Asia Pacific Week 2022

Anna-Kate is in her 5th year of a Double Bachelor of Economics and International Security Studies (minoring in Asia Pacific Security Studies) at the ANU.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

Growing up I spent just over three years living in Manila, Philippines. During this time, I was lucky enough to travel around South East Asia quite extensively with my family. I think these childhood experiences have very much formed the foundation for my ongoing interest in Asia. From the natural wonders of El Nido’s coral reefs to Halong Bay’s tranquil beauty, to the historical sites of Angkor wat or the Terracotta Warriors, the natural beauty and rich historical and cultural diversity of Asia has always captivated me.

Towards the end of my high school years, I also had the privilege of taking part in a Round Square volunteer program, in Fiji, where I home-stayed in two remote communities, Namuamua and Yanuya, and worked at their local primary schools. This unique experience, fostered by such kind and generous tight-knit communities, ignited my interest in the Pacific.

In a perfect world, I would want to travel through all of Asia and the Pacific. At this point, however, I think Japan is definitely at the top of my list. I would love to immerse myself in Japan’s rich and vibrant cultural scene, and put my language skills to the test. I would also love to hit the slopes!

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

While I can only speak English fluently at the moment, I am currently learning Japanese, and hope to be able to speak it fluently in a few years. My partner and his family also speak Tok Pisin (a creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea), so I am also constantly learning that too!

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

Gender inequality. Gender inequality is an issue globally, but women in Asia and the Pacific regions in particular experience a high level of personal insecurity – often excluded from participating in power structures, denied equal access to economic resources and facing greater barriers to receiving an education. Violence against women is also normalized in many cultures within the Asian and Pacific regions. In times of crisis, these issues are only amplified, with gender-based violence increasing significantly, and women facing greater risk of financial hardship.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

Parasite would have to be my favourite Asian film. While it does miss the mark on some of its social commentary, it is a satirical masterpiece. I haven’t laughed so much in a movie for a while.

International Security Studies

3rd year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

I am of mixed Chinese and English heritage, and grew up in Singapore, England, Denmark, and Australia. I love that I have had the opportunity to grow up surrounded by a mix of different cultures. I like to think that my upbringing has made me a global citizen with an open mind.

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I speak English fluently, Japanese intermediately, and Cantonese and Mandarin at a beginner level. I also know a very tiny bit of Danish. I'm really interested in learning foreign languages, and would love to learn more!

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

Being born in Singapore to a Chinese-Australian mother and Australian-New Zealander father, you could say the Asia Pacific is in my blood! I grew up idolising my dad who studied abroad in Japan and speaks Japanese, so I followed in his footsteps and starting learning it in high school. Learning Japanese taught me so much. I was also able to learn Chinese characters and gain a deeper understanding of English grammar. I was actually meant to study abroad in Japan for two years starting in 2021, but COVID had other plans for me. I'm really looking forward to go to Japan and being able to immerse myself in the language and culture. In particular, I want to visit Kyoto to visit temples and shrines, and eat tofu. Japanese food is my favourite, so I also really want to try fresh, authentic sushi! I'd also love to visit Sanrio Puroland and score some Hello Kitty merch.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I'm fascinated by security and international relations, particularly in the Asia Pacific. Watching countries negotiate and cooperate on global issues, such as climate change, sparks my curiousity and passion. I'm hopeful that Australia will follow in the footsteps of its Pacific neighbours to take more initiative in working toward a sustainable future and preventing more damage from climate change. I'm also really interested in public diplomacy and seeing how interactions occur at the state level, at the people-to-people level, and how these levels intersect. I'm particularly interested in East Asia, but recently have been growing more interested in the Pacific and Southeast Asia as well. Because Australia is so close geographically to all of these regions, I believe that it is really important for Australians like me to make efforts to understand and engage with people from countries in these areas.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

I love reading, and one of my favourite authors is Banana Yoshimoto, a Japanese author. Her books are so dreamy and make me feel like I've entered a new world when I read them. She is often compared to Haruki Murakami for her use of magical realism, but her books carry their own unique qualities. I recommend Kitchen or Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto, but if you're into darker themes, N.P. is also great!

Bachelor of Philosophy (Humanities and Social Sciences)

2nd year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

As I was born in China and raised in Australia, I'm fortunate enough to possess a deep bicultural understanding. Having experienced the difficulties and joys of negotiating hybrid identity, I've come to learn to take pride in my background. This constant process of learning and reconnecting with Chinese language, culture, and history, has made me incredibly grateful that my proximity to both cultures has allowed me to develop a more nuanced view of the world.

