Second-generation new immigrant Li Ju-pao from Vietnam explores self identity and introduce Vietnamese culture through her own board game

[Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network] in cooperation with IC Voice97.5 [New Students Registration - We are in Taiwan] launched a series of exciting stories about the lives of new immigrants in Taiwan. This episode features a second-generation new immigrant "returnee" from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-Li Ju-pao 李如寶. She came to Taiwan to study at the age of 18. Since the reunion of Northern and Southern Vietnam in 1975, historical relics from the French colonial period are being preserved in the local area. American and Chinese cultures were also featured, creating diversity in today's society. Learn more about Li Ju-pao's story in 5 other languages: Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian.

Li Ju-pao grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Photo / Provided by Li Ju-pao)

Li Ju-pao is currently a student of the Department of Political Science at the National Taiwan University. Politics is one of Li's personal interests. After she returned to Taiwan in 2016, she came across the "2016 Republic of China (Taiwan) Presidential Elections". Not only can second-generation new immigrants participate in national public affairs, but they can also cast their own votes in elections.

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During her university studies, Li gradually accepted her identity as a second-generation new immigrant. (Photo / Provided by Li Ju-pao)

As an adult, Li recalls as she was growing up in Vietnam, she often thought about wanting to come back to Taiwan. Li said that at times, she did not identify herself as a second-generation new immigrant, and she felt a bit far from her own culture.

Li Ju-pao revealed that she took the course taught by Professor Yeh Ping-cheng 葉丙成 in her second year in university. During her self-introduction, she was prepared to introduce herself as a second-generation new immigrant. She also happily shared her travel tips with her classmates if they ever go visit Vietnam.

Li's classmates were very impressed with her. From then on, she realized that her identity as a second-generation new immigrant is not such a bad thing after all, in fact, it is something to be proud of.

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Li Ju-pao's board game introduces Vietnamese culture. (Photo / Provided by Li Ju-pao)

During her study, Li joined the "NTU Creativity and Entrepreneurship Program" where she co-created a cooking-themed interactive board game "Memories of Vietnamese Cooking", with her classmates. Li hopes that the game "Vietnamese Cuisine - Pho" can educate others especially local Taiwanese so they can learn more about Vietnamese culture. Li Ju-pao hopes that "Memories of Vietnamese Cooking" will reach the public in the future. Li also runs a page called "Foodeast".

Li Ju-pao breaks through and realizes her self-identity crises. (Photo / Provided by Li Ju-pao)

Lastly, Li Ju-pao would like to reach out to children of new immigrants who are struggling with their identities. Li hopes that people can learn about having two cultures. She said that it all starts with your self-awareness and the acceptance that you are unique and different.