Red or Yellow, Black and White… Um, I mean
Growing up I always secretly wanted to be Asian American.
Or maybe even take the American off of that.
Seriously.
My best friend was a kid named Brain Lai.
When I was older it was Peter Kim.
I LOVED going over to their houses and experiencing the culture.
It was mesmerizing.
I wonder if it was just me?
When we were in Seoul adopting Losiah, I honestly could have stayed and lived there.
If you could experience life as another race/ethnicity…
What would it be?
Everybody now…
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I'm kinda happy where I am, which is kinda confused mostly
I'd scribbled down a few thoughts previously which might keep the debate flowing along.
http://johnnylaird.blogspot.com/search?q=britishn...
http://johnnylaird.blogspot.com/search?q=american...
Love all, serve all!
Pax
J
I fell in love with Ethiopia when we traveled to get Abe- so Ethiopian for sure!
I used to want to be Canadian when I was little. I know this COMPLETELY misses the point of your question, but I even memorized the national anthem, learned the exchange rate, figured out the whole Litres/metres thingy…
Other than that? Perhaps Japanese? That is a culture I've been obsessed with for some time.
Mexican. I've been going to Tecate 3 or 4 times a year for 10 years now to do mission work with my dad's organization and I dig their culture and the way they embrace family and faith.
There are lots of cultures with huge appeal Japanese Geisha for the beauty and grace, Latino and Italian for the love, language and passion. All very colourful and rich on the outside but still with a certain amount of suffering that you wouldn't know as an outsider. So on that basis, I wouldn't like to swap cultures. Just dream about the good bits.
@alyssa re being English and Jane Austin, whenever I read her books, I find own character becoming very old school English. Quite amusing!
I would stay within my Romantic language heritage… Italian, French or Spanish, though I love being a Brazilian-soon-to-be-Brazilian-American.
I'd have to be a brotha'. Then no one would talk any smack to me about the chord changes I try and throw into songs.
South Central or Harlem. I am to scared to get down to tha dirty.
that is hilarious… while growing up i thought it was SO difficult to be asian in the mostly white 'burbs.
i embrace it now, but if i could be any other ethnicity, i'd be latina. the food is reason enough, but latin culture seems overflowing with confidence and zest for life. i love that
Well let's see…
My wife is Filipino-Mexican, my sister is Korean, a girl I dated in high school is Vietnamese, my parents are who knows what, my old mentor is African American, and one of my best friends is Polynesian.
But I would want to be South African. I have a friend in Miami and met lady in Target the other day who were South African. They had the coolest accent, and not to mention the surf!
I have adopted from Colombia and Ethiopia and fell in Love with both cultures…..each country has something great to offer. I am part Irish and I thank it would be cool to be 100% Irish. I love the accent.
Hey how about an update on the weight loss challenge
does irish count? purely for the accent…
…and which kind of Irish accent?
Any race with small ankles. I am tired of my white guy cankles.
HAHAHAHAHA
My husband is from Uruguay and I would love to be a Latina (versus blonde-haired, blue-eyed Irish/German/American.)
Interesting thought. It's hard to pick just one. I'd have to agree that I find the Asian culture fascinating. Possibly Latina – such a rich and vibrant environment. Maybe Jewish – so I could have a better understanding of the spiritual heritage. Though to be honest, as a woman, I'm not sure I'd like to be anything but what I am. Lots of other cultures are even harder on women.
Living in China makes me want to often wear a hat and dress like a local and experience life as they experience it. More often than not i get the royal treatment here because i'm a foreigner… i want to know what life is like for them day in and day out… i want to experience life as a Chinese national trying to make it in a sea of people scrapping and clawing for "success."
I don't really have any good answer to the question…I just wanted to say that I think that that picture is sweet.
Ethiopia. The country may be lacking in finances, but the heritage and culture is rich. We hope to adopt from their soon.
when i am with my family I am Portuguese… when I am not with my family I am a Portugoose.
seriously though it would be nice to be all of something… as i am part Portuguese, part German, part Dutch, and a pinch of Irish.
