Tasmania is famous for its rugged forests and delicious produce, and it’s also my husband’s and my home state. We grew up with a backdrop of kunanyi (Mt Wellington), with blistering cold southerlies from Antarctica in the winter, and watching boats sail up the river Derwent in summer. It still delights us to see Tassie beef at supermarkets all over Japan with certificates of authenticity signed by the Premier.
My parents are Chinese migrants from Malaysia. Although Australia is a migrant rich country (almost half of our population have parents who were born overseas), being an Asian in Hobart was a little unusual but rarely difficult. I lived a busy life learning music and studying (as many Asians do!).
In primary school, I joined the Australian Rosny Children’s Choir which toured Japan in 1987, for three weeks. On our way, a typhoon diverted our plane and we had to make a fuel stop in Guam. The Japanese businessmen on board were getting impatient with the delay, so we did an impromptu concert on the plane! Once we arrived, we were hosted by kind families, and I still remain in contact with my host sister and mum from Kobe City. During our stay we had a “full dance card” of concerts and collaborations with Japanese choirs. This immersive experience was filled with many quintessential cultural experiences, and since then Japan has always held a special place in my heart.
In 2000, recently married with a Bachelor of Teaching in Secondary Mathematics and Science from the University of Tasmania, I drove with my hubby along the Great Ocean Road and across the Nullarbor Plain to Perth. Thus began a series of moves, following Josh’s Naval career to many wonderful locations spanning four continents.
In the UK, I taught at local high schools in Wootton Bassett and Swindon. However in Newport, Rhode Island, teaching was difficult with a toddler. Instead, a flexible retail job at a local bike shop kept me out of trouble. It was fun being an Asian Australian taking bike tours around the magnificent “cottage”’ in Newport where the rich and famous took advantage of the sea breezes during the hot, humid summers.
In 2017, my husband received his first of three postings to Japan. It was only for nine months and included eleven weeks of summer holidays, so we enrolled our daughter in an English-speaking school (International School of the Sacred Heart) where I met many wonderful parents, including Hiromi Tsuzaki. When we returned in 2019, Hiromi recommended a wonderful volunteer organization and thus started my journey with CWAJ. Since then, hats that I’ve worn include Recording Secretary, Vice-President, and Director of Scholarship.
This year my daughter has started her junior year, and she asked to complete her studies in Australia. She’s learning to drive which is terrifying (but don’t tell her that – it’s important to maintain a calm demeanor in the passenger seat). We also have a son who is in Grade 5. He loves open parks and other outdoor spaces and also does a lot of music.
My husband remains in Japan for another 18 months as Defence Attaché at the Australian Embassy. There are some aspects of sole parenting/living apart from your lifelong love that are actually good! For example, you don’t have to spend time consulting when making a decision and there’s more time to spend with each child. Of course we miss him a lot. Fortunately we will visit each other frequently and time will pass swiftly.
One other fun fact about our family is that we all enjoy playing the card game bridge. When living in the US, Josh and I travelled to the Bridge National Championships which run three times a year in different cities in North America. What is wonderful about these events is that anyone can play in them, so you have a chance to play against the best players in the world. Also, they have childcare!
Life feels like it’s coming full circle. Right now we live in Canberra (Australia’s capital city) but last month we unexpectedly bought a new house – in Hobart, Tasmania! We plan to move there in 2027 for my son’s high school years. Both cities have many wonderful attractions.
I’d love to hear from you if you visit Australia! I’ll take you to my favourite eateries. Japanese cuisine is super popular at the moment but don’t worry, there are many other great cuisines including Ethiopian, Bhutanese, and Nepalese.
I am looking forward to remaining connected and involved with the CWAJ community for many years to come. 
