With our strong European heritage it has always been difficult.

Friday’s Asian market at the Kingscote Campus tells a new chapter in the story.

Indonesia is one of our closest and certainly most populous neighbours.

Beyond Bali holidays and the threats of extremists, most of us give little thought to the millions of Indonesians who live their daily lives outside the spotlight.

Just as our youngest citizens embrace technology as though it had always been here, they seem also to be embracing a new cultural understanding of our Asian location.

They drop Indonesian words and slang into their conversation and cook Asian food like they had grown up at the elbow of an Ibu rather than a Mrs.

No one wants our children to forget their cultural heritage or to lose pride in the achievements of our European ancestors or forget the Aboriginal custodians of Australia.

Their new understanding of Asia and where we fit into it is refreshing and necessary in a shrinking world.

The Asian Market is an excellent way to introduce the rest of the community to what our children are learning.

It should be a major community event at the school and perhaps it could go a little longer than an hour, to justify the hard work and preparation.

The involvement this year of the Filipino community cooking to raise money for flood victims brings a new dimension. The whole community could benefit from a closer involvement in the Asian Market. Can’t wait til next year.