Lunchtime
Lunchtime was my biggest fear when I was in elementary school.
My mom would always pack me Vietnamese food for lunch, whether that be eggs, rice, and even octopus.
At home, I loved eating those foods because I was Vietnamese and loved learning more about my culture and heritage through it.
But, at school, it was different.
The first time I brought century eggs, which are preserved duck eggs, to school, I remember all of people staring questioningly at them and shuffling their seats away from me. My friends looked at my food and told me that it smelled weird.
That was enough to make me never bring eggs for lunch again.
My mom would pack lunch but I would either not eat it or throw it in the trash because I was scared of not being American enough.
I would try asking for money so that I could buy a sandwich and chocolate milk so that I could fit in with everyone else around me.
It was only years later that when I look back and I realize that I am American enough, regardless of the way I look or the food I eat.
I was born in America. I live in America. And that makes me as American as any other person.
But, I’m not just American.
I am Vietnamese American. And I’m proud to be.
Even now, when people continue to discriminate and be racist towards Asian Americans, I will always be proud to call myself Vietnamese American and of my culture and heritage.
