Golden, flavorsome Portuguese egg tarts.

Warm, savory Cantonese wonton noodles.

These two dishes symbolize the mixed culture of Macao, an enclave embedded with nearly 400 years of colonial history. Yet, this city of highest population density is still accepting immigrants. Despite centuries of inter-cultural integration, newcomers in Macao still struggle to adapt.

"I am a Nanjinger. I just received my Macao ID." This is John Du's (not real name) typical self-introduction. Du, 26, has lived in Macao for a couple of years and is now pursuing a master degree. Despite being a sociable and active student leader in the University of Macao Postgraduate Association (UMPA), he frankly stated that his social network is merely confined within the circle of mainland students due to "cultural and value differences, which have been instilled since childhood". For example, the Cantonese dialect remains a predominant issue of integration. Du still cannot speak Cantonese; the few words he picked up were simple Cantonese phrases like "excuse me" and "thank you".

Another Macao new immigrant, Jamie Zhou, who is a year two student in City University of Macao, has encountered a similar problem. In spite of speaking fluent Cantonese just as her mother tongue, Zhou still cannot understand her local friends' jokes from time to time. Even so, she tries hard to blend in with the local community as well as finding out her future career path. She has devoted herself to fencing club training. In 2012, she won the championship of Women's Sabre in the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Fencing Tournament. "If I become a permanent resident and eligible for voting, I would vote in the election," she said, "and I plan to work in Macao in the future."

Nevertheless, she felt the city would be more welcoming if immigrants build friendship with locals. "One of my best friends is a local boy who I met in the UM English training course four years ago," she said. Later on, the common interest of dessert has laid the foundation of their friendship. "Last year he even drove me and my friends to Hac Sa beach to watch the sunrise on my birthday!" Zhou added.

However for Luis Telo Mexia, in his 30s, he feels it is always a challenge to adapt to a new culture. Mexia first arrived in Macao from Portugal with his parents in 1989 and had studied and grown up here. Ten years later, he went back to Portugal for high school. Last year Mexia returned to Macao and worked in the audio and visual department in The Venetian and Wynn. Now he accepted the offer as the manager of El Gaucho Caf擉.

Mexia said even though he interacted with the Chinese everyday, he did not feel much connected to Chinese culture. Though he just speaks "siu siu" (a little bit of) Cantonese, he is always able to find out alternative ways to communicate with his Cantonese-speaking colleagues and large number of mainland China tourists. "Google translation and body language always help," he explained. "Luckily, in the audio-visual industry the terms are universal, such as cables and microphones."

"Macao is a perfect place to settle down for a bachelor," Mexia claimed, "it is easier to find a job if you are a citizen and there is a Portuguese community." He is particularly fond of the atmosphere of Macao, which is a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese culture.

In sum, history of Macao is a chronology of immigrations indeed. Being a Macao citizen is much more than receiving an ID. For new immigrations, there is a long way to go in terms of self-recognition and culture.