Tien-Jen

Improving Your Mother Tongue
It’s common for those who grew up in a different country to their parents to lose some or all of their mother tongue. It’s natural to want to speak the language that is largely spoken in your environment as it helps you communicate with the people you interact with. This is one of the struggles of maintaining your mother tongue when you grow up in an environment where you largely use one language in your daily settings.

Language allows us to connect with other people and have a deeper understanding of our culture. It allows us to tell stories, understand different perspectives and express what’s within. My parents were the only people I spoke Mandarin regularly with when I lived at home. The lack of learning the language and improving my grammar meant my Chinese level was like a primary school student. This was most clear once I left home and so the desire to improve began.

Surround yourself with the language. If you’re working, you can listen to podcasts and music in the background. At home, you can watch videos, TV shows and movies in the language. You can try to even think in the language. This can be tricky but it can force you to be more active in using the language.

Write down words that you don’t know. Learn new grammar by writing down words that you don’t know and practice them in your daily life. This can be a word from an article or video. You can practice using them during a conversation as it will help solidify them in your memory.

Read articles and books in the language. Find content you’re interested in yet is a little bit challenging to read. There’s so much content online with specific topics that you can read according to your personal interests. Reading allows you to slow down and helps you recognize more words.

Engage, use and speak the language. This is one of the most important tips. If you don’t use it, you lose it! Take any opportunity that you can to use the language. I’m still encouraging myself to do this as a big part of improving a language is having confidence. If you’re watching a video you can copy the native speaker and mimic their pronunciation and accent.
It’s important to remember that improvements take time and daily practice. I’ve found using a language app can help with speaking to other language learners. Practicing with cue cards on apps like Pleco can also help. Learning and improving a language is much like learning an instrument or practicing sports. It takes commitment, focus and daily practice. Remember, practicing a little a day can go a long way.

Art by Kate Pugsley
The Cat Who Saved Books

Ritaro is the shy young protagonist in the book who rarely goes to school or socialises. He recently loses his grandfather and inherits his old bookstore and is met with overwhelming grief. Shortly after, a talking cat called Tiger appears and Ritaro enters four labyrinths where he discovers the ways books have been mistreated. Throughout the book, the wisdom that his grandfather has imparted onto him gives him courage to speak what’s in his heart. ‘Books have tremendous power. But take care. It’s the book that holds the power, not you.’

The adventures he goes on allows him to become more himself while working through grief and making new friends. He convinces those mistreating the books to stop by reminding them the true meaning of books. Near the end of the book, he says ‘Books teach us how to care about others.’ He begins to foster more empathy and compassion and begins to open up more. It’s a book filled with adventure, friendship, hope, courage and wisdom.

Here is a Chinese idiom I recently learned 學無止境 Xué wú zhǐjìng. It means there is no end to learning. There’s always something new to learn and knowledge is boundless. The book by Sōsuke Natsukawa really expresses this sentiment. Books remind us that we are always never-ending learning and there is always something new to discover, understand, improve and learn.

‘Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy. By reading their words and their stories, by experiencing them together, we learn about the hearts and minds of others people besides ourselves. Thanks to books, it’s possible to learn not only about the people around us everyday, but people living in totally different worlds.’

Art by Liekeland
Clothing Thoughts

I was recently watching a video which made me think about how important it is to dress well. What we wear reveals how we feel about ourselves and how we’d like to present ourselves to the world. The video made me reflect on the popularity of dressing casually, the rise in clothing consumption and the obsession with trends. The message that we always need more clothing causes dissatisfaction and a desire to shop more. A timeless wardrobe helps us develop a strong sense of personal style and whether we may admit it or not fashion is important.

Dressing well is a form of self care. Taking time to groom ourselves and dress well is a form of self care, as it shows respect to the people you’re interacting with and respect for yourself. Do you notice how when you wear something you feel comfortable in you feel lighter and more confident? Feeling good ultimately comes from within, however, it’s undeniable that what we wear can impact on how we feel about ourselves.

