By Genista Wong

Macanese are a special group of people in Macao who have a unique identity. They are referred to as those with mixed blood of Portuguese and Chinese, specifically those who have Portuguese last names. There are approximately 20,000 to 30,000 Macanese in Macao. The following is an interview with Adelina Amante, a 26-year-old Macanese fashion designer who is half Chinese and half Portuguese. She lived in England for seven years studying fashion design, and is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Japanese. Now, she works in the wardrobe section of The House of Dancing Water, a unique spectacular water show created by the City of Dreams in Macao. She identifies herself as “the mixture of cultures."

Up-close with Amante:

W: How do you identify yourself in terms of ethnicity?

A: It’s really quite hard to identify myself in terms of that. I do struggle a lot when it comes to that matter. I would say 60% Chinese and 40% western, and I would consider myself as 50% Chinese and 50% Portuguese if I speak Portuguese. I was very much into the Japanese culture and speak Japanese as well, so I’m really a mixed culture person if I have to identify, but not only one ethnicity.

W: Do you feel special to be “mixed"? And why?

A: Yes, in terms of: having a Portuguese name with an oriental-mixed appearance; despite the Portuguese name, I do not actually know how to speak Portuguese; I am not quite familiar with the traditional culture, for instance, traditional Chinese cultures. My parents do not have any special cultures or rules that I need to follow when I am at home. They are comparatively open-minded. For instance, I am 26 years old already and they would not urge me to get married like other Chinese parents would do.

W: Do you think you are keen on any cultures (Chinese or Portuguese)?

A: I really think I’m half half, in the conflict. I did not study in a Portuguese school in Macao, so I was more into the Chinese and Japanese cultures when I was younger. When I went to college in London, which was the time when I really lived in a western society. It then changed my concept to a more western one, and now I would consider myself as half half.

W: Is there any moment when you feel uncomfortable about your identity?

A: The worst is when Portuguese people ask me, “How comes you don’t speak Portuguese?" I regretted not learning Portuguese when I was little. I do not know quite clearly where my hometown is. I don’t have a Chinese hometown, nor a Portuguese one. I can only say Macao is my hometown.

W: Is there any moment when you feel good about your identity?

A: When I was studying fashion design, my professors thought I was special when they found out my identity. They would try to have me illustrate different designs which were derived from my mixed cultural background.

W: What types of people do you normally hang out with in Macao?

A: Various. My company (The House of Dancing Water) is like a “United Nations"! My department is full of British, Canadians, Australians, Brazilians and Japanese. Except my colleagues, I also hang out with my high school friends who are locals.

W: Do you have any comments on the situation of Macao integrating with diverse cultures?

A: I hope our society will have more facilities to compromise and integrate diverse cultures. I like that when supermarkets have more varieties of food, which is good. Macao feels bigger than before because it has become a more interesting place from culture integration. However, local people are proud of their own Macao cultures, and sometimes quite stubborn to accept or learn from other cultures.