Growing up Asian Australian Tag

Inspired by the "Growing up Asian American Tag" on YouTube, I've decided to have my input in my perspective growing up as an Asian Australian. 

So, here it is; 

Which ethnicity are you? 

Vietnamese 

Which generation are you? 

I was born in Australia but my mum was born in Vietnam. So, I'm guessing my mum is first generation Vietnamese Australian and I'm second-generation. If I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me.

What is the first experience where you felt that demarcation of being a minority/different? 

I grew up in a very immigrant heavy community so I guess I didn't really feel indifferent. It's only when I reflect on the past and see in some instances where I could've felt that way but didn't affect me much at all. 

For example, I spent about a year of my childhood residing in an area which was dominantly Anglo-Saxon, where my family was the only Asian family living in my street.  A year after, I moved to a community where I had more access and had a closer connection with the Asian community. I didn't really notice it then, but looking back at my early primary school photos, there was a good balance between Asians and non-Asians. Growing up having Asian neighbours and Asian friends throughout primary and highschool meant I didn't feel to much of an outcast at all. 

However, I guess I can recall the first time I felt like a minority was my first highschool camp at the end of year 8. The camp was based down the south coast, 2-3 hrs away from Sydney. That was when I began to notice that us Asians were the minority Australians. 

Were you always proud of your heritage or was there a time you rejected it?

I was very proud of my Vietnamese heritage, and still am to this day. I don't think I ever rejected it growing up. 

What are some stereotypes that you struggle with? 

The stereotype that "all Asians are smart at maths" was probably what I struggled with the most. I guess I was pretty average growing up. I was a little slower than most of my Asian peers during primary school, whilst I was just average throughout highschool. I was never in any of the advanced maths classes, nor did I study 2 unit maths for my HSC. And I was always the slowest in my tutor classes. 

Can you speak your language?

Very brokenly. I attended Saturday Vietnamese school for a few years, and was fortunate to have extra Vietnamese language classes that was made available during the week at my primary school. Hence, I am able to read and my writing isn't too bad, but my speaking skills are pretty poor. I won't be able to have a full conversation in Vietnamese without throwing English terms along the way. And, I would struggle badly when it comes to interpreting. 

How has being Asian Australian affected your relationship with your parents? 

Even though I went to Vietnamese school and could speak and write basic Vietnamese, the language barrier was (and still is) the biggest setback that has affected my relationship with not only my mum, but also my aunties and uncles. My mum speaks very little English so it's hard to have a conversation about anything really. It's hard for my mum to understand me because of my inability to communicate any concerns or have any discussion about my thoughts and the events in my life. So, more often than not, there is some misunderstanding between the two of us. I'm pretty sure it would be a very different and a much stronger relationship if we could just both communicate in the same language. 

I also feel like a huge disappointment to my family because of this. 

How do you feel about your heritage now? Do you identify with it?

I love my Vietnamese heritage. And yes, I identity myself as Vietnamese but more specifically Vietnamese Australian. However, I still get conflicted between the two. Sometimes, I am made to feel like an outcast in Australia only because of my Asian image despite being born and bred in Australia. Meanwhile, I would also feel indifferent in the motherland Vietnam, because of my lack of speaking skills and different upbringing. 

What is your favourite thing about being Asian Australian/your heritage? 

Other than my appreciation for Vietnamese cuisine, and the fact that a lot of Vietnamese have common surnames (despite being unrelated - hello Tran and Nguyen!), I also deeply appreciate the Vietnamese history. 

The Vietnam War and the ultimate outcome of it played a huge effect on my mum's life experience. I have a big appreciation for my mum's refugee journey. And, have an even bigger appreciation for the former late Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser for implementing a refugee policy that allowed my mum as well as many other Vietnamese refugees to settle into Australia. I have a huge appreciation for the former South Vietnam flag because not only does it represent my mum's former homeland that doesn't exist anymore, it represents the Vietnamese refugee community. 