Shop less and wear more. There is an impulse to buy more in a consumerist society that tells us to keep up with ever-changing trends. There’s a blessing in shopping less and wearing more because you can then truly develop your personal style. You can also save time in deciding what to wear, save money on buying numerous clothing and have a deeper understanding of what suits you.

Environment and pollution. Clothing is one of the largest polluters in the world and fashion production makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions. It’s inconceivable and shocking to think of the amount of clothing that is discarded every second of the day yet it’s the harsh reality in our society. We live in a superficial society that aims to influence us to spend more money and live a certain kind of lifestyle yet we should praise repeating outfits and cherishing quality clothing.

Clothing should be designed to be worn year after year. There seems to be this idea of staying fresh and new in fashion and regularly wearing something different. Somehow this idea through the digital age was accentuated that being seen in the same outfit isn’t acceptable. However, have you noticed how trends will often circle back in another decade? Quality clothing that we enjoy wearing year after year is what clothing is ultimately meant for. Sadly, a lot of clothing now is poorly made and designed to be worn and quickly discarded.

What do we leave to the imagination? Nowadays, it seems common to see people wear clothing that shows more and more skin. Clothing designs have all kinds of cuts and strips and transparency. Some are done in a stylish manner and others unfortunately look unattractive and attention-seeking. Fashion is a form of self respect. There’s nothing wrong with wearing a short dress, but it’s how we present ourselves that makes the difference.

Developing a sense of personal style. When I was a teenager, I remember buying whatever was trending. From crop tops, leather skirts to playsuits and leopard pants. It felt like I was playing pretend as I didn’t feel truly myself in those clothes. These were clothes that would end up being worn once or twice and then remain untouched and donated at the end of the year as they weren’t true to my style. Do you notice how you can really see when someone is completely comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing and vice versa? Remember that your personal style will always be timeless.

Art by Renee Gouin
Living A Slow-Paced Life

There have been many moments where rushing feels like progress but the result ends up being less than satisfactory. Slowing down is when things are able to come into fruition in a natural way. Think of a small seed in the soil that weathers through the stormy nights and sunny days. It slowly grows and grows until one day it becomes a strong and sturdy tree.

When we slow down we have space to think. We have space to notice our breath and space to just be. The quiet moments allow us to reflect and understand ourselves better. Slowing down gives us a moment to day dream and let our imagination run wild. The story of the tortoise and the hare is a reminder of the wisdom in having patience and persistence.

The greatest joys in life come from the little things. Walking down the streets and listening to the sound of the birds chirping in the early hours of the morning. Enjoying the small things like reading at a cafe, feeling the gentle breeze on your face, writing in a journal and taking a warm shower. Take time to be grateful for the small things.

Art by Virginia Frances Sterrett
How Do I Pronounce Your Name?

Growing up in a Western country it may have been a common experience to hear the teacher mispronounce your name. Particularly if it’s a name that’s not so common or a name from a different culture. My Chinese surname was commonly mispronounced but it was not common for people to ask how to pronounce my name. When someone asks “How do I pronounce your name?” it shows a sign of curiosity and respect. They are genuinely interested and conscious of pronouncing your name correctly.

Name discrimination is prevalent in our society. These areas include job applications and applying for a rental property. This shouldn’t be the case but it is sadly the reality. There may be stereotypes and racial prejudices that arise with certain names particularly names that may seem difficult to pronounce. However, a person’s capability in a job or how well they will take care of a property is not determined by their name.

Our names can have special meanings behind them and they can be reflective of our culture, identity and language. Taking the time to learn how to pronounce someone’s name creates connection and openness. It shows respect for different cultures and it acknowledges the person. If you ever interact with someone and you’re unsure how to pronounce their name, don’t be shy to ask them “How do I pronounce your name?”

Photography by Leslie Zhang
I’ve Been Decluttering My Wardrobe

Clothing is one of the largest polluters in the world and much of the clothing worn and unworn end up in landfills. When I think of why we end up buying excess clothing it makes me think of the quote by Dave Ramsey: ‘We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.’ We are told by advertising and media to buy more in order to attain a certain kind of lifestyle or to be perceived a certain way. It’s more valuable to embrace your own personal style and wear clothing that will be worn throughout the years.

