My Identity Crisis

Let me start by saying that I was born on the 8th of January 1980. That makes me a Capricorn. And a sheep, I had always firmly believed. Until I came to China, that is. Then I begin having doubts.

Sometimes, the Chinese, if they want to know how old you are and they're too polite to ask, would ask in what animal year you were born. I have had this conversation countless of times:

New Chinese Friend: 你属什么？

(What animal year were you born in?)

JC: 羊 (Sheep.)

NCF: 你是1979的。27岁。



(You were born in 1979. You're 27.)

JC: 1980年。26岁。



(1980. I'm twenty-six.)

NCF: 那不对啊。

(That's wrong.)

JC: 对。我一月出生的。

(It's right. I was born in January.)

NCF: (stares blankly) 你应该属猴。 (You should be a monkey.)



JC: 羊。还没到春节。

(Sheep. It was before the Spring Festival [or what is commonly known as the Chinese New Year in other parts of the world].)

NCF: (nods understandingly/looks more confused)

At least usually, that's how it ends. Sometimes there will be people who would argue a bit harder that it's only the year that counts but I never really gave it much thought. They just didn't know how it's supposed to be when one's born on a cusp.

I had had warnings though. Warnings that I refused to acknowledge. Months ago, while having a somewhat similar conversation with one of the shooters, she said that she was also born in the year of the sheep. 1979. No surprises there. Most sheep were really born in 1979. But she was born in February. I thought maybe the Spring Festival/Chinese New Year was early that year and dismissed it. I'm a sheep. I had always been a sheep.

And so at breakfast today (after so many days of going without breakfast because I would always be too lazy to get up at 7:30 in the morning), I had yet again, a similar conversation as the above. Slightly similar but this one directly asked how old I was.

New National Team shooter whose name I don't know1: 你多大了？(How old are you?)

JC: 猜。(Guess.)

NNTS1: 21。

JC: 不对。 (Wrong.)

New National Team Shooter2: 大吗？(Older?)

JC: 大。(Older.)

NNTS2: 24。

JC: 不对。(Wrong.)

NNTS2: 还大？

(Still older?)

JC: 是。(Yes.)

NNTS2: 26。

JC: (nodded)

NNTS1: 你是1980的。(You were born in 1980.)

JC: 是。(Yes.)

NNTS1: 你属猴。

(In the year of the monkey.)

JC: 不对。羊。 (No. Sheep.)

NNTS1: 羊是1979的。

(Sheep is 1979.)

JC: 我知道。但是我是一月出生的。

(I know. But I was born in January.)

NNTS1: 十一月？ (November?)

JC: 一月。 (January.)

NNTS1: 几号？

(What day?)

JC: 还没到春节。(It wasn't the Spring Festival yet.)

NNTS1: 我知道。几号？(I know. What day?)

JC: 8号。

(The 8th.)

NNTS1: 我比你大两天！(I'm two days older than you!)

JC: 是吗？那你也是羊。(Really? Then you're also a sheep.)

NNTS1: 我是猴。

(I'm a monkey.)

JC: 哈? 羊。

(Huh? Sheep! )

NNTS1: 1980是猴年的。(1980 is a monkey year.)

JC: (started getting worried) 但是。。。但是。。。 但是。。。 你应该是羊！(But... but... but... you should be a sheep!)

NNTS1: 我是猴。

(I'm a monkey.)

NNTS2: 他象猴。

(He looks like a monkey.)

JC: 对。

(Yes.)

But what does it mean for me? What? We have almost the same birthday. And he's Chinese! Surely he knows better when it comes to Chinese zodiac signs! *groans. For 26 years I've believed that I was all of these things:

"People born in the Year of Sheep are elegant and highly accomplished in the
arts. They seem to be, at first glance, better off than those born in the
zodiac's other years. But Sheep year people are often shy, pessimistic, and
puzzled about life. They are usually deeply religious, yet timid by nature.
Sometimes clumsy in speech, they are always passionate about what they do and
what they believe in. Sheep people never have to worry about having the best in
life for their abilities make money for them, and they are able to enjoy the
creature comforts that they like. Sheep people are wise, gentle, and
compassionate. They are compatible with Rabbits, Pigs, and Horses.




You are charming, elegant and artistic.


You like to be comfortable.


You can complain and worry too much.


You will make a good actor, gardener or beachcomber."

And then one day I have breakfast and I'm suddenly these:

"People born in the Year of the Monkey are the erratic geniuses of the cycle.
Clever, skillful, and flexible, they are remarkably inventive and original and
can solve the most difficult problems with ease. There are few fields in which
Monkey people wouldn't be successful but they have a disconcerting habit of
being too agreeable. They want to do things now, and if they cannot get started
immediately, they become discouraged and sometimes leave their projects.
Although good at making decisions, they tend to look down on others. Having
common sense, Monkey people have a deep desire for knowledge and have excellent
memories. Monkey people are strong willed but their anger cools quickly. They
are most compatible with the Dragon and Rat.




You are very intelligent, clever, and well liked by everyone.


You will have success in any field."

It is not fair! Neither is it funny! And what do I do with all of my little sheep things: my sheep pendant, my cute sheep pins and brooches, my little sheep paperweight, my cuddly sheep stuffed toy? I've had a lifetime of being a sheep! What now? Do I just suddenly change into a monkey overnight? This is so unfair!!!


(Sheep and monkey profiles are taken from http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Zodiac/index.html)