Growing up Asian in Australia

I've been re-reading 'Growing up Asian in Australia', a collection of stories written by Asian Aussies and edited by Alice Pung (author of Unpolished Gem and Her Father's Daughter). I guess it's my way of re-visiting my own thoughts about race and identity around Australia Day.

When I first heard about this book in 2008 I was very excited. Here at last was a book written by and for people like me - who'd grown up as children of migrants with the challenges and opportunities of being part of two worlds. Reading it was a delight, with lots of 'aha!' moments where I really related to what the author was experiencing.  Some tales were strangely familiar, some were unsettling, some were funny and many were deeply moving.

The book is grouped around different 'Aussie' themes: Pioneers, Battlers, Mates, The Folks, The Clan, The Hots etc and contributors range from high profile personalities (Annette Shun Wah, Jenny Kee, Kylie Kwong, Shaun Tan, Anh Do) to normal run of the mill Asians navigating a world where they are too often viewed as a 'model minority' - working hard, studying hard, conforming to the expectations and ideals of the dominant culture.

One of my favourite writers is Benjamin Law (he also contributes to the very cool Frankie mag). His opening to the story 'Tourism' I found hilarious:

My family isn't exactly the outdoors type. Despite being raised right on the coastline, Mum detests the beach (all the sand it brought into the house), while Dad actively disapproved of wearing thongs ('It splits the toes'). We never camped. All those things involved in camping - pitching a tent; cooking on open fires; the insects; shitting in the woods; sleeping on rocks; getting murdered and raped in the middle of nowhere - they never appealed to us. 'We were never camping people,' Mum explains now. 'See, Asians - we're scared of dying. White people, they like to "live life to the full" and "die happy."' She pauses, before adding, 'Asians, we're the opposite.'

If you find that amusing or enlightening, you may well enjoy reading 'Growing up Asian in Australia'. I'd love to know what books you think capture the voice of your Australia too!


Happy to belong to this sunburnt country,
helen xox

Of French pots and Flatpacks

We've just come home from holidays up North, our station wagon laden with luggage, presents and bargain buys. I'm particularly pleased with my acquisition of a cast iron French cooking pot, purchased on the way out of Sydney. It was a bit of a surreal experience - the store was having a 'Grand Re-Opening Sale' and was full of frenzied women (and the occasional long-suffering man) stocking up on heavily discounted homewares and gifts for the year(s) ahead. The funniest bit was watching the Islander 'doorman' at the head of the queue trying to stop the customers from stampeding the cashiers.

 Birthday present from my super generous in-laws

Anyway, I eventually got my iron pot and we proceeded on the long journey back to Melbourne. Once we had recovered from the drive, Dan and I decided that our house needed a revamp. He's a bit OCD, so likes to have everything neat and orderly. I'm the one with hoarding tendencies, but even I agreed that it was time to declutter and get a better storage system happening.

So, off we went to IKEA and came back with flat packs aplenty and dreams of perfectly organised workspaces, front entrance and laundry. Love IKEA - you always spend more than you intended but atone for it by having to assemble your purchases. And amazingly they do usually help you 'Bring new life to your home'. If not 'Bring your home to life'. That would be downright creepy.

Waiting for the heatwave to pass so I can cook lamb shanks,
helen xox