Hi Lani! I found you through Mika's find your tribe post. Glad I did, I've been looking for more people living abroad in Asia. I live in Thailand, and I'm moving to Spain in August.
Where in Cambodia are you? And how long have you been there?
Hi Kaila. Thanks for reaching out. I used to live in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Rayong, and Lampang, Thailand. Where are you at? I’m currently in Siem Reap. We used to live here pre-pandemic and now we’re back again. It’s been about a year … Have you been?
Hi Lani, l know we have already met 😊, what strikes me is that society focuses on what makes us different rather than what makes us similar. I have predominantly worked with diverse ethnic communities in my career as an English teacher for Non English Speaking Background migrant and refugee adolescents. Their stories have taught me so much and l have always thought that the physical body is a reflection of our Earth landscapes, we all bring our own beauty to the whole landscape of humanity ☺️🙏
Well said. And thanks for stopping by and commenting on this one. I particularly feel the differences highlighted in today’s politics and reinforced on mainstream media and even on search engines. Waiting for us to wake up the the illusion and come back together, xo
I am definitively feeling an outsider in the sea of hyphenated Asian, as Lily wrote in a comment to the Asian Read 05.
Born in Italy, left my country at 19 and since then I mostly lived abroad, except for the 4 years I went back to study Chinese at the university.
My experience of China is definitively different from hyphenated Asian, I was raised with an Italian culture, became adult in a European one. And yet, even when I was a child I felt a connection with China, and even though the story was one of love and hate, Chinese culture had and still has a role in my life. I feel more connected with a Chinese person, hyphenated or not, than with my fellow Italians.
On the other hand, there are many similarities between Chinese and Italian culture, maybe this is what allowed me to understand the culture better, I don't know. The importance of families and expectations parents have towards their children are two common traits between China and Italy.
There are other ways I feel/felt outsider, but why not? We are on Earth to create and why should we all create the same things?
Looking forward to reading more about your stories.
Thanks, Lauca, for your thoughtful comment. It reminded me of third-culture kids and that my Italian roommate in college and I bonded over being first-generation Americans. Although I feel a strong like for all things British! The world is a much more fascinating place when we allow ourselves to follow our curiosity and enjoy other cultures. xo
Hi Lani! I found you through Mika's find your tribe post. Glad I did, I've been looking for more people living abroad in Asia. I live in Thailand, and I'm moving to Spain in August.
Where in Cambodia are you? And how long have you been there?
Hi Kaila. Thanks for reaching out. I used to live in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Rayong, and Lampang, Thailand. Where are you at? I’m currently in Siem Reap. We used to live here pre-pandemic and now we’re back again. It’s been about a year … Have you been?
Oh yes I loved Siem Reap when I was there about 17 years ago, but I'm sure it's changed loads. Such a great vibe from what I remember.
I live on Koh Phangan for now! But I'm actually in Mexico at the moment.
Hi Lani, l know we have already met 😊, what strikes me is that society focuses on what makes us different rather than what makes us similar. I have predominantly worked with diverse ethnic communities in my career as an English teacher for Non English Speaking Background migrant and refugee adolescents. Their stories have taught me so much and l have always thought that the physical body is a reflection of our Earth landscapes, we all bring our own beauty to the whole landscape of humanity ☺️🙏
Well said. And thanks for stopping by and commenting on this one. I particularly feel the differences highlighted in today’s politics and reinforced on mainstream media and even on search engines. Waiting for us to wake up the the illusion and come back together, xo
I am definitively feeling an outsider in the sea of hyphenated Asian, as Lily wrote in a comment to the Asian Read 05.
Born in Italy, left my country at 19 and since then I mostly lived abroad, except for the 4 years I went back to study Chinese at the university.
My experience of China is definitively different from hyphenated Asian, I was raised with an Italian culture, became adult in a European one. And yet, even when I was a child I felt a connection with China, and even though the story was one of love and hate, Chinese culture had and still has a role in my life. I feel more connected with a Chinese person, hyphenated or not, than with my fellow Italians.
On the other hand, there are many similarities between Chinese and Italian culture, maybe this is what allowed me to understand the culture better, I don't know. The importance of families and expectations parents have towards their children are two common traits between China and Italy.
There are other ways I feel/felt outsider, but why not? We are on Earth to create and why should we all create the same things?
Looking forward to reading more about your stories.
Thanks, Lauca, for your thoughtful comment. It reminded me of third-culture kids and that my Italian roommate in college and I bonded over being first-generation Americans. Although I feel a strong like for all things British! The world is a much more fascinating place when we allow ourselves to follow our curiosity and enjoy other cultures. xo
Nice to meet you, Lani. I'm first-gen Asian American and Gen-X too.
I've been feeling like an outsider since I was a teenager. It feels good to hear that we are all outsiders one way or another.
I’m glad to hear that, Lily. Thanks! We also have first names that start with the best letter of the alphabet. 😉
Gen X!! I knew we were twins 😂
Whoohoooo! 🙌
"I believe we’re all outsiders, and that fitting in is overrated."
I agree 😊
YAYYY. Just got to convince all those other people who are still trying to fit in and feeling sad about "not belonging". 😉
😮💨
We got some work to ahead of us lol
Nice to meet you too, Lani. I believe you're right. We are all outsiders looking to belong somewhere with someone.
Thanks, Veronika. It's a topic that I think could bring more of us together.
I fully agree, Lani. I have explored the topic of being an 'outsider' a little in an earlier article called the 'Doublebind of Identity' https://veronikabondsymbiopaedia.substack.com/p/the-double-bind-of-identity. I would be curious to know what you make of it (of course!)
Hey thanks, I'm heading over...