Celebrating East and Southeast Asia Heritage Month: Routes and Roots
What is East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month?
Often inaccurately over-simplified and diluted into “Chinese” or derogatorily racialized into “Oriental”, East and Southeast Asia (often shortened to “ESEA”) covers an almost infinitely nuanced and diverse variety of cuisines, languages, and ancient histories. In the UK context, there has been a strong movement from people of this diaspora to identify independently from other diasporas, with the term “Asian” often being used to refer to people of South Asian heritage.
ESEA encompasses a range of countries including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Timor-Leste, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, both North and South Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ESEA Heritage Month has been observed throughout September since 2021 in the UK. The term “ESEA” has gained currency following the COVID-19 global pandemic which led to a rise in anti-ESEA racial discrimination. This occasion was therefore established to help combat this, educate others on a deeper understanding of the region’s rich history and – importantly – to celebrate the many wonderful idiosyncrasies across its many cultures.
What iCAN is Doing:
This year's ESEA Heritage Month holds special significance for iCAN as it proudly launches the special interest community group dedicated to ESEA. The festivities commence with the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally an opportunity for gift giving and family gatherings, is a good representation of the theme "Routes and Roots of the East and Southeast Asian Community." This event promises to blend entertainment, education, and enlightenment. Attendees can anticipate a captivating stand-up comedy show, an engaging panel discussion featuring some of the most accomplished ESEA professionals in the UK insurance industry, delectable Asian cuisine, and ample networking opportunities.
Be a part of this celebration here
Insights from iCAN Steering Community Members and Role Models on their Heritage and Routes and Roots:
Maiko Adachi: Both my parents are Japanese, but they emigrated to Spain in the 80s, where I was born and raised, which I suppose makes me a second generation immigrant. My parents made sure that even whilst living abroad, my sister and I understood our heritage and culture - so we spoke Japanese at home, my mum cooked Japanese food every day and we went to Japan every summer. I hope to continue this tradition with my own kids by immersing them in Japanese culture as it is as much part of their identity as their British side.
Karen Ko: I think that the concept of family is wider in East and South-East Asian culture than it is sometimes in Western cultures. As a child you are encouraged to call everyone aunty, uncle, sister, or brother from family friends to even sometimes strangers. It seems like a small gesture but to me it feels like an encouragement to consider that everyone who you encounter in life you should treat with the same respect and care as you would do your immediate family. Now living as an expat and away from my family, on days when I am a little homesick, I try and remember this small thing that makes me feel like I am actually surrounded by family after all.
Felix Wong: It’s amazing to witness the development of an ESEA community. In the UK, we’re a minority within the ethnic minority population and though we’re often regarded as high achieving and integrated, we have also been too passive. It’s notable there are still very few prominent British ESEA people in the arts, business, politics, and sport. ESEA month is a fantastic way to celebrate our heritage and give confidence to voices that have been too quiet in the past.
Andrew Corbin: Over the past few years I have been incredibly energised by the strength of the East and Southeast Asian community outside of insurance. Whilst this isn’t experienced by the majority of British ESEA people, there is actually a history of community centres and (more obviously) Chinatowns across the UK. When you take a step back, it is easy to see that ESEA people have often seized opportunities to empower each other and create our own economies for mutual benefit across Europe and the Americas, so why should insurance be any different?! I feel like we are often too slow to extend solidarity outside of our close family network. I’d love to see us reach beyond that and strive for more.
Gerel Rentsenpurev: As a proud representative of a unique country, I hold my Mongolian background and culture dear. Drawing from my nomadic heritage, I found swift adaptation to the UK and pursued my global aspirations. My journey has led me to comprehend the lack of awareness about Mongolia; people hesitate to even ask about its location. Such experiences have underscored the significance of fostering cultural understanding in workplaces. An environment where histories, cultures, and upbringings are respected and acknowledged can enable collective growth and success.
iCAN’s recommendations on learning more about ESEA:
iCAN’s Steer Co members recommend their favourite pieces of books, restaurants, and music that will help those who are interested to learn deeper into the history, culture, and heritage of East and Southeast Asia:
Felix’s recommendations:
East Side Voices: An anthology of essays and poetry that explores ESEA and British ESEA experiences and emotions. Readers of ESEA heritage will laugh, cry and nod at so much here that is familiar; readers of non-ESEA heritage will find insight, illumination, and nuance in the personal storytelling. I cannot recommend this enough.
The Farewell: A beautifully observed, funny, and emotional film, about a headstrong Chinese American granddaughter who returns to Hong Kong to see her terminally ill grandmother. The clash of cultures aspects are spot on, and in contrast to the description of the plot line it manages to be entirely heartwarming.
American Born Chinese: Disney+ adaptation of the seminal graphic novel, there’s so much to love in this mash up of high school movies and Chinese folklore. Targeted at young adults, it’s accessible, entertaining and very funny.
Andrew’s recommendations:
Eating for Longevity, Shewing on Identity: Calligraphic meditations, reading lists, cultural commentary, philosophical manglings and maybe some food writing if she's up for it. By Jenny Lau, founder of Celestial Peach.
A list of food recommendations in or around the City of London:
Dumpling Shack – excellent cheap eat in Spitalfields market. A legend in the street food game making outstanding soup dumplings and noodles.
Karamay Uyghur Kitchen – dismantle the way you think about “Chinese” food by trying Uyghur cuisine. A great representation about the diversity within China.
Koya City – Very good udon with a strong specials board. Don’t miss out on their tempura or tonkatsu.
Kirin – A classic large menu restaurant serving reasonably good dimsum and a surprisingly strong Sichuan offering. Can’t go wrong here.
BAO Borough – A bit of an institution and one of the best Taiwanese baos in London. Their best dish however is probably the seared beef on top of butter rice.
Xi’an BiangBiang Noodles Aldgate East – Good, honest Xi’an province cuisine. Go for the BiangBiang noodles and chicken in special sauce.
Yuzu – conveyor belt sushi done very well. Their specials and hot food offering are also very tasty.
Mudmee Thai – nothing more than a very solid and affordable classic British Thai restaurant. No fuss or frills.
Ye Ye Noodle & Dumpling – various noodle and dumpling options done very well. Will satisfy your cravings.
Banh Mi Keu Deli City – very solid banh mi, amongst other things. Your place to go to get Vietnamese food in the City, steering clear of the chain restaurant Pho.
Three Uncles – extremely solid Cantonese roast lunchboxes. As good as you will find outside of Chinatown or Bayswater.
Gerel’s recommendations:
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford: This acclaimed historical book explains Chinggis Khan, and the history of Mongolia based on facts, not fiction.
The Cooked Seed by Anchee Min: An inspiring story of a Chinese-American Author who was born in Shanghai and went to the United States in her late 20s.
The Hu: A unique rock band that blends rock music with Mongolian traditional music style.
About iCAN
The Insurance Cultural Awareness Network (iCAN) is a leading organisation committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the insurance sector. Established in 2017, iCAN has been instrumental in spotlighting cultural awareness, fostering talent, and championing diversity within the industry.