According to my parents, I don’t fit the mold of what a respectable young Asian man should be. I don’t like Math. I don’t like Physics. I like English. I like History. I don’t dress nice and neat as they think a respectable person should. I don’t listen to everything they tell me to do like they did for their parents. But worst of all, by not being the perfect Asian stereotype my parents want me to be, I’m setting a bad example for my younger siblings.

Upon arrival at Benihana’s (47 W 56th St., New York, NY 10019), my party and I were greeted with a smile. We were seated soon after and the waitress came around to take our order.

Upon arriving inside East Buffet (4201 Main Street, Flushing, NY), we were greeted by an Asian lady dressed in business casual at the door.

In only five chapters, Julie Otsuka relays the events from the reading of the evacuation notice to the internment itself from each family member’s point of view. We never know the names of the characters. However, this only serves to emphasize the universality of the story.

I grew up in a small town in Malaysia. I have known all my life that after I finish high school, I would be heading overseas for further studies. When my father decided to send me to Perth (Australia), I was excited, but at the same time very sad to leave home.

Boy meets girl. Girls meets boy. Boy likes girl. Girl likes boy.

“Your family will be ruined!” exclaimed the boy’s best friend, when he confessed his love for the girl, for the first time.

Coming home to Singapore provided some reverse culture shock. As quickly as my skin grew more accustomed to the Singapore sun, my ears also gradually got used to the Singlish permeating public space. Which is to say, not very quickly.

School is finally out and freedom is on the other side of the door. Summer is the most appealing time of the year for teenagers all around the US. No more homework, no more slaving under the scrutinizing eyes of teachers, no grades to worry about, and more time to do whatever we feel like.