(explain). Even though I was not born in Japan and am an American by birth, part of my heritage is Japanese and I cannot and do not want to forget that. Hearing such derogatory comments is similar to a Polish-American hearing a joke that makes fun of Poles or Americans who are Jewish seeing anti-Semitic grafitti. Dating has not been easy, either. It seemed like all the white girls to whom I was attracted to did not see me in the same way because they believed I was Asian. Only a small number of girls in this country will date outside their race -- and mixed people like me fall into that category. There were no Asian girls that interested me. (actually, there were only xx Asian girls to begin with).

There is an interesting book by Pearl Fuyo Gaskins called What Are You? Voices of Mixed-Race Young People. The title comes from the question that mixed-race people are often asked by those who find it necessary to place everyone in a discrete ethnic box. Even when this country is so ethnically and culturally mixed, people want to be able to put you into pegs. but, what happens when you are a round peg trying to fit in a square hole?

Moving out of my house and into the Arizona...

This campus is much more diverse. In fact, a number of students are "half-breeds" like me. However, it is not only the school that is making me feel better about myself and my background. It is recognizing that everyone is unique and special in his/her own way and I am no different in that respect. I'm beginning to realize that I am fortunate. I have lived through the hardships and teasing and am now discovering the positive side of being a mixed nationality. As I get older, I will find pleasure in exploring both sides of my heritage.
America is undergoing a major change in its population mix. The number of Asians and Hispanics is growing much faster than the Caucasians. For the best, I believe, in a few decades it will become increasingly difficult to put people into these slots I mentioned above. Intermarriages and very diverse backgrounds will make people even more special and unique. The hope is that this will reduce if not eliminate the discrimination that exists today due to race and ethnic background. The other hope is that individuals such as myself will feel proud to be who they are -- whatever bag of mix that "who" is.