Molson Hart

2/ It was a trip that provided a lot of food for thought about identity and belonging for me. I did enjoy myself there, but also spent a lot of time feeling out of place, struggling to relate to the people I met—all of whom were meant to be related to me in some way.

3/ People were constantly telling me they were some uncle or auntie or cousin, but were at the same time complete strangers. They were saying things like “you’ve finally come home!” but “home”, to me, is very much Singapore. That was the first time I’d ever laid eyes on Hainan.

4/ I spent a lot of time feeling like I was supposed to be experiencing some emotional connection or reaction about “returning” to my roots that I couldn’t quite conjure up, because the roots that I know are firmly planted not in Hainan, but on another island.