Why I Don't Miss London | Asian American in the UK

[@BreezyE-d3n]

I knew a Japanese girl who said "England is so depressing in the winter I had to go to the pub and drink beer all the time", that pretty much sums up English culture in a nut shell.

[@BreezyE-d3n]

What?

[@Belihoney]

This is so hilarious because it is 100% true

[@Belihoney]

Ed Lake she/he was saying do you want to get punched lol

[@mikek1635]

Sally anne kolarMoa I thought the English are supposed to be good in English. I was dead wrong.

[@rjg4851]

Hey, on the upside, that melancholy has the UK produce a long list of bands and artists with great music to deal with the gloom. Being raised in England, there's a comfort in Autumn/Winter facing the elements in warmer outfits to sight-see. Gazing out at gusty winds moving trees, being besides a fire or tucking into a stew hearing the rain pelt the windows brings me a primal survival satisfaction. That's what winter should feel like.

[@johnydubz]

London is a great place if you have money, hell anywhere is a great place to live if you have money.

[@EmeraldZoneNetGMG]

The moon.

[@serenazhang676]

Truth

[@TheMadisonHang]

no shit sherlock

[@bca-biciclindcuaxel7527]

Central Europe + Money = Paradise !

[@JokkaD-nc7wz]

London is a worst place ever to live no matter u got money or not. Anway u are just an other robot so I am writeing to the wall right now!

[@jnyerere]

I see some Londoners here that are clearly commenting because they are offended with this woman's personal experience. I've been to London. A huge chunk of my maternal aunts and cousins live there. Great city to visit, great monuments, great South Asian spots to eat (because English food is shit honestly), and great subcultures within the city. But London is very much like milk. If you stay too long (10 days is usually my threshold) it starts to spoil and one starts to resent it. It is dark, cold and wet for half of the year. Nobody wants that. This woman was speaking from experience and I think she was being very respectful. Nothing that she said is grounds to be offended.

[@bykchoi]

Thanks for understanding. Some people take things very seriously when I wasn't even taking it that seriously (because as I said in the video, I love London lol)

[@bobbobby1412]

Not sure if you are referring to me but… It’s just not very nice to call people ignorant and micro aggressive when they don’t deserve it, that’s all. And I’m discussing it because I find it fascinating, particularly as it relates to wider social and political issues. Were you referring to me with your comment?

[@jnyerere]

Bob Bobby I don't even know what your comment was specifically. I was skimming through several comments that all pretty much said the same things and I was addressing those comments in general.

[@bobbobby1412]

I guess you are assuming where people are from, since you are referring to those commenters (of which I am part) as Londoners. I am not a Londoner, personally. I'm just interested in the socio-political aspect of it all. You know, some say that assuming where people are from is an example of micro-aggression and it comes from ignorance. Personally, I would never think that about you, but I know someone who thinks differently... what do you think, k.choi?

[@jnyerere]

Bob Bobby You're definitely overreacting. If the shoe doesn't fit then why are you bothered? If you want me to address every single comment separately it's simply not gonna happen. It's not that serious to me.

[@saikanastreasures4280]

I ran away from my work in London, literally quit my job ...moved back to Scotland, which is still in UK. Not personal, but so many rude people, expensive, dangerous and hectic.

[@alanpotter7945]

You don't have to say that friend, you felt so much discomfort because you lacked true friends

[@anhbayar11]

@@alanpotter7945 True friends? Why bring that up? True friends got Nothing to do with what he/she is saying. Expensive, rude people and dangerous these are opinions prick.

[@datingandlifeadvicechannel7534]

Yea and it is Worse now in 2022 horriblem

[@PurpIeCiCi]

I'm studying abroad in the UK right now and can definitely relate to your experience with identity. Thank you so much for sharing! A lot of the freshers who I met were fascinated by the concept of being both Chinese and American. It makes me miss California where being Chinese-American wasn't so "rare."

[@bykchoi]

I know how you feel! It's not such a negative feeling but just strange/frustrating at times.

