Who are you? Please give us an overview of your cultural background/heritage?
I’m Marie, currently 28 and living in Sydney. I love travelling, content creation and hope to someday make a career combining the two in a way that is somehow meaningful to others! My dad is from the Netherlands and my mum is from the Philippines. I was brought up with customs from both backgrounds, though probably more with that of the Filipino culture.
How did you come to Australia or were you born in Australia? Please share your experiences.
I was born in rural New South Wales and moved to the northern coast before moving to Sydney when I was 7. I’ve been living in Sydney ever since.
Name one thing you really passionate about and why?
I’m really passionate about ‘living consciously’ in order to create greater sustainability for the world, as well as greater happiness and motivation in life. Through living more consciously, I’ve been able to improve my quality of life – drastically. I want to be able to educate others about making better choices in life and demonstrate it’s benefits.
Describe a few things you find fascinating about Australia’s multicultural society?
Having been brought up in a bi-racial family, diversity has always been part of my life. I love that Australia is a melting-pot of different cultures and that I don’t need to identify with one particular culture. I definitely identify as Australian above all else, but I think it’s great that being Australian can encompass a lot of things. Over here, people have the freedom to live through their own ideas and opinions which is definitely much harder in less diverse countries.
What kind of experiences have you had in relating with people whose backgrounds differ from your own?
They’ve always been awesome! I’ve grown up with friends from many different backgrounds and have been welcomed to try their foods and take part in their weddings and other customs.
What did you learn from this experience?
I’ve learned to be more open-minded and have a greater respect and appreciation for all types of cultures and customs. Sometimes it’s a real eye-opener how privileged our lives are over here. A lot of the problems we might face on a day-to-day basis often pale in comparison to other parts of the world. Also, I’ve learned that I probably wouldn’t want to live in a homogenous society for too long. I love diversity!
What does a commitment to diversity/multiculturalism mean to you?
Mingling with people from all walks of life, being open to new experiences and ensuring different cultures are welcomed, shared and appreciated.
What do you see as the advantages and challenging aspects of an increasingly diverse community. What can we do to overcome such challenges?
I think the advantages are that there is an increasing acceptance and appreciation for other cultures. However, something I’ve noticed is that the generations born to immigrants often “lose” part of their cultural identity growing up around others. I don’t think this is always a bad thing, but I definitely think actively learning about your family’s roots and culture should be encouraged and welcomed. It’s sad that people sometimes feel embarrassed or ostracised because of their family’s origins.
What fun and interesting activities/events can we do/hold to aid in bridging the cultural gap thereby creating an inclusive society for all to enjoy?
Food stalls and cultural festivals are always great and something a lot of people are keen to check out. At previous workplaces they’ve also held international food days where people bring in plates of food from their particular country. These were usually really interesting and successful.
