Nice to Meet Chu!

Hello! My name is Elle Chu, and I’m interning with Manga University for this fall semester. As a native Californian, seasonal Boston inhabitant and current Japanese expat, I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately. Time and time again, I am reminded of how big the world actually is, and how there are so many different cultures living inside it of it!

My mom is from Japan, and my dad is from Pittsburgh. But both are Korean. So, I like to think that there are actually three cultures under our roof: American, Korean and Japanese (though this one is a bit more of a subtle presence). It’s a blend that’s a bit more unique to my area, given the history between the two Asian races, and the more open-mindedness that comes with Western mentality. Sometimes, this means I have a little more difficulty relating to people who’ve grown up in a strictly Korean background. But this also means that for Americans who are interested in foreign countries, my siblings and I are able to more easily relay our cultures to them!

I don’t know how to speak Japanese, but I’m learning little by little. (A friend once told me, “The more you learn, the easier it gets.” An obvious concept, really, but one that I’d forgotten nonetheless.) Likewise, Japanese culture is one best digested chunk by chunk, and for the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some of my observations about this beautiful country.

So, cheers to the rest of 2015 in Japan!