[@mwrihi]

im gonna be straight with you. there's not much i like about america tbh, but i REALLY do wish we had our version of "chinese-american" as well. where i live you can only be one of them... so you're either swedish or an immigrant/chinese. ppl like me (adoptees), biracials and second generation immigrants are completely forgotten . like im honestely amazed by how stupid ppl can be where i come from there's 4 types of ppl according to me and my experience. 1. the ones that sees me as chinese but then when i tell them im adopted/speak swedish/have white parents/have swedish culture they claim they see me as swedish but they actually don't they just see me as a free-pass to be racist and mock poc/asians/chinese bc they don't think i care or can relate 2. the ones who won't ever accept me as swedish no matter what bc they're 100% fullblodded racists (and you can bet your ass they won't ever admit this, bc no one in sweden is racist, we're SO anti-racist holy skhbfksdhb) 3. family and close friends who desperately claims you're swedish/denies your origin bc they just feel guilty for being lazy asses with zero interest in your origin or bc they think its awkward that you're not biologically related to them and they don't know how to handle the racists so they erase your origin completely to make u more accepted 4. the cool ones who recognize, accept and encourage both parts of you or the part that YOU identify with more bc they dont care a shit about those things but only about YOU, INDIVIDUALLY, and they're probably more "woke" and politically/socially aware (extremELY rare tbh)

[@micoHanmaris]

This is the most insightful and well articulated account of what was happening within my mind for the past 4 yrs in uk. I am a 23 year female Korean and lived in Korea for my whole life until I moved to uk. I will be moving to Barcelona for phd in a few months, I just couldn’t imagine myself settling down here for the exact same reason !

[@inspectionnegross8695]

It's ok to want to be around your own people. It's time to be real about race. The races are different. It's ok to be Asian.

[@Avengerie]

Hero Zero if you were to say this about being white, all hell would have broken loose.

[@dogey2655]

Nobody said it wasn't...

[@vvandu]

British Asian means Indian by the way....

[@byendriver]

Thanks for addressing the subject matter of ethnicity and identity. I was wondering about it from a previous video where you talked about the feeling of 'otherness'. I am korean by birth and was adopted to Denmark when I was a baby. I am taking my masters in Copenhagen along side danish students and exchange students and I am struggling with my identify as being danish, because a lot of people assume that I am an exchange student (which there is nothing wrong with) but they assume that I don't speak danish which can be so frustrating and people stick together in groups divided by nationality. But it was really nice hear your perspective on the matter:)

[@bykchoi]

I can definitely relate to what you are going through! Even Chinese students would come up to me and speak Chinese 😂 It's tough but I hope you are able to find (or already have) a supportive friend group that breaks beyond that outer barrier of appearance x

[@w00borg34]

Byendriver, you just experienced what a lot of Asian-Americans feel in the US. You mention your feelings of "otherness." That idea of never really belonging to either the host or original ethnic country. The idea of always being the foreigner in a place you consider home definitely fucks with your identity. I understand you as a fellow Asian. I used to be ashamed or embarrassed of being Asian; now I embrace my Asian background.

[@assassin3003]

It's normal and natural to stick to your race, that's a fact.

[@jamara3330]

Sorry to hear that. I would not think you were an exchange student, as I am in a place where there are more diverse people. I studied in New York and the UK. While some nationalities choose to stick together, I never experienced that problem except for a few Brits in NY wanting to be helpful because I was new or familiar to them, which I found a bit of a pain.

[@dereknewbury163]

People do get down in the darker winter months. There is a condition called 'seasonal affective disorder' which relates to this. Part of the difficulty is lack of vitamin d from the summer sun. Maybe prepare for this a bit if you are prone to being a bit down

[@theuglykwan]

I shudder to think if she ventured north. I came from Glasgow to live down south and had some adjusting to do because it tended to be 5 degrees C warmer in summer. I had long adapted to grey and cool weather so the heat was a bit much for me!

[@FIFII]

Born and raised in the UK and I still suffer from this...European friends struggle to cope with this... a lot! Practically from October to February its dark (before and after work hours)

[@talhatariqyuluqatdis]

You explained the whole culture sticking together thing perfectly. Thats pretty much exactly what it is, its that level of relatability that makes you feel more comfortable/safe around people of the same ethnicity and background

[@JamitMan]

Finally!!! An Asian American understands British East Asians and the meaning Asian in the UK. With all due respect, I will sub you :)

[@luichen115]

@jamitBoi east asian or asian is still the same. Iam also from te UK when they say asian it also means east asians but depends where you live. Chinese, Thai, Fillipino, Korean is all British asian aswell as Pakistani, Indian, Banagli etc. It feel like you feel uncomfortable being called asian in Britian ? i mean the work black in Britian also doesnt make sense for example Nigerian british cant even tick their own group in the UK they have to follow catogories that forces them to confrom to titels they in essence dont identify with. Same goes in Canada and Usa there asian means ''us yellow east asian'' but in lesser extend also includes indians etc.

