I am so glad I found this website, it makes me feel empowered!
When I was a young child my classmates teased me for having “chink eyes.” I would get so upset and just cry to my mother. Read More
Estonian, Russian, Japanese, Vietnamese
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Tag Archives: Vietnamese
Korean, Vietnamese, German, Irish
My Mother is Vietnamese and Korean, and my Dad is German and Irish.
Growing up, most people classified me as white, but some would identify me a partly Asian.
I was mostly known as white because of all of the freckles on my body, but have the facial structure of an Asian. My Dad is the one who gave me the freckles that I have.
Vietnamese, Caucasian
Like every child, I observed around me trying to find people that looked like me.
I think we all want to find someone that has some kind of traits or looks that remind us of ourselves.
We all do this as children to come to terms with ‘what we are’ and try to identify with our race and heritage. I remember doing this but never really finding anyone like me.
Since a young age I’ve always felt alienated but never really knew how to express it. It’s not so easy to express how you feel about your race when you’re surrounded by only two opposite sides of the spectrum. Caucasian and Asian.
Vietnamese, Italian, German
Raised by my Vietnamese grandmother, I always associated myself as being just Vietnamese.
I spoke fluent Vietnamese and could read and write it. It was not until I got older that people really started to question what I was.
For the first time, I realized how unique I am. I am like no one else I know. I am me, Hapa.
Vietnamese, Scottish, Irish, English
Born in Australia to an Aussie Mother and A Viet father who immigrated from Vietnam in the 80s.
We travel frequently to Vietnam (every second year) so I am very used to both cultures and at home I eat Asian food.
In my younger days when I went to Vietnam there were no white people at all and Vietnamese women would always come up to me and pinch my cheeks so hard and always talk about me looking English. Read More
Vietnamese, Chinese, Caucasian
I grew up in a place that is full of diversity and culture. Sadly, I always felt out of place.
Even among my group of friends that are all Asian, sometimes I would get side remarks of being a “whitey.” It didn’t seem to make sense much considering that I am only ¼ Caucasian.
My mother is Caucasian Vietnamese, and my father is Chinese Vietnamese. Amazingly enough I was able to pull my mother’s strong features. My mother embraced her Vietnamese heritage, and had denied her Caucasian side. Read More
Vietnamese, Chinese, German, Lithuanian
Hello Hapeoples! Really enjoying reading these posts, reminds me that I’m not alone.
Like many others here, I had a difficult time growing up mixed. Being ostracized solely because of my racial background was frustrating and not fun to say the least. Eventually though, I came to realize that having a mixed heritage is not an affliction but a real gift.
Being able to draw from a wider range of influences, exposure to a broader spectrum of opportunities and possibilities… Being Hapa is a fortunate thing.
One thing I feel being multiracial has given me (and the part I probably appreciate the most) is the ability to empathize with other people regardless of ethnicity, to look beyond skin tone and feel a connection to something larger and more profound than race. Read More
German, Polish, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, Chinese
Hi, my nickname is Miyu, and I’m half Asian and half European.
My dad is half German half Polish and my mum is Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese and Chinese.
A lot of people ask me if I’m Japanese because of my name, and because I like Japanese stuff. But I just married a Hispanic guy, whose last name is Amaya.
I grew up in Germany. But we also have houses in Thailand, where my mum’s family lives. Now I live in Texas, where my husband lives. Read More
Vietnamese, Dutch, Indonesian, German, Filipina
My name is Kimberly. I was born to a Vietnamese mother and a already very mixed father who is Dutch, Indonesian, German, and Filipino.
Growing up and going to school I always had a hard time with my cultural background and identity. Always questioned “What are you?” to which I’ve learned to punch back with the reply, “Um, human.”
I got used to checking the “OTHER” box.
I’ve learned to embrace my heritage, and especially the amazing foods from each region and learning my cultural history and traditions.
It wasn’t till recently that I started meeting more Hapa folks and learning about mixed cultures, and then was turned on to Hapa Voice. So neat to know I’m not alone, and that I have some mixed brothers and sisters around the world, of the world. Read More
