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My parents immigrated from Korea, I was born in Knoxville but grew up mostly in a (farther out, like 35 minute drive) suburb of Boston. I live in the Bay Area now, but spent time in the close-in suburbs of Boston (Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge...). Boston's a good college town, so when you're around those areas people don't pull the corners of their eyes up or down when they see you, but you can get a muttered "damn *****" if you bump into someone wrong in other more sketchy parts. It's also one of the smaller cities, is walkable, good public transportation, good nightlife (although waiting in lines for clubs in winter? Never got that).
Generally people will express interest in you (single you out) if they don't really know many Asian Americans, in a good way, but also remember it's Boston, so it will often have an edge to it. I like to think Boston is the more avuncular version of New York, where they'll rib you and give you a hard time, but in fun. By the time I left in 2006 I was definitely noticing more and more Asian faces on the streets of Boston proper, especially compared to 1996. And there are enclaves where some people barely speak English, vis a vis Chinatown, because they don't need to.
Major Asian markets are pretty well established by this point, but you may have to drive a bit to get to one. I've heard that Quincy is the new Chinatown. Didn't get the sense that the food thing was that important to you, though. Or church? A handful of majority 2nd generation Asian American (mixed ethnicities) churches in the area.
The suburb suburbs are definitely nothing like California, though. I was once asked when I was going to start dating the only other Korean American girl in my high school class. Compare that to my wife's experience growing up in the Bay Area where she had fewer white friends than Asian, and people knew the difference between Taiwanese and Chinese.
As for the other places I've lived, don't go to Buffalo (even if the college population drives up the Asian percentage) or Reno. They are not what you are looking for. I found this post because my wife and I would dream of moving somewhere less crowded but still has enough Asians that my daughter won't have to grow up with an experience similar to mine and we can still get fresh, relatively inexpensive Asian groceries. Unfortunately we also have other limitations such as my wife's (in)tolerance for certain climates as a California girl. Hawaii too expensive, don't want to go to Canada mostly because it's too cold, Seattle risky for similar reason.. East coast like Fairfax would be a major move, and not sure how much my wife would like to be surrounded by Koreans though (she's Taiwanese American). It's interesting looking at the census report on Asian American demographics in the U.S. because they track single vs mixed ethnicity percentages. A few places you wouldn't really expect like Utah, IIRC.
My parents immigrated from Korea, I was born in Knoxville but grew up mostly in a (farther out, like 35 minute drive) suburb of Boston. I live in the Bay Area now, but spent time in the close-in suburbs of Boston (Somerville, Arlington, Cambridge...). Boston's a good college town, so when you're around those areas people don't pull the corners of their eyes up or down when they see you, but you can get a muttered "damn *****" if you bump into someone wrong in other more sketchy parts. It's also one of the smaller cities, is walkable, good public transportation, good nightlife (although waiting in lines for clubs in winter? Never got that).
Generally people will express interest in you (single you out) if they don't really know many Asian Americans, in a good way, but also remember it's Boston, so it will often have an edge to it. I like to think Boston is the more avuncular version of New York, where they'll rib you and give you a hard time, but in fun. By the time I left in 2006 I was definitely noticing more and more Asian faces on the streets of Boston proper, especially compared to 1996. And there are enclaves where some people barely speak English, vis a vis Chinatown, because they don't need to.
Major Asian markets are pretty well established by this point, but you may have to drive a bit to get to one. I've heard that Quincy is the new Chinatown. Didn't get the sense that the food thing was that important to you, though. Or church? A handful of majority 2nd generation Asian American (mixed ethnicities) churches in the area.
The suburb suburbs are definitely nothing like California, though. I was once asked when I was going to start dating the only other Korean American girl in my high school class. Compare that to my wife's experience growing up in the Bay Area where she had fewer white friends than Asian, and people knew the difference between Taiwanese and Chinese.
As for the other places I've lived, don't go to Buffalo (even if the college population drives up the Asian percentage) or Reno. They are not what you are looking for. I found this post because my wife and I would dream of moving somewhere less crowded but still has enough Asians that my daughter won't have to grow up with an experience similar to mine and we can still get fresh, relatively inexpensive Asian groceries. Unfortunately we also have other limitations such as my wife's (in)tolerance for certain climates as a California girl. Hawaii too expensive, don't want to go to Canada mostly because it's too cold, Seattle risky for similar reason.. East coast like Fairfax would be a major move, and not sure how much my wife would like to be surrounded by Koreans though (she's Taiwanese American). It's interesting looking at the census report on Asian American demographics in the U.S. because they track single vs mixed ethnicity percentages. A few places you wouldn't really expect like Utah, IIRC.
What about areas of Southern metros like Raleigh or Atlanta, which have communities with high Asian percentage?
