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What is ESEA Heritage month?
This September is East and South East Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month, aimed to empower and educate about ESEA communities in the UK. It emerged after the media attention and representation of East and South East Asians associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. After months through the pandemic, the headline imagery for news articles for COVID-19 were still showcasing East and South East Asians. This has led to an increase in hate crimes and racially motivated attacks on innocent people, not just in the UK but around the world. The British East and South East Asians Networks was set up in the height of the pandemic and aim to promote positive representation of our communities. East and South East Asians include those who’s heritage and race are from:
Here we aim to raise awareness and educate ESEA heritage and culture within Ridge.
Brief History
The first ESEAs to settle in the UK arrived at the docks in Liverpool and London in the early 19th century because of the Opium Wars and end of World War II. It was the latter that settle and founded our first Chinatowns that we know and enjoy today. Today East and South Asian immigrants not just exclusively Chinese, have made roots in the UK and have contributed to the UK socio-economic industry, with the majority of the first-generation being self-employed in the catering industry. Over the last 30 years, new settlers, and many descendants from the first generation have chosen not to follow the same path and have employed themselves in a variety of industries. This includes the construction industry where it has exploded in the East and South East Asia defined by the skyline of skyscrapers and technological feats of architecture.
Zhejiang Race Circuit
Ridge was appointed by Apex Circuit Design to provide a fully integrated, multidiscipline architectural design, interior design (with Katherine Pooley Design) with project and cost management services for this major motorsport destination.
Ridge worked on the Full Masterplan and architecture design over 52 hectares of land set in Zhejiang, Shaoxing Region of China.
The 3.20km FIA Grade 2 Race Circuit and infrastructure comprises a 6,000-seat grandstand, medical centre, pitlane and paddock and hospitality facilities including:
What does ESEA month mean to you?
“Fortunately, I have lived most my life without prejudice against my heritage, but this was probably due to hiding behind a Chinese takeaway counter at a young age in a white community. I look back now and there were comments that I should not have ignored or excused them for ‘joking around’ or ‘they don’t know any better’. ESEA heritage month came at a time where I was sharing the same feelings from the outcome of the pandemic with people like me. With better education and an understanding of our culture and heritage we can learn to be better people. As one picket sign at an AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) protest read, ‘Love our people like you love our food’.”
Trudy Tsang, Architect
“I grew up in a very homogeneous environment, having spent most of my school time in Hong Kong. My first year studying in England with a multicultural group of kids was all very new to me at the time. I have since and continue to learn a lot about different ethnicities and cultures, and have an awareness and sensitivity towards them. It is always easy to succumb to prejudices and opinions fed by the environment one grew up in. A heritage month is an excellent opportunity to both get educated about other people’s heritages and share about mine. It allows conversations that are often shied away from because “politics”, but avoidance doesn’t encourage understanding, and I’m glad that ESEA month exists to enable the conversation.”
Natalie Yeung, Architectural Assistant
“To be honest, I didn’t know there was an “ESEA Month” until very recently. I think the ESEA Month reminded me of my childhood growing up in Malaysia a multi-cultural country, where 5 major Festivals are Celebrated. The ESEA Month brings back all the happy memories during my teen years, visiting family & friends, sharing the traditional food, culture and religion.
I have been living in UK for almost 20 years now, and I sometimes forget my own heritage (yes, I don’t use chopsticks and I don’t know the best Dim Sum restaurant…. I love my pasta and Paella). The ESEA Month is a great reminder to myself and also an opportunity to introduce my heritage to all my friends.”
Leonard Poon, Partner (Cost Management)
Mid Autumn Festival
On the 10th September it was Mid Autumn Festival, celebrated by Chinese culture, with similar festivals held in Japan, Korea and Vietnam. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar where the full moon is meant to be its biggest and brightest. Celebrations are represented by lanterns, gatherings and mooncakes. The roundness of the mooncakes represents completeness and reunion. They typically consist of a salted duck egg yolk, surrounded by lotus seed paste and encased in pastry, where the egg yolk represents the moon. However, these days you can get all sorts of varieties, to pale coloured pastries (even more like the moon) to red bean fillings or matcha!
Book Recommendations
Films to watch that represent ESEA heritage
A few recommendations of iconic films by Wong Kar Wai, heavily themed with the transitioning identity of Hong Kong during and post colonialism and the director’s connection with Shang Hai and Hong Kong.
And some you may have heard of, was your introduction to ESEA culture, or if you fancy something to watch in your spare time:
TV
Podcasts to listen to
To learn more about East and South East Asian Heritage Month, visit: besea.n (besean.co.uk)
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