When senior Laura Cin presented a slideshow about Chinese New Year at an International Club meeting during her sophomore year, a classmate from mainland China made a comment that falsified the practices and traditions in her presentation. Ultimately, this comment upset Cin.
“I was just sad because I asked my dad about a lot of the things that we put in the (slides),” Cin said. “But some of the things, I did have to search on the internet because I didn’t grow up in China, and I’m not really sure about all of the traditions.”
While Cin was affected by this comment, she also wished that she had the same opportunity to experience growing up in China like her classmate did.
As a mixed student with Falam Chin and Chinese roots, Cin often struggles to find balance between the two cultures. Although she finds belonging in the Chin community through language and different events, it can be challenging for her to find connections to her Chinese heritage. Now and in the near future, she is determined to learn more about this side of her identity. Cin’s mother originated from the Falam Chin mountains in Myanmar whereas her father originated from China but immigrated to Myanmar.
Before Cin was born, her parents relocated from Myanmar to Malaysia. However, after living in Malaysia for three years, she and her family moved to America.
Living in Indiana has allowed Cin to find her place in the Chin community, which has strengthened her connection to her Chin roots.
“Having a place, which is my people, I think it’s very comforting because we speak the same language so there’s no reason for any different treatment,“ Cin said.
In this community, she has participated in fashion shows, dances and performances at her church. Her involvement in these events gave her an outlet to showcase her Chin culture.
Additionally, she is able to speak Falam Chin with her mother at home and Burmese with her father. Even so, she admits her Burmese is not completely perfect.
While Cin has grown her knowledge and connection to her Chin culture, she wishes she knew more about her Chinese culture.
“I see Chinese speaking people, and they speak it very fl uently and very well. And I’m just really jealous because I wish I was able to do that too,” Cin said.
Looking ahead, Cin hopes to learn more about her Chinese traditions and culture since the only tradition she celebrates now is Chinese New Year.
Cin’s older sister Phoebe Mawi played a role in helping Cin find ways to connect to her Chinese roots.
“I try to teach her as best as I can…,” Mawi said. “Since I know how to cook and bake, I try to make her a lot of food from both our cultures and explain to her what my parents taught me.”
In order to find familiarity with her Chinese heritage, Cin plans on wearing traditional Chinese clothing during the SHS Cultural Performance. In the future, she hopes to visit China one day to experience the diverse biomes there.
Even though balancing both sides of her identity has been difficult, Cin is determined to showcase each of her roots.
“For me, (the emotional gift) comes in a form of excitement because having two cultures to explore (is) fun for me because then you get to have a different sense of clothes. You get to have two different sets of food,” Cin said.
