Sea turtles (haigui) return to China with a music video

Everything is a pun in China and overseas Chinese aren’t exempt from the language exercise. Called haigui (海归 or 海龟, sea turtle which has the same pronunciation), ethnic Chinese's successes, fears and experiences upon returning to China after a time abroad, has been documented over the past few decades.

Now a recent video made by Reno Studios with a song by two haigui living in the U.S. has caught on online. ChinaSMACK explains that, “The song is based on the writers’ real story of returning to China, with a complexity of excitement and frustration, optimism and disappointment, hope and hopeless.”

Here’s the translation of the song, and as ChinaSMACK points out, 妈呀 (Mother) is a pun that can be used for surprise, excitement or frustration -- much like the haigui writers' journey.

妈呀, 中国 Mother, China

我生在新中国, 我长在红旗下
I was born in the new China, I grew up under the red flag

我带过红领巾, 我爱国如爱家
I’ve worn the red scarf, I love my country as I love my family

十年寒窗苦, 我好不容易进清华 
After 10 years of studying hard, I managed to get into Tsinghua

我成绩不算差, 可我户口落不下
My grades are not bad, but I can’t get a Beijing hukou [residency]

阴差又阳错, 我出国象出家
It is strange, I felt like I left the country like a man who left home to become a monk

为了养家糊口，我得赶紧办绿卡
To support my family, I had to quickly get a green card

出国护照难拿，回国却偏要VISA
It was not easy to get a passport to leave the country, and now I need a visa to return to China

入了外国籍，但我做梦都说中国话
Though I have obtained foreign citizenship, I still dream in Chinese

我的大中国，我的大华夏
My great China, my great Huaxia [another name for China]

尽管我在外飘泊，总是把你牵挂
When I wander abroad, you are always in my heart

我的大中国，我的大华夏
My great China, my great Huaxia

风里雨里同度过，我只认你这个妈
Through all hardships, I only call you my mother

我曾经爱闯荡，现在却很想家
I once loved going out into the world, but now I very much miss home

爸爸已经去世，家里就剩妈妈
Dad had passed away, and now only my mom is left at home

我很想做海归，怕你嫌我年纪大
I really want to become a haigui, but am afraid you [China] would think that I am too old [to fit back in]

可是你看那谁，他八十二能娶二十八
But look at that person, he’s 82 and was able to marry a 28-year-old [meaning even old people can adapt]

在国外住得越久，我心里就越放不下
The longer I live abroad, the harder it is for me to put my feel peace within my heart

好不容易请了假，我兴冲冲地飞回家 北京欢迎你 
When I got a vacation from work, I excitedly flew home, to “Beijing welcomes you!” [to attend the Olympics]

看着立交桥发傻，我迷失在高楼大厦
I was stupefied by the overpasses, I was lost in the skyscrapers [while back]

江河流着黑水，天空下着黄沙 妈呀，这也算是晴天啊 
As the rivers flow with black water, and the dusty sky turns yellow, I ask "Gosh, this is considered a clear day?”

老同学一见面，感觉亲如一家 哥们，喝酒！
Upon seeing my old schoolmates, it felt like a family reunion, “Brothers, let’s drink!”

可陌生人对我，有时冷眼有时骂 嘿！你长不长眼啊
But with strangers, sometimes it is cold stares and sometimes it is a scolding, “Hey! Are you blind?”

车比纽约还多，路比伦敦要大 那当然
There are more cars than New York City, and the roads wider than London, “But of course”

到处奔驰宝马，坐进去那真叫害怕 找死啊你！
Everywhere there are BMWs, but riding inside shows you what is true fear, “Do you want to die!”

不管怎么样，是你把我养大
But no matter what, it was you who raised me

即使跑遍了全世界，也忘不了这个家
Even if I have travelled around the entire world, I could not forget this home

只希望你更好，原谅我有时乱说话
And I can only hope for you to become better, and that you’ll forgive me when I speak ill of you

儿女发点牢骚，当妈的根本不用怕
Because when children grumble a little, a mother does not even need to worry

我的大中国，我的大华夏
My great China, my great Huaxia

尽管我在外飘泊，总是把你牵挂
Though I am wandering abroad, I always keep you in my heart

我的大中国，我的大华夏
My great China, my great Huaxia

风里雨里同度过，我只认你这个妈
Through all hardships, I only call you my mother

风里雨里同度过，我只认你这个妈
Through all hardships, I only call you my mother

风里雨里同度过，我只认你这个—-妈
Through all hardships, I only call you my -- mother