How deeply engaged can you be with a country's culture without being fluent in the local language? Can concepts of culture be divorced from language, or will there always be something missing without a linguistic understanding?

In discussing our Asian identities, we've always known that we don't quite fit in in the motherland. The local cultural nuances that make you feel that you "belong" are difficult to pick up during short visits. On top of that, understanding these cultural nuances also requires a deeper knowledge of the language & vocabulary (in our case, Mandarin) than we have. Oftentimes this disconnect leaves us feeling like we're unable to explain our inner thoughts and feelings.

We talk about how invalidating it feels to know what you want to say, but at the same time be unable to express yourself in a way that's known to others. We connect this experience to our parents' journey immigrating to America and the challenges they faced understanding English and American culture.

Is there something that you also feel like is "lost in translation" between English and your mother tongue? Let us know by connecting with us on social media!

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