Episode notes
In this thoughtful conversation, Ivan speaks with 20-year-old Annemarie Wen about growing up as a second-generation Chinese New Zealander between Mandarin and English.
Annemarie shares that Mandarin was initially her strongest language, but English gradually took over at school. With her parents' encouragement, she later reclaimed her Chinese and became fluent in both languages. Yet this created an unusual experience: Chinese speakers sometimes assumed she could not speak Mandarin, while local New Zealanders sometimes questioned whether she could speak English.
From primary school, ESOL and kapa haka to Chinese cultural groups, university friendships and travelling through China, Annemarie reflects on how language shapes identity, confidence, friendship and belonging. She also speaks about experiencing discrimination as a child—recognising that something felt wrong before she had the words to explain it.
Her story reveals that learning a language was never simply about vocabulary. It was about understanding people, entering different social worlds and removing the barriers that prevent connection. Ultimately, this is a conversation about holding two languages, moving between cultures and discovering that being connected to both worlds can become a unique strength.