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I can speak Mandarin, though not as fluently as I would like. I'm currently undertaking Modern Chinese within my degree, with the hope of improving my writing (which is currently a barely-existent skill).

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

Though I've always been connected to Asia culturally, I only developed a real interest in late high school after a period of researching Chinese modern history. This sparked a process of discovery of my own culture, and I soon came to realise the wider significance of the Indo-Pacific to Australia in all facets — economically, politically, culturally. I'm excited to go on exchange to Singapore later this year, as it's such a diverse and bustling city. I also would love to revisit Japan, and I'm currently planning a Southeast Asia trip!

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I'm interested in security in the Indo-Pacific – particularly, responses to non-traditional threats such as climate change and the intersection of gender and security. I'm also curious about the impact of historical memory on foreign policy, diaspora politics within Southeast Asia, and social activism in Asia and the Pacific.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

I'm keen to read more translated literature (especially from the Pacific region), but from what I have read, a handful have really stuck with me. 'Out' by Natsuo Kirino and 'Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982' by Cho-Nam Joo are super interesting feminist novels from Japan and South Korea, respectively. 'The Accusation' by Bandi, a collection of manuscripts smuggled out of North Korea, gave a fascinating insight into the harsh realities life under the rule of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. I also enjoy reading the works of diasporic authors and poets who explore the complexities of navigating identity after migration, including Eileen Chong and Ocean Vuong.

Bachelor of Asian Studies/ Bachelor of International Relations

2nd year

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

My Mandarin is rudimentary at this stage, having lived in Taiwan for the year of 2018, but I thankfully have been able to continue my study of Bahasa Indonesia and Spanish with the ANU and through ethnocultural societies on campus (Indonesian Student's Association). In the future I would love to pursue further study of Mandarin (so I can develop my writing skills) and Portuguese!

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

I think the Asia Pacific is one of the most dynamic regions in the world and paramount to the development of domestic and foreign policy in Australia. My mother and I both went on exchange to countries in Asia and I have spent a lot of time in South Korea as a child because of her work. I have studied Asian languages for as long as I can remember, trying to speak to relatives and family friends. I am keen to return to Taiwan and South Korea, although I have never been to so many countries in South-East Asia and the Pacific. I hope that soon I can visit, work or study in Indonesia.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I am particularly interested in the shifts occurring in how we define ethnicity, culture and borders in Asia and the Pacific and how these concepts influence geopolitical movements as a whole. The Asia Pacific is prone to revolutionary political processes and are facing an abundance of challenges due to the pandemic, globalisation and changing values. In spite of this, we have seen some of the fastest innovation and development from grass-roots organisations in the Asia Pacific that demonstrates the significance of community, social mobility and cultural diffusion.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

One piece of Asian media that moved me to tears recently was the film Detention (2019), a horror movie depicting the distorted reality of a teenage girl experiencing political persecution in Taiwan during the period of White Terror. We screened this movie as part of the Taiwanese Politics and Society (ASIA2222) course this summer and discussed the political and cultural significance of martial law in developing social attitudes and political structures in Taiwan and Asia at large. The movie is directed fantastically and was actually adapted from a video game (which I can also recommend!).

Bachelor of Asian Studies/Bachelor of Languages

3rd year

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

English is my mother tongue, and I speak Japanese at a high enough level where I'm comfortable reading novels and having conversations on most topics. I'm also currently studying Mandarin at university, and whilst my Chinese isn't at the level I'd like to be at I'm really enjoying studying it. I'm also conversational in German but I don't get to use it very often. Other than that I can understand but not speak Yiddish and I've dabbled in French, Hebrew, and Persian in the past. In the future, I'd love to learn more Persian and pick up Te Reo Māori.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

Asia and the Pacific have almost been a constant in my life. Growing up I used to hear my dad's stories from when he lived in PNG, and I lived in an area of Sydney with a high concentration of East Asian communities, specifically Korean and Chinese. I have always been exposed to these cultures, whether that be going to a friend's house to eat kimbap, watching the Chinese New Year parade, or playing doubutsu no mori (animal crossing) with friends in Japanese and not understanding a word.  Then when I was in high school I was fortunate enough to go on exchange for a year to Nagasaki, Japan. The experience fundamentally changed my life and really reinforced and expanded my interest in the regions and Australia's place in relation to them. Since then I've explored Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East as much as I could. I'm desperate to go hiking through Central Asia, explore northeast China, and go see Nan Madol in Micronesia.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by? I'm interested in many different issues, but one area I'm particularly interested in is indigenous sovereignty in the 21st century. Growing up in Australia we're taught about First Nations Australians to varying, and often unacceptable extents, and I'd always assumed it was only European countries that had colonised and occupied others.

