In primary school, I was in a public school with a foreign population of 75%.

On the first day I transferred there, a teacher went:” Stand up. Okay… If you’re from Singapore/ Singaporean, sit down.”

I sat down as I had been in Singapore for 5 years. But the guy beside me went:”Stand up! Didn’t you say you were born in Indonesia?”

So I stood up. The teacher continued: ” If you’re from China, Taiwan or Hongkong, sit down”

I sat down as my mother was from Taiwan and because I’ve spent part of my childhood there. The guy beside me told me to stand again.

The teacher, who noticed me standing and sitting at invervals asked me why was I doing what I was doing. And continued to ask if I understood Chinese and where exactly am I from.

I repiled in Chinese:” My mother is from Taiwan so I’m sort of Taiwanese. I’ve lived in Singapore for almost half my life, so you can say I’m abit of a Singaporean. Lastly, I’m Indonesian because I was born in Indonesia.”

The teacher shook his head and went: ” Are you confused or something? If someone asked where you’re from, they ask for your passport nationality .”

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Hi,

I’m Indonesian-Chinese born in Medan, moved to Jakarta when I was 1. When I was 3 we moved to the suburbs and I had to start at a new preschool. Then we moved to Batam(another city/providence) when I was 4. When I was five, we moved to Singapore and now, I’m stuck here for 10 years (with frequent visits back to Indonesia and Taiwan).

I was born to a Taiwanese mother who lived in Japan for 8 years and an Indonesian-Chinese Dad who spent his childhood shuffling between Medan and Jakarta. Although I’ve been stuck in Singapore, we had always moved around within the tiny island so there isn’t “oh, I need to transfer” or “What about my friends” drama. But despite being here for a decade, I still don’t belong here. I do understand the pop culture here, the usual things we students rant about but I still pretty much stink at the local jargon. I still stand out like a foreigner though I look like the rest of the locals( most of the locals are Chinese).

Back in Indonesia, I can’t speak Indonesian really well. As much as I have pride for the place that should have been “home”, it’s till not home to me… I don’t have much to speak about Taiwan coz I was only there for bits and pieces of my life. I don’t feel I’m XXX coz wherever I go, I feel a connection and yet a gap that can’t be filled.

Popularity: 1% [?]