Thread by @MsMelChen

My first grade teacher once called my mother, alarmed that I was racially confused.

“Your daughter does not know she’s Chinese. She keeps insisting she’s English.”

I spoke English and had no conception of ethnicity. Once, I asked my grandmother what my given name - 英 - meant.

England, she said.

So I was dead sure I was English and filled out all my forms accordingly.

My mom had to have The Talk with me. “No, you’re really ethnically Chinese but not nationally. And you’re definitely NOT English even though you speak it.”

I remember crying.

Of course now I laugh at the story. Growing up in a commonwealth country, I was always more familiar with British culture and slang than any other.

I inherited my dad’s EPL team (Man United) and with that came the natural affinity for England. This was during the time of

Fergie’s Fledglings after all, where majority of England’s midfield was composed of Red Devils.

So even though tonight I know Italy has the edge, my heart is with the #ThreeLions. Always & Forever.

Bring football home, lads!