Natasha Week #2: A Language That Connects Me



Every year, I look forward to one thing the most. Summer. But for me, Taiwan is not just a place for vacation. It is where I get to see my relatives, eat my favorite foods that I cannot find in America, and continue to make more memories that I get to look back on throughout the year. One of the biggest things that connects me to Taiwan is the language. Being able to speak Mandarin and Taiwanese with my family makes me feel connected to where I come from and reminds me that language is an important part of my identity. 

When I am in Taiwan, I mostly hear Taiwanese from elderly people and Mandarin from people of all ages. I was never actually taught the Taiwanese dialect, but hearing it often since I was young allowed me to understand and speak fairly well. I think this is interesting because I learned the language naturally just by being around my family and listening to them. There is no such thing as Taiwanese textbooks or classes to learn how to speak. It is actually a dying language as the newer generations mostly only speak Mandarin now, but my family and my surroundings were enough to teach me.


Growing up with connections to both America and Taiwan has given me different parts of my identity. English plays a major role in my everyday life, while Mandarin and Taiwanese connect me to my family and my background. I do not think I have to choose between these parts of myself as both cultures and languages are equally as important to me and a part of who I am. 


Going back allows me to reconnect with my family, culture, and my languages. Everytime I return, I am consistently being reminded that language can carry memories, traditions, and a sense of belonging. Taiwanese and Mandarin connects me to where I come from and that is something I will always be proud of.

Comments

  1. emilySeptember 15, 2026 at 11:54 PM

    I relate to your blog almost perfectly, except that for me, that place is Japan and the language is Japanese. I also grew up with English as a major part of my life, but Japanese connects me to my family, culture, and childhood. I especially related to your point about learning Taiwanese naturally by being surrounded by it. Although I did attend school, I also learned most of my Japanese through interactions with my family and friends and being around the culture.

    I think it’s interesting how language can hold memories and make you connected to a place even when you are far from it. Your point about not having to choose between your different cultures also stood out to me because I feel the same way about being connected to both American and Japanese culture.
    Do you think your relationship with Mandarin and Taiwanese would be different if you grew up without being around your family in Taiwan?

    ReplyDelete
  2. NakulSeptember 16, 2026 at 7:12 PM

    Hello Natasha! I really have a lot to see from your blog. As I personally never learned my parents language, and I bluntly did not grow up with the same Indian customs mannerisms and daily routines as they did; sometimes I feel out of place when I travel to India. When I go, I always feel welcomed and accepted despite not carrying the heritage over in America. I do wonder based on your statement of reconnecting with the languages, whether there is something I am missing out on that can only be acsessed through speaking the native language. All in all, I really liked your blog and I feel my experiences can be put into persepctive well through your writing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alisha SSeptember 16, 2026 at 7:25 PM

    Hi Natasha! I also was never fully taught my native tongue, having to pick it up myself. Since my family rarely visits India though (my grandparents like to come and visit instead of the other way around) I only ever learned how to understand Hindi and bits of Punjabi, never speak it. It’s this odd amalgamation of pure vibes; ask me any word and I’m clueless, but I’ll understand that my grandma is scolding my sister for lowering the TV’s volume without any context. I can relate to language being the biggest connection to your roots, especially after the way COVID-19 really limited our ability to interact with distant family members in person. The photo you chose has a beautiful composition, with the clouds mimicking the shape of the hills in a truly eye-pleasing manner that to me connects the infiniteness of the sky to the human mortality of the cityscape. Did you take it yourself?

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