Background information
Jodie Zhong is a 21-year-old third-year student at Loughborough University, currently undertaking a placement year. Born and raised in Swansea, Wales, she is the daughter of parents who emigrated from Hong Kong. Her mother’s story of resilience in adapting to a new country, learning a foreign language, and rebuilding her life from scratch has profoundly inspired Jodie.
Growing up in a bilingual and bicultural environment, Jodie often found herself bridging the gap between her Chinese heritage and her Welsh upbringing. She supported her mother in everyday tasks, such as translating at banks or during parent-teacher meetings, which required her to mature quickly.
Despite the challenges, Jodie cherishes the richness of experiencing both cultures. She fondly recalls her mother’s efforts to preserve their Chinese heritage, celebrating traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, even sending her sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) while she is at university. Jodie actively continues these traditions with her friends, particularly among other British-born Chinese students.
Jodie also values her connection to the vibrant Chinese community in Wales, participating in events like mooncake-making and New Year celebrations, which evoke memories of her childhood performances and shared experiences with friends. While she does not feel entirely Chinese due to limited fluency and cultural knowledge, nor fully Welsh because of her immersion in Chinese customs at home, she takes pride in her unique identity as both Welsh and Chinese.
Her dual upbringing has enabled her to connect with diverse people, broaden her perspectives, and appreciate the beauty of two distinct cultures. Jodie sees this as a strength, allowing her to navigate and celebrate the intersection of her identities with gratitude and joy.
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