AsiansOfMixedRace.com Interviews You!

One of the reasons we have probably frequented forum boards is to connect with others in hopes to find a connection. A similar experience or experiences. When we do, we expound on our times and see how each one of us has dealt with certain circumstances. But one thing we all must remember, once the amenities are stripped away we are all just human beings. Those connections fade from seeing someone who looks like you to fading into someone who shares the same characteristics, principles, likes, dislikes, etc. The following interviews are simple, but effective. Because that is how I like it. The questions were as follows:

Name & Age
Your ethnicities
Locale
What do you do for work?
How do you spend your down time?
Talk about the positives of being mixed.
Talk about the negatives of being mixed.
If there is one piece of advice you could give to the younger generation, what would it be?
After all is said & done, how do you see yourself?

The interviews with the everyday Mixed Asian, this was something I have been thinking about for awhile. I’m not telling you something you don’t already know but learning from others experiences, we can learn more about ourselves. We should be striving to be the best possible people we can be. I know I do. And I’m sure you do. See, common characteristic with zero emphasis on our respective ethnic backgrounds.

Keep Striving & Keep It Hapa!
Frank Y Pak Agostinelli

My name is Adam Byler, I am 19 years young.
50 Filipino, 50 White (European)
Born in Los Angeles, CAL, but raised in Oviedo, FL. It is a small suburb city outside of Orlando, FL. It is a growing city, but if you go to certain areas it is still a “southern” city. I have some friends who live on farms, and have goats in their house.
I am a United States Marine. Hooorah. I am a Motor Vehicle Operator, I drive 7 tons and humvees. I am currently trying to transfer out to the west coast.
I was recently married to my wife Morgan, so lately I have been mostly a home body. My hobbies include going to the gym and staying in shape, watching it’s always sunny in Philadelphia on FX, and staying home with the wife. We are also expecting our first child in November…and he will be 25 Filipino…so we are very curious as to how he will turn out. My wife is a very fair skinned European, and I am a tan, half-Filipino man, so you know he will be a cute one.
I honestly think that being of a mixed culture is the best experience. Not saying that if you are not mixed you are not special, but you don’t get the best of both worlds like we do. I got to grow up eating, talking, and living with both cultures. The best is being called “exotic” by the females, they always want to know what you are… it’s a very good conversation starter.
This is pretty generic, but something I noticed is you can’t fully be accepted by your peers. With my “white” friends I am still “Asian.”, and to my “Asian” friends I am “white” or watered down. Also while you are growing up, it is very annoying to be asked by EVERYONE! What race you are.
My advice to the younger generation would be no matter what race you are, be PROUD! The best way to get far in life is to not let your differences get you down, but to take what you have and use that to your advantage. For everyone one person to make fun of you or put you down, there are a hundred more who want to meet you and could care less of your genetic background.

Amanda Demme
20
50% Chinese (mom), 50% German (dad)
New Jersey
I‘m currently in college, but I work part time at Bottle King.
When I’m not in class or working, I spent a lot of time with my boyfriend. I also love to work out (I run about 9 miles every day), reading, and go out to hookah!
I personally love being mixed race. I’ve never been someone who likes to be “defined” by anything (race, religion, etc), so I think being mixed race gives me opportunities I might not have had if I wasn’t. I had the opportunity to learn Mandarin from one set of grandparents, and German from the other set. I was able to spend time at Buddhist temples with my mom, and Catholic churches with my father. My parents never made a formal decision as to how they were going to raise my sibling and I (religion wise), they always said that they would give us equal exposure to both, and when were old enough we would make our own decisions. Subsequently, my sister has continued going to church, my brother to temple. And for me? I’ve found that if religion is a connection between you and whatever ‘higher being’ you believe in, why should I have to fit the confines of one religion? I draw bits and pieces from different religions that I like to create something totally unique to me; and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The “What are you?” This used to bother me when I was younger (especially in elementary-middle school). I specifically remember one incident in 1st grade (yeah, I actually still remember this), where a boy was like “what are you?..’cuz you don’t like her (pointed to an Asian girl), and you don’t look like her (pointed to a white girl), so that means you isn’t normal!” But of course, we grow up, far past the taunting of 6 year old kids.
Don’t let what other people say get you down. Most people automatically question the unknown, and the truth is, being mixed race is a huge advantage. We get to deeply connect with people of two, three, four–plus races! And truth be told, now that I’m older, I’ve found that when I’m out, people often use it as a conversation starter. Who ever thought that “what are you? you isn’t normal!” would turn into “Sorry if these seems forward, but you have such a beautiful unique look, what race are you?”
I see myself as white. I see myself as Chinese. I see myself as a Hapa. I see myself as a reader, a runner, a girlfriend. But most importantly, I see myself as a person.

