I’ve recently been on an Elite Daily binge. They write some fantastic satire articles. The kinda stuff you think but don’t really bring up as dinner table conversation. The latest one I read that resonated with me, <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Felitedaily.com%2Fdating%2Fdating-from-different-culture%2F1058411%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0crjsnJDv5ht4l3rDAypwEmZ8EPWQ-zHpj-BGZXt1O0jhkzTT38awe5W8&h=AT3hIfuG-Yv4zJMi0bckIAmTW8akSQq-_bPiu8tbR08lPSbfcQmtHFBUJ1RZCahhwHQVDg95UJe5VTahmdNamgv9QeadSgVSpsfi6EOfHvnlvwkZuDz6BBqM1OSMOkXQXMbs0">5 Ways Dating Someone From A Different Culture Changes Your Life</a>.
I’ve been on dates and dated long term of different ethnicities under the sun. Yes, their cultural differences was part of their attractive appeal but never the primary reason. As I read this, it reminded me of this one white girl I dated who definitely had a racial fetish on my culture. I never thought too much into the fetish but happily obliged in helping her understanding more about my cultural ancestry. Or so I thought. Because here’s the problem – She wanted to learn about proper East Asian culture but I’m an Western raised Asian. I didn’t teach her about the Japanese invasion in WWII, the change in dynasties, or the communist regime. I only knew to educate her on 90’s early 2000’s AZN PRIDE culture. Here’s the AZN education I dropped on this girl:
<h2>Azn “gangstas” had gold bangs</h2>I couldn’t even find a real image of this online. Thank god I guess. I tried to rock this in grade 6 but couldn’t afford the gold bangs so all I had was just dorky ass middle part.<br><a href="/images/blog/gold_bangs.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/gold_bangs.jpg" alt="Asian man with blonde fringe bangs"></a>
<h2>The baggier your jeans, the more gangsta you were.</h2>I can’t help but laugh while writing this because I was part of this fad. I couldn’t find the picture but Azn’s did it differently, we stuffed the pant leg into our socks so they only barely drag on the floor. It was kind of like lowering your car, you want it to look low to the ground but still have ground clearance.<br><a href="/images/blog/baggy_jeans.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/baggy_jeans.jpg" alt="Teenager wearing extremely baggy jeans"></a>
<h2>You knew all the words to All My Life</h2>This was the song that all us Asian boys serenaded to our azn baby angels. You were definitely the Azn Playboy if you could play the opening on piano.<br><a href="/images/blog/all_my_life_album.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/all_my_life_album.jpg" alt="Album cover for K-Ci & JoJo's All My Life"></a>
<h2>The designated 'Azn Baby Angel'</h2>You let the world (AIM and Asian Avenue) know that you were taken and in love. So cringe.<br><a href="/images/blog/azn_baby_angel.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/azn_baby_angel.jpg" alt="Vintage Asian Avenue profile screen"></a>
<h2>Your car is basic if it wasn't riced out</h2>You were the king of the tuner world if you owned an NSX, Supra, or DSM with mad horsepower. Fast and Furious really glorified this already major scene.<br><a href="/images/blog/riced_out_car.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/riced_out_car.jpg" alt="Heavily modified 'riced out' tuner car"></a>
<h2>Love meant sacrificing your eyes</h2>This video scarred me the first time I watched it. It was the conversation of every relationship. A story of the photographer, motorcycle racer guy who went to wash his goddamnn hair and chose to give his eyes to this clumsy ass hair salon girl. Cuz that’s love right?! The prerequisite in being with your crush was answering if you would give up your eyes for her. I never found love in the 90’s.<br><a href="/images/blog/kissing_you_video.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/kissing_you_video.jpg" alt="Scene from Kissing You music video by Secret Garden"></a>
<h2>MC Jin was the Asian representative in the freestyle rap community</h2>When I was young, it was crazy seeing this cat featured on BET’s 106 and Park. My friends and I used to see him all the time at Cherry Park with the black community when we played handball and bring young, we didn’t understand why he was trying so hard to be acknowledged by the black freestyle rappers in the area. Perfect example of paths taken<br><a href="/images/blog/mc_jin_rapper.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/mc_jin_rapper.jpg" alt="Rapper MC Jin performing"></a>
<h2>You with Hung Hing?</h2>Goddd we were so cringe. I didn’t know how to explain this to the white girl. You weren’t a real Azn gangsta if you didn’t watch this Chinese classic out of HK. All 6 parts.<br><a href="/images/blog/young_and_dangerous.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/young_and_dangerous.jpg" alt="Scene from the Young and Dangerous movie series"></a>
<h2>The OG import models</h2>You’re a teenager just learning to drive manual and you roll up to your first race event and import show. Behold from the magazine covers to 2 feet from your eyes is Misa Campo, Kaila Yu, Tila Nguyen, and Francine Dee. I was definitely too young to be crushing on these girls back then….<br><a href="/images/blog/import_models.jpg"><img src="/images/blog/import_models.jpg" alt="Import models posing at a car show"></a>
Looking back, I feel kinda bad for the girl I was seeing. She was expecting first class ticket on cultural lessons to East Asia, but instead ended up on a $1 Mega Bus fare en route to 1990’s Chinatown kid.