By Lin Loke | 12 Feb 2026
Staying connected to home, from afar
Despite the physical distance, I’ve found ways to remain closely connected to my Singaporean and Asian roots.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel between Singapore and London every other year, which helps me stay close to my family and friends back home. Equally important has been the community I’ve built in London.
I’m incredibly lucky to have a close-knit group of Singaporean and international friends who are genuinely curious about one another’s cultures. We take turns hosting important holidays, and celebrating each other’s traditions.
Lunar New Year in London
In London, Lunar New Year celebrations are usually quite simple. Usually, my international friends are the ones who proactively ask me to organise events and dinners so they can experience and learn more about my culture and traditions. For us, celebrations typically involve dinner at a Chinese restaurant where we have hotpot or a spread of classic Chinese dishes.
When i worked in a corporate role, I often had team lunches during Lunar New Year team lunches so my colleagues can experience and learn more about my culture and traditions – I felt a deep sense of responsibility to represent my culture and share it with others.
I usually kick off the lunch with a simple explanation of how I celebrate Lunar New Year back in Singapore, and what the Zodiac animal represents for that year. Sometimes, I also prepare small red packets and mandarin oranges for colleagues to exchange so they can experience some fun traditions as we reflect on how the occasion celebrates generosity, community and coming together.
The scale is definitely less elaborate and flamboyant than when I’m home with my family in Singapore, where we go all out with traditional outfits and a big reunion dinner. But being away from Singapore has also made me miss and cherish the celebration even more.
In the UK, Lunar New Year has become a time of renewal, community, and joy for me, but distance has definitely deepened my appreciation for it.
Expressing my heritage through my work
My wellness brand, Nuwa Wellness, is deeply influenced by my Singaporean and Asian heritage.
Philosophically, Nuwa is built around balance, drawing from traditional wisdom while embracing modern approaches to wellbeing. That balance is something I grew up seeing in Singapore, where Eastern traditions and Western systems coexist naturally. We reference hues like a deep red and bright orange —- deep red nods to the symbolism of red being an auspicious colour in Chinese culture. The name, “Nu Wa”, comes from the Chinese Goddess, 女媧 (Nu Wa), of healing, creation and protection.
Nuwa celebrates East and West approaches and traditions, a balance Singapore embodies well through its economy, healthcare system, and culture. In many ways, Nuwa reflects the same cultural duality I’ve learned to navigate in my own life.
Translating tradition across cultures
Building a wellness brand for a Western audience has required me to be thoughtful about how tradition is communicated.
Our approach prioritises preventative health and balance, rather than chasing quick fixes or only seeking cures after illness. Nuwa celebrates the power of natural ingredients rooted in Asian wellness traditions, such as Reishi mushroom, ginseng, ginkgo, and Lion’s Mane — ingredients that are increasingly resonating with a more perceptive Western audience.
For me, this balance mirrors my lived experience as a Singaporean building a life abroad. You need a strong foundation while staying flexible and be open to learning about other people’s ways of life.
Living in London has strengthened my sense of identity, encouraged me to be more proactive about preserving my cultural traditions, and share them with others who are curious. I’m also deeply grateful for my upbringing in Singapore and the traditions that have shaped my mindset, beliefs, work ethic, and decision-making.
Celebrating and exploring my cultural identity has brought so much meaning to my life. It’s allowed me to build new connections, shaped my values, and given me points of reference for reflection and challenging the status quo.
Creating Nuwa has been a way for me to express my cultural identity, and to bring together the traditions I grew up with and the life I’ve built in London.
About Lin
Lin Loke is the founder of Nuwa Wellness, a UK-based Asian wellness brand that draws on ancestral wisdom to support modern-day wellbeing.
Connect with her here.
