I was born in Guangzhou, capital of southern China. When I turned 10 my mum remarried and we moved to Hong Kong where I became an outsider at school because of the divide between the locals and mainlanders.
After what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 I couldn't get a visa to study in Ireland so I worked for many international firms where I enjoyed meeting people of all backgrounds.
I met my ex-husband in Hong Kong, and my eldest I followed him to Newcastle in 2005. Living in Byker, where our Geordie boy was born, again I found a barrier with the locals. Luckily I learned from my son's persistent waving and smiling to everyone that I should break down this barrier by being the first to open up.
In 2007 we have moved to Kazakhstan and then back to Hong Kong, where our youngest was born. In 2009, me and three kids returned to Newcastle. This time we have developed a sense of community through arts, music, sports and volunteering. Charitable work, to me, is part of the best of UK culture and has opened all of us up to different cultures.
But I had not forgotten family love. Last summer I went back to Guangzhou to find my father who I hadn’t seen for 40 years. I’m grateful that he is happy and healthy.
Cobalt studio, Ouseburn