[@JamitMan]

Many Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese people who are living in the UK are been called Chinese by a lot of English people. I'm half Chinese and Half Vietnamese born the UK and grew up in the UK I seen shit and with all honesty, they don't report shit because we are too scared and we can't be bothered to waste time from the negativity experience. That is why Asian Americans are different to Britsh East Asians. Also, we are not on the fucking BBC news comparing to other minorities.

[@Rationalific]

There really needs to be a difference made between "Asians". Asia is the largest continent in the world. It spans from the Middle East to the Russian Far East to China to Malaysia to India. Thankfully, the "Middle East" has its own name. Some terms should be made to be clear, such as Southasians and Eastasians (maybe putting them together into single words will make them stand out more). Or in Britain, keep "Asian" to refer to South Asians (since it is already so widespread there) and reclaim "Oriental" to refer to East Asians. "Oriental" simply means "Eastern", just like Europeans and similar are called "Westerners". (It would be fine if "Occidental" was used instead of "Westerner" also, as far as I'm concerned.) But basically, these categories started because there was a huge unknown region, and so it wasn't differentiated much. Probably every culture has done it, just because their ideas about the rest of the world were fuzzy. However, now, we are not in that fuzzy era. Now, we know and we should be able to easily differentiate between very different cultures and peoples.

[@khawlaj5750]

JamitBoi with all due respect , how tf are we supposed to tell the difference between east asians. Can you tell apart a Nigerian man from a Ghanaian ??

[@AD-cd9ob]

The same can be said about "Asians" in America as well. They refer only to Far East Asians as Asians and Indians , Philipinos etc get treated differently

[@cjanvier1536]

No one knows what it is like until you leave home. No one understands unless you grew up in California how the always sunny weather is part of our being. Girl, you are an American. You don't have to prove who you are here. Welcome home.

[@bykchoi]

THANK YOU

[@MrWalker1000]

what if you dont come from california? Also people in london are better and its better than anywhere in the USA. London> LA/NYC. what are the negatives besides weather

[@calpoly123456]

MrWalker1000 - weather is really important and and it does affect people’s moods. I’m also from SoCal and visiting London was fun but for me never to live. I’ll Miss the blue skies and sun too much. If you haven’t grown up in CA you wouldn’t understand . I’ve visited London 3 times . LA is also much more laid back than London, laid back in both clothes and attitude to name a few . As I grow older , I actually prefer visiting the South Pacific more like Australia and New Zealand than U.K. and Europe - People are more friendlier and laid back , and LA is a great base as flights to these countries are easy to get to as well as to Tahiti and Fiji .

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

@@calpoly123456 but that’s just relative. Me and my mother were literally born in California but I HATE sunny weather, I sweat relentlessly, sneeze until I’m dizzy, and spend most of my time squinting. England has been an absolute blessing, I don’t know if reverse seasonal affective disorder is a thing but if it is, I definitely have it. It completely depends on the individual, NOT the place they grew up in.

[@juned8616]

You need to understand the history of Britain first, there aren't many Chinese Asians in the UK either, the reason Bengali, Pakistani, Indians etc are referred to as Asian is simple, India was colonised by the Brits and they ruled for 400 years, and so Indians etc were "British" in a sense and were allowed to migrate to England. With America it is different, the Americans hired Chinese workers to build their railroads, they also had Japan in camps I'm sure your familiar with the history of East Asians in the US. So you see this is how Asians in general migrated around the world.

[@bykchoi]

I did know this but thank you for stating it so clearly for everyone! I only mentioned in my video to add to the point of feeling more like an outsider (fewer East Asians, comparison to my experience growing up in Los Angeles, etc)

[@juned8616]

"What makes you British is genetics, race, a connection to English" Highly incorrect and misinformed statement. A simple Google search will provide you with this simple information, by the 5th generation you are as much "English" as anyone else. I am 3rd generation British Bengali, when I apply for a job and the application asks for my ethnicity the option are simple, British, British Asian, Other. I don't think you understand the difference between British and English. When Britain ruled India it was called BRITISH India. My great grandparents came from India to Britain in the 40's, so mate, calm your tits and go back to whatever rock your crawled out from under, and don't you dare tell me who is British and who is not. Have a good day.

[@juned8616]

Mate, why are you typing a whole novel to me. Just to let you know, I didn't read anything you wrote but I'm sure it's a load of nonsense.

[@kingdomslasher]

Yep. British is indeed nationality based. Anyone can be British, but not just ANYONE can be English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh.

