Personal essay on diaspora and belonging in China
A personal essay reflects on a decade-long stay in China, originally planned as a three-month stint. The author, a British Vietnamese-Cantonese-Hakka third-generation diaspora member, moved from London to Shanghai for international exposure at a law firm. Over ten years and five cities, the initial professional rationale dissolved as geopolitical flux reshaped UK-China, EU-China, and US-China relations. The essay explores themes of identity, xenophobia, and the unexpected sense of home found in Shanghai, a city that has reinvented itself multiple times during this period.
Key facts
- Author moved to China for a three-month law firm stint that extended to 10 years.
- Author lived in five cities, currently based in Shanghai.
- Work involves UK-China, EU-China, and US-China relations.
- Author identifies as British Vietnamese-Cantonese-Hakka third-generation diaspora.
- Less than 1% of UK population identifies as Chinese.
- Shanghai has reinvented itself several times over the decade.
Entities
Locations
- China
- United Kingdom
- Shanghai
- London
- Asia