"Are You Not a Spy?"

Comparing my early years attending maritime meetings and networking with people in the field, I feel a bit more comfortable now. But back in 2018, when I had no contacts at all in Maritime industry and knew nothing about maritime matters, about boating, I felt it very daunting to be in that space. I had to push myself very hard to attend those meetings, as I had no confidence talking to people. The fact that English is my second language didn’t help either; but I forced myself to go because I had a mission.

I remember once in a maritime conference in Sydney, a very tall guy came up to me and said to me: “Are you not a spy? “

I froze for a second trying to hide my timidness and replied: “Hi, that’s a very unique greeting!”

I realised afterwards that I was the only ‘Asian looking’ female in the big crowd. Somehow, he didn’t ask me if I was Chinese or Japanese. I would have given him my standard response, which is “Have a guess?”

Well, the irony is, these days if I go to China, where I was born and lived for 30 years, I might be suspected as a spy too because of my Australian citizenship!

But really, do I look like a spy? The word ‘spy’ excites me, as I connect it with sexy and cool ‘007’ as you know.

Is it actually cool to be a spy in real life? Ask Australian Chinese reporter Cheng Lei, who just came back to her Aussie home after three years in detention in China on espionage charges.