Foreign Media: Once Rejecting Chinese Identity, Now Embracing Cultural Roots Through Novels
Eliza Chan, a 41-year-old Scottish-Chinese fantasy writer born in the suburbs of Glasgow, was one of only two Chinese students in her primary school. Her strong Scottish accent is what people first notice about her—but being asked on the streets of her small town, “Where are you really from?” has long been a routine occurrence.
As a child, she rarely actively reflected on her identity. Yet, it was through others’ gazes that she gradually developed a sense of rejection toward Chinese culture—deliberately distancing herself from Mandarin, disliking Chinese food, and striving only to fit in with her Scottish peers.
The turning point came during her studies at the University of Edinburgh. Surrounded by classmates from Hong Kong and Malaysia, she suddenly felt remorse: regretting her poor Cantonese skills, frustrated that she couldn’t fluently read Chinese characters, and saddened by her inability to join in karaoke gatherings.
Today, she embraces this hybrid identity openly: “I am who I am—both cultures are part of me, not diminishing each other, but making me unique. And that’s not a bad thing at all.”
This former medical student now channels her heritage into fiction, weaving together Eastern mythology and Western folklore in her writing as a way to reconnect with her Chinese roots.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1865605589684553/
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