Growing up as an Asian Canadian in a predominantly Caucasian community, I often felt the pressure to fit in by rejecting my cultural heritage. The lunches my parents packed for me, filled with traditional Chinese dishes like curry fish cakes and steamed daikon, made me stand out among my classmates. Their reactions were often unkind, with comments about the “weird” and “smelly” food I brought to school.
Feeling the need to conform, I begged my parents to pack me “normal” lunches like carrot sticks and Lunchables. Throughout high school, I would discard my Asian meals in favor of sandwiches, trying to hide any aspect of myself that seemed different. This internal struggle mirrored the conflict of having a diasporic identity, torn between embracing my roots and seeking acceptance from my peers.
Reflecting back on those experiences, I realized that I was not alone in this battle for cultural acceptance. Many Asian Canadian children faced similar challenges of wanting to blend in while also cherishing their heritage. Sharing these stories through projects like “The Lunchbox Dilemma” aims to shed light on the complexities of growing up as a visible minority in Canada and encourages dialogue and understanding.