10 Things Only Second-Generation Asian-Americans Will Understand | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

10 Things Only Second-Generation Asian-Americans Will Understand

Don't compliment our English speaking and expect us to like it.

769
10 Things Only Second-Generation Asian-Americans Will Understand
KUOW

Asian-Americans— one of the few true immigrant children of the United States in the modern age. With us, comes a history of struggle that our parents endured on the other side of the world just to make sure we would have a bright future here in the United States.

Whether our parents are from South Korea, Japan, China, etc., we are the inheritors of both Eastern and Western cultures. With that, comes with certain characteristics and situations once you’ve settled in the U.S. with one of the best being new friends— and by the time you're 21 or 22— you're probably already half way towards landing your dream job. We are not ashamed because we’re proud of our heritage and all the quirks that come with it.

Here are 10 things that second-generation Asian-Americans understand too well:

1. Your parents hardly speak English at home

They may have come to America, but that never meant they had to assimilate. Their job is to make sure you never forget your heritage and step one is making sure you speak their tongue, which is just as much your language as it is theirs. If anyone makes fun of their accents, they'll have to catch these hands.

2. Some of your devices are in non-English

It’s been drilled into your head since day one of your life that you speak two languages, so sometimes you end up having at least one device in the non-English language. Plus, it can be used for a cheap laugh when someone looks at it and is shocked.

3. Cursing in non-English

Swearing in public is never a good thing. But there’s a small loophole— you can swear in public, and it doesn’t have to be in English.

4. Public family phone calls mean unwanted attention

As said in No.1, your parents not really speaking English means communicating with them is almost entirely in non-English. When you call them, you have to respond in a foreign language as well. Unfortunately, in public this means you sound like you're speaking alien to most people around you.

5. Trolling your friends = No. 1 Hobby

Speaking in your parents' tongue almost always causes confusion to your friends who don't speak it. So more often than not, you say something and tell them the opposite of what you said. Their reaction is all you need to make your day.

6. New skill on a résumé

Regardless of your level, you're bilingual in some form. And there’s no doubt that skill looks good on a resume, so why would you not write it down? Impress those both in social and business life.

7. One person, two cultures

You were born or adopted as an American but you carry the blood, history, and struggle of your non-American parents. Like it or not, we have that responsibility above our heads and our parents won’t let us forget it.

8. “Oh hey, your English is really good!”

It’s never a compliment. We’re just as American as you are, so the fact that you said that means you think we’re foreigners. And it's displeasing, to put it lightly.

9. Who needs subtitles?

NOTE: If you're out of Netflix shows to binge, I recommend you watch Korean dramas, like "Boys Before Flowers" because it's awesome.

There’s a movie/TV show/etc. from your parents’ home country that you decide is fun and want to give a chance. But English subtitles are not required. And when they’re wired into the feature, the only thing they do is annoy you.

10. You see an overseas backpacking trip in your future

There’s little doubt that anyone wants to go on an overseas backpacking trip, but you have one advantage that others don’t; you can go to a country and actually understand and/or speak their language. You and your traveling companions have an advantage, so use it as much as you can.

And no, just because we can speak their language, doesn't mean that country's home for us.

Our home is America, just like you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

Yoga love

A long over due thank you note to my greatest passion.

27415
A person in a yoga pose surrounded by a supportive community of fellow yogis with a look of peace and gratitude on their face the image should convey the sense of strength mindfulness and appreciation that the writer feels towards yoga
StableDiffusion

Dearest Yoga,

You deserve a great thank you.

Keep Reading...Show less
Arts Entertainment

Epic Creation Myths: Norse Origins Unveiled

What happened in the beginning, and how the heavens were set in motion.

8577
The Norse Creation Myth

Now, I have the everlasting joy of explaining the Norse creation myth. To be honest, it can be a bit kooky, so talking about it is always fun. The entire cosmos is included in this creation myth, not just the earth but the sun and the moon as well. This will be a short retelling, a summary of the creation myth, somewhat like I did with Hermod's ride to Hel.

Keep Reading...Show less
Old school ghetto blaster sat on the floor
8tracks radio

We all scroll through the radio stations in the car every once in a while, whether its because we lost signal to our favorite one or we are just bored with the same ol' songs every day. You know when you're going through and you hear a song where you're just like "I forgot this existed!" and before you know it, you're singing every word? Yeah, me too. Like, 95% of the time. If you're like me and LOVE some good throwback music, here's a list of songs from every genre that have gotten lost in time, but never truly forgotten.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

27 Hidden Joys

Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

37812
Best Things in Life

Life is full of many wonderful pleasures that many of us, like myself, often forget about. And it's important to recognize that even on bad days, good things still happen. Focusing on these positive aspects of our day-to-day lives can really change a person's perspective. So in thinking about the little things that make so many of us happy, I've here's a list of some of the best things that often go unrecognized and deserve more appreciation:

Keep Reading...Show less
beer on the beach

Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments