This newsletter was packed with so much brilliant content I hardly know how to respond. Re: culture – I look Eastern European (and partially am) or Nordic, though I'm actually Hispanic. No one knows this. I don't talk about it because I don't look the part and wasn't brought up with Argentina (where my mother was born) as part of my cultural heritage. But it's still part of me. And it's a confusing part. Also, as a Jew who has been intensely secular and non-affiliated all my life until recently, I have to say: I can abandon the religion or even convert, but I would still always be Jewish – it's in my genes, in my very fabric. So recently I've decided to embrace that genetic code and having a meaningful experience doing so. Your writing helped deepen my thoughts on the topic!
Incredible! What a multicultural composite you are. Thank you for sharing a part of your inner world with us, I’m starting to believe that a rich self-life is about seeking to heal fractures in our life between the demands of identity and society.
Thanks for sharing your idnetity. I was born in Indonesia. But didn't know I was Indonesian when I grew up in the States. At 7, we packed up (dad had finished his PhD) and got on a plane. Suddenly found myself going to school and not understanding a word anybody was saying, with kids staring at me. I asked my parents "when are we going home?" They said "we ARE home." Oh well! Might as well start learning the language then (if only to tell the pesky girl next door that I hate her…LOL). I still consider myself Indonesian, even when I've lived here in New Zealand longer than I have anywhere else. But weirdly, I feel more of a migrant when I'm in Indonesia, than when I'm in NZ.
Laila, I love this! thank you for sharing your story 💖 That moment when your parents said “we are home”... 🙃 all the things that must be running through little Laila’s head!
LOL… little Laila was often confused… I remember being made fun of for singing the national anthem wrong. The word is *merdeka* for freedom. I sang it 'America' 🤣
Beautifully written, Fei! In the end, a definition is too confining and risks leaving out subtleties and shades which, although faint, lend a richness to the perception of one's self-identity. We are a product of all the environments we've lived in and all the people whose paths have crossed ours. Wishing you and Michael a wonderful trip to Norway!
So true! Labels often lead to narrow thinking which is reductive and conflicting within an identity forming exercise which is rich and complex by nature. Thank you D 💖
Love this view into your Norwegianness - I guess I am a reverse racist in a sense because I am so curious about other children of Chinese immigrants living in Western societies. I think part of it is as you said because I am trying to clarify my own multi-cultural identity, but gosh I was so confused growing up LOL.
Re confusion growing up: I am coming to this same realization! I was definitely lost back then and this lostness dominated my headspace way more than I wished it would. It left little space to just be a kid and grow up...
So well captured your Norwegian-ness. I can relate and feel for you. I personally also feel so many parts of so many cultures: Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese, Nepali, Italian, European....but actually I think we do not need to have labels or titles, the important is being YOU with all the facets and accepting yourself and being enriched by all the cultures and people you come acorss and becoming better and richer every day. So we learn to accept everyone as fellow human beings journeying together in this young planet for oh such a short time!
You wirite beautifully dear Fei, keep it up. I am so happy to hear you will be travelling to Norway with Michael. Wishing you both the best of trips. I still have to do this Norway in a nutshell trip myself and am putting it on my bucket list.
Dear Liz, you are so right. Not fussing about the label, but rather, being enriched by all cultures and people you come across is a wonderful way of putting it. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. 💖
Wonderful to hear you and Michael are headed there for vacation. And yes, Norway in a Nutshell trip is a must. Rob and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Hope you and Michael can go on a Hurtigruten cruise along the coastline, visiting quaint coastal communities as well, time permitting.
Unfortunately we will have to miss the Hurtigruta ferries for this time, but for our next trip when we plan on going north to Lofoten etc it will definitely be on the list!!
