My grandfather was born in Swatow, China. Being a person whose ‘old village’ is Swatow is a big part of my identity. In the diaspora in California, France, Thailand and around the world I’ve met people who feel similarly. The food and language is a part of the culture, but also similarly the sense of service and help and support for others.

In this video (no subtitles sadly) at 11:17, is a scene that resonates with me. There, a bunch of people decide to put up a ‘great feast’ on the streets for the low income elderly people locally. The details of how they prepare this feast, and all the traditional foods (which are also foods that I know well), the sense of feeding people, getting people together, helping each other. Getting through hard times through community and delicious and amazing food. I think that’s carried me through my life; even though I’ve never been to Swatow. (Too emotional for me; I wanted to wait. But this video gave me a good sense of what it’s like.)

https://youtu.be/x32pGOtSpnk

#Food #ChineseFood #Swatow #Teochew

Stmap auction close in a few hours ! China Junk cover for Bertha Deane Woodmere New York with correspondance Shantou Swatow

https://www.delcampe.net/fr/collections/timbres/chine/1912-1949-republique/china-junk-cover-for-bertha-deane-woodmere-new-york-with-correspondance-shantou-swatow-2225357065.html

#China #Junk #Cover #Woodmere #NewYork #Correspondence #Shantou #Swatow #Philately
#HistoricalPostcard #PostalHistory

China Junk cover for Bertha Deane Woodmere New York with correspondance Shantou Swatow

https://www.delcampe.net/fr/collections/timbres/chine/1912-1949-republique/china-junk-cover-for-bertha-deane-woodmere-new-york-with-correspondance-shantou-swatow-2225357065.html

#ChinaJunkCover #BerthaDeane #WoodmereNY #HistoricalMail #VintageCover #Philately #PostalHistory #ClassicCovers #ChinaPost #Shantou #Swatow #RareCovers

I was posting about my grandfather and Swatow yesterday. I wrote a little thing about him which was published in an anthology of Singapore writing.

https://popagandhi.com/posts/a-drinkable-history-of-my-family/

#TootSea #Singapore #Teochew #Swatow #Shantou #Chinese #Food #Writing