[acangiano]

In Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver, you see this very clearly. Many chinese people are technically in Canada, but they never really left their home country. They create a small subcity with its own economy, and huge ties to the homeland. A great deal of them never learn English because they don't have a need for it.

[nostromo]

Maybe for one generation, but I have two great friends who are the children of these types, and they are as American as anyone.

[smtf]

That is an excellent point. I have many second and third generation friends who's grandparents, and even parents have only assimilated local culture when absolutely necessary. Their children however are as 'home grown' as you like, to the point where most laugh at their for-bearers (reverse?) xenophobic behavior. This is a phenomenon not exclusive to people from the far east either. The same can be said for many families I know from eastern Europe and the Middle East.

[el_presidente]

At least in Toronto this doesn't apply only to chinese people. The city is highly segregated, but people ignore it by calling it multicultural.

[keyworks]

Totally agree, in some parts of Toronto, it's probably difficult to get by without knowing some Chinese (pacific mall anyone?). Even here in Waterloo, which is much smaller than Toronto, you see these kinds of "sub cities" and tight networks among the first generation Chinese.