Once again, I get into some trouble racially. I don't know, blame my loose multicultural upbringing,
my naïve view of the racial strife in our great country of America, I seem to get myself into trouble occasionally
talking like a Hawaiian
There was a theme-dinner in our cafeteria tonight, Native American. They served roast buffalo, wild
turkey, Indian beans, etc. They also had a group of Native Americans beating a drum and singing
traditional Indian songs.
A bunch of girls made some remarks sarcastically about how "this is college?" and "THIS is what our
tuition is going to?" and " Oh YEAH, but remember, THIS is important". I didn't hear them say this, but
the girl next to me did, and gave them a piece of her mind. After they left, I shared a conversation with the
girl next to me and her Haole friend. The Haole girl started talking about how some Native Americans
don't take advantage of their special scholarship offers that are provided by the federal government due to
their ethnic standing. The girl next to me was still pretty pissed off at the other two girl's remarks, and I
blurted out "Well what do you expect at a university with 80-90% white?". Which pissed the other haole
girl off. "We're not ALL like that you know" she said quickly.
Generalizations again, or at least implied anyway.
1 ½ years, Hawaii to Wisconsin, and I still am confused as ever. Auwe! No aloha spirit. The word comes
to mind after all the years of a "proper" Punahou education, learning how to speak like a Haole, think like
one, act like one, trying in some ways to cut loose my roots, as if they were holding me back. But all to
often up here I find myself longing for them, far reaching, still firmly planted in Manoa soil.
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