One instance of colonisation I'm particularly passionate about is West Papua. It astounds me that even today it's not an issue many Australians are aware of, despite our geographical proximity. It raises a lot of confronting questions about our national morals and ideas, and where our priorities lie and is a prime example easily indigenous sovereignty can be overlooked.

That being said, Western colonisation in the Pacific is still ongoing and also frequently overlooked. The US military continues to occupy multiple islands in Asia and the Pacific, often at the expense of indigenous peoples such as Okinawans, Native Hawaiians, and Chamorro people. Additionally, the US used the Marshall Islands and its indigenous peoples as their "Pacific Proving Grounds" for testing their nuclear weapons; something they still haven't apologised for or attempted reconciliation and compensation. Mining corporations also continue to occupy islands in the Pacific, with some such as Nauru being all but destroyed by strip-mining phosphate and indigenous Nauruans left exploited.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

One of my favourite books I've read in recent years is Potiki. It's about a Maori community who are threatened by land developers who want to destroy/move their community from their ancestral lands to develop a resort. The story unfolds at its own pace and beautifully blurs the line between the present, the dreamlike past, and magical realism to tell the story of not just the community, but also families and individuals. Reading the book felt like I was sinking deeply into the Maori language and culture and  It helped me to question my own ideas surrounding community, and the conflict between Western and Maori conceptions of development.

Bachelor of International Security Studies/ Bachelor of Arts

3rd year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

I'm ethnically Chinese, with parents who were both born in Hong Kong. Growing up in a bilingual household, I've grappled a lot with trying to balance both parts of my identity, the Chinese and Australian-side. But being able to travel periodically to Hong Kong to visit extended family has given me the space to really acknowledge and appreciate a part of my background that I have often been told to forget. For me, exploring Hong Kong food, film and music have been the avenues that I have taken to re-connect with my culture!

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I can speak Cantonese casually and I learnt Mandarin for a few years in high school (although I'm very much still a beginner)! In general I would love to be able to increase my conversational fluency in both of these, particularly the former. I think reading comprehension is another part of both languages that I would love to improve.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

My interest in the region began with my fondness of history and global politics in high school. Since entering university, the diversity of the Asia Pacific region in terms of culture, as well as security issues, has been incredibly engaging to learn about. I think this academic yearning, coupled with a love of immersive travelling, ensured that I was deeply connected to the region on a personal level. I have a particular nostalgia for Cambodia and Taiwan, whose modern history is of immense interest to me! I hope to travel back to both of these countries in the near future and to be able to reconnect with the wonderful people that I met during my time travelling.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

My interests are broad-ranging, but a topic that I'm fascinated by is the legacy of colonialism and its lasting effect on state identity, as well as on local art and culture. In my degree so far, I have been able to review Indonesia as a case study for this topic and it has been fascinating to see how tangible the effects are on the tourism industry. On another note, having studied the role of women in the Middle East, I am incredibly intrigued to see how it differs from the Asia and Pacific regions. Alongside art history and gender studies, my interests also lie in geopolitical security, with the Blue Economy being a new topic that I am eager to learn more about.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

In terms of books, I recently read Mary Jean Chan's poetry collection 'Flèche' which was absolutely sensational! She writes evocatively about her childhood and uncovers intersectional themes relating to multilingualism, queerness and dual cultural identities. This was a sweetly enchanting collection that I cannot recommend enough. My second book suggestion was recommended to me by my mum and was an immediate five-star read. 'Wild Swans' by Jung Chan is an inter-generational biography that follows three daughters navigating the changing socio-political conditions of 20th Century China. Finally, my one film recommendation would be Wong Kar Wai's 'Chungking Express'. This Hong Kong film is well known in the Western cultural sphere and features a boldly recognisable cinematography style and movie soundtrack that I'm obsessed with.

Bachelor of International Relations

2nd year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

I am 50% Uyghur. I am very obsessed with Uyghur literature, fashion, and music.

I didn’t actually get to spend much time in Xinjiang because of my parent’s work. I left when I was only 5. I can speak some Uyghur but am not fluent. Even though I went back almost every summer alone before covid, I still sometimes struggle to identify myself. I’m neither patriotic enough to be Chinese, nor exotic enough to be Uyghur. I sometimes struggle to define who I really am.