Being born to a former Vietnamese refugee who started afresh in Australia gained me more awareness and have more empathy for the current asylum seekers and refugee crisis that we are currently facing. 

It's safe to say that I hit that ultimate jackpot the moment I was born here in Australia. It definitely is a privilege to be Australian and having the childhood that I had will always be my treasured memories.

And, I can't finish this without a special mention to Cabramatta. Although notorious for being the heroin epidemic ghetto in the 90's and blaming the Asian community for its social issues, I'm proud how far Cabramattta has come since those days. 

I will never be ashamed of being Vietnamese-Australian.

Lots o' Love, Linda 

Anzac Day 2018

Australian War Memorial x Westfield Sydney exhibition 

Today, we commemorate all of our soldiers. Not only do we honour the original ANZACs who were involved in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War, but also all of our service personnel involved in the wars thereafter. This also includes our Indigenous, women, ethnic minorities and our four-legged heroes such as horses and dogs. We will always remember them. 

LEST WE FORGET 

Lots o' Love, Linda 

Who Made My Clothes

It's been five years since the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh with the death toll of 1134 people and approximately 2500 injured. 

That man-made disaster really was an eye-opening moment that made not just myself as a consumer, but fashion brands as well, to re-evaluate about our decision-making processes when it comes to the garment and fashion industry. 

Somewhat far removed from the reality of the working conditions behind each garment, because all I see is the end product sitting nicely in the shopping mall waiting to take place in my wardrobe. 

However, as a daughter of a (former) refugee, I'm quite aware of the sweatshop conditions with long hours for little pay, that a lot of Asian refugees in Australia have taken on as work because of their lack of English speaking skills but have strengths in sewing apparel. I'm sure this case is pretty much the same in other parts of the world. So, I can't begin to imagine what the possible factory working conditions are like overseas in a third-world country where most of my clothing pieces were made in. 

Being brutally honest (and disappointed at that), I've failed to become more conscious and make more responsible shopping decisions. I told myself I will no longer buy from fast-fashion shopping chains and have completely failed. It's actually not a good feeling, even though I have slowed down a little over the last 12 months. I guess it all really comes to down to discipline. 

The "Who Made My Clothes" campaign as a part of Fashion Revolution Week (23-29 April) is a refreshing reminder of sending out the message; to really consider the working conditions and supporting the well-being of those hard-working people who physically made your clothes. 

Whilst completely avoiding fast-fashion items or items made in a third world country is almost an impossible action to take, it's worth noting that you can make more ethical decisions based on the Ethical Fashion Guide published by Baptist World Australia. 

Click here to download.  

Alternatively, you can check out global brands in the Fashion Transparency Index 2018. 

I aim to buy less and choose better from now on. 

Lots o' Love, Linda

Mama's Great Escape

As a daughter of an immigrant (or more specifically, a refugee) and being far removed from my mum's life experiences, anything to understand her life, heritage and journey is important to me. 

All kinds of feels when I visited this very spot where my mum, aunty and cousin began their refugee boat journey to escape Vietnam's Communist regime during the 1980s. 

So, this would have to be one of the most significant and memorable experiences during my previous trip to the motherland, Vietnam.

It takes another level of courage to put your life at risk to jump on a fishing boat at night with no certainty that you will make it alive on the other side. I understand that many Vietnamese didn't make it through their journey to freedom. So, I can't begin to fathom on what they had to endure during the whole ordeal. 

It always make me wonder how different my life could've been if it wasn't for my mum's bravery. Who knows, aye? Would I even be here at all? 

My mum, aunty and cousin landed in Malaysia where they stayed in a refugee camp before they were accepted into Australia. So, thank you to the late former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, whom at the time implemented a refugee policy that accepted them and resettled them (along with thousands of other Vietnamese refugees) into Australia. 

For that, I am grateful. 

Lots o' Love, Linda