" dwelling "is 2009 words quietly popular in China can also be used in some Chinese countrymen across the ocean. Some of them accustomed to the dwelling of life, some people are willing to learn children dwelling, it was for academic purposes and dormant cramped quarters, more is forced to livelihoods, had squeezed. Laden with snail shells they quietly pay, hard to work, but they can not get rid of livelihoods, health and housing pressure.

Don unbreakable human
Single apartment in Manhattan average more than $ 2,000 per month today, some of the Chinatown hotel still offers with such costs just $ 100 to $ 200 a room, where the Chinese in the United States is called "scattered Aberdeen Pavilion" (English called Single Room Occupacy, referred SRO).

Although the accommodation is poor, and occasionally there are fire and safety hazards, but here low rents still attracted many Chinese workers. They arrived in the U.S. he settled here, some living here for ten years, even decades.

Less than six square meters of a place to put a bunk bed, a small square table and some debris, which is Huangpei De home. The so-called "kitchen", just put a bottle of the room in a corner cooker and cooker. The "next door", in fact, only separated by a thin layer of the baffle, baffle and the ceiling, but there is more than one meter between the gaps. Landlord these floors divided into 31 equally sized room, shared bath and toilet, but because fire needs between rooms can not be completely cut off.

This year 87-year-old Huangpei De seventies of last century, one person alone immigrants to the United States when he first came to New York to work in a Chinese restaurant, limited income. Here's the monthly rent was only $ 110, and it is located in a central location in Chinatown is also very convenient, so he roots here, has lived for 32 years, is this scattered Aberdeen shop seniority oldest tenants.

Huang said he has legal immigration status and 87 years old, long before have the opportunity to apply for government to provide low-rent apartments for the elderly. However, most of those apartments in the non-Chinese settlements, used to live in Chinatown, he felt unable to adapt, so still guarding their own little six meters "nest."

Huang roommate Chen Ziyang from Fujian Fuzhou, around 2000, a second child in order to avoid fines and ligation surgery and came to New York, because many relatives and folks live in this scattered Aberdeen museum, he also moved in. He slept in the upper berth Taoism, but due to the room at the top to prevent theft spread a layer of barbed wire, and he can not be straightened up in bed, so usually only go to bed only when you want to climb into bed. Because of the limited space inside the room, he's nowhere to place only a few pieces of luggage piled on the bed.

Such living conditions of New York's Chinatown is scattered Aberdeen Pavilion normal - crowded (some even kept three bed room home to a whole family) and Privacy poor (because the room is not capped, I can clearly hear conversations outside) . But because of this, this scattered Aberdeen Pavilion in the neighborhood is also home to intimacy than the average, and many people love to chat with each other ChuanMenzi together watching soap operas, and even made a dish also points to the neighbors. Unlike some reports saw the crowded in a small space of emotional depression, "ant", although they flies difficult, but it is surprisingly fun.

With Chinese workers in America in recent years, more and more high income levels, emigrated to the U.S. more and more wealthy Chinese, many people in the choice of housing when they try to move out of Chinatown. But in fact, a large part of Chinese in America is still doing relatively low-tech jobs. Their lives living in the center of Chinatown, Chinatown daytime attitudes is a microcosm of their lives.

According to 2010 census data show that the average household in Manhattan's Chinatown annual income of just $ 20,000 to succeed, and New York City are close to average annual household income of $ 40,000. Where many Chinese still struggling in poverty, and some even make money too many, but unfortunately there were no legal status and can not rent a regular apartment, so scattered Aberdeen Pavilion cheap and no guarantee that the demand for housing For decades it has been a steady stream.

Meanwhile, Chinatown also spawned another more economical form of dwelling - change bed (shift-bed) - Some people who work during the day resting at night with a group of people who work during the day and rest at night turns to use the same one bed.

Chen Ziyang told the author that his hometown in Fujian have four-storey building of the house. "My family just four people, I live alone before a person can be a layer." But looking at the front of this piece is now six square meters of land, he reluctantly smiled. This is one of ups and downs, choices choices, perhaps only live in one of the people can appreciate.

With the work may be a good point of it
Every one opened his eyes,Xiaoyun will think what will the weather today, then the habit of looking for windows. But no windows, because her home is a private house in the basement. Although Massachusetts expressly provides may not rent to live in the basement, but the thrifty Chinese landlord or the originally used Laundry, debris piled up in the basement of a simple decoration has become one bedroom one bathroom kitchen ride Jane's Danshi Tao.

Money for the room extremely favorable, and wrap electricity Heating, Xiaoyun rented beginning when this underground room, but also very lucky. Price is dropped down, but at the same time, mid-rise in rental prices, fast catching up in the rent or even New York, Boston, this money was originally only in the subway station near the Chinese family rented a small single room, but now anyhow 600 square feet large suites, and there is laundry room can be used.

Originally the kitchen there is a small window breathable, but too high, do not stand on the stool Xiaoyun simply out of reach, and also for the purpose of protection of privacy, but also added a layer curtains, so it can be said Xiaoyun dark home life . Lived a semester, Xiaoyun feel that their skin color made him look pale, even the nails healthy flesh beneath more and more light, as well, falling hair.

But what can it? Does not scroll in this dark, dank basement, you have to move to the densely populated or Queensland Moreton, in the old house to rent a small room on a daily basis and a lot of roommates from all over the sharing of limited resources, the morning rush bathroom, grab the kitchen at night, people who stay up late at night but also to listen to the sound of chatter call.

Xiaoyun ordinary urban families are born after 80, they this generation, no matter how the family situation, are the only baby at home, have a relatively young age personal space. Holding half the original prize to Boston University study, home has been exhausting, so she's not much choice.

In fact, the experience of Xiaoyun represent the majority of family leave relatively comfortable living environment, young people first came to America to study. And for many after 50, 60, 70 students, the Xiaoyun living alone difficult, and even a little luxury. You know, the early years of self-funded students live in the basement, but also to find two or three roommates sharing overhead, in addition to four workers.

Difficulties in life from scratch, of course, but fortunately there is hope, there is incentive for generations Dawn of the New World "American dream", after the experience of predecessors prove, once and learn something, find a job, you can at least buy on a large or small apartment, farewell dwelling life, maybe.