In July, my mother started the Hastings Chinese Association, bringing together an overlooked community in the small run-down seaside town. I was born in Guilin, in the south-eastern province of Guangxi in China, but came to England when I was five years-old.

After a couple of years in London, I settled with my mother in Hastings. She had decided to locate there in order to open the first Chinese medicine shop in the town. Growing up there, I never really noticed a Chinese presence – I was always the only or second Chinese pupil in whichever school I attended.

This of course was no barrier for me, I socialised like any British child and in school I was proud of my difference and eager to share my heritage. But for my mother, it must have been different. She didn’t have many British friends in Hastings to start with, let alone friends of the same nationality. However the shop she ran attracted Chinese residents and she appreciated their visits, striking up friendships and lasting acquaintances. The shop opened in 1995.

So why the 15-year wait to start a Chinese Association? Well it could not have happened without the birth of my half-sister. She has English blood in her, from my step-father. Part of the result of not having any siblings or Chinese friends is that I never had much chance to practise my Chinese.

When I was around eight or nine years-old, English took over as my predominant language. I could understand it but could not speak it. A consequence of always replying to my mother’s Chinese in English.

My mother tongue deteriorated, and although my sister was not born in China, like I had been, my mother was determined to ensure her fluency in a language whose country was in ascendancy. So when my sister was still in pre-school, her father would drive an hour to Eastbourne to enrol her in Chinese classes run by that town’s association.

The drive was inconvenient enough to spark my mother into looking for alternatives. Besides teaching her herself, not easy when she has a full-time job, and hiring an expensive tutor, there were none. So she decided to set-up her own association.

She began researching, meeting others in the town, sending emails about sponsorship and leadership. Most Chinese in the town run small businesses or work for them, in take-aways and hotels. All were receptive to the idea, especially to combat loneliness and improve English.

My mother also was eager to teach English people Chinese and promote culture. But the initial motivation to start the association was so that my sister could receive free Chinese lessons in a convenient location. Obviously this has extended to other children and she now also teaches English.

Since the inaugural meeting in July, which saw the Mayor in attendance, the Association has grown to around 90 members, and has helped to connect mixed couples. My step-father has said speaking to other mixed couples has been insightful in their opinions of shared experiences. It has also fostered inter-racial cohesion, with a joint meeting between the Indian and Chinese Associations, and has seen many English people and other races join.

The association was started with selfish intentions, but the benefits have been felt by many.

 Lu-Hai Liang

For more information about the asociation, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=147307248619963 or contact kexia (at) chinawind.co.uk