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3 Differences Between Family Values in Eastern and Western Cultures
Family is a complex thing. Our concept of family is shaped by many factors such as our cultural background, personalities and experiences. In particular, family values tend to be very different in Eastern and Western cultures. Having my family and close friends across Asia and Australia, diverse dynamics are enriching yet also chaotic in my…
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Why I Don’t Speak My Mother Tongue Fluently
Not all of us can speak our mother tongue. Just because we look a certain way doesn’t mean we speak or write a certain language. The dialect Cantonese runs in my Chinese-Malaysian family. My parents, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts and extended family speak it fluently (and Mandarin too). While I have no trouble listening and understanding…
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Why Many Chinese Like Eating Dumplings. And Why The World Does As Well
It’s a fact that many Chinese like to eat dumplings. Chinese people eat dumplings during the Lunar New Year. They eat dumplings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And countless others around the world regardless of background like eating dumplings too. Growing up, when my Chinese-Malaysian family went to out to yum cha, that was when…
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How My Chinese Family Celebrates Christmas Over The Years
Come December, many of us around the world celebrate Christmas, or at the very least acknowledge this festive occasion one way or another. This includes my Chinese-Malaysian family for as long as I can remember. No one in my immediate Asian family goes to church or follows the faith Christianity. We’ve never put up a…
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Your Dreams Vs. Unsupportive Asian Parents: Finding Your Way
We all have passions and dreams, which our parents might not always agree with. In a stereotypical Asian family, artistic and creative dreams tend to be frowned upon, and we might have second thoughts about chasing them. Writing is something I love. Seven year old me rushed home after school and wrote fictional adventure stories…
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What Language Do You Speak At Home? One, Two Or More
When we are home, the language we speak may come naturally to us. Or not. Depending on who we’re talking to at home, we may switch between speaking multiple languages and that can either be easy, or a bit of an effort. I was born in Australia, and English is the main language of instruction…
Mabel Kwong 