The in-between in disguise | Dr. May-yi Shaw | TEDxWanChai

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences.
Using personal anecdotes, Dr. Shaw illustrates how the concept of third-culture-kid (a term first coined in the 1950s) can be characterised by an overriding sense of “in-betweenness”, and how this feeling, present in everyone to some degree, can empower us to identify and pursue our individual purpose in life.

Dr. May-yi Shaw is a U.S.-born and Taiwan-raised “third culture kid”, a passionate researcher in identity and cross-cultural perspectives, and currently a faculty member at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Having led most of her adult life as a global nomad, May-yi’s transcultural and transnational experiences have enabled her to become an expert on cross-cultural communication. Following years of study at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Tokyo, Waseda University and a PhD degree in East Asian Languages and Civilisations from Harvard University, May-yi was able to develop her deep-rooted passion for identity as an Associate Professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University, where she taught courses on English journalism and cross-cultural studies. From 2011 to 2013, May-yi also served as the host of the award-winning bilingual talk show “Culture Matters” by the International Channel of Shanghai.
Today, May-yi’s courses at HKUST—“China in the Foreigners’ Eyes”, “Identity Goes Global—From Border Crossing to Boundary Remaking” and “Questions of Humanity in World Literature”—seek to approach topics of cultures and humanity through a cross-cultural perspective.

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