Searching on the internet , I found an author with a similar dilemma , Mishi Saran . She followed the trail of Xuanzang the monk , going to the places where he had gone in his journey to the West Later , she wrote her memoirs “ Chasing the Monk ' s Shadow : A Journey in the Footsteps of Xuanzang ”. It appeared that she was just like me , because she also grew up in many different countries and her friends were from different ethnicities . She leant Chinese just like I did . When she lived in China , she heard about the monk Xuanzang and read his book . She was searching for her identity just like the monk , who was frustrated with his mundane life in China and craved for higher knowledge . He also must have craved to create an identity for himself in the sea of monks who all studies the same text in the monastery , where each monk was the same as another and there was no special value attached to higher intelligence or hard work . He must have craved for adventure and to get away from his boring and predictable life at the monastery . By travelling to the West , to India , he fulfilled all of these aspirations . In the process he also discovered himself , forged his identity and absorbed the original teachings of Buddha .
After reading his book , Mishi Saran thought that she might also be able to find her identity by following where Xuanzang went in search of his identity . Her quest took her to many countries and several Buddhist sites in now-vanished kingdoms , across the modern day countries like India , Pakistan and Afghanistan . In the end , the journey took her to India where she felt at home talking to local people in their language , learning about their lives and experiences . She could blend in there , wearing ethnic Indian clothes and eating local food . So towards the end of her journey , Mishi Saran learnt to accept herself and figured out that she was a third culture offspring , who spoke Chinese and lived in China but had an Indian ethnicity and cultural roots . Maybe this was what the monk Xuanzang must have also experienced , in India . He went through many hardships and he realized how strong his character was , and how much resilience he had , but eventually he had to return to his roots in China and share the knowledge that he had gained .
After spending seven years in Hong Kong , slowly , over time I have also realised and accepted my identity as a third culture child . After moving to Hong Kong , I started learning a classical Indian dance style call Kathak . It helped me to embrace my ethnicity , and I learnt to enjoy myself while performing Kathak in public wearing the traditional Indian costume . I also learned Hindi slowly , this was partly because I wanted to have a secret language to communicate with my parents while we were surrounded by people of different ethnicities in the MTR or a crowded market place . Knowing Hindi has also helped me to proactively communicate with other Indians living in Hong Kong or studying with me . Now instead of blending in , I am happy to stand out . While it took the monk several years to complete his journey of self-discovery by travelling to the West , I am happy that I have already fruitfully started my journey to know and embrace myself and my distinct identity .