新年快乐!

As a Chinese adoptee, Lunar New Year has always felt a little complicated for me. I grew up celebrating in the small ways I knew — a red envelope from my grandma, maybe some Chinese takeout for dinner — but was never quite sure if I was doing it “right,” or doing enough to honor a culture that is mine but that I didn’t grow up immersed in.

This past weekend, I was wandering the aisles of an Asian grocery store, genuinely excited when I found what I thought was a Lunar New Year display — fake RMB, lanterns, and beautiful decorative items. Then, my boyfriend informed me it was actually the Chinese funeral aisle. Honestly, this feels like a pretty perfect metaphor for my relationship with Chinese culture.

But here’s what I’ve been sitting with lately: there’s no checklist for being “Chinese enough.” Culture isn’t something you either have or don’t; rather, it’s something you find your own way into.

So today, I’m going to put on a cute red outfit, order my Chinese takeout, and let go of the pressure to celebrate in a specific way.

新年快乐 to everyone celebrating — however that looks for you.

— Téa Tamburo, Girls Adoption Connect Founder