As an American living in Brazil, I empathize. The people around us think it's cool to have an American among them, but I feel like the wolf in sheep's clothing. I resist lying and saying I'm Canadian. My passport also seems to scream that I am responsible for what my country is doing. I am complicit by association, even though I left because of it. Then I wonder, am I just a carrier of the disease my nation is infested with? Maybe I should have stayed with my kind, but as an Asian blend, third-culture neurodivergent reject, do I have a kind?
Thanks for your insight and sharing. I'm surprised to hear that about Brazil, but I also know the culture itself has more unpacking to do with their colonial overlords (I went to Portugal this summer, not realizing that they are probably just as bad as the UK, Mother of Empires, because of their single-handed relentless devotion to slave trade.) I've never been, so you'd definitely know more than me, but I also think Americans have a distinct entitlement when they travel (and most times we tend to be loud, gregarious and overbearing--not necessarily bad, but a cullture shock) and I can gather that Brazilians might appreciate the openness, because they too (from what I gather) are a very colorful culture, extroverts! I'm generalizing, and maybe that's a bad thing in and of itself, but I digress...
I empathize with your mixed heritage. I'm full Filipino (at least that's what my DNA test says) but born & raised in HI as a third culture kid. TBH, I've started telling people I'm from there because it goes off a lot better than saying America, lol. As a fellow Asian, third-culture (immigrant child) neurodivergent outsider, I'm here with you, I see you and perhaps we're outsiders for a reason. I find writers usually are. Who else is going to have enough sense, bravery and observation to hold up a mirror to society and show them their own cruelty and hypocrisy?
I appreciate your comments and they resonated (hence why I wrote such a lengthy missive back!) As an aside, if you're looking for third-culture content, I highly suggest checking out my friend and colleague, Lauren Mariko's, substack. She's hapa too, and often writes about the intersections of what it's like to grow up hapa. Another writer I'd also suggest is Addie Tsai, who runs just femme and dandy. They are also hapa!
As an American living in Brazil, I empathize. The people around us think it's cool to have an American among them, but I feel like the wolf in sheep's clothing. I resist lying and saying I'm Canadian. My passport also seems to scream that I am responsible for what my country is doing. I am complicit by association, even though I left because of it. Then I wonder, am I just a carrier of the disease my nation is infested with? Maybe I should have stayed with my kind, but as an Asian blend, third-culture neurodivergent reject, do I have a kind?
Thanks for a well written, thoughtful piece.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your insight and sharing. I'm surprised to hear that about Brazil, but I also know the culture itself has more unpacking to do with their colonial overlords (I went to Portugal this summer, not realizing that they are probably just as bad as the UK, Mother of Empires, because of their single-handed relentless devotion to slave trade.) I've never been, so you'd definitely know more than me, but I also think Americans have a distinct entitlement when they travel (and most times we tend to be loud, gregarious and overbearing--not necessarily bad, but a cullture shock) and I can gather that Brazilians might appreciate the openness, because they too (from what I gather) are a very colorful culture, extroverts! I'm generalizing, and maybe that's a bad thing in and of itself, but I digress...
I empathize with your mixed heritage. I'm full Filipino (at least that's what my DNA test says) but born & raised in HI as a third culture kid. TBH, I've started telling people I'm from there because it goes off a lot better than saying America, lol. As a fellow Asian, third-culture (immigrant child) neurodivergent outsider, I'm here with you, I see you and perhaps we're outsiders for a reason. I find writers usually are. Who else is going to have enough sense, bravery and observation to hold up a mirror to society and show them their own cruelty and hypocrisy?
I appreciate your comments and they resonated (hence why I wrote such a lengthy missive back!) As an aside, if you're looking for third-culture content, I highly suggest checking out my friend and colleague, Lauren Mariko's, substack. She's hapa too, and often writes about the intersections of what it's like to grow up hapa. Another writer I'd also suggest is Addie Tsai, who runs just femme and dandy. They are also hapa!