My father is Thai Chinese and my mother is American.
Being raised half of my life in Thailand and the other half in the States has been great. Great life experience and knowledge.
But I do have to say (in my opinion) that you really understand that you’re different when you’re living in an Asian country.
You understand what racism is, how you are being treated and the respect differences they give. I find that in the States, it’s not a big deal (because it’s westernized). What are my fellow Hapas’ opinions?
This is a short film I did that went to Cannes. Please watch it, give me your honest opinion because it was made for us HAPAS!!!
BTW…I’m the one in the middle with my 2 best friends from Thailand.
Hapa Voice 
VERY BEAUTIFUL FILM!!! I was crying, I can feel this so much!!! Thank you for your post and for the film!!!
Thank you for making this poignant, beautiful film and score. I love how you captured simple moments that resonate with hapa kids–playing, eating ice cream, feeling alone…and thankfully, the love of adults who remind us that we are loved and should always love ourselves :)
My father is Vietnamese, mother American. While I didn’t live in Asia like you, I did visit Vietnam a few times with my family and agree with your experiences re really “feeling different”. Granted, being a tourist is a very different experience from being a resident.
Congrats on your film awards, you must feel so happy and proud. Thank you for creating a story to reach out to fellow hapas and the greater global community. I hope you continue to create, communicate and cherish your special hapa experience through your art.
PS: If you happen to know any bay area CA hapa groups, please share! Thanks again, take care.
Wow, I would love to check out the short film…so how would I be able to do that, Is there a link or a youtube video, or a download link? I’m really happy that this blog site even exist for people just like me too. My father is Puerto Rican and my mother is Thai. I was born in Bangkok,Thailand and lived there until I was 9, then moved to the U.S. when my father was being transferred to a new military base in Utah (of all places) but only for a year then to Las Vegas, NV and now I finally reside in Sacramento, CA. Surprisingly I really do like it here and have a great group of friends or all different ethnic backgrounds but none of them mixed like myself asian/latino. It’s refreshing to see other folks out there just like me.
Your video is so beautiful. It really touched me to the core. This video really needs to be out there… I think the world population as a whole would really benefit from seeing something like this. Not only does it touch on bullying, but also about how fine a line racial division can be and how this line can sometimes stem from childhood issues. These issues can then be led to major self- esteem and self identity crisis’s.
I’m from the US and one time when I was very little my family took a vacation to somewhere in the South and someone told my parents that it was wrong for them to get married because they were of different ethnic backgrounds. They lectured for awhile and wouldn’t leave us alone about it. I was a little kid at that point so I was kind of confused by the situation. Because I was so little, I didn’t really understand what happened. For awhile after that, I was embarrassed by my family and I thought something was wrong with us. Obviously as I got older, I realized that I should be proud of my family and who I am. Haters gonna hate! But let’s stay strong and proud! :)
Northern CA, close to SF :)
Very cool! I used to live in LA. Thinking about moving back to the states. Not sure yet. BTW…is there any community where hapas come together to meet in person?
Your film is very very beautiful and an inspiration!!! I sent it to a few people I think might be interested in watching it! Thanks!!
JO
To Jasmine: Very Cool…I love Shanghai. Got many friends there. What do you do in Shanghai and what part of Cali you are going back too?
I live in Shanghai now, but I’ll be moving to Cali in August!
Hey Steve…I’m glad that you liked the film and you got something out of it.
great film man, it really resonated with me. Made me think of when I visited my grandparents (in Thailand) and my cousin took me to play with some of the neighborhood kids – they told me to go home to America – I didn’t understand what they meant at the time, and didn’t really think about it until I read your post.
Thank You Sara…which part of cali…I’m also from there but I’m base in Thailand at the moment.
Fantastic film! Currently, I live in CA, but I have definitely experienced similar situations here in the U.S. as well as in Japan growing up.
Roshana…if I may ask? Where did you experience what you have expereience?
Film was great. I remember being teased and made fun of in school too. Even my 5th grade English teacher (who is Thai of course) didn’t like me because I was a luek krueng 555.
love the film
im also thai but mixed english scottish and irish
experienced many things like this before
Thx a lot guys!! I’m just wondering where do you all live at the moment?
Also is there any kind of a community of Hapas that met each other in person?
I greatly enjoyed the film and will be sharing it with the other Hapas I know :)
Amazing film! your film inspire me a lot, since i encounter similar situation like you when i was young.
Yes I absolutely love the film, great work!
Your film is beautifully made
I am a happa who lives in America. I am part Korean, Chinese & American (biological father a GI).
When I was a teenager, I met another teen from South Korea and when I shared with her that I was born in Korea, she replied, “You are NOT Korean and if so, you are a half breed. I am a full blooded Korean and therefore better than you!” I was very hurt by this and as a teenager, she and I did not become friends for she would not associate with me.
I am 50 year old now and one of my best friends is a Korean physician by the name of Kunsan. When I shared my story with her, she said, “Don’t judge all Koreans by what this one Korean teenager has done.” Kunsan has embraced me and I love her dearly. Kunsan loves and care for all people and this includes ‘This Hapa’ too!
So therefore when one in one group rejects, remember that there are others who do not!
Greatly said!!!