Eleni
27
Greek and Taiwanese
Vancouver, BC
Finance – but I am in the midst of changing career paths. I am bouncing around some ideas, and I am planning on going back to school, but I haven’t made a final decision.
Online, reading and film photography.
Being mixed gives you a unique perspective on society and they way it truly operates. It allows you to clearly see how social structures influence the way people behave and the attitudes they hold. Being mixed allows you to see through the partitions that people put up to elevate themselves. For example, everyone has overheard racist comments at some point in their lives. In the US, especially in the southern parts, African Americans are considered criminals and degenerates of society. They don’t seem to acknowledge that Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics and everyone else commits crimes. People will place more emphasis on a criminal being black, when the problem is crime itself. Crime is a raceless issue. A lot of people are blind to this because people see what they want to see, not what truly is. The best thing about being mixed is that you can be colorblind, in other words, objective.
The obvious problem with being mixed is the potential for an identity crisis. In my lifetime, I have come across many mixed people who have over identified with one race over the other just to fit in. Everyone has heard racist comments at sometime in their lives and I am no exception. If I associated with one group and they said something racist about my other half, I would get defensive, naturally. The only problem though, was that this isolated me from that group, because, well, I wasn’t like them.
Don’t conform to society’s norms. You were born mixed race for a reason. Everyone’s life has a purpose, and being mixed is no accident. You cannot be Greek, or Taiwanese, or Jewish or Islam, you are who YOU are. Ethnicities and religions don’t make you who you are, it’s just a part of your life. Define yourself, don’t let others define you.
As Eleni, first and foremost. I am a smart, caring, sarcastic liberal who loves Family Guy and Law & Order. I like to eat breakfast for dinner and dim sum for brunch. I like going to my East Indian friends’ weddings so I can wear a sari, because it makes me feel beautiful. I don’t like olives or lamb, even though I am half Greek, but I like feta cheese and tzatziki, A LOT, especially together. I think Oprah is awesome even though she cuts people off in interviews and gives away cars that aren’t actually free. I am not into Greek men, but I would marry George Stroumboulopoulos or Criss Angel in a heartbeat. My mother drives me insane, but if anyone says anything bad about her, I’ll tear a piece out of them.

Wanda
37
African American and Vietnamese
Montgomery, AL
Administrative Assistant for 7 radio stations
Relaxing with a good book, glued to the television or ‘Spacing it.’ I’m a true homebody now that I’m older. But I do like taking little mini trips to visit friends.
The best thing is having the best of both worlds…literally. I can sit at the dinner table with my family and enjoy rice with…everything, and they won’t look at me strangely.
I used to get picked on a lot growing up. I was never black enough, Asian enough or white enough.
Always be proud of being a mixie and NEVER allow anyone to “box” you in. Embrace all of your cultures and rep them with pride.
I LOVE being Blasian!!! Absolutely! And I would not change any of my bad experiences to be anything else. I know that I represent both of my heritages with pride. And besides, everyone wants to be or loves a mixie!! LOL!

Michelle Janet Yoo is my given name from birth.
I am 40 yrs old – I am an Aquarius/Monkey for those inquiring minds, lol. I have a younger brother and half sister, of which I am the eldest.
I am EurAsian: my father is Korean and my mother is Swiss.
I was born & raised in Los Angeles, CA and am proud to say I am an original LA Girl!
Right now its general office admin work while pursuing my certification for Interpreting for the Deaf.
It varies from going to the beach, dancing, reading, writing, movies, people watching, taking random pictures or a nice quiet evening at home.
Physically my features lends itself to blending into certain races and it makes people watching easier at times and they accept you into their circle without bias…. Sometimes people can tell I am mixed and take a genuine interest in developing good rapport.
Well, I guess its 2-fold, good & bad. My parents got a divorce early on and I grew up with my father, who is Korean. In my experience, you can eat Korean food, live the custom/culture/traditions, and even speak it, but if your not 100% Korean, your not Korean. And the Swiss are ‘neutral’ in opinion as the country itself, lol. To them it’s more of live and let live. In a funny kind of way I felt like I was on my own little island because where do you fit in? You’re not this and you’re not that – you’re unique and you begin to learn that lesson that humans like and identify with that which is similar to themselves. And out of that I had to develop my sense of self worth and all that comes with it.
I think it would be ‘stay true to yourself and don’t let others define it for you.’
I am unique, always smiling & laughing (people wonder why) and ever changing.

Alice Tea
45
Filipina/Spanish, Irish, Scottish, Danish, Austrian
Seattle, Washington, USA
Community Council Representative and volunteering.
Hang out with family (seems like we’re always eating LOL) and watch movies with a few close friends. I also like to sing, draw, and write poetry.
I believe I have gained a better understanding of our world as a whole. Having a strong knowledge of my Filipino heritage (both parents were born and raised in the Philippines) and bringing those values into my “American” side has definitely helped shape the way I handle daily Life. I feel I have a broader level of awareness in dealing with people because of my mixed heritage.
I try not to look at things in a negative light, however, when I was younger, it was a challenge to reconcile one culture with the other. The feeling of ‘not fitting in with the crowd’ was prevalent. Thankfully, I learned to embrace and appreciate the differences, and realized we as human beings also have common bonds regardless of ethnicity. Still, it can be trying when I am looked upon as ‘different’; this is where patience, tolerance and understanding come into play.
Knowledge is key. “Part of where I’m going is knowing where I’m coming from.” Okay, so I borrowed that line from a song, but truer words were never spoken. Appreciate your heritages, it’s your blood, your lifeline. Ignorance breeds hate; instead, cultivate the goodness in you… you will be amazed by the sweetness of the fruit you reap by doing so.
Good question! I am a person who was blessed to have been born the way I am because I know I am stronger, wiser, and more knowledgeable for it. Life handed me lemons.. sure, I made lemonade, but I’ve also planted an orchard full of seeds, and you best believe the crop is bountiful.