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To Label Or Not To Label – Cultural Identities
As someone who drifts in between cultures, I’m descriptive of several labels. Chinese. Australian. Asian Australian. South-East Asian. As I go about my days, I’m also descriptive of: Writer. Neurodivergent. Introvert. Astrologer. And more… Our cultural identities are often a source of pride. Yet at times our cultural affiliations can be conflicting and confusing, and…
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Does Belonging Start With Self-Acceptance?
Finding a sense of belonging is not always easy. Belonging might seem elusive when you struggle with conflicting intercultural identities. Or when you feel like an outsider among groups. Perhaps belonging starts with self-acceptance. Look within to accept yourself as you are. When you accept your cultural traits that you like and dislike as part…
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Where Do You Really Feel At Home?
Home may be a place that you know well. Or a space that resonates with you. Or something that seems elusive. The feeling of being most at home is a multi-layered, complex construct, and it can be hard to explain. As someone who is often caught in between Eastern and Western cultures and has lived…
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Ways I Disappoint My Asian Parents Again and Again
When you come from an Asian family, there are usually strict cultural norms to live up to. On the occasions you don’t, chances are you probably disappoint your Asian parents. Different Asian parents, and parents in general, have different expectations of their children. But the benchmark tends to be high in Asian households. Growing up…
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6 Reasons Why You Feel Like You Don’t Belong Anywhere
‘Why don’t I belong?’ Sometimes we go through moments in our lives where we don’t fit in with a certain group or place. For some of us, we might feel like we don’t belong anywhere most of the time. Either way when we don’t belong often that means we feel different. The feeling of not…
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What Does Home Mean And Feel Like For A Third Culture Kid?
Home. It sounds like a simple word to define. But it’s a word that has layers and layers of meanings. For many migrants, third culture kids, parachute families, expats, travellers, interracial couples, refugees, asylum seekers, Asian Australians, Asian Americans, African communities, Indian diaporas and really anyone who has moved around or hangs around different cultural…
Mabel Kwong 