Vietnamese boy embraces culture

Trinh’s confidence eliminates judgment

Henry Trinh, guest writer

Are you Filipino? What are you? Plenty of people around ask me these questions frequently around school and even people I meet outside of McKinley High School. I tell them that I’m mixed with Vietnamese and French, although I don’t want people to classify me only by my race.
I want people to know that I am an athletic beach bum that hangs around the scorching sun next to the ocean whenever I have free time. People probably assume I’m Filipino because of my slightly tan skin tone for being out in the sun all day.
 I love to swim, but I also like to surf and do other physical activities. Some of my favorite physical activities include hiking, outrigger canoe paddling and volleyball. Aside from all the beach activities, I love to eat. I can eat a whole fridge full of my favorite foods. Sushi, Korean barbeque and acai bowls are some of my favorites. I’m always down for a cold fruit smoothie as well which is my favorite type of drink.
Before I moved to Hawaii and became a beach bum, around more than half of my life ago, I grew up in the cities and countryside of Vietnam. I mostly isolated myself from the sun. I sat under the shade on an Asian stool given to me by my Auntie Karen. I moved to Hawaii and started to fall in love with the warm beaches surrounding the island. I started hanging out with a group of new friends that also enjoy the beach, and I adapted myself to a life in flip-flops, board shorts and some sunblock.
When I make new friends, I tend to show my Vietnamese, stereotypical side like talking in my Asian accent for humor. I sometimes even suggest to get some pho, which is a Vietnamese cultural dish, to give them a hint of who I am so I can avoid being asked, “Are you Filipino?”
The rest of my identity is already in me. Since I have a slight tan, wear board shorts and slippers all the time, people almost instantly assume I’m a beach bum. To show my athletic side, a lot of my peers know that I paddle for Healani Canoe Club and play volleyball almost twenty four-seven.
I’m confident in who I am; I don’t care if anyone judges or criticize me.
Anyways, is anyone down to go to the beach or grab food?