This newsletter was packed with so much brilliant content I hardly know how to respond. Re: culture – I look Eastern European (and partially am) or Nordic, though I'm actually Hispanic. No one knows this. I don't talk about it because I don't look the part and wasn't brought up with Argentina (where my mother was born) as part of my cultural heritage. But it's still part of me. And it's a confusing part. Also, as a Jew who has been intensely secular and non-affiliated all my life until recently, I have to say: I can abandon the religion or even convert, but I would still always be Jewish – it's in my genes, in my very fabric. So recently I've decided to embrace that genetic code and having a meaningful experience doing so. Your writing helped deepen my thoughts on the topic!
Incredible! What a multicultural composite you are. Thank you for sharing a part of your inner world with us, I’m starting to believe that a rich self-life is about seeking to heal fractures in our life between the demands of identity and society.
I couldn’t agree more! The beauty of “equality” as humans is that it allows for extreme diversity of individuals. We all are our own special sauce.
Thanks for sharing your idnetity. I was born in Indonesia. But didn't know I was Indonesian when I grew up in the States. At 7, we packed up (dad had finished his PhD) and got on a plane. Suddenly found myself going to school and not understanding a word anybody was saying, with kids staring at me. I asked my parents "when are we going home?" They said "we ARE home." Oh well! Might as well start learning the language then (if only to tell the pesky girl next door that I hate her…LOL). I still consider myself Indonesian, even when I've lived here in New Zealand longer than I have anywhere else. But weirdly, I feel more of a migrant when I'm in Indonesia, than when I'm in NZ.
Laila, I love this! thank you for sharing your story 💖 That moment when your parents said “we are home”... 🙃 all the things that must be running through little Laila’s head!
LOL… little Laila was often confused… I remember being made fun of for singing the national anthem wrong. The word is *merdeka* for freedom. I sang it 'America' 🤣
(I can’t help but think there are some good stories from your life experience that need to be told… by you! Hint hint nudge 😃)
We all do ☺️
Beautifully written, Fei! In the end, a definition is too confining and risks leaving out subtleties and shades which, although faint, lend a richness to the perception of one's self-identity. We are a product of all the environments we've lived in and all the people whose paths have crossed ours. Wishing you and Michael a wonderful trip to Norway!
So true! Labels often lead to narrow thinking which is reductive and conflicting within an identity forming exercise which is rich and complex by nature. Thank you D 💖
What a great posting Fei-Ling :) You have a beautiful country and much to be proud of where you come from!
Thank you Scott! 💖
Some things just cannot and shouldn’t be further reduced. YES!!!
☺️💖
Love this view into your Norwegianness - I guess I am a reverse racist in a sense because I am so curious about other children of Chinese immigrants living in Western societies. I think part of it is as you said because I am trying to clarify my own multi-cultural identity, but gosh I was so confused growing up LOL.
Re confusion growing up: I am coming to this same realization! I was definitely lost back then and this lostness dominated my headspace way more than I wished it would. It left little space to just be a kid and grow up...
So well captured your Norwegian-ness. I can relate and feel for you. I personally also feel so many parts of so many cultures: Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese, Nepali, Italian, European....but actually I think we do not need to have labels or titles, the important is being YOU with all the facets and accepting yourself and being enriched by all the cultures and people you come acorss and becoming better and richer every day. So we learn to accept everyone as fellow human beings journeying together in this young planet for oh such a short time!
You wirite beautifully dear Fei, keep it up. I am so happy to hear you will be travelling to Norway with Michael. Wishing you both the best of trips. I still have to do this Norway in a nutshell trip myself and am putting it on my bucket list.
Much love.
Dear Liz, you are so right. Not fussing about the label, but rather, being enriched by all cultures and people you come across is a wonderful way of putting it. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. 💖
Loved reading your post!
Wonderful to hear you and Michael are headed there for vacation. And yes, Norway in a Nutshell trip is a must. Rob and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Hope you and Michael can go on a Hurtigruten cruise along the coastline, visiting quaint coastal communities as well, time permitting.
Unfortunately we will have to miss the Hurtigruta ferries for this time, but for our next trip when we plan on going north to Lofoten etc it will definitely be on the list!!
Let me know the next time you're going (to Lofoten)!
You bet! 😃