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has gotten smaller, the community still large & strong. also help w/ English Chinatown provides instant community w/ common language

Ted- 4th or 5th generation- born in Fresno CA. Didn't have a Chinatown in Fresno. not many Chinese families in his community. His parents always go back to Chinese communities for special banquets. Visited [?] in LA or San Francisco. Chinatown place to go to regroup, learn. During exclusion [[strikethrough]] areas [[/strikethrough]] acts - protected place. Chinese were kicked out of areas. So Chinatown protected them. Also place to get skills.
In DC - original Chinatown [?] Federal Triangle area. Place to get an identity,[?] to go back to find out more about where from.

Stan: quote book again: Chinatown brings many generations + experiences back together. Identity. In 1940s/50s- couldn't go to schools w/ others, own schools. Not fun being Chinese & rejected heritage. Chinatown allowed him to self-discovery & identity.

Shirley - grew up in DC- one of a few Chinese, aware different then Caucasian friends, always had rice, didn't have sandwiches. Dream to be like Dick & Jane book, more like American dream. Chinatown gave place to go, not so different.

Walter - grew up also area not many Chinese. Visited families. Came to DC to work. Visited NYC for Chinese [[?]] - mesmerized by # of Chinese. Thrilling to be amongst other Chinese. Still able to identify w/ new immigrants, even though 1st generation American. 

Stan: What makes it a Chinatown. Lot of intangibles.

Ted: Philosophical question - should Chinatown be preserved? Not so much # of people or restaurants or festivals. Term Chinatown is what makes it is, why want to preserve it. Stan - usually has own cultural significance. Stories go behind why Chinatowns in a particular place. Ted - part community but part of myth of Chinatown. Chinatown evokes an image - positive & negative, audience participant - place to go, surrounded by history. Stan - touchstone for him

Walter - Those born in US, more of an abstract meaning. For immigrants that come find a comfort in sharing similar experience. 

Ted: [[strikethrough]] syn everything [[/strikethrough]] signs in Chinese language. 

Question - how keep Chinatown in DC as is. Mom & Pop shops. How stop gentrification? From audience. Practical questions. No one sure need answer to it. 

Shirley - area is expensive - impossible. 
Walter - because of gentrification will have just a commercial Chinatown rather than real Chinatown. Feel city needs to provide affordable area. need some Chinese entrepreneurs. 
Stan: need a meaningful area. 
End: Reading book: Myth of America - patchwork nature.