I found this post because my wife and I would dream of moving somewhere less crowded but still has enough Asians that my daughter won't have to grow up with an experience similar to mine and we can still get fresh, relatively inexpensive Asian groceries. Unfortunately we also have other limitations such as my wife's (in)tolerance for certain climates as a California girl. Hawaii too expensive, don't want to go to Canada mostly because it's too cold, Seattle risky for similar reason.. East coast like Fairfax would be a major move, and not sure how much my wife would like to be surrounded by Koreans though (she's Taiwanese American). It's interesting looking at the census report on Asian American demographics in the U.S. because they track single vs mixed ethnicity percentages. A few places you wouldn't really expect like Utah, IIRC.
Hmm, not going all the way across the country you might consider Dallas and Houston. Dallas is a bit more Korean leaning. Houston would have more of the Taiwanese but might even be too hot. Both have their best ethnic offerings out in the burbs so unfortunately not walkable or close to good mass transit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeabirfday
It's interesting looking at the census report on Asian American demographics in the U.S. because they track single vs mixed ethnicity percentages. A few places you wouldn't really expect like Utah, IIRC.
I was in the same boat as the OP a year ago. I also have my own business and work from home, so I can live anywhere within the U.S. I ended up moving from a college town (Ann Arbor, MI) to northern Atlanta suburb. The town I live in, Suwanee, has about 20% Asian population, and that number is steadily increasing. It is very much a suburban lifestyle, but I enjoy it.
Frankly, Austin would have been my first suggestion had you not said you live there right now. You probably know better than anyone that Austin is much more than a college town. It's one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and there are plenty of white-collar Asians flooding in for the job opportunities. I am a first-generation immigrant from China, but personally I hardly ever feel out-of-place in all the various social situations I encounter. I've found out over the years that if I am less self-conscious about my race or my accent (thankfully it's mostly gone by now), others somehow seem more inclusive. Much of the change we seek can be found within ourselves.
Now if you were looking to move out of Austin for other reasons - the terrible Texas summer, bad breakup, too many baby mamas - that's another story. But from what you've mentioned so far, I would say give Austin another try with a more open mind before you make the decision to move. And if you really do decide to move, I'd say Duluth/Suwanee area is a top contender.
Have you looked into Evanston, IL? It's a very cool suburban town, right on Lake Michigan. Even though the university is there, it's much more than a college town. It's super diverse, and there is a very sizable Asian population (a lot of non-immigrants). Plus you are so close to Chicago. Also you are right next to Skokie, a suburb which has a large established Asian (mostly Chinese I think) population. There are lots of professional Asian Americans in the Chicagoland area (mostly Filipinos and Chinese). Many of the Chicago suburbs have a 'mid size' city feel to them, but they are close to the city if you want more nightlife/ entertainment. The city has some cool Asian enclaves (Chinatown, argyle/Vietnamese area, Devon/ little India).
The only downside is the weather, and the state's overall economy is not great and the taxes are terrible, so from a business standpoint you'd have to make sure it would work for you. From a social standpoint, it would be a good fit for what you're looking for.
I know it might be surprising to people outside the area, but Columbus Ohio has a good-sized Asian population and is pretty welcoming of diversity. Due to a large research university (Ohio State), many Asian families came for school and settled in the area and continue to do so. There is also a big Japanese population due to the Honda headquarters. One suburb (Dublin) have about 20-40% Asian and South Asian population in the schools.
I would think that acceptance in your career might depend on the industry you work in, but in some fields here, diversity is really seen as a corporate asset and being Asian would not be a problem at all.
I am white but my husband, kids and inlaws are Asian.
Hello, I'm an Asian American. This forum might actually be the worst place to ask, because barely anyone here empathizes or even wants to empathize how you feel like. People here have this idea that since they've never seen what it feels like to be an outsider, that we're "dreaming".
It's pretty awful, to be honest.
I will ask you the most important question though: what do you do for a living? That will determine everything, to be honest with you. If it's something that doesn't require you to be in a specific area, then I can answer your question more openly.
You are totally right. I am Asian but was adopted by an English mother, Irish father, both US. born. They were oblivious to what I would endure walking to school.
What is really tough is if you are an American Asian without a lot of money, or a doctorate! Try that one on for size! I spent 30 years chasing my tail with my own magazine business, and blew most of my money trying to stay alive against the force of Google, etc. There were few alternatives, as my tourism business was very vertical and websites do not make money unless they have lots of eyes. Mine did not!
So, where does an Asian go if he/she has a few hundred k in the bank, and in this climate nobody wants your yellow a#@ around, as we (Asians) are the 'problem' with MAGA's 'vision'.
Totally sucks to be in such straits, and if you don't speak an Asian language, like me, you can't even "go back to where you came from".....
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