Blending in. And standing out.

4 weeks in Asia made me feel more Asian. And more American. At the same time.

I just returned from a month in Mainland China and Taiwan with my girls and their grandparents. Throughout the trip, I found myself constantly toggling between two modes: blending in, and standing out.

We spoke the language, ate the food, and looked like others—

but the locals could still tell we weren’t quite ‘from here’.

I was reminded how much I’ve evolved:

carrying my Asian roots, but shaped by my life as an immigrant living in the U.S.

For years, I tried to pick a label—not just for my own clarity, but to make it easier for others to define me.

Am I Asian? Am I American?

How do I blend in? How do I stand out?

What I am owning now is:

The blend IS my identity.

Not either/or.

But both/and.

It’s taken time—and plenty of trial and error—to feel grounded in this in-between space.

The in-between is also where I do my best work.

Now as a coach, I help others embrace the same complexity—to find their blend, define their path, and advocate for themselves in ways that feel authentic.

💭 What might be possible for YOU, if you stopped trying to fit neatly into a box?

The photo is of my girls blending in, and standing out—roaming the streets of China in traditional outfits.