I am a Korean American man who was born in Korea, but I was adopted by a military caucasian family when I was 3. The places I lived growing up did not have large, or even small asian communities. Growing up most of my friends were black, latino and white, and only 1 or 2 asian/filipino because there just weren't many around. I use to be made fun of because of being asian, and for a short time was ashamed to be. For a few years in elementary school I claimed to be Hawaiian, mainly because none of the kids knew where Korea was. I use to fight alot because of my own insecurity; as soon as a kid started on me there would be a fight. I know that most asian kids get made fun of by non-asians if they grow up in the US, but the difference is that those kids go home to asian parents, and have an asian community as well as asian cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents to reenforce a pride in being asian. When I went home, I had a WHITE family telling me just to ignore it. As I grew older and left home, my insecurity took me to the other end of the spectrum. I began experiencing a hyper-pride in being asian, in part because of the varying degrees of racism I expreienced. I mostly chose asian friends, and began distancing myself from my white family. That passed as I became older and more comfortable with myself. As I got older I also began educating myself more in Korean culture and my homeland. I have come to realize that I can really only be at home here in the US. In Korea I would have a very difficult time getting a job because of my inadequacy speaking the language, but also because I am an adoptee and have no family ties there. It would also be very difficult for me to get married in Korea to a "traditional" girl, with "traditional' parents for the same reasons. However, in America I truly believe I will never be completely accepted because of my Asian heritage, despite the fact that I grew up here and was educated here. Second generation KA seem to have no problem with who I am, but first generation KA seem to still carry the same mindset as in Korea. As I said before, I am a Korean American. I am proud to be Korean, and I love to look at my daughter and see a Korean girl looking back at me. I am also proud to be an American, I was active duty in the military for 11 years, and was deployed in contingency operations, (something I might add that a lot of Americans cannot say). My question is, when America sees us as Korean, and Korea sees us as less than Korean, then what are we?

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My question is, when America sees us as Korean, and Korea sees us as less than Korean, then what are we?

You're a person with a full brain who made something of himself and who shouldn't feel sorry for himself and care even less about dumbass people with their dumbass questions. In other words, you're better than those two groups in that respect. They have a problem. Not you! Ever! The rest of the world may not respect your determination or even existence but will give no quarter to anybody with self-pity. End of story.

Perhaps the reason I posted this thread is misunderstood. I was not looking for pity, nor praise, nor acceptance. The reason I posted this was to see what some other asians think about this situation, particularly Korean. Being that there are such a large number of Korean adoptees, I just wanted to see if there was still this sentiment. I doubt that second generation Koreans would feel that way, but what about first generation who migrated here, or to other countries? I did not mean, in any way, to sound like I was pitying myself, just telling my story and that's all.