National Anthem: I Belong Here Too
On arrival, my content team, Tchoua Xionq (left) and Pa Chia Xiong (right), received media passes from our Twins point-of-contact, Kristin. My team shared that this was their first time in a baseball stadium. With a smile, Kristin enthusiastically welcomed and showed us around before the performance.
On our way home, Pa Chia shared this with me:
"I always felt like a second-class citizen to the white person. When we were walking with Kristin, I saw tons of white people. This is not my territory. I've never been to a baseball stadium in my life. It's not like going to a fair. It's like going to a new place and having no idea what's going to happen.
But then I realized we are here for something important. We have a job to do here. And Kristin made us feel VIP with these media passes on our necks. Suddenly, I was pretty confident being in a new area, feeling cool, walking nice, whatever. And then I looked at this huge place and thought, 'Oh, I belong here too. Because I'm just as important as the next person walking here. This is my country too. I was born here. I speak the language. I belong here too.'"
“And then I looked at this huge place and thought, ‘Oh, I belong here too...’”
I love my team. Thank you, Tchoua and Pa Chia, for helping me capture this historical moment. #DreamBIG
Photo: Pader Xiong/Pa Chia Xiong