To be honest, I used to despise the fact that I wasn’t blonde with blue eyes. It took me a few years to realize that the entire guessing game of what exactly I am is actually interesting.
“What are you?”: this is probably the only thing that has bothered me. Sometimes people will look at me in disbelief and actually question what I tell them as if I were lying!
My biological father is Chamorro and Chinese while my mother is Spanish, Italian, and 1/4 American Indian. My mom remarried my adoptive father who is German. Since then, they have had three kids who are all pale with very light hair. Going out as a family has always been interesting: “Oh, you brought a friend?” Many people fail to realize that I am actually a part of the family verses a mere friend. It has become more amusing than anything else, surprisingly.
I’ve been blessed in the department of diversity. Thankfully, we were a military family and were constantly relocating to a new melting pot every two to three years. Raised an Army brat for 16 years, I ended up joining on my 17th birthday. Even today it still amazes me at how diverse a community can be.
However, it wasn’t until recently that I was given the chance to experience one of my cultures to a degree. I’ve had a few encounters with the Chamorro community here at Ft. Leonard Wood. I desperately wish I could speak that language! My biological father’s family knows Chamorro and Chinese fluently. (I’m jealous) Since my mom remarried, I lost that chance to learn the full culture of Guam since I raised very ‘American.’
I love and appreciate the diversity within myself now. I absolutely love reading about Guam and Italy since they are the most predominant cultures in both sides of my family. So far, I’ve been given the opportunity to tap into my Asian roots when I lived in Korea for a year. Recent plans for Italy have been made and Guam is up next!
P.S – Rosetta Stone should totally make a Chamorro course :)
Hapa Voice 
will do!
When you visit Guam make sure you go to cocos island. The boat ride is fun, and the food is amazing.
Thanks Chris, I’ll have to look in to a few of those books!
I’ve met a few of my Chamorro cousins/aunts/uncles/etc. and they all praise Guam! I cannot wait to visit (I was thinking about this Christmas visiting!). I really missed out on a lot though growing up as far as finding my roots, so now I really need to make up for lost time.
You should get more into each culture. I’m Chamorro, Native American, Irish , and Filipino. Though I was raised half my life in Guam I still look into my other cultures. They got books that you can buy to learn Chamorro. I don’t speak it myself but I understand when my mom talks to me in it. You will love Guam everyone is nice, if I could I would move back right away.
Oh well, thank you! I’m thankful for the many ethnicities now! Yeah, there are many times when I’ll wear my hear a certain way, or if I get really tan and I’ll look more asian or more islander. That sets me even further apart from my family. Whether people want to admit it or not, groups/cliques are usually made upon people’s culture, skin color, and ethnicity. That’s when being mixed gets somewhat difficult, especially when you’re younger. Now, I completely appreciate the diversity within my own life and thank God that I was given the obstacles to overcome. For those who are strictly asian, german, or whatever may find it hard to understand sometimes that being multiracial has obstacles despite how minute they may seem.
(p.s – I just looked at your blog, LUCKY YOU! I’d love to travel and see the world that way! Unfortunately, the military won’t station only overseas :/ )
Your story was very interesting. I’m Japanese married to a Caucasian husband and we have two girls. You would think that Asian blood would be dominant, right? Well, my first daughter looks mixed with Asian features and Caucasian coloring. My second daughter, on the other hand, looks nothing like Asian. Almost full Caucasian or something other than Asian. Both of my girls were born with blue eyes and now have green/hazel color eyes. People say how much my second daughter looks like my husband. When we lived in Arlington, VA, I’m afraid that some people thought that I was a nanny because we don’t look so related. My situation is not the same as your situation, but I know what you experienced. You look gorgeous and exotic, so you should feel very lucky to have your heritage! Kaho