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Why We Travel
Travel. It’s about being on the move. When we were young, maybe we were forced to travel, travel for a better life and a better education. Growing up, I moved quite a bit: Melbourne to Malaysia to Singapore and back to Melbourne. My parents wanted to work in Asia, and so little me was dragged…
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What Is Happiness?
Growing up in a Chinese Malaysian family, I’ve been told studying science, landing an office job and getting married in that order is the road to a happy and fulfilling life. Learning maths at university was dull for me.
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Why It’s Odd And Okay To Be Alone
“Why are you going out alone?” That’s what my mum said when I lived at home and headed out by myself for some “me time” on the weekends. No, it’s not because she’s concerned for my safety. Melbourne is a pretty safe city in broad daylight. Rather, my parents – and many of my friends…
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Why Moving Is Hard
Growing up, I never liked moving cities. When I was a kid, I sobbed at the airport in Malaysia after getting off the plane from Melbourne for the last time in a while, bewildered by strange faces and the sticky air. Touching down at Melbourne Airport years later, jet-lagged me jumped when a Caucasian security…
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Why We Get Names Wrong
When I was born, my Malaysian parents named me Mabel (may-berl). They also gave me a Chinese name, Li Teng (lee ting, 丽 婷), which is my middle name on my Australian passport. I’ve always went by my English name. Growing up, my parents called me Mabel at home. I introduced myself as Mabel when…
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What Do We Think Of When We Meet People?
It’s always interesting meeting strangers on the street. It can be exciting. Awkward. Maybe a little scary. The other afternoon I was taking photos of Federation Square in the city, minding my own business. “Excuse me? Can you take a photo of me?” I turned around. The summer-in-autumn sun shone right into my face. Eyes…
Mabel Kwong 