Jie Hua Xian Fo (Presenting the Buddha with Borrowed Flowers)

Reciprocity and Exchange among Chinese Seniors in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Abstract

Chinese seniors are an important part of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community. However, relatively little scholarly attention has been paid to them. In this paper, I explore how their reciprocal activities are shaped by their class, immigrant life, and social support system. Based on the ethnographic data, I suggest that a flexible, debt-free moral economy grows out of friendships among immigrants as well as friendships with non-immigrants, which invites scholars to draw attention to the nuanced intersection of reciprocity, migration, and networks. Furthermore, I suggest a reflection on the dynamic relationship between welfare receivers and providers within the context of everyday life.