But to me, identity is all about how you see yourself in this world and where you feel your heart truly belongs. Well, I always see myself as a citizen without nationality and I’m still not sure what my heart wants even today. I want to see, travel, and explore the entire world before I finally settle in a place that I might eventually call 'home'.

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I speak Mandarin, English, Cantonese, Uyghur and some Spanish. I am currently learning (struggling with) Persian. I've been a huge fan of Persian poems and that's probably the reason why I chose to learn this language. 

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

My Uyghur heritage has always intrigued me to explore more in Central Asia. I find Central Asian cultures extremely fascinating. I have been to Kazakhstan once when I was a little kid and I always want to go on a train trip from Xinjiang then all the way to Central Asia.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

The unique Regional Security Complex that the 5 Central Asian countries contain and how that is affected by shifting world power dynamics. Central Asia has very important geopolitical value and it is very interesting to study this region's culture and politics.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

I am in love with Persian poetry. I am very charmed by the beautiful their choices of words are and how they make your soul tremble. My favourite poets are Rumi (everyone loves him), Saadi, and Rudaki.

I am also a huge fan of Japanese literature. I love him you can experience a very different culture and observe how that culture shapes people living in that society by just reading their literature. My top writers are Keigo Higashino Natsume Sōseki, and Haruki Murakami.

Bachelor of International Relations & Bachelor of Arts (Geography & Chinese major)

4th year

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I can speak a bit of Chinese and some French!  Aside from getting my competencies up in Chinese and French, I would love to learn Tok Pisin - it has some really interesting linguistic features and history as well as the fact that achieving a decent level of fluency from being a native English speaker doesn't take as long as some other languages.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

Living in Australia, I feel as though there is a greater sense of connection with the Asia-Pacific given that’s where we’re geographically located – you can get a flight to Jakharta from Melbourne in under 12 hours but it would take you almost 24 to reach somewhere like Paris! If I could travel anywhere in the Asia-Pacific it would have to be China or New Caledonia! I’d love to travel to China or New Caledonia to practice my language skills, and despite learning Chinese since first year I’ve never had the opportunity to travel there. Within China, I’d like to go to Harbin in the North-East which is nicknamed the ice city and has had a lot of Russian influence on its culture, or Zhangjiajie which is famous for its mountainous scenery.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I’m most passionate about food security within the Pacific and how cartography and popular representations of the Pacifc shapes how we understand space and place – What really sparked my interest in this was being shown a map of the Pacific that afforded oceanic territory the same weight and significance as terrestrial territory and how vastly different this was to political maps of the region. 

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

Not a book or a movie – but I love the Chinese reality show If You Are The One! It was definitely the first exposure I ever had to Chinese pop-culture watching it on SBS as a kid, but as far as reality dating shows go, if you are the one is leagues ahead in entertainment value of any other similar shows on TV. 

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Asian Studies

4th year

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

At the end of last year I completed my major in Mandarin at the ANU! I loved learning Chinese, I thought the teaching staff at ANU were fantastic. When travelling is a bit less precarious, I would love to spend a few months or a year in China or Taiwan to improve my listening and speaking skills in a completely immersive way.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

My high school history teacher, Linda Kovacs, was wonderful and held the strong opinion that the Australian curriculum focuses far too heavily on Eurocentric history. Accordingly, for modern history classes she taught, we took academic streams focussing on the Khmer Rouge, Mao Zedong and the Vietnam War (not just from America's perspective). I also became involved with Cambodian Children's Fund and, after visiting with my mother in Year 12, decided to volunteer there as an English and Maths teacher for three months in my gap year. I then spent the next seven weeks travelling through Thailand and China, which led to my interest in and eventual completion of a major in Mandarin! In terms of travel, aside from living abroad for a year for practising Mandarin, I really want to return to Cambodia (Phnom Penh) to see the students I worked with, especially since some are even due to graduate high school soon!

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

Whenever I tell people my degree, the response is normally positive but also that it's a bit of a strange/unique double degree, however, the intersection between the two is my area of interest. "Development" can absolutely be a colonial manipulation of power but I do believe many NGOs and other organisations who collaborate with grassroot organisations and empower/train locals are able to improve the quality of life. I am passionate about further developing renewable technologies to make sustainable energies more accessible, both within Australia and the broader Asia and the Pacific.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

I really enjoyed 杉杉来了 (known in English as "Boss and Me"). It was recommended to me by a friend to help me practice my listening skills, but I ended up watching the rest of the season quite quickly because I wanted to know how it ended (no spoilers).

