Parachute Kids
Have you ever heard of “Parachute Kids?” I had never heard of this phenomenon until my friend Emily Chang approached me to collaborate on this short film she wrote. Here’s more about them, also known as “Astronaut Families” or “Satellite Kids,” in last year’s OC Register:“Parachute kids,” or unaccompanied minors, are youngsters who are sent to study and live in the U.S. without their parents as early as the first grade.The stress of immigration, coping with separation from parents and having high academic expectations greatly affects the psychological and emotional well-being of parachute children. The common feelings of loneliness, sadness, anger, alienation and homesickness can become precursors for the development of serious psychological and behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety,
Have you ever heard of “Parachute Kids?” I had never heard of this phenomenon until my friend Emily Chang approached me to collaborate on this short film she wrote. Here’s more about them, also known as “Astronaut Families” or “Satellite Kids,” in last year’s OC Register:
“Parachute kids,” or unaccompanied minors, are youngsters who are sent to study and live in the U.S. without their parents as early as the first grade.
The stress of immigration, coping with separation from parents and having high academic expectations greatly affects the psychological and emotional well-being of parachute children. The common feelings of loneliness, sadness, anger, alienation and homesickness can become precursors for the development of serious psychological and behavioral problems, such as depression, anxiety, gambling or substance abuse.
The children from astronaut families are known as “satellite kids.” This phenomenon first emerged in the 1980s, with most of them coming from Taiwan and South Korea. While there are no official statistics, it has been estimated that more than 37,000 minors left Taiwan between 1983 to 1993 to attend school in the U.S.
Family units as a whole are often affected by the separation in distance and different cultures. Parents who are overseas may feel guilty and worried for being apart from their children. For the astronaut family parents, physical separation between the parents also affects the marital relationship and relationships with children.
We are currently raising the budget for our movie, about two former “Parachute Kids” grown up. Here is the Kickstarter video – we’d really appreciate your help in getting this movie funded!
And if any of you out there is a “Parachute Kid” or knows of someone, we’d love to hear your story to help us prepare.
Thanks,
SOURCE: Thick Dumpling Skin – Read entire story here.
