I love being half/ハーフ, because I've experienced different cultures, and can see things from different perspectives, but it's also something I struggle with. Being an American, but half Japanese and half Dutch, I've always struggled with my identity. I feel like I don't belong anywhere. In Japan, I was called a "foreigner", because I looked different from everyone else, and here i'm "Asian", because I look different here too. When I was younger, I was so confused and I never really knew what I was... but now that I've grown up a bit, I am starting to realize that i'm just me. I'm not Japanese, or Dutch. I'm Japanese, Dutch, and an American... And I'm proud to be a half /hafu/ハーフ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96SbzJX1Jlw&feature=share
Dear Emily,
ReplyDeleteIt is SO cool to read this and get to know you a little better!
Youmay be surprised to learn that I can empathise with the feeling of not really "belonging" anywhere - even though both of my parents are Dutch. I was born in The Netherlands and moved to NZ when I was 6. I always felt "different" When I moved back to the Netherlands when I was 21 (before going on my mission) I very surprised to find out how Dutch I was inside. Lots of things just felt right. But, on the other hand, I had grown up and done all of my schooling in NZ (in English) so I was also different...
I am happy that you feel more comfortable about who you are now. You are you and you are, from everything that I know about you, an exceptional daughter of our Heavenly Father!!