As the daughter of two Southeast Asian immigrants, my connection to AAPI heritage runs deep. My dad, one of 12 siblings, came to the US from Vietnam as a teenager. My mom, at 21, left Cambodia in pursuit of the “American dream” and the chance to support her family back home. Despite neither of my parents having ties to China, I proudly embrace my Southern Chinese heritage through my mother tongue, Teochew (also known as Chiuchow). This AAPI Heritage Month, I want to share the richness of my diverse AAPI identities and cultures with one phrase: gaginang.
When translated into English, gaginang means “my own people.” Growing up, it was almost equivalent to a greeting because it acknowledged that we had found our people—those who spoke the same dialect and could understand the phrase. Reflecting on this phrase now, I see that it carries more weight than its literal meaning, as it represents the community, unity, and sense of belonging that my culture centers around. Language and food, such as the Teochew dialect and Teochew noodles, play a crucial role in preserving our cultural identity.
Teochew culture, with its unique language, is a source of pride and connection in my daily life. The verbal portion of this dialect, distinct from other Chinese dialects and languages despite using the same written characters, is often passed down from generation to generation. Despite living in a predominantly Asian neighborhood my entire life, there is not one school or business that teaches people how to speak Teochew. In fact, I’ve had non-Teochew elders approach me and express how hard it is to learn Teochew. Despite sounding like other languages like Cantonese or Mandarin, the pronunciation and vocabulary are different. Therefore, hearing the dialect spoken around me reminds me of home and fosters kinship.
A less niche celebration of Teochew culture is the food. My favorite Teochew dish is Teochew noodles, served dry or with soup. This dish features thick egg and thick rice noodles and a variety of meats that make it the ultimate comfort food. Aside from this, Teochew cuisine also includes chilled crab, braised meats, and other noodle soups coupled with a type of seafood. With Teochew people migrating to Southeast Asian countries (like Cambodia and Vietnam), there are also other influences and spins on the food. My family uses fish sauce (typically used in Vietnamese cuisine) as a condiment for almost all food, which clearly indicates Southeast Asian influence. This influence, once again, can show how intertwined and closely connected all parts of Asia are.
Ultimately, I’m proud of all my identities and hope others can share and be reminded of the spirit of gaginang this month.