I can only imagine being a assimilated into a new culture of wealth, freedom, education, and safety, with the "scars" of poverty, violence, abuse, inequality. The risks her mother took, with only the faith of Tan's grandfather's dreams, and determination, that "there is no other option," is truly profound and something I want to empathize with for a moment. I have felt the anxiety, awkwardness, and alien feeling from being in places, where I did not fit in…being the new girl. Most recently, my new job at a School for Autism students. Learning peoples personalities, and figuring out you role, people's names, how things are ran, where you fit in, and adjusting to something new, is overwhelming. Tan's story is genuine, heartfelt, and honest. She spoke about the teasing for being Asian, and poor at school. That was just the arena of what her peers and teachers knew of her. Her facade is much deeper, as she explains the "Jigsaw" theory, the cultural awareness map makes much more sense to me. For the most part her mother, sister, grandmother, and her experienced marginalization from new culture in Australia, because they kept to themselves and discussed their outside World experience, only with each other, in their own language.
Tan's determination and courage in adversity as a young lady, is seen in her eloquent speech for TED Talks. Through her experience, kind and encouraging words, and honesty is relatable, profound, and sure to be serving her in her social activism career.
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