My Symptoms Show

My parents have this funny idea that going to the doctor's will cure everything, including a cold (note: in case you didn't know, colds are caused by a virus, therefore, you can't cure colds). The fact that I haven't gone to the doctor's yet means I am not doing enough to take care of myself.

Colds, according to my parents, are also exclusively caused by not wearing enough clothes. For instance, my dad was able to diagnose the root cause of my condition by listening to my coarse voice.

"Ah, must be due to you not wearing enough ... your throat caught a cold." ... Obviously, he doesn't know about the force-kisser from LA I encountered.

My dad's diagnosis is a strange one. It comes off more like an interrogation than showing affection.

It starts off with:
"What's wrong with you? You sick?" after hearing from my mother that I'm not going to "drink tea" with them (which is a brunch meal that consists of dim sum) because I am sick. The thesis must be repeated, I suppose.

After my stuttering from being taken aback, he continues with:
"Have you not been wearing enough clothes? Caught a cold?"
"But I've been wearing my down jacket."

Disregarding my answer, he concludes,
"Ah, yes, it must be because you haven't been wearing enough. Listen to your voice. Obviously, your throat caught a cold."

What more did I have to say? Affection, right there. Served cold.

Perhaps Asian parents are just like that. Listening is a waste of time, a total American thing. "Stop talking and just do as I say" is their motto. Conclusions can also be drawn without a communication process because -- what do you know? -- they know everything already!

But see what happens now? We stay in our rooms while they complain that we're hermits. When we come out, they communicate with non-communication. When we leave the house, they complain that we're never home.

Hmmm.