Bachelor of Languages

4th year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

I've lived in Australia my whole life and mostly grew up in Port Macquarie on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. I think being from a regional town has made me very accustomed to the slow life, and while some people from bigger cities find Canberra to be dull, I find it suits me well!

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I’ve studied Korean for 5 years, Mandarin for 3 years and just started studying Cantonese this semester, which I've been thoroughly enjoying! I also am currently teaching Korean to ANU students through KOZA, a newly affiliated society. Out of all of them, I've found Korean the (comparatively) easiest, and Cantonese the most fun!

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

The first thing that drew my attention to the Asia Pacific region was food! I grew up in regional NSW, and until my early teens the only Asian food I had the opportunity to try was the classic 'Aussie Chinese.' From age 14 I worked in a Thai restaurant, and I immediately fell in love with the food as I worked my way through the entire menu. After this experience, I broadened my search for different types of food, and discovered Korean food, which soon replaced Thai as my favourite. Love for the food soon became curiosity about the language, and what began as a casual hobby became my main priority–becoming proficient in Korean language. When I came to university, I decided that if learning languages was going to be my goal, I had to go for Chinese!

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

Through my time at ANU I’ve discovered a great interest in political histories in the Asia Pacific, especially the experiences of military dictatorships and the formation of democracies in places like South Korea and Taiwan. If anybody else is interested in this area, I highly recommend taking ASIA2222 or KORE3018!

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

If I were to list my favourite films from Asia or the Pacific regions, Ode to my Father (국제시장) would definitely be at the top. It depicts one man's life from the Hungnam Evacuation of 1950, through the partitioning of Korea, the Vietnam War, up until the current day. It has its valid criticisms regarding certain political omissions, but overall it's an incredible story.

Bachelor of International Security Studies/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

4th year

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

My cultural heritage is almost entirely Greek. I have always appreciated the strong connection that being Greek has given me to thousands of years of history, from the Ancient Greek philosophers to the Byzantine Empire. I am always thankful to have such a strong connection to my ancestry as many other cultures (particularly those that are non-European) have not been able to preserve so much of their history. This heritage has undoubtedly shaped me, particularly my life-long interest in ancient and modern history.

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I can speak conversational Greek and a little bit of German. While I would love to speak numerous other languages (French, Arabic, Mandarin, maybe even a Scandinavian language too?), I'm hoping to strengthen my knowledge of Greek and German so that I can eventually become trilingual.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

The history of states in the Asia-Pacific region has often been overshadowed by the affairs of states elsewhere. Yet, to understand how and why states operate as they do today, history is vital. There is a particular lack of regional literacy in Australia, despite our geographical location, and this problem is what has drawn me to Asia and the Pacific. I would love to visit Singapore as I have only ever transited through on my way somewhere else. Singapore is incredibly diverse and has been relatively successful in integrating its Western, Chinese, Malay and Islamic cultural and linguistic influences. This diversity is extremely interesting to me.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I have a particular interest in non-state actors and security threats such as terrorism and organised crime. While a lot of the focus on these issues has been in other areas of the world, such as the Middle East, they have been persistent in Asia and the Pacific too. I am interested in what factors cause the persistence of crime and terrorism, whether that be economic depravation, ideological factors or something else, as well as state responses to non-state threats. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have specifically used a range of strategies to mitigate criminal activity, from domestic policy and policing, to employing regional and international cooperative mechanisms. These varying responses make studying non-state threats fascinating.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

I would recommend pretty much any Studio Ghibli film to somebody interested in watching something from the Asia-Pacific region. There is such a warmth that comes from the films and it is so easy to tell that thought and passion went into their creation. They also appeal to such a wide audience- despite appearing like children's movies in their animated nature, they also explore deeper and more serious themes for those who are also seeking to gain a more profound message from their media consumption.

Professor Katerina Teaiwa is a Professor of Pacific Studies and Deputy Director – Higher Degree Research Training in the School of Culture, History and Language. She is the Founder and Convener of the Pacific Studies teaching program at The Australian National University, and the Head of Gender, Media and Cultural Studies in the School of Culture, History and Language. Dr. Katerina Teaiwa is an interdisciplinary scholar and artist and Professor of Pacific Studies at The Australian National University's School of Culture, History and Language. She has authored a suite of research relating to climate change in Pacific contexts. Katerina was also a founding member of the Oceania Dance Theatre at the University of the South Pacific. She was named Australian University Teacher of the Year in 2021.