[@kingdomslasher]

Ok let me be a little more clear then. I said ANYONE can be British BUT they can't be English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh. To be English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh you must have their blood. Also, your argument doesn't fly here in the UK lol. British is a nationality.

[@smann7236]

Did you interact with British south Asians? What did you think of them.

[@thelwilliams94]

This is so interesting. I was talking to my friend about this the other day, because you're right, Asian usually refers to Indian, bangladeshi etc, but at universities there are a lot of east Asians (mostly chinese), who speak English as their second language. We were saying how we don't usually assume that they would be British (speak with an English accent) as we would with South Asians, because there are so few (I had one Chinese British boy in my class throughout my entire schooling). We were saying that it must be a bit annoying, but I had the same experience when i went to the US, a lot of people weren't expecting me to be British, so i sometimes felt I had to justify that. It just goes to show these issues are the same in lots of countries!

[@TonyMontanaEdit]

@Barney Rubble what

[@shibapatrol801]

If you think it was a struggle to be a east-Asian in London you have no idea what its like outside of London lol. So many people in England regard London as almost a entirely different country because of the demographic. I grew up in a small city further north with a population of about 200,000 and I could count the number of east-Asians living there with my fingers. It was a real struggle growing up with no east-Asians to relate to but I think it really toughened me up in the end and I became more open to others. When ever I visit cities with large east-Asian population I'm saddened to see most of them just keeping to themselves. In London where my brother works, all he ever does is hang out with other Japanese people and speak Japanese amongst themselves. The trick is to relate to others at a more universal level instead at the cultural level. When you don't commit to relationships because you feel they cannot fully relate to you because of differing backgrounds you're setting yourself up for failure. I stopped holding up my cultural/ethnic background as shield many years ago and started to relate at a human level and it has changed my outlook on life for the better. Unfortunately there is nothing you do about the weather in England. You either hate it or put up with it :P

[@bykchoi]

Glad you could relate and thanks for sharing your perspective! It’s definitely not good to shut others out and only interact with one group of people, I agree. I just wanted to call out the unspoken connection you could have with someone by sharing a culture, which often makes it easier to relate to each other (but does not decrease other ways to connect!). And now I live in a place with more extreme weather than London hahaha...

[@shibapatrol801]

I've been seeing it more and more and it does concern me because I know from personal experience how insular these groups can be and how they can harbor skewed image and perception of race and ethnicity which is not conducive to a inclusive society. I'm not saying all groups are like this but incredible amount of them do perpetuate isolationism which for someone like me who spent most of my life outside of my cultural background seems incredibly regressive. I hope going forward people can be more inclusive. Best of luck to your future + weather

[@Coolmatshop]

kchoi you didnt read all that 😂

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

Ironically British weather is amazing in terms of safety. Hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, monsoons etc. simply do not exist. The worst thing you can experience is a flood since it’s an island after all. But that’s nowhere near the same level of devastation as a tsunami

[@limshar]

I totally understand how you are feeling. I am a Chinese Singaporean and I was living in London for 12 years. I went through the 2005 bombings and I totally agree with you about the seasons and the identity issue. Surprisingly, people still think Singapore is in China. Anyway, I came back to Singapore 9 years ago. Although I want to go back, I hesitated because of the attacks and work. Glad to be home. 🤗

[@bykchoi]

I'm so glad that you can relate! I felt like it was really difficult to explain what I was feeling. Happy that you were safe in London and enjoy being home :)

[@Rationalific]

+Sharlene Lim: I'm a white American and I lived in Singapore for one year during college, and I have to say that I was totally accepted and treated with respect (but NOT TOO MUCH respect...which I would have also not wanted). Singapore is a fantastic place. The people are amazing. The problem, though, is that there are no seasons at all except for summer, so while I do not like long winters, I also do not like oppressive heat all the time. Finally, there is the matter of nearly everyone with any kind of regular income living in HDB flats, while I like more room. I do hope that Singapore puts some limits on its growth from immigration, because I also loved how it is urban yet green. I hope more HDB flats don't replace the remnants of green. But yeah, my time there was super-positive, and that made me decide to travel there various times after that, and I look forward to visiting again when I have enough funds to do so.

[@MakedaPhillips]

Hey what you said at 6:40 was so true! I studied in Newcastle England for a year, and being African-American, I always felt out of place. Yeah, there were some black students who i connected with, but no one really knew how crazy it was being an American and not sharing similar experiences both systematically and personally!

