I’m happa! I love that word - half Puerto Rican and half Caucasian- my bio father passed when I was two so I’m not even sure what mix he was -
I went to a private school in a very small southern town that was basically all white and no one could figure out what I was except “other” - my full blooded Puerto Rican relatives would comment on the way I talked because I picked up the local flavor - how do you find your place when you just feel different from everyone?
There are definitely places where being hapa has got to be rough. My Dad came to Ohio from Hawaii in the 50’s. As you might imagine, that was challenging. My favorite story - his first winter he kept wearing his flip flops. That’s all he’d EVER worn and he wasn’t inclined to change just because of some snow.
For me the biggest challenge was when I went to Japan. Should I mention my part-Japanese ancestry? Japan’s feelings about gaijin and mixed ethnicities were evolving with the younger generations being pretty chill. But traditionalists were not so cool. I usually kept it to myself.
Thanks for sharing this story and that lovely family photo. I’ve been thinking about legacies lately and your grandmother in the center of the photo is powerful. She must be very proud.
Looking back to forks in the road through the rear view mirror is something else. Intriguing, bittersweet.
this is so beautiful! everything💕i could write an essay on how much i loved reading learning and listening! my two year kitten, pebbles, listened too and he loves your voice too!! oh the picture of your family!! what a blessing for you to share this with us ❤️💕 and wow - yes - the sunken in heated table... how beautiful too!! can i find someone to help me get one in NJ ? thank you thank you as always for sharing your heart w us ❤️ 🌻🪷⭐️💕
@keiichiroiwamoto
Here it is! Thanks for the inspiration to get this out there!
I’m happa! I love that word - half Puerto Rican and half Caucasian- my bio father passed when I was two so I’m not even sure what mix he was -
I went to a private school in a very small southern town that was basically all white and no one could figure out what I was except “other” - my full blooded Puerto Rican relatives would comment on the way I talked because I picked up the local flavor - how do you find your place when you just feel different from everyone?
There are definitely places where being hapa has got to be rough. My Dad came to Ohio from Hawaii in the 50’s. As you might imagine, that was challenging. My favorite story - his first winter he kept wearing his flip flops. That’s all he’d EVER worn and he wasn’t inclined to change just because of some snow.
For me the biggest challenge was when I went to Japan. Should I mention my part-Japanese ancestry? Japan’s feelings about gaijin and mixed ethnicities were evolving with the younger generations being pretty chill. But traditionalists were not so cool. I usually kept it to myself.
Thanks for sharing this story and that lovely family photo. I’ve been thinking about legacies lately and your grandmother in the center of the photo is powerful. She must be very proud.
Looking back to forks in the road through the rear view mirror is something else. Intriguing, bittersweet.
this is so beautiful! everything💕i could write an essay on how much i loved reading learning and listening! my two year kitten, pebbles, listened too and he loves your voice too!! oh the picture of your family!! what a blessing for you to share this with us ❤️💕 and wow - yes - the sunken in heated table... how beautiful too!! can i find someone to help me get one in NJ ? thank you thank you as always for sharing your heart w us ❤️ 🌻🪷⭐️💕