My name is Valerie Neiman-Yu and I was born and raised in San Diego, CA!
Living in California, it is not uncommon to see other people of mixed race. Plus, having my sister and two brothers growing up, I never really felt out of place.
My mother was born in the Philippines but moved and was raised in Monterey, CA since she was five years old. My father was born in San Luis Obispo to a Mexican mother and a white father. They met when they were both at school at UCSD in the late 70s and early 80s. A few years later, they had my brother and rest is history.
I like being mixed-race and kind of like it that I can keep people guessing abotu my ethnicity. I’m proud to be FULL HAPA!! :>
Hapa Voice 