Growing up with my time divided between Lexington (KY) and Honolulu (HI), I’ve had a childhood unlike many others. At times I feel guilty for not being “Asian enough” or “Japanese enough” or “Hawaiian enough” because I don’t speak any of the mother tongues. But my experience hasn’t quite been one of “full Asian" anyways.
Hawaii is as much a melting pot as the U.S. as a whole. Hawaii is made up of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Samoan, Filipino, and many other Asian cultures. Although I wasn’t raised full time on the islands, I spent a good portion of my childhood there and consider it to be as much my home as Kentucky. From the second my feet hit the jetway my local accent surfaces. I know the route from the airport to my grandparents’ home by heart. And of course I can find my way quickly to the best local cuisine.
That being said, a lot of Hawaiian/Asian habits translate over to my life in Kentucky. My accent may disappear, but some slang sticks around. Everyone in our family takes off our shoes in the house. We celebrate Boys’ and Girls’ Day (two Japanese holidays). And a week isn’t complete without some kind of Hawaiian food on our table.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.