Simu Liu

You know, I remember flashes and feelings, but I do remember... We had this tiny little ramshackle apartment in Harbin. There wasn't running water for many parts of the day. The water wasn't drinkable, so we had to boil everything that we drank. And there was no hot water, so anytime anyone had to take a bath, it was always kind of a bit of a thing. Although for me, I had no reference point.

I just thought that that was how people lived. But I also, more than all of that, I remember this overwhelming feeling sense of safety and belonging, you know, with my grandparents, my ye-ye and my nai-nai. I was very, very close with them you know, we just, they were my parents for, for all intents and purposes.

I just thought that that was how people lived. But I also, more than all of that, I remember this overwhelming feeling sense of safety and belonging, you know, with my grandparents, my ye-ye and my nai-nai. I was very, very close with them you know, we just, they were my parents for, for all intents and purposes.

I just thought that that was how people lived. But I also, more than all of that, I remember this overwhelming feeling sense of safety and belonging, you know, with my grandparents, my ye-ye and my nai-nai. I was very, very close with them you know, we just, they were my parents for, for all intents and purposes.

And they had always tried to tell me that I had a mom and a dad that were, you know, abroad and that one day I would join them. But, um, I don't think these words necessarily mean anything to like, like a three or a four year old. It was very difficult for me to grasp that. And when my dad did show up one day, I was about four and a half to, you know, bring me back to Canada with him. Um,

And they had always tried to tell me that I had a mom and a dad that were, you know, abroad and that one day I would join them. But, um, I don't think these words necessarily mean anything to like, like a three or a four year old. It was very difficult for me to grasp that. And when my dad did show up one day, I was about four and a half to, you know, bring me back to Canada with him. Um,

And they had always tried to tell me that I had a mom and a dad that were, you know, abroad and that one day I would join them. But, um, I don't think these words necessarily mean anything to like, like a three or a four year old. It was very difficult for me to grasp that. And when my dad did show up one day, I was about four and a half to, you know, bring me back to Canada with him. Um,

It was very uncomfortable for me and a lot for me to accept because, you know, I had my family and I loved my grandparents more than anything. And my dad at that point was a stranger. I very, very vividly remember watching him step through the door for the first time.

It was very uncomfortable for me and a lot for me to accept because, you know, I had my family and I loved my grandparents more than anything. And my dad at that point was a stranger. I very, very vividly remember watching him step through the door for the first time.

It was very uncomfortable for me and a lot for me to accept because, you know, I had my family and I loved my grandparents more than anything. And my dad at that point was a stranger. I very, very vividly remember watching him step through the door for the first time.

And, you know, when you're a kid and all these adults are looking at you like you're supposed to be reacting a certain way, I very clearly remember my grandparents looking at me and saying, this is your dad. Like, go to him. And I just remember being like, I don't want to.

And, you know, when you're a kid and all these adults are looking at you like you're supposed to be reacting a certain way, I very clearly remember my grandparents looking at me and saying, this is your dad. Like, go to him. And I just remember being like, I don't want to.

And, you know, when you're a kid and all these adults are looking at you like you're supposed to be reacting a certain way, I very clearly remember my grandparents looking at me and saying, this is your dad. Like, go to him. And I just remember being like, I don't want to.

It is a couple of funny things. I remember not understanding English. Like I remember being brought to daycare my very first day and just crying my eyes out the entire time because nobody was speaking. I couldn't understand anybody. Yeah. And I remember that's what it was for the longest time. And I know I was learning English through flashcards and my parents were trying to teach me.

It is a couple of funny things. I remember not understanding English. Like I remember being brought to daycare my very first day and just crying my eyes out the entire time because nobody was speaking. I couldn't understand anybody. Yeah. And I remember that's what it was for the longest time. And I know I was learning English through flashcards and my parents were trying to teach me.

It is a couple of funny things. I remember not understanding English. Like I remember being brought to daycare my very first day and just crying my eyes out the entire time because nobody was speaking. I couldn't understand anybody. Yeah. And I remember that's what it was for the longest time. And I know I was learning English through flashcards and my parents were trying to teach me.

And then one day it just kind of clicked. And I'm sure that's not how it actually happened, right? Like we remember things very differently as children. But it honestly felt to me like one day I woke up and And, like, my brain had switched between thinking in Mandarin and thinking in English.

And then one day it just kind of clicked. And I'm sure that's not how it actually happened, right? Like we remember things very differently as children. But it honestly felt to me like one day I woke up and And, like, my brain had switched between thinking in Mandarin and thinking in English.

And then one day it just kind of clicked. And I'm sure that's not how it actually happened, right? Like we remember things very differently as children. But it honestly felt to me like one day I woke up and And, like, my brain had switched between thinking in Mandarin and thinking in English.

And I remember my parents were very confused because I think one day I just stopped speaking Chinese to them. But, you know, once I made the switch, I really kind of embraced it. And I remember those early years just that we were— Very, very poor. You know, my parents were living off of scholarship money until they graduated. My parents were doing their post-graduate studies.