Both fast fashion and luxury brands produce clothing that have been made by children or women in poor working environments and are paid a miniscule amount. Those who create these products are barely paid enough whereas the corporations earn hundreds of millions of dollars. We don’t need so much in this world to be content, however, the increasing amount of dissatisfaction is from the false belief that we need more things to feel fulfilled and accepted.

We live in a world of excess production and consumption of materials, where much more care is often put towards appearances and money rather than how we treat others and our environment. In the past year, I’ve began selling and donating things I no longer wear or use. I realised we don’t regularly wear the clothes in our wardrobe. If I left the house on a chilly day I’d put on the same rain coat. Fashion allows us to express our own sense of style. It becomes a part of our identity but it shouldn’t have to cost the earth.

Art by Renée Gouin
The Joy Of Missing Out

The ability to embrace the art of doing nothing allows us to appreciate periods of solitude. Social media has contributed to the rise of consumer culture and social pressures. These pressures can cause stress and a distraction from what is important in our lives. The concept of missing out is often labeled as a negative aspect, and it can often be perceived as antisocial.

There is great beauty in taking quiet moments during the day to just be in your own presence. There is great love in giving yourself permission to take time to rest, reflect and reconnect with yourself. The joy of missing out is taking time to enjoy the quiet moments and to embrace being who you are.

The art of slow. Our lives can be filled with endless things one after the other, or a never-ending to-do list. We live in a society that praises a busy and productive lifestyle by labeling these aspects as the definition of success. But the truth is that we are really only able to experience true satisfaction in life in the moments where we feel a sense of flow. Those moments are appreciated when we aren’t rushing through the world.

Finding balance. We practice moderation through how much we consume. These include food, exercise, or technology. We can focus much more deeply when we take time to switch off, practice being mindful of our actions and become aware of where we are placing our attention and time. The joy of missing out on what is always happening in the world can also be beneficial for one’s mental health. Taking a break from technology can allow oneself to focus on being in the present.

Simplifying one’s life. When we let go of the need to chase excitement or fill our lives with things, we have more time to do all the things that make us truly happy. There is a false belief that we must always buy the latest thing, stay on top of trends or achieve something great to be happy. It’s truly the small and simple things in life that can give us the greatest joy. It can be the smallest things that can trigger a sad or happy memory.

Staying authentic to yourself. The joy of missing out means that we can spend more time doing things we enjoy. The time we spend alone is precious, as those moments are where we face our thoughts, feelings, memories and experiences. We have space to reflect and think about life. We can focus on change and growth and we can spend time in our favourite hobbies. When we stay true to ourselves, we feel the greatest sense of freedom. It takes effort and energy to not be who you truly are.

Deeper connections. We only have so much time and the time we spend with people is the connections we are investing in. By surrounding yourself with people who truly care about you, you nurture a deeper connection. It takes time to really get to know someone, and it takes energy to be there for others. When we miss out on other things, we can spend time with the one’s we love. Relationships are beautiful things. The people we surround ourselves with and spend time with the most have a greater impact on us than we may consciously be aware of.

The path we’re meant to be on. Many things in life are a blessing in disguise. In the moment we might not understand why it happened or we might feel that it was unfair. There are aspects that may be a perception of failure but we are yet to realise that the best is yet to come. Sometimes we think something is a setback when it’s really pushing us forward to where we need to be. The joy of missing out on an opportunity can be the greatest blessing to discovering where you’re meant to be.

Art by Alja Horvat
Five Reasons To Improve Your Chinese

Growing up in New Zealand, I learned to speak Mandarin Chinese first. It was difficult to maintain interest as a child when my classmates, friends, and teachers were speaking English. I remember once I started going to school my Chinese regressed. I’d go to Saturday Chinese classes unable to recognize the words on the whiteboard and struggling to understand what the teacher was saying.

Fortunately, my parents insisted my sister and I must speak Chinese at home, otherwise, I imagine I would’ve forgotten a significant amount of the language. It was in my later teens I felt a desire to improve my Chinese. I wanted to feel a deeper connection with my culture as well as the ability to communicate with more fluency with my family.