My best friend all through high school was half Korean and half Greek. He had amazing ankles.
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I want to be Greek, with a big huge Greek family. You guys look fresh in that picture by the way.
My best friend all through high school was half Korean and half Greek. He had amazing ankles.
It is difficult to pick just one. I guess I've been blessed to have grown up in an Italian-American culture. Mom was born in Italy and on my dad's side, my great grandmother immigrated from Italy. I enjoy the fact that I'm an FBI =0)
I can't say that I'd want to be different – I'm predominantly Irish, maybe once in my life I've wanted to be more hardcore Irish – but I think that requires drinking lots of beer and fighting a lot… I left that life years ago
This is tough…I love the spirit of Italians and Greeks…and the fabulous food and scenery. But I guess I'd choose Spain. I like the laid-back lifeystyle and approach to life…and the siestas and late nights and sleeping in. Plus so many of the women are gorgeous….yep, so it comes down to naps, appearance, and food. Wow. I'm deep.
italian. i love italian culture. it's open, free spirited and friendly. i've been, and wished i didn't have to leave. i will go back; great food, great people why want anything else?
Any place South of Arizona. I've been all over Latin America and if God said to move there, I'd go tomorrow.
We work in the inner city, we have a bi-racial son, we are leaving in 2 1/2 weeks to get our 7 yr old son from Ethiopia. I would be black. No one takes me seriously when I speak of race because I am white but it would be cool, for one day, one year, one week, whatever, to be black and really see life from that perspective. My new son, being from Africa, will no doubt, open us up to so much. We love Africa. I wish we could live there. Can't wait to go.
We work with kids in the inner city too! and my husband and I are planning on adopting an African-American baby for our next kid (we just had our first baby – she's three months old!) I can't wait to read your blog — I'm totally on the same page!
PS. we love that part in Jerry McGuire when Cuba Gooding Jr makes Tom Cruise say "I Love black people. I love the black man!!" We relate.
i get the asian experience every day. my wife is half asian, and it's even stronger when we go to her parents' home and visit their all korean church. pretty neat.
growing up in the south i'd have to say i'd choose to experience african-american life. there's so much i don't understand and never will.
I always wanted to be black when I was a kid. No one knew why, myself being Chippewa and rich in heritage. However, I made my mom "braid my hair like my friend Andrea (cornrows)" and would only play with black babydolls. Now looking back at pictures are fun.
RWANDA….the most beautiful country, the most beautiful people, the most amazing story of redemption and rebuilding…plus our beautiful 11 year old daughter is Rwandan…so we basically are Rwandan. i love their bananas, i love their food, i love their coffee and i love it black…just like my daughter: http://www.facedownworship.com/images/josiane.jpg
British. It's always been intriguing, mysterious and posh. Tea instead of coffee, scooter instead of a car, and an accent that makes Americans (myself) jealous. Japan is a close runner-up, sushi, clothes and AMAZING hair. Maybe a British expat living in Japan, yes, that would be perfect!
When I was a teenager I wanted more than anything else in the world to be French…romantic at heart I guess. These days I would love to be Japanese…the whole organisation and kaizen thing speaks to me
Not to mention that I could probably live on sushi for the rest of my life 
:)
i have always wanted to be english…. london, abbey road, oxford, jane austen, the beatles, @vickybeeching, english breakfast, the list goes on!
Chicken Tikka Massala, Football mania, irony, cynicism, rain, Brick Lane, Brixton, multiculturalism, hum(o)ur that doesn’t begin and end with Monty Python….we’re a mixed-up, ragbag, mongrel island people!
easy….Samurai.
NEPALI. I'm currently living with a Nepali family in Kathmandu, Nepal. Its incredibly hard at times and other times very fulfilling. Its an amazing thing to become completely engulfed in another culture. I will indeed be a different person when this experience is over!
I'm Canadian-America
and really, who wouldn't want to be Canadian?! haha I've never heard of anyone who wanted so badly to be Canadian before – I love it!
