Mackenzie Lew ‘19

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Beijing Normal University, China (2019-20)

Mackenzie Lew ‘19, a History and Comparative American studies double major, is the 2019-2020 Fellow to Beijing Normal University in Beijing, China. After studying Mandarin for several years, she is excited to begin immersing herself in Chinese language and culture. While at Oberlin, she has been active in the Asian American community on campus as a member of Oberlin College Taiko and an officer for the Japanese Student Association and Asian American Alliance. She has also been involved in planning Oberlin’s annual Asian Night Market, and is looking forward to eating at the night markets in Asia. She has worked with immigrant communities as an intern for Refugees Northwest, and hopes to use her skills in Mandarin to pursue a career in immigration advocacy.

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Authenticity as a Chinese-American
Authenticity as a Chinese-American

Mackenzie Lew ‘19, Beijing Normal University Fellow

For me, authenticity is not so important. People move around, and so does their food. I think that chasing authenticity can sometimes dismiss the realities of where people are, and how they’re able to make food. I like to think about this especially when thinking about Chinese American food.