4/18 Vergara

I felt like I really resonated with this article. In the article, Vergara talks about how many Filipinos who live in the states but were born in the Philippines are viewed as traitors by Filipinos living in the Philippines. I think many first generation and second generation Asian Americans who don’t identify as Filipino can relate to this article. My parents came here from Cambodia and had me here in the states. Through my eyes, I don’t view people leaving their home country as traitors. Instead, I see them as strong and heroic for migrating to unfamiliar land. There’s a misconception about moving to the U.S. to achieve “The American Dream.” The expectation versus reality is shocking for a lot of people. Just because a person leaves their home country in order to “have a better life” doesn’t mean that they hate their own country or they are not proud of their culture. My parents have been living in the states for a good amount of time now and I don’t view them as any less Cambodian than my relatives in Cambodia. I was born and raised in the states but don’t view myself as any less Cambodian.
On a more positive note, I think it’s cool that that Daly City is known as a “Little Manila” or “Manilatown.” I find it fascinating that there are areas called “Chinatown,” “Koreatown,” “Cambodia Town,” “Little Saigon,” etc. It’s nice to be around people who share the same culture or language as you.

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