There is nothing like personal experience when it comes to cross-cultural awareness. And I love hearing about others’ experiences – it is always enlightening.
This book fits the above, but at the same time is absolutely hilarious. Comedian Anh Doh shares his experiences from his family fleeing Vietnam, ending up in Australia as refugees and how he navigated integrating his family’s culture with his new home’s culture.
Seriously though, this book got me into so much trouble with my husband. For some reason I would often be reading it whilst he was asleep or doing some quiet activity. But the book was so funny in parts that you couldn’t help but laugh out loud – like when you read about the first interaction between his Vietnamese relatives and his wife’s Aussie relatives…I was in stitches! – hence the trouble from my sleeping hubby.
Yet in the same book, there are some very serious moments that break your heart – like when you read about the bullies during Anh’s school years. As with so many cross-cultural interactions, there is good and unfortunately, there is often bad.
What I find encouraging is the learnings that come from the experiences. For example, similar to my marriage, Anh’s cross-cultural marriage has meant a lot of new thoughts, new ideas….that’s the whole idea of collaborative bridges – when people from diverse backgrounds meet together, so many new things can be created because off their unique, then combined, experiences…makes me so excited! But that’s my passion 🙂
In sum: Definitely recommend this book!!!