1) It’s fun! Learning or improving any language can be a fun task. You can be met with challenges and amusing experiences. When I was a child, my father was reading to me in the library, and a young boy came up to him to ask “What are you speaking?”. My Dad replied “Mandarin”. The boy replied “I speak pineapple!”

2) It helps you understand your culture and identity. There is a greater respect for one’s culture when you understand the language. When you retain your mother tongue you are maintaining your cultural identity and you have a more deeper connection with it.

3) It’s the most spoken language in the world. There are over a billion native speakers in Chinese in the world. By improving your Chinese you can expand your opportunities internationally, or engage with more people and open your world view and perspective.

4) It helps you improve your English skills. Understanding your mother tongue well helps you in learning English. Research points to how incomplete or inadequate skills in the first language make learning another language difficult for the child.

5) It improves cognition. Learning and improving a language enhances brain plasticity, as every time you learn something, you promote neuroplasticity. Studies have shown that people who are bilingual tend to have better cognitive skills than those who only speak one language.

Photography by Sun Jun
Five Ways to Care About Our Planet

I recently watched Our Planet on Netflix and you can see the incredible beauty in nature, the vastness of the ocean and the animals that wander the earth. The series makes one more conscious of the impacts of climate change and how human beings have significantly impacted the planet. There’s something humbling about being reminded of the fact that we are not alone on this planet.

Our world is struggling and it’s clear with events such as the flooding earlier this year in New Zealand. The goal is not perfection. The reality is that there are systemic and societal changes that need to drastically change in corporations and government. There are many little steps we can take but here are some little steps we can take that can help:

1) Eat less meat. Meat contributes to the release of greenhouse gases. Not to mention, meat is overproduced. In the past, I worked at a organic supermarket where we had to throw out dozens of of expired chicken each week.

2) Buy less. We don’t need so much yet our world is built around product consumption. It’s a wonder why landfills are filled with so much rubbish. Making a conscious choice to buy less means less clutter and more room for the things that matter.

3) Cut electricity. A small act but making sure to switch off the light and cutting down any aspect of electricity minimizes the amount of carbon emissions. Eg. water usage, switching off power plugs.

4) Transportation. Walking, bicycling or taking public transport are all ways to minimize one’s carbon footprint. Transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for 17 per cent of NZ’s emissions.

5) Reuse. When something can be reused it means less waste is created. Eg. reusable bags, drink bottle, containers, clothing. It can also change our attitude so that we can appreciate more of the things that we have.

Art by Miren Asiain Lora
Spending Less Time On Your Phone

A century ago, it would’ve seemed strange to picture photos and artwork with people holding a phone in their hand with their heads bowed down. Today, it’s a norm to walk down the street messaging someone. I miss the days when phones weren’t such a massive part of our lives. I remember talking to strangers more and making friends through the same silence and simply breaking it. However, now it’s easy for people to avoid silence by using their devices. We spend so much time staring at screens now.

One of the things I’ve always had a hard relationship with is the mobile device. I remember using a flip phone for as long as possible until it broke. I was nineteen when I purchased my first touch phone and I always felt it unnatural to use it all the time. I felt an overreliance on it yet a convenience. I’m grateful that it helps us connect in many ways with our family and friends who may not be close by, but I see that it is also making us more disconnected in other ways.

One way to limit phone use is to remove apps that you don’t often use or that you’re mindlessly clicking into. You can switch off notifications or put your phone on silent. One of the ways I’ve found helpful in using my phone less during the day is consciously setting it aside somewhere or putting it on silence. It makes you feel more present and feel more engaged in your day-to-day moments, without the distraction of a phone.

My phone can sometimes give me slight anxiety and urgency, take away precious time, and the less I use it, the more present I feel and the more focused I am. I found after removing several social media platforms in the last few years, it’s helped me feel less anxious about staying up to-date with everything. I find it helps to take moments to just read a book, write in a journal, or play the piano. Everything is more enjoyable in the long run when it’s in moderation. There are endless things to enjoy without the presence of our phones.

Art by Monica Barengo