Embrace the Cray

Amsterdam, chasing street art and har gow.

Growing up as a child half-Taiwanese and half-Ukrainian with no roots was an incredibly difficult struggle.

Not only did I feel disconnected from the people around me, but the only rooted experience was a sense of isolation. I felt like an outsider in both cultures, unable to relate to either on a fundamental level. It was a lonely feeling, and I often felt lost and confused about my identity. Despite this, I was determined to find a way to connect with both my Taiwanese and Ukrainian heritage. I found this connection to identity through food, and it is my time machine, a portal back to times, places, people, and spaces that collectively I call home.

I consider myself a third culture kid. A third culture kid (TCK) is a person who spends a significant part of their developmental years outside their parents’ culture or country. Instead of identifying strictly with their parents’ “home” culture (the first culture) or the culture of the country they are living in (the second culture), TCKs blend elements of both into a unique “third culture.” Places were my teachers, societal norms, food, and travel were my textbooks, and the cumulative experiences became my culture.

I’m happiest frolicking barefoot on sandy beaches or when playing with food, blending identity with culture in bites that cure hangry days. I’m embracing the cray these days- stay tuned & follow along.