Reflections & Acknowledgments

What has captivated me the most in researching this history of my ancestors is how their experiences have influenced the values of my family today. I was not aware of where the values of hard work and perseverance that my mother emphasized truly came from, but as I began to read about and research my family and listen to stories from my older relatives, I realized that those are the values of Jung San Choy and his family, filtering through the years and generations to me and my family. They were how he survived and prospered in a challenging new land.

One's values are shaped by their and their family's experiences, and it fascinates me to see how my family today is the product of generations of Asian American history. All the way back to the Jungs' early years in California, the essence of their lives has been passed down through the family. Even though I am a half-Chinese high school student who has grown up in Palo Alto, the experiences of the Chinese immigrant, facing oppression, racism, and opportunity, is part of my identity, too.

In a recent conversation I had with my great-grand-uncle (the oldest living grandson of Jung San Choy), he described his experiences in the Bay Area, decades after the Jung family had left Pebble Beach. In the 1950s, Asian Americans were not welcome in some parts of the Bay Area. Landlords would not sell or rent their property to non-whites, often posting "Restricted" signs in their windows. Despite being turned down numerous times, my great-grand-uncle persevered and did not give up, and eventually he was able to find a home to raise his family in in Palo Alto; and soon more Asian American neighbors moved in.

I have observed little animosity or bitterness from my family members about how the Jungs were treated over the years. Maybe this too is another lesson from Jung San Choy, who likely focused on trying to make the best of his situation and opportunities, given the many challenges before him. Perseverance. Resilience.

In a recent email exchange with my great-uncle about our family's history, he remarked: "It forced us to be innovative, creative, and have a solid work ethic. None of us ever assumed we would receive something from nothing. We never demanded amenities...we always felt like we should be good examples and earn our respect from others... Good will follow from that." Self reliance, hard work, commitment to family, and discipline are all part of Jung San Choy's legacy, and I can see these values instilled in the family members around me today.

Completing this project has helped me better understand the immigrant experience and sparked new interests that I hope to pursue in the coming years. I would like to delve deeper into the Asian American experience as a whole in the United States, the evolving role of immigration policy, and contributions from many minority groups to the fabric of this country. I would like to know what it means to be an immigrant today, compared with an immigrant during Jung San Choy's time, what it means to be "from" a place or a country.

I am motivated to continue learning about my family history and to have more conversations with the older members of my family, who have meaningful stories to tell about life in the Bay Area decades ago. It is a privilege and an honor to learn from them and continue our family story. One of my goals is to share this project with community groups or museums that might be interested.

I hope I can continue the legacy of Jung San Choy by working hard and finding my own ways to adapt, persevere, help others, and prosper.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank Mr. Sandy Lydon for writing the book Chinese Gold, about the early Chinese settlers in the Monterey area, and for including important information about the Chinese fishing villages and Jung San Choy on his website. I am appreciative and inspired by his work and I hope to continue learning from him.

I would also like to thank my family members for taking the time share their thoughts, memories, and photos with me about the Jung family life in Pebble Beach and Oakland: David Jeong, Gwendolyn Jeong, Anita Jeong, Dale Jeong, Elliot Lowe, Lance Chang, Ramona Chang, and Genevieve Jeong Bennett.

I hope to keep working on this website as I learn more and have more conversations about the legacy and influence of the early Chinese immigrants in America.

Photograph of Ronan Bennett and Genevieve Jeong Bennett, Stillwater Cove, California, February 28, 2022