This is a rather interesting post, at least personally. College is supposed to be a time of realization, actualization, memories, growth, and joy. I think all that has come to fruition in one particular aspect, as written below.



Since I've come to college, it appears I have done something my parents, sister, friends, teachers, and even acquaintances didn't expect. I've truly embraced my Asian half. Of course, I've always been half Korean, everyone's known that, but it was just a side effect, something that happened to be before. Now...

It really started with two things, church and dance. My good friend Brian, who I essentially became best friends with in like 10 min. at orientation, took me to a Korean church near our campus. I was reintroduced to a culture I had largely forgotten existed. The food, language, customs, everything, it all suddenly worked at me. My interest became stronger concerning culture and language.

The other push, dance, actually came from me going out clubbing with some friends. I was exposed to dance other than high school Prom and TV shows for the first time. I became more interested in dance as another art form in general, but a style extremely popular in Korea called popping (around since the 80s) caught my attention. Dance led me to listening to Korean music (largely hip hop and pop singing, but with lyrics about love, life, respect, happiness, and compassion as opposed to the US typical sex, drugs, and violence).

I've always loved Asian food, especially the unique flavor of Korean food (you should try it if you never have!), but now I appreciate it even more than before, and constantly crave the flavor. Also, what I wear hasn't really changed, but apparently how I wear it has. The loose jeans, Puma Roma shoes, collared shirts, hoodies, sweaters, all those things haven't changed, but somehow the way I carry them has. My sister went on to call me a "ghetto Asian," which I found quite amusing. When I went home over break, I had a friend say "Wow! No offense, but where'd the white Brendan go?"

I've also grown my hair out. A side effect I didn't realize is it enhances all the Asian features I happen to have. Still haven't had a single haircut since the start of the school year... growing out from 1/4", I'm pushing about 3 or 3 1/2 inches now.

What does all this mean? Nothing really. I've started to embrace all of me as one, realizing I don't have to pick a half. However people might perceive me, I will continue to always be true to my own personal tastes, and develop into the person I feel I am meant to be, regardless of whether or not I am viewed as two halves or one complete whole.