnanaruban

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

Cultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.

Thanks for being here!

UPDATE: We are impacted by the winter storm! Season 3 will now launch Thursday Jan 29th. Stay warm, ya’ll!

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Cultureful is a project for bridging cultures and building empathy. We’re back for Season 3 on Tuesday, January 27th! New intimate, up-close, and human stories coming your way. I have deep-dive conversations with regular, amazing people about the everyday experiences, traditions, and family histories that connect us all.

3 Ways to Join the Global Neighborhood:

1. Subscribe: Hit the "Follow" button so you don't miss our premiere on Jan 27.
2. Watch on YouTube: Experience these stories in video at https://youtube.com/@cultureful?si=oV0E-T7UfcNHKAr3
3. Support the Mission: Become a Founding Supporter of Cultureful by Jan 31: https://ko-fi.com/cultureful

Support the show

Connect with us on Instagram: @thecultureful

Website: https://linktr.ee/cultureful

Cultureful—Culture-F-U-L like beautiful.

Thanks for being here!