interesting read last few pages. I have a slightly different experience and perspective than most though, as I was born and raised in the US, but moved to Korea as an adolescent, spent my teens "growing" up there, parents still live there and went back every single year throughout my 20s. Truly a 3rd culture kid, felt out of place in the motherland, but learned to love and embrace it, and found I wasn't quite American when I was there, but wasn't straight Korean either when I came back.
One thing I've noticed about our cultures, is how different it is today than back in the 90s to early 2000s. (damn, it's possible I'm as old as some of your dads
).
It's possible that my experience was in somewhat of a bubble, I don't remember various Asian American groups being so diverse.
Tbh, most crews/cliques, maybe had 1 or 2 "token" non Korean, but now, there seems to be alot more of a mix, but also like that stupid (parking spot idiot) in the video posted a few pages ago, or the token Asian guy.
It's safe to say that many of us older "hyungs" don't see this in such a positive light. I'm not necessarily one of them. I think it's hypocritical to a point, because most of those same fools can't really speak Korean, barely know anything about Korean history, and think Ktown taught them what it means to be Korean.
On the other hand, I look at some of my nephews, little cousins, and realize that wow, their parents can't speak a word of Korean, have no knowledge of history, and only really have food or kpop, video games to connect to their heritage, and just wonder, at what point will they stop caring about their Korean roots?
I know someone that always screams and his younger dongsengs and nephews and tells them how our jeans were baggy, integras and supras were the best cars, soju > sake, kimbab > sushi, pour that drink with two hands and you better
insa 90 degrees
I guess that what it meant to be Korean "American". To our parents it was survival, trying to provide everything for us, and after 2 decades of their sacrifices, it's keeping up with the "Kims". House, cars, watch, investments, kids, rinse and repeat.