Straight Outta Cabra

Friendship Arch / Pai Lau, Freedom Plaza, Cabramatta

After reading and listening to many (and I mean, many) other people's shocking stories about growing up Asian in Australia or America and the bullying they copped on the regular simply for being Asian, I've realised how fortunate I was to have a different experience. Growing up, I thought multiculturalism was everywhere in Australia. Little did I know that I was actually a part of an ethnic minority because I was never made to feel that way. I guess I was sorta in a bubble? I only started realising this well into my teenage years. I also only started feeling the effects of racism towards Asians or minorities after highschool.

Super grateful that I grew up in a diverse community that made up of not only South East Asians but also a good mix of white, Spanish, Serbians, Middle Easterns, Pacific Islanders, Italians and Greeks, just to name a few. I never felt alienated or ashamed of my heritage despite Cabra copping heaps of racism back in the day. In fact, there was plenty of Asian pride (*cough* AzN PriDe). I had classmates of different backgrounds and maintained my Vietnamese roots via Vietnamese school, as well as cultural and community events.

Even though it looks like I grew up in an Asian enclave at first glance, the Fairfield - Cabramatta area felt more diverse than any other area in Sydney. Pretty sure I would've had a completely different (and more marginalised) experience growing up somewhere else. And for that, I will never be ashamed of telling people I grew up in Fairfield - Cabramatta area and will always be proud of my Asian ethnicity.

Lots o' Love, Linda