Our American Stories Bruce Wang, All-American: The Chinese Cowboy with a Southern Accent
Jun 10, 2025
Bruce Wang, a Chinese-born graduate student and feedlot cowboy from Texas Tech University, shares his captivating journey of cultural integration. From learning a Southern accent by watching Duck Dynasty to embracing cowboy culture, Bruce's story delves into the challenges and triumphs of navigating his multifaceted identity. He discusses personal growth through storytelling, the emotional complexities of being an immigrant, and the surprising connections to Appalachian roots that deepen his understanding of belonging and community.
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First Arrival And Culture Shock
- Bruce Wang describes arriving from Kunming, China and his first impressions in Oklahoma, including culture shock and unfamiliar food.
- He struggled initially but found local people welcoming and adjusted by compromising on food and friendships.
Changing Majors And Doubts
- Bruce recounts transferring schools after his mother urged him to join a larger university with a stronger engineering program.
- He discovered he had no interest in engineering and nearly dropped out until persuaded otherwise.
Rodeo Moment That Changed Him
- After appendix surgery Bruce had quiet time that led him to attend a rodeo the next semester, which deeply changed him.
- He bought cowboy boots and a hat and regretted not embracing the culture earlier.