[@mollymo6229]

I completely understand your experience and views on London, and your identity. First of all, I am black...but black caribbean...and French (french caribbean). But when I moved to the UK, at first i thought that people were just trying to make conversation about your country or culture or ethnicity. But after a while, you realise that they are just obsessed about putting people in boxes. For instance saying that i am French is just not possible for them. I received discrimination at interview as well, when they ask you "Oh are your parents in France?" I think that it is because of all the immigration that they have, and that even the people of second generation in London especially do not call themselves Bristish or English. You will hear "Oh i'm Pakistani or Nigerian" etc...while they have spent 6months of accumulated holidays in those countries and only hold a british passport. Culture and identity do not mix in the UK and even less in London. It is a little annoying after a while, and tiring actually. Oha nd about the Korean and demographic that's true. I was helping my korean friend filling a paperwork online and we were just scrolling until we decided to put other because they were nothing else. But at the same time, it was made to represent the population of the UK.

[@waynebutane1338]

I have experienced similar things when I went to London with an asian person. A lot of non-white people would ask her where she is from, and when she answered "UK" they would ask her "No, where are your parents from?" as if they don't want her to identify as english. She has never been to asia and she is born and raised in the UK, so the question seems to be a bit rude to ask to a stranger.

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

@@waynebutane1338 I know it sounds bad but I am 100% convinced that it’s not meant to be malicious. In fact, it’s arguably a generation thing. For example, an elderly person once jokingly introduced themselves to me as a subject of the British Empire (which felt surreal, it was like time travel). Obviously I guessed he had essentially grown up as a British subject, or migrated prior to independence from Britain. But consider that the elderly generation who lived as British subjects, regularly make jokes about that fact. So when people are asking where you are from, they are genuinely curious as to what LED to you becoming British, not disqualifying you from actually being British. People are inherently curious as to peoples origin, but in Britain it is amplified by an empire covering 26.35% of all land on Earth. White Anglos receive the EXACT same treatment in Asia and Africa, once again not out of malice but out of interest. They will not understand if a white person or black person says that they are Chinese/Japanese/Korean etc. See what I mean?

[@MrJoshduhamel]

You need to understand London is the most diverse place in the UK but daily racism is still prevalent in England. England probably has the politest people on this planet but I wouldn`t say they are friendly and tolerant, at least to immigrants or ethnic minorities. Despite skin colors, they care more about so called 'class', people judge you based on your nationality, accent and the way you behave.

[@copferthat]

London's a great place to visit, but a better place to leave.

[@jklhjkhjl]

exactly you want to live in england london is not the place up north is the real england

[@Ultron-o3i]

+I quote Wth? What are you on about? All skin colours live there.

[@Ultron-o3i]

Wallace Sparks I know right...

[@guyfawkes3654]

I Quote Randomly From Books i think people from abroad are shocked at the amount of 3rd world/muslims that live there,and the fact there are not many natives any more.

[@SilvioManfredDante]

Wallace Sparks White British are a minority in London and will be in the whole of the UK by the 2060s. Mohammed is the most popular given boys name in London alone. But ''Muh white genocide'' meme is hilarious.

[@lucymo6540]

London’s very diverse. If you look at the census less than half identify as white British. There is a minority of East Asians but in terms of identification as a Londoner of mixed race background due to the diversity of London we often identify with our parents or grandparents nationality. As although we are British, we are not ethnically British. Whereas anyone can be an American not everyone can be English as that has a specific heritage and history which us ethnic minorities do not share. The urban culture is heavily influenced by our parental backgrounds in terms of slang, music and food we eat. Urban culture is heavily influenced by Jamaican culture and Nigerian culture. So whereas we identify as British we still also identify with our ethnic background- that is why people saw you as Korean first rather than American

[@bykchoi]

Interesting! It is similar here too (identifying with our parents/grandparents' culture) but perhaps because I was a minority within minorities (Korean and not Chinese, East Asian and not South Asian... PLUS American and not English), I found myself in an interesting position. Thanks for the insight. Nobody ever saw me as Korean first, though; they saw me as Chinese ;)

[@lucymo6540]

k.choi yeah I see what you mean, we can be a bit ignorant when identifying East Asians as they aren’t as many in London so unfortunately we do tend to generalise

[@bykchoi]

Yup, it’s not that people are bad or mean, it’s just a lack of exposure!

