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ARTICLES:
Eurasian Experience
Being
Me By Athena Mari Asklipiadis December 2002 Throughout my life, I was blessed to know different cultures. My mother is Japanese and my father is Greek, Italian, Armenian, and Egyptian. My parents have prepared foods from their cultures and shared stories pertaining to my heritage all my life. I was always happy that I was multiracial, but there were times I didn't think it was all that great. Growing up, I had a variety of friends, but in general, I was closest to Caucasians. It was not that I was racist or anything, it's just that I ended up there. I felt everything was okay with my identity, but was hurt by things others said. I remember I used to be teased for being "too white" and sometimes being "too Asian." Some classmates asked why I only had white friends and I really didn't think it was a logical question because it wasn't as if I only tried to be friends with white people. They felt that because I looked Asian, I should hang out with other Asians. I then started trying to spend time with the Asian crowd, but this didn't work because with them, I was considered "too white." These experiences made my life very confusing and caused me to wonder where I really belonged. After the initial shock of being judged, I began searching for friends that didn't care, but the process was hard. Most of this happened when I was a child, so it's obvious that a lot of it had to do with immaturity and the identity crisis all kids go through. I guess it might have been more of a struggle for me because I felt that I had no identity. When I was with my white friends I was offended by racial slanders directed at Asians. Sometimes they'd imitate what they thought a Chinese or Japanese accent sounded like or they would make fun of the culture. And with my Asian friends, I was offended by the comments about Caucasians. They would say that white people were fake or materialistic. It was as if I couldn't win either way. But I learned that winning was impossible because my situation wasn't a game. All that had happened was life, things happen for reasons, and my background was something I'd have to learn to deal with when working with others. I learned that trying to get rid of the situation was wrong, but I should rather, deal with it and learn something from it instead. The most important thing learned was that I had to realize that I wasn't the Asian girl or the white one, for that matter, but rather just me. Being me is the only answer I can give if I'm questioned, and it's the only answer that really matters. Now, I am stronger with these past experiences behind me. During those times, I'd just want them to all go away, but now I appreciate the chance I got to learn from them. I am still judged and stereotyped time to time. But it is impossible not to be, since people aren't perfect. The difference now is that I have become more open to others and the differences they carry. I have friends of all races, and they do not judge me for what I look like, but who I am. I have been able to grasp the concept that overall, I am an individual, a Christian, and a teen, and my racial identity should not be important enough to base their judgment. About
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