“I recently traveled to Foshan, China with my dad to visit our ancestral shrine – a place neither of us had been before but one that holds so much of our family’s history. We visited my grandfather’s old village, met relatives for the first time, and stood in awe as we paid our respects at the shrine, which we discovered is a protected historical landmark in China.

As someone who’s half Chinese and French, grew up in Canada and lives in the United States this experience was incredibly meaningful. It felt like stepping into a part of myself I’ve always carried but never fully understood. Walking the same streets my ancestors once walked, hearing family stories, and standing at the shrine reminded me that identity isn’t fixed, it’s something that evolves as we connect more deeply with where we come from.

Being multi-cultural with diverse history, this journey taught me that exploring your family’s past can be a unique and powerful personal experience. Rediscovering our roots isn’t just about learning where we’re from, it’s about grounding ourselves in the present and growing inspiration for the future.

I hope this encourages anyone reading to take a moment to reconnect with your family, your culture, or your history. You never know what you might find out about yourself along the way.” – Adrianne Ho