[@abicherri3050]

Lucy Mo i don't know where you live in London but where i live there's a lot of east asians. And the majority are korean lol

[@sygycollins2985]

Loads of people have huge lack of exposure. For example, I'm mixed raced (half black american/white british) and I was raised in London. I've had loads of people just 'see' me as Indian or Arab because that's the exposure that they have had to someone that looks like me. I also get a lot of black people arguing to me that I'm Nigerian as well because that's what they are use to. When I visit my family in the US (my mothers side) everyone there primarily sees me as Latino. So when you were talking about people saying 'ne ho' to you that's what I get too! expect with 'hola' constantly and white americans will try speaking to me in Spanish before they realise that I'm not latino or hispanic. End of ramble but I know exactly how you feel!! Sorry that you didn't have a good time the second time around thought :( xxxx

[@meDemiSelenaFan]

I relate to this so much cuz when I studied abroad in Barcelona people most of the time assumed I was Chinese and say nihao to me which was kind of offensive after a certain amount of time. Maybe its not just UK but Europe?

[@karllarsen8797]

You have an inferiority complex. Next time when a Westerner says nihao to you, you just politely reply nihao to them. If they then keep saying nihao to you, then just ask them why they keep repeating nihao. Then you will know why they keep saying nihao. If people want to mock of offend you by saying nihao multimple times, then tell them have a nice day and walk away. People can give you offence but you do not have to take offence. I had people swearing at me, calling me names, and the best response is simply to walk away unperturbed. Do not desire people to like you and you will find psychological freedom.

[@AKMarch01]

Ah I think it's just largely, Europe is still predominantly very white whereas in the US, 50% of the population or even more are from immigrant backgrounds.

[@imchristinac]

I really enjoyed this video even though I’m not Korean American. I’m from Northern Ireland (also in the UK) and we have a massive asian population but my boyfriend is Korean and he knows maybe 3 Korean people. It seems that the only Asian nationality that isn’t here in abundance is Korean. And because of that there’s no korean food or restaurants here. Despite the fact he wants to stay in the UK, I often wonder if he gets a little homesick as the only people he interacts with are white Europeans/other Asian nationalities. There is an unspoken understanding as you said, between people from the same place. Plus it’s so interesting how weather affects people’s moods differently. NI is pretty much winter all year round but I’m the opposite as when I’m put in a hotter climate I get quite irritable. Despite that, I’d love to experience America as a student but I think I’d always have the worry about US terrorism too. Whereas here, it’s a worry but not to the same extent. So I guess it just goes to show we all have similar anxieties when faced with travelling somewhere new.

[@bykchoi]

Glad you could draw upon some similarities between my/your/your bf’s experiences. Thank you for sharing :)

[@rochester212]

A korean irish? Worst joke ever...oh no. My mistake. The british are actually the worst joke ever. The korean irish is the second worst joke ever.

[@decrox13]

US terrorism? There is no such thing. You’re from Northern Ireland, which is known all over the world for it’s religious terrorism.

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

@@rochester212 have you hit your head? It sounds like you’re having a breakdown

[@melmel123000m]

I am studying away from home, and where I grew up (Vancouver, Canada), there are so many Asians that i hardly thought about how i am 'different' from everyone else. however now that i've moved away to a different city for university, i get a lot of questions where people assume i'm an international student, or my english isn't good, or something similar to that. it's kind of frustrating sometimes but at the same time, i guess it makes me feel prouder about my ethnicity and makes me appreciate it much more!

[@bykchoi]

Same, there are so many Asians in Los Angeles so I didn't think about it as much (still did to some extent). I'm glad you are focusing on the positive part of this experience! :)

[@sqekcx]

I'm not second generation anything (I'm Asian-Asian so to speak) but I think I can relate.When I did my study abroad in the UK I felt like people would always assume I was a Chinese student who didn't speak English and they would treat me differently because of that. I always felt like I had to "prove" myself to get people to take me seriously.

[@bykchoi]

You're right, it totally does not just apply to second generation people. Whether we're from an English-speaking country or not, it's so frustrating to have people assume we don't speak the language!

[@sqekcx]

I really don't think it has anything to do Chinese tourists. Where I was studying barely got any tourists.

[@bykchoi]

+Akmal Ahmed yeah... regardless of the reasons it’s uncomfortable/frustrating for us to experience it. I can understand where people come from but it doesn’t necessarily excuse their behavior. But I get exactly what you are saying

[@experiment54]

Its not that you had to prove anything. Its just the English looking at you know they cant speak Chinese, so they expect you to speak English and when you/some dont they get pissed. Cause they would have the manners to learn to speak Chinese if they went to China. They get a bit pissed when people dont learn English. And are happy and supportive when you do or atleast try to speak English.

