It was a warm holiday evening on the Cap San Antoni in Jávea when I met Rhiya, Pablo, and their daughters, Maya and Mia. Their home is in Singapore, yet their heart speaks of two continents, two cultures, and the effort to keep both alive. They were in Javea to spend their holiday and visit the grandparents.
“Family”, they said, “…is the only constant one can rely on in difficult times”. It is in the ordinary gestures that this truth is clearest: a shared craft project, a weekend bike ride, or the small rituals that punctuate daily life. Though their household is inevitably more influenced by Asian culture, Pablo speaks Spanish to the children, and each year the family returns to Spain, maintaining a tangible connection to their European roots.
What I loved hearing was how their family, despite coming from different cultural backgrounds, is so accommodating to one another. I loved hearing how their Asian and Spanish heritages overlap in values, creating a natural connection and sense of understanding that flows through their family life.
Living far from their extended families in Spain comes with sacrifices. Visits with grandparents are less frequent than they would like, and as the older generation ages, the weight of distance grows heavier. Yet Rhiya is determined that her children understand the importance of these connections. Weekly visits with her own parents remain a tradition she hopes will continue for generations.
Despite differences in culture, they share common values: respect, care, and an appreciation for heritage. In the way they celebrate birthdays, nurture curiosity, and honor family bonds, their Asian and Spanish roots coexist, inform, and enrich one another.
I went home with a warm feeling and an understanding that roots are not static. They travel, bend, and blend, shaping who we are and how we live. The story of Rhiya and Pablo’s family showed me the way heritage can be preserved while evolving in a new place.
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