Having dinner at a Thai restaurant, we found that a new waitress who is a South Asian had been employed. To further enrich our research project and explore more about the language issues in South Asian families, we  invited Sandy for an interview on 9 March 2012.

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Who is Kuldeep Deep?
I'm Kuldeep Deep. I have an English name, Sandy, which I have been using after I have migrated from India to Hong Kong in 2003.

What is your occupation?
After graduating from the university in India, I migrated to Hong Kong. My first job was being a clerk in a back office of an express company for 5 years. Recently, I have been working as a waitress in a popular Thai restaurant in the New Territories for three months.
 

Do you live in Hong Kong alone?
I came to Hong Kong alone. I, however, have relatives who have migrated from India to Hong Kong for a long period of time. They are my Auntie (my father’s elder sister) and my Uncle who have lived in Tuen Mun for 45 and 49 years respectively. Their children and grandchildren were born in Hong Kong. But my parents and husband live in India. I, therefore, return to my hometown and visit them every year. I am living in Tin Shui Wai alone but I have gatherings with my relatives frequently.

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What languages do you use in your everyday life and with whom?
In Hong Kong, I use Cantonese very often. When talking to my Auntie and Uncle, I use both Cantonese and Punjabi, one of the official languages of India. When chatting with my cousin (the 2nd generation), I mainly use Cantonese and sometimes English because she was born in Hong Kong and received her education here. I never speak Indian with my cousin because she only speaks very limited Indian, such as some greetings. With my cousin’s husband who is an ethnic Chinese, of course, I always use Cantonese. When playing with my cousin’s 2-month-old baby, I use Cantonese. Overall, Cantonese is the major language of communication between my relatives and me.

To keep in touch with my parents and husband who are in India, I make long distance calls and we speak Punjabi. When I write emails to them, I use English along with Punjabi for easy communication.
 

In my workplace (at the Thai restaurant), I use Cantonese with my colleagues and most customers. When there are English-speaking customers, I communicate with them in English as I majored in English when I was studying at university. I cannot read Chinese, except the restaurant menu. I cannot write Chinese either. So, I remember the names of food as well as the corresponding numbers so that I can order food for customers. Language is not a barrier in my workplace.

Although I always use Cantonese in Hong Kong, still if I see a fellow Indian on the street for the first time, I will speak in Hindi because all Indians can speak Hindi.

Do you like Chinese?
Not only do I love Chinese food, I also have a craze for the Chinese language. Before migrating to Hong Kong, I started learning Cantonese by myself. I have never attended any Cantonese language classes. One of the major ways to learn Cantonese is through watching TVB programmes. Although I am an Indian, Indian languages as foreign languages in Hong Kong are not useful. They are not used in the workplace nor taught at schools.
I understand that my Cantonese proficiency is not very high, so whenever I don’t understand what others are saying, I ask them to repeat and slow down. But Hong Kong people usually address me in English.

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How do you identify yourself?
For me, it is still fine if an Indian cannot speak an Indian language. Living in Hong Kong for more than 9 years, I have many Chinese friends and I think Hong Kong people are nice and friendly. I regard myself as a Hong Kong person rather than an Indian.