American + International, Oreo, best of both
Joanna Hubner,
Fort Worth, TX
My name is Joanna Hubner, I am a teenager raised in Fort Worth Texas, and I am mixed. My dad is white and my mom is from the independent island of Grenada in Caribbean Sea.
Born white, Pakistani Heart, International soul
Marilyn Gardner,
Boston, MA.
Born in the United States, Grew up in Pakistan. Hold American passport. Birthed 5 kids on 3 continents. Now trying to make sense of a life in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Why am I different to you?
Gianmarco Tissier,
Germany
Growing up in Germany with a French and Italian background, I’m always the stranger, no matter where I am.
Acceptance, like art, comes in all colors.
Harold Rice,
Ann Arbor, MI.
On Location: University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has the 8th most international students in the country, which causes all of it’s students to be both accepting and interactive with cultures far different from their own. I came to the university from a town that was 99% white, and I had only one friend in high school who wasn’t Caucasian. This was not because I did not like other races; it was simply that I had never been exposed to differing cultures before. However, as soon as I got to Michigan, my first two friends, one of whom is now my best friend, were of Asian descent. In Ann Arbor I am not only shown many different races, but different cultures are everywhere in town. For example, there is food from every region of the world in about 4 square blocks. Also, because Ann Arbor is such a liberal place, it has given me a much more open mind set of why people’s behaviors are so different, and to be accepting of all people. I was also brought to this realization through a history course that I took this year. The class was about perceptions of maps and magic in Southeast Asian culture, and it showed me that some western ideas are just as far out there as the rest of the worlds, but because it is all I was exposed to, I thought it was normal behavior. All in all, all people have different beliefs because of their cultures, but the world would be a much better place if we would accept one another’s ideas rather than starting wars over them.
We are one human family
Maeve,
Ypsilanti, MI.
I grew up in an international school where we celebrated each other’s differences. It was a rude awakening to grow up and learn that this is not the way it works in the real world. We are one human family, with a fascinating variety of cultures. We need to step out of our echo chambers and reach out to each other. It is often challenging and not always comfortable and ALWAYS WORTH IT.
We’ll call you “Susan White Girl”
Susan Riker
Washington, DC
Freshman year on the 4th floor of the International dorm at Mt Holyoke College.
But you speak in perfect English.
Krisha Jain
Los Angeles, CA
I’m an international student from India, and when I tell people that, I always get the same response.
You have a cute English accent.
Angel Liu
Los Angeles, CA
I’m an international student studying in America. Since I was born and raised in China, I have an obvious accent when I speak English. People can easily guess where I come from and my ethical background is very simple. I identify who I am very clearly, but when living such a diverse ethnic nation, I’m learning to embrace other people’s multicultural identity.