[@wanyan8644]

kchoi Lol. I can’t believe you actually agree to this racist. Maybe you too are ignorant. So don’t blame white ppl treating you differently. You are not any better. And the reason you don’t like them assuming you can’t speak English is only because you feel inferior

[@ELCNUmorFnaMehT]

London - a great place to feel unloved.

[@janicecacatian8243]

Idgaf

[@wildearth3992]

@@janicecacatian8243 butthurt

[@charliehelyes]

in defence of London about 20 people have died due to terrorist attacks in the last few years but that figure is dwarfed by the murder rate in the USA so statistically London is much safer than the USA. Also terrorism here was much worse in the 80s and 90s when the IRA were killing thousands each year in the UK so terrorism in london is actually lower than it has ever been.

[@bykchoi]

Agreed! Just a perspective thing of being away from family and being in much closer vicinity to violent events

[@AliceinJapanaland]

Charlie mjh there are so many things wrong with that comment. First, you're comparing one city (London) statistically to an entire nation which already dwarfs the UK as a whole (USA). Then you compare the rate of death due to terrorism (a particular kind of murder) to murder as a whole. Statistically speaking, that is an absolutely worthless comparison to even make. Of course the murder rate of an entire nation regardless of which nation, would and ought to be higher than the death due to terrorism of any city, regardless of which city. Duh

[@charliehelyes]

AliceinJapanaland Even if you compare all kinds of murder in the UK (including terrorism) with all murders in the USA (comparing like for like) then the UK would still compare favourably in that comparison by a large margin. You could compare what happened in las vegas recently where someone killed 56 people with a machine with the knife attacks we had here motivated by terrorism. Peoples true perception of risk is distorted by the media. A single terrorist attack (however small) in the UK gets more global news coverage then hundreds of gun murders in the USA that was my point. Secondly the UK statistically has less terrorist attacks now than in any previous decade but people believe the opposite.

[@AliceinJapanaland]

Charlie mjh I'm not arguing that the rate of terrorist attacks has worsened in the UK or even arguing that it's worse in the UK compared to America. I think there's probably data that would imply terror attacks have increased in general worldwide thanks to ISIS but as that's not my point I don't care to argue it. My point is your claims are misleading. Even your claims about murder rate are misleading because though it's true the USA has more murder by the numbers, it also has a much larger population. So if you don't adjust for PER CAPITA it doesn't give you an accurate idea of how likely you are to be murdered in the respective countries which is really what that data seeks to accomplish. In reality, the violent crime rate is actually higher in the UK than in the USA when adjusting to compare similar types of violent crime PER CAPITA. PolitiFact actually wrote an article about this very thing about when comparing JUST England and Wales and LEAVING OUT Ireland and Scotland found that there are 775 violent crimes per 100,000 compared to America, at 383 violent crimes per 100,000. Again, that doesn't even take into account Ireland and Scotland. They also argued in the article that it's fairly complicated and perhaps impossible to accurately compare the crime rates of the two countries for a variety of reasons so you can read the article here if you're interested: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/jun/24/blog-posting/social-media-post-says-uk-has-far-higher-violent-c/ Note that the pertinent information starts halfway through the article. Also note that even when they further adjusted crime rates as prompted by a criminologist, they still found UK had HIGHER not lower rates than the USA but by a lower margin than originally suggested but AGAIN, they did not even include Scotland and Ireland in their comparisons for some very odd reason and so only roughly HALF of the UK'S actual crime data is therefore represented in this comparison.

[@doniel370]

Wallace Sparks We just had a police station bombed in Sweden this Wednesday. Also today, 2 bombings in Sweden.

[@ironchoi3088]

I was gonna take a trip to Euroup but I changed my mind cuz there are so many racist in Euroup. I can't stand racist.

[@pharaohphoenix8348]

We like the Chinese and Indians though.

[@nourchame019]

Pharaoh Phoenix Tell that to Brexit supporters. I’m from Morocco and they’re the reason why I would not live in England.

[@vichuang1480]

The US is much more racist

[@Physicalchemistry15151]

@@vichuang1480 no, Europe is homogeneous meaning you’re more likely to encounter more micro aggressions outside the UK

[@dehandrysjourneyinChrist]

Great video!!! Hey, do you prefer studying in America or England? Also, if you have a bachelor's for three years can you apply to graduate school in America?

[@isaacfoster2820]

Im from UK(bengali) i didn't realize in America when they say Asian they refer to east asians. Ive always pictures south Asian when anyone says asian

[@HeatherTurner01]

omg yes- been in UK more than 8 years, still not used to the dark winters. The sun goes down at like 4pm. So you go to work in the dark - sit inside all day and come home in the dark.

