Growing Up Mixed

Growing up half white meant a lot of funny questions, like — were you adopted? Where are you from? No, like where are you really from?

Growing up half white also meant a lot of comments about how mixed race babies are so much cuter than other babies.

Growing up half white meant not quite fitting in with the white kids, and definitely not the Asian speaking kids on the block.

Growing up half white meant a lot of really easy games of two truths and a lie.

Growing up half white, telling them that nah, I was born here, and that my dad was English - Oof, that spun quite a few heads.

Growing up half white meant automatically being accepted to the schools of my parent’s choice because they needed to up their diversity quota

Growing up half white meant men stopping my dad upon seeing me, an 8 year old girl, and asking if my mother was Asian — because their step brother just married an Asian woman and he hears they make great wives.

Growing up half white meant being immersed in foreign cultures before I could divide by whole numbers.

Growing up half white meant it didn’t even occur to me to begin growing up half Filipina.