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Reasons Why The Question “Where Are You From?” Is Offensive. And Not Offensive
Time and time again, some of us get the question, “Where are you from?” We might dislike this question, or we might not. It’s a matter of perspective, or rather how we’re feeling in a moment in time that we decide if we like or hate the question there and then. Chances are if we’re…
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Why Some Asians Are Hoarders. Versus The Trend Of Minimalism
Some Asians are hoarders. That is, some of us Asians like collecting things, accumulating things over time up until we struggle to find somewhere to put away all that we have. Most of my childhood and adolescent life, my Chinese parents were fond of bringing things home even when we didn’t need them. Our house…
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Chinese Dining Etiquette And Table Manners
When it comes to eating in Chinese culture, there are dining etiquette rules to be mindful of. Chinese table manners hold a lot of importance and are symbolic of Chinese traditions. Adopting good dining etiquette can help one connect with Chinese family at home. It can also help leave good impressions with Chinese colleagues over…
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Australia: Common Stereotypes That Are So Not True. And So True
There are many stereotypes about the land of Australia. Whether you have lived in, visited or heard of Australia, chances are you’ve come across typical perceptions of Australia in the geographic sense – and come across Australians agreeing with them. And disagreeing with them as well. Having lived in Australia for a while now, I’ve…
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Swearing And Cursing In Chinese And Cantonese: The Profanities We Say, And Why
Swearing in Chinese culture is always a colourful affair. Some vulgar, curse words in both Chinese language and Cantonese dialect get straight to the point, while others are more subtle and rather hilarious. When I was growing up, my parents threatened to slap my palm with a ruler if they heard me uttering a profanity…
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Why Mental Illness Is Stigmatised in Asian Cultures
Metal illness is usually a taboo topic many Asian cultures. It’s an unspoken topic that is stigmatised, shunned and hushed among many of stereotypical Asian background. I was born in Australia to Chinese-Malaysian parents. No one in my family brought up the subject of mental health when I grew up. At some point in my…
Mabel Kwong 