Urban Poly Princess

I looove my country. Ironically I developed the biggest sense of being American when I lived in Tonga. Our family moved there when I was 9 and we lived there until I was 12 but almost 13-so about 4 years. I attended the ONLY English-speaking elementary school on the main island and in the country-Tonga Side School. Everything was under the British system which meant I had to relearn the British way of spelling ALSO the British way of pronouncing sooo many different words. Biscuits meant cookies and lollies was hard candy. A big truck was a lorry. Vegemite was just disgusting. NO catsup-ONLY gross tomato sauce with so much sugar in it I ended up spitting it out. New Zealand butter, ice-cream, chocolate & cheese-rich and YUMMY!!! Twisties and Bongos-kind of like cheetos-great when fresh but often STALE. BUT I digress!-People made fun of my "American accent" and I was called a Yankee-TRUST me this wasn't said in a freindly way. I was not prepared well for this. For the first time in my life I realized that not everyone loved America. BUT I did-years of reciting the pledge of allegience must have stuck with me because the taunting only strengthened my patriotism-although REALLY at 9 I never thought I had to have these feelings.
The United States is far from perfect just like me. I'm grateful for all the blessings I've enjoyed just because I was born in the 50th state.
I was at the Y when our Hawaiian club president got mad at the bookstore for including Hawaii in the International week display. People spoke SLOWLY to me so that I'd understand at BYU. It doesn't matter how many degrees I earn, papers, or articles I write and/or publish. White America will always think I'm not as capable. I will ALWAYS have to prove and reprove myself. When I was a church-service missionary at the conference center one of the guides I worked with told me (trying to compliment me) that with my incredible language skills I was a great asset to the church-I DON'T HAVE ANY LANGUAGE SKILLS-I can understand Tongan and speak vocabulary words BUT NOOO I CAN'T CARRY ON A CONVERSATION IN TONGAN. This missionary never heard me speak Tongan BUT SHE ASSUMED THAT I COULD BECAUSE OF WHAT I LOOK LIKE. When I first moved to Logan my friend Tiffany from work took me to a singles ward. While we got to know the leadership there and told them we worked at Stevens-Henager College-my white friend was asked several times if she taught there. I was asked several times if I was a secretary there. Anyone who thinks racism doesn't exist is deluding themselves. I don't think anyone was intentionally offensive in these examples-BUT good intentions do not excuse arrogance, condescension, or stupidity.
Sooo I'm comfortable and accepted well by my Poly peeps? NOOO again-my Polynesian friends never think I'm Polynesian at first glance. If they don't know me, they assume I'm Mexican.
Despite this I get to live in Logan now which is as white as snow with the accompanying hick-town ignorance. I've worked here 2 years which is enough for me professionally to leave Cache Valley and get a job at one of our other schools BUT my Father-in-Heaven has certain plans for me that have nothing to do with this place BUT EVERTHING to do with someone who lives here. SOOO I constantly struggle to lose the attitude which is good for me. I've had fun doing things I NEVER thought I'd do with people I NEVER thought I'd associate with this much. While I wish people were more open-minded, I need to do the same thing myself. I'm grateful when people have patience with me and I know I need to do likewise. These experiences help me become a better person. I have sooo many blessings-the biggest of which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It puts EVERYTHING in my crazy life into perspective.
Happy Birthday America!!! I love you and am grateful to be an American!!!