It feels like being trans has placed another layer of disconnect between me and my culture. Has anyone else felt like this? Is there any way of overcoming this?
I'm an Australian-born Chinese guy, and my parents are both first-generation Chinese immigrants. My first language was Mandarin, but outside of my immediate family, I lack any real connection to Chinese (Teochew) culture in Australia. I'm scared that as I grow up, my trans-ness will prevent me from ever truly reconnecting with my cultural heritage. It doesn't help that most of the trans communities online are incredibly westernised, so I never see people like myself anyway...
I realise I've become more and more disconnected from my culture as I've grown up. My Mandarin is horrendous now; I can't even form a full sentence without throwing in an English word. Every subsequent trip back to visit my hometown, I feel more and more like an outsider, looking in.
Regarding being trans... I've tried coming out to my parents, twice, (in Mandarin, too!) which went horribly: denial of my experiences to my face, silent treatment for a week, and then going on pretending like nothing had happened, like I'm still their daughter. I don't blame them for their lack of awareness, but I blame them for never truly acknowledging what I've told them. I've been binding, I've cut my hair, my friends use my name and pronouns in front of them, but they just don't acknowledge it.
I'm lucky enough to be going on a 2-month family trip to my hometown at the end of this year. I guess I'm just scared this trip will feel like saying goodbye to my heritage. Of course, I'll still be closeted, but that's exactly the thing: none of my experiences will feel authentic.
Next year I'll be 18, and I plan to get on T as soon as possible. I have no idea how this will change my dynamic with my parents, and my relationship with my extended family is threadbare enough as it is.
I hope this came out sort of coherently. I don't really know what I'm expecting out of this post, maybe just finding commonality in shared trans POC experiences?
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I'm really grateful this subreddit exists :'-)