My mother is Korean and my dad is Korean/Irish, both were born and raised in Korea.
When they came to the states they moved to a small town in Northern California where we didn’t have many Asians.
Growing up, I thought I was full Korean until around middle school I found out I was mixed. I always told people I was half Korean/German only because I had a German last name, but up until probably end of junior high I found out I was only a quarter white and my last name was not my real last name. (Confused yet?)
I grew up learning two languages (Korean and English) which was very difficult at a young age. People always told me I looked exotic or unique while growing up which I liked because I loved being different. I grew up knowing the Korean culture but as I got older I became more Americanized. Overall, I am happy to be Hapa!
Hapa Voice 