From Difference to Connection
7 MINUTE READ Cross-cultural author, Yang-May Ooi, celebrates the things that perhaps most British people take for granted in this new occasional series on Belonging Across Cultures. When we are born into and live in a particular culture, what we see, say and do every day is unremarkable to us. But when we have come... Continue Reading →
How early should we start our Christmas preparations? In this story, we look at the British tradition of getting things ready for the festive winter season - especially making the Christmas pudding. What does all this hard work and preparation tell us about what the British value? Cross-cultural advocate and author, Yang-May Ooi, finds out. ... Continue Reading →
LONG READ It can feel sometimes that our modern world is becoming more and more divided and disconnected. Battle lines are drawn across clashing beliefs. Politicians and demagogues seem to be taking advantage of our growing distrust and anxiety to stoke up even more conflict. How did this happen? Researching the mental health legacy of... Continue Reading →
For cross-cultural advocate, Yang-May Ooi, writing here about a dinner with friends at the Eastern European restaurant prompted memories of how difficult it was just a few years ago when we were all locked down during the pandemic. Restaurants, pubs and other social spaces were closed, depriving us of one of the great pleasures of... Continue Reading →
Friends gather for dinner at Moya, an Eastern European restaurant in Oxford, all British but from an international background. Stories flow and talk turns to favourite foods from home. Cross-cultural advocate and author, Yang-May Ooi, invites you to listen in on the conversation round that table as her friends ask her what is her favourite... Continue Reading →
Yang-May Ooi, cross-cultural advocate and author, shares another vignette from her dinner with an international mix of friends the other evening about their favourite foods from home. A menu item evokes the history of East Germany, Unification and an individual story of migration and connection to one’s roots. A Taste of East Germany -- Eight... Continue Reading →
Cross-cultural advocate and author, Yang-May Ooi, introduces her new project Belonging Across Cultures with a story of her own mistaken assumption that led her to stereotyping a friend. How can we learn more about ourselves - and about other people in a way that connects us beyond obvious and unhelpful assumptions? Join her on this... Continue Reading →
