More often than not many people I have met around the world naturally assume I am from China. So my introductions have also changed from, “Hi I’m Wendy and I’m from America” to “Hi I’m Wendy, I’m from America but my parents are from Korea.”
Upon which the other sometimes proceeds to ask, “North or South?”
I’m not going to lie, always being assumed or being told I don’t look “American” has been difficult. Especially when I feel so closely rooted in the American culture that I was born into and grew up in, more so than my Korean culture. I still struggles with these questions and assumptions:
“Are you from China?”
“You’re from China.”
“You’re not from the States. Where are you from?”
While I mentioned a little bit about this in one of my blogs at the beginning of the Race, I’m still learning to how to give grace to others and to continue to use this opportunity to teach others about the big continent that is Asia. All this to say that this assumption doesn’t always occur to me, especially in bigger cities, such as the capital.
Though I sometimes joke around at times that I am conveniently Korean or American. with my teammates, I am learning to accept who I am as a Korean-American. As Cristina put it, “You’re 100% American and 100% Korean, as I am 100% American and 100% Romanian.”
On the other hand I am often surprised when I am able to find Korean restaurants all around the world, meaning there are local Koreans that live there. I’ve had the unrelinquished pleasure to eat Korean food in Chile, Bolivia, Cambodia, Thailand, Ethiopia and now Rwanda and hopefully in Uganda next month. Unfortunately, Asian food in general was a miss in Eastern Europe.
In addition, having Jaivie, who is Filipino-American on the same team with me in the beginning of the Race and now towards the end of it, has been a blessing. These very experiences she has experienced in her own way and we’ve been able to share in these struggles together. Thanks Jaivie for being there for me!
I’m ironically writing this on a plane next to someone who quite easily assumed I was from China… And even though I explained I am from the States and that my parents came from Korea he still on continues to presume that I am from China. But again what a way to connect to this person and share my faith.
Until later (imagine me waving you bye with a peace sign)!