Since Mexican food is my favorite, I'd have to say, Mexican! I'd really like to cook my beans as good as those Mexican rest. do!
Mexican food really is the best. Hands down. No contest.
Black due to the rythm and athletic ability, or English- I so want that English accent.
Hispanic. Probably explains one of the reasons we adopted a Hispanic child! Love the food, love the hair, love the eyes.
I'd go Indian. Awesome food and interesting traditions. Cool music too.
asian. without a doubt.
Gotta be Italian. I'd even settle simply for the accent. Wow, that makes me miss the Olive Garden. Strange how I relate everything to food. Hmmmmm.
I love breadsticks and alfredo!
Sorry, kinda got off track….Yes, Italian, very much Italian!
Was his name "Brain" or "Brian"??? I don't know a lot of Asians actually named "brain".
Growing up… I wished I was blonde haired, blue eyed like Barbie.
even though i am part Japanese I always wished I looked more Asian. I love the culture and the people.
I love this question!
Ok, three responses, the first and most logical is that I'd want to be fully Jamaican or Cuban, instead of a mostly-Jamaican Cuban American who speaks Mexican Spanish. I sometimes get tired of having to answer the "where are you from?" question.
Second, I'd be Japanese. I am so in love with that culture right now.
Finally, Irish. I love the cadence of the language.
I love Indian food but that tish* makes you stink. I would love to be Australian 'cause those peeps are so laid back, but their food is bland. Enlish people are cool, but their weather sucks. So… I think I'm happy just being Californian. 30 minutes-or-less from everything I'll ever need. Or maybe I'd like to be Jewish…
I loved the culture in Seoul too when we adopted Molly…they have a super tight family heritage going on there with cool traditions (although many are supersticious)! Although the tight family aspect is why there are so many orphans coming out of that country with the bloodlines and all. Growing up, I wanted to be Romanian because I was into gymnastics! Nadia sold me on her country
Awesome post. To be honest I love being a Puerto Rican Latino. I am very proud of being a latino. If worst came to worst I would mind being Asian, just because of the food!
I'd have a hard time picking something that I'm not currently. Me being mixed raced and being adopted by a race not my own….add to that a military background where you become friends with many backgrounds….
so I'd say I'd just be me…. =)
I am so proud to be African American and to live in a bi-racial family in a very multi-ethnic city. But if I had to choose, I'd like to experience life as a Samoan or a Tongan. Such a beautiful cultures!
Me too. I'm a white girl who wished she were Asian at one point. My Asian friends call me an "Egg" I'm white on the outside but yellow on the inside. Oddly enough, most of those Asian friends are "Twinkies" (Asian peeps who wish they were white).
Haitian.
We adopted a son from Haiti and fell in love with the country.
And now we're moving there to become Haitian. (Well, Haitian residents.)
Check it out: http://www.haitianchildrenshome.org/mangine
German. For some reason I'm unusually interested in Germany.
I remember this picture!!! How fun!
My answer is probably Gullah.
For me it's been Asian. Our family sponsored 2 refugee families from Cambodia in the late '70's/early '80's and I just loved their culture and food. Then when the Karate Kid part 2 came out my love of Asians grew. God blessed be with a wonderful Japanese friend and a Phillipino friend. I still secretly want their hair/skin and features.
I'd want to see what life's like as a dark skinned African American as opposed to the lighter version that I am.
I was also intrigued by the Cuban-American culture thanks to Tony Montana.
Totally Filipino, most of my closest friends are…and the Philippines is the loveliest place I have ever been! I also had a strong African American phase though!
If I could be any other race, I would be woman. Maybe then I would actually understand what life on Venus is all about.
I would love to be any ethnicity that encourages me to learn English while learning my native tongue. Does that sound strange? Oh well, that's me
i grew up with a buddy of mine who was thai, he used to invite me over for lunch and then tell me that his mom's cooking was so hot that i would need to have something to hold onto when using the toilet. good times,he listened to me talk about Jesus and then one day out of the blue, he committed his life to Christ. This was in jr. high. i ran into him years later in college, still walking with the Lord.