Asian Studies (Majoring in Asia Pacific Security & Minoring in Indonesian) & Business  (minoring in International Business)

5th year

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

I just finished my minor in Bahasa Indonesia and speak French. I would love to continue my Indonesian skills in country and I am particularly interested in translation. I am interested in Australia's relationship with Indonesia and would love to work for the Australian - Indonesia Business Council or AUSTrade.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

I would love to go back to China - I have always wanted to visit Harbin. My dream travel trip would be to rail from St Petersburg to Beijing through Mongolia and China.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

The decline of democracy in South-East Asia.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

One of my favorite pieces of discourse from Asia and the Pacific is a Poem from Marshall Island activist, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner called "Dear Matafele Peinem". It was presented to the UN climate Summit in 2014 written to her daughter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJuRjy9k7GA

Bachelor of Asian Studies/Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

5th year (and final!!)

What is your cultural/ethic heritage and what do you love about it? How has it shaped you?

I’m half Sicilian. My mum’s parents emigrated in 1961 and, after six weeks in Botany Bay, arrived in north Queensland, where my family’s been ever since. It sounds trite, but my favourite part of my heritage is the cuisine. Most internationalised Italian food—Bolognese, pizza etc.—originates in northern Italy. Southern Italian food can be pretty different!

Another important aspect is commitment to family. It manifests in funny ways—moving interstate for uni was considered pretty radical! And in a world where people are increasingly atomised and disconnected from each other, my nonna’s endless FaceTimes are much appreciated.

What language/s can you speak? Or what language/s would you love to learn?

At school and uni, I’ve been learning Japanese. I’m far from fluent and have many, many more kanji to learn, but would love to have a stint in Japan after graduation and improve my language skills. I also used to speak Sicilian (or my nonna’s dialect) until I was about 10. While I’ve sadly lost most of it, I also would like to re-learn some form of Italian one day.

What made you interested in Asia and the Pacific regions? Where would you ideally travel?

As a kid, I was really interested in planes. Townsville, my hometown, used to have many international flights to Asia and the Pacific. The more I read about our tourism heyday of flights to Tokyo and Honolulu, the more I became curious about all things Asian and Pacific—the regions’ politics, histories, cultures. Add an interest in politics and history more broadly, and here we are today.

I’d ideally travel to New Caledonia and Japan. I love all things tropical, and New Caledonia is as tropical as it comes. Plus, it has a fascinating history whose consequences—namely a continuing struggle for independence—are still being borne out today. As for Japan, I want to improve my Japanese, which requires, well, going back to Japan. I’d like to explore beyond the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka), however, and visit Kyushu and Okinawa.

What issue in Asia or the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

I’m most passionate about democracy and self-determination. It might sound very 1990s, but these issues are still relevant and, if anything, positive developments over the past few decades are being wound back.

Authoritarianism almost always produces human rights abuses, internal displacement and kleptocracy. Democratisation doesn’t fully fix these issues, but it is a massive step in the right direction and provides new institutions and avenues through which positive developments can occur. Yet, there are signs of democratic rollback: the Marcos dynasty is ascendant in the Philippines, Malaysia’s reformist government was nipped in the bud, and Indonesia now lacks a substantive political opposition.

Self-determination is also important. From West Papua to New Caledonia, it raises uncomfortable questions about colonialism and is often overlooked by other countries for diplomatic reasons. For these reasons, it’s important that self-determination isn’t overlooked. Indeed, New Caledonia’s 2021 independence referendum was a recent reminder that national self-determination is still an active fight. Held in the shadow of a covid wave that devastated the islands’ Kanak people, the referendum was almost conducted as to ensure an emphatic anti-independence result.

Do you have any favourite books/movies from Asia or the Pacific regions? Why would you recommend it?

My favourite book is Stay Alive, My Son, by Pin Yathay. A moving first-person narrative of a Cambodian engineer’s attempt to survive under the Khmer Rouge, it recounts the different stages of the Khmer Rouge’s rule, the depredations progressively inflicted on Pin and his family, and his ultimate escape to Thailand. The book probes a confluence of emotions: intrigue, worry, guilt, despair and, at the end, an all-consuming desire to survive. We often reduce real human suffering to collective abstractions that do away with emotion or empathy. Stay Alive, My Son is an antidote to this. Interestingly, this is a very rare book. It was loaned to me by a friend, her dad having bought it at a Phnom Penh shop, and I haven’t been able to source a copy since.