Being Quarter-Korean in Predominately a White Community.
Growing up in a predominantly white community when you are not can be a big challenge. Olivia Eissfeldt, a sophomore at Missouri State University who has grown up in many different predominantly white communities, speaks about being different than her peers. She also gives her insight on Korean culture, values, food, sorority experience and more.
Olivia’s grandma is 100% Korean, making her 25% Korean. Olivia says, “Yes, it’s different because I don’t feel like I necessarily fit into either group” Being a quarter Korean she feels that she doesn’t fit into the Korean/Asian community or into the white community because she is not 100% of either culture. She expressed that Korean culture can be very strict, which makes…show more content… she feels like the traditions that her family once did they will stop doing. She expressed that one side of her family is not connected to Korean culture at all. Olivia’s uncle, who is 50% Korean, does not do nearly any of the Korean traditions that her family does, as well as does not pass the culture onto his children. She feels eventually no one in her family will embrace Korean culture. When asking Olivia about how Korean culture views family and community relationships, she explains, “I feel like in Korean culture it is very important to respect your elders.” This is something that her grandma has instilled in her and her mom from such a young age. Along with this Olivia explained how independence was an important value in Korean culture, “My grandma lived through the Korean war and during this time she had to help raise her siblings alone and know how to fend for herself. I feel like therefore my grandma has always explained the importance of
