I was born and raised in Taiwan, completed most of my schooling in South Africa and now living in Canada on a permanent basis. The vast Canadian landscape versus hustle and bustle of crowded Taipei; six months of freezing cold winter versus temperate and mild climate of Cape Town. After residing in three very different continents, "Home" is a vague concept to me. It is a lifelong lesson of adjusting and readjusting to new surroundings, while constantly embracing changes and dealing with culture shock. However, deep down, I am still Chinese. When our backyard is completely buried underneath the snow, that little Chinese ornament next to window reconnects me to my heritage, reminding me of my home.

Well, like westerners enjoying popcorns or chips, when I was young my mom and I used to devour chicken feet in front of the TV. It’s part of my childhood memories. I had a sudden craving for animal-part delicacies around Chinese new year, something I have not eaten for a long time and not available at local supermarkets. I searched and searched until I found a small bag of chicken feet at a Chinese store. The familiar taste is an emotional connection to the past and cures homesickness.
In terms of animal symbolism, chicken symbolises the phoenix in Chinese culture. Chicken feet are a type of delicacy and are referred to as "phoenix feet" in Chinese restaurants.