A sense of belonging can emerge from connections made with people, places and communities. A sense of belonging is crucial to a happy life. The desire for an individual to belong is important and this relationship to people and places help give one a sense of identity and a deep connection. When people experience this strong connection, either to a place or a person, their sense of belonging is strengthened. However, this sense of belonging can change over time. The prescribed texts “The China Coin” by Allan Baille and Peter Skrzynecki’s poems “St Patrick’s College” and “Feliks Skrzynecki” address several aspects of belonging and not belonging. These aspects are further explored in the related text “Edward Scissorhands” by Tim Burton. The novel “The China Coin” explores the concept of how a sense of belonging can emerge from a connection to place. The main character Leah, an Australian born Chinese living in Chatswood, unwillingly accompanies her mother Joan to visit China to solve the mystery of a coin. For Leah, visiting China was not an appealing option; she was only going for her father who had passed away. Through internal monologue, “I am about to be sold into slavery” Leah’s lack of cultural understanding of her mother’s homeland is revealed. The word “slavery” suggest that her vision of China is a place of hardship and cruelty; she has not seen or experience this foreign country and therefore has no strong connection to the place. This resentment in having to travel to China is further enhanced by the air hostess “ah, you’re coming home." Leah’s cold response “I’ve never been in China before” shows that Leah does not associate China as ‘home’; Chatswood Sydney is her home, her only home. Leah’s disconnection to China is further reinforced as she sees the strange sights before her in Guangzhou. Leah describes China as a “warm porridge ” This metaphor conveys how unpleasantly warm China is which enhances Leah’s discomfort, and therefore, her dislike to a place that she has no understanding and connection. The strange culture around her, the unfamiliar sights and the people, all contribute towards Leah’s distance towards a place that is a part of her cultural heritage. Leah’s true feelings of China are further revealed when she yells at her mother “this is not my China, it’s yours...” The emphasis on “not my” and “yours” conveys Leah’s feelings that China holds no importance to her, there is no connection at all; the only person who she feels has this connection is Joan. Leah feels no sense of belonging to China, its people and culture. This feeling eventually changes as Leah meets new people and form unforgettable relationships. It is not until towards the end of the novel, that Leah finally connects with China and feels sad at leaving behind her Chinese family and the country of her heritage. Through Leah, Allan Baille has shown how important it is for an individual to have a connection to a place, and from that connection, a sense of belonging will emerge. Not only does the composer address the aspect of belonging to a place, but he also explores how important one’s relationships with people can enhance one’s sense of belonging. This is evident in Leah