Tag Archives: European

Maori, European

I grew up pretty evenly between New Zealand and North America.  So I absorbed much of both.

I did the whole cultural melting pot thing in American high school, and university, but finished my university back in New Zealand.

If I wasn’t longing for one I was longing for the other, my other culture that is.

On my mother’s side was the closeness and affection of whanau, family.  On my father’s side was the strength of individuality, which I reveled in too. Often confused when I was young I came to terms with my “biculturalness”  one day when I realized I was just me. Continue reading →

European, Laotian

My name is Lane Raymond Luangxay. I’m half European and Half Laotian. My father is Laotian and my mother is white.

When I was younger I never really thought about what it was like to be half. I always thought of myself as just a regular kid. As I grew older I began noticing it more because people would point it out.

I have strong Asian features and alot of people will assume I speak an Asian language. In high school I only had white friends because I felt like people who were full wouldn’t like me because I’m not full. I didn’t really embrace my Asian side because I felt like I wouldn’t be liked as much, but I realized i was wrong.

I was wrong for feeling like I had to choose. Continue reading →

Japanese, European

Being Hapa has been a big part of my life. I speak to Japanese and have gone to Japan almost every summer. This is where I feel the most that I am different, but in a good way.

Being Hapa has become a big part of my identity. In Los Angeles, a melting pot of all cultures, it’s still unique to actually be a mix of two or more different ethnicities, and because of this, it has helped me to appreciate myself more as an individual. I hope other Hapa people out there feel the same, and can embrace the cultures of their various racial backgrounds.