This is a blog about race, culture, gender, identity and other such en vogue topics. But mostly, it’s about things that drive me (and people like me) to the edge–of sanity, of courtesy, of politeness.

This blog was created by an American woman of Asian, specifically Philippine, descent who is constantly astonished by things, people, attitudes, merchandise, slogans, etc. of the 21st century that show a a complete disregard for the wealth of differences among the human race.

This blog is for all the kids out there who grew up knowing they were different and tried to hide it–and for those who wish to speak up.

About Jenny Rain

Jenny Rain spent the first 19 years of her life in suburban Texas, where she had a somewhat nice and somewhat shitty childhood. The nice part had a lot to do with family and friends, while the shitty part almost always had to do with racism, sexism, hatred, anger, ignorance, marginalization, quashed hopes and dreams and her own misguided perceptions of self.

For 10 years she attended a private school that had very few people of color. So few, in fact, that for 10 years she was one of only three Asian girls in her grade level. She sat alone at a lunch table, crying over the chicken adobo or pinakbet her mom had packed while some kids stared and whispered about the strange color, texture and smells. After second grade she never brought her lunch to school again.

In public high school Jenny lived in the bubble of a smart kids program, which was rampant with high-achieving AAPIs with whom she belonged. But every so often her bubble burst. Like in gym class, where she and her Vietnamese American gal pals were taunted with “ching chong wing wong” all hour long. Or when someone’s uncle accosted her clique in the school parking lot, mused about his time in ‘Nam, and admonished the 16-year-olds for taking away minimum wage jobs from “real Americans.” Jenny had one goal in high school: GTFO or die.

Like every college kid, she spent four+ years trying to find herself, which eventually happened through experiences in various cultural student orgs, writing classes in which she got to subject her classmates to her recurring identity crises (and eventual catharsis), and one documentary film class, which led her to interview two South Asian student counselors who would change her perspective of herself and the AAPI community forever.

She’s here now, blogging for all the kids in America who feel shitty. If she could tell them anything, it’d be this:

Have courage. Don’t hide. Stand up for people –it makes a difference. If you’re not happy, GTFO before your spirit dies. Always eat the lunch your mom packed you (trust me, it’s WAY better than a slice of Kraft on white bread).

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