This series is a reflection of my journey as a Chinese American who immigrated to New York City during the Fuzhounese diaspora. I grew up in Fuzhou, China with my grandparents on a farm. I was forced to move to New York City to live with my parents. I left my family and farm behind, it was a culture shock to see the modern world for the first time as a 5-year-old.
After 15 years of growing accustomed to the noisy city of New York, I had the opportunity to return to China for the first time. I had lost contact with my relatives and I was excited to see them again but also excited to see my village and the scenic farmland. I experienced another culture shock once I realized how different and modern everything was. I did not return to the home I remembered.