[@alanpotter7945]

Hahaha. You have to adapt to the climate change

[@koyomiyoko]

So glad to hear your opinions about this topic. It has been a few months since I came to Ireland. Not that I experienced lots of discrimination because of being Asian, but still some people can be not really nice. Randomly being shouted with some greetings in Chinese or even Japanese my mother tongue is uncomfortable for me. Because the way they say is usually in some sort of humiliating-asian way. So sad that some treat Asian people as if we are completely different creatures/aliens :( Well...I always have some thoughts like this but mostly I have lots of amazing experiences & I appreciate them all

[@bykchoi]

It's jarring because most of the time I go around not even thinking about how I look, and then one ignorant or rude person views your appearance as your one defining factor. I sometimes feel weird bringing it up because it doesn't really harm me or anyone else, but I think our discomfort toward it is valid. Glad you are enjoying your experience in Ireland, I've visited Dublin a few times and I love it there.

[@stellla7045]

+k.choi this kind of racism is definitely racial violence even if it's not physical violence. For example cat calling is considered sexual harassment even if the act if just verbal. It can cause mental and emotional negative effects. Physical violence can also stem and escalate from verbal racism. I'm glad you brought up the complicated issue of race and identity. Especially on the internet, there are tons of people criticizing and misunderstanding and you're brave for speaking up. :)

[@bykchoi]

You are right! And thank you for contributing as well. :)

[@stellla7045]

+k.choi it's so cool that you replied! Looking forward to your next video. Also this is totally unrelated but you should do a lookbook! Your outfits in joans' vlogs were so awesome (that's howni found your channel lol) and i think you could totally create quality fashion content :))💛

[@bykchoi]

i may dabble in some fashion videos in the future.. thanks for the encouragement!

[@oursavior9883]

In the UK the east asians do lie within the general population and associate with whites and blacks. It's the south east Asians that stick together. You seem to have got a bad experience with London, because I know Asians living there and they are perfectly happy (they are 2nd gen). Generally in the UK we don't really care about race or ethnicity in the way Americans do, where it's an identity to them. Also, "person of colour"doesn't really exist like it does in the US. I think that London is so diverse in culture that it seems almost not diverse because you never see many of the same culture because there are so many of all ethnicities. I don't know if the people you had bad experiences with were living in London themselfs or just tourists.

[@bykchoi]

I didn’t have a bad experience at all! Was just reflecting on some things that were different/uncomfortable at times. And perhaps my experience was unique because I was in a graduate programme that was very international (people from Europe, lots of people from China, etc) versus a more “English” experience? Who knows

[@oursavior9883]

k.choi hmm, did you get that same feeling in Bristol? Or just London?

[@bykchoi]

Bristol was a bit different because I was only there for a semester for a study abroad program vs getting my degree at UCL. I got comments like “You look Asian but you sound American” in Bristol but not as much in London. I think the point is that London is diverse but not in the same way as Los Angeles - and not that one is “more” diverse than the other. In general, London has many more South Asians and Middle Easterners while Los Angeles has more East Asians and Latinos. I know London has second generation East Asians too but I know it’s not as much as California and it wasn’t in my community either. So being a second generation East Asian from America in London made me feel like an outsider within outsiders at times. But overall my experience was positive because Londoners are accepting and, as we’ve established, diverse! Hope that makes sense! As I think I said in the video, it is a complex topic. Glad you were willing to comment and share your thoughts on it!

[@PoochieCollins]

@Red Viper : many Brits seem prejudiced against Americans, though.

[@oursavior9883]

Poochie Collins only the idiots. From my experience a lot of people are quite intrigued by Americans. People joke about them in a negative way but people do that about everyone, even people for different cities in the UK.

[@lehvak8567658]

I am a Chinese Canadian and I have lived in the UK for the past seven years (I did my full undergrad degree in London). I agree with what you have said in your video about race and cultural identity. I think the biggest difference in the UK compared to North America is that while the British are 'multi-ethnic' and diverse, they are not 'multicultural'. They don't really encourage ethnicities to embrace their roots. People here are seem polite on the surface about 'being open and accepting' about racial differences but actually feel less comfortable talking about racial differences. Also no matter how 'inclusive' they try to be, deep down the government will remind you that you are different and a foreigner. Just look at the government documentation and their use of language (I.e whenever you are expected to declare your background on paperwork/forms). In North America, you would call yourself a Korean/Asian American. In the UK, you are called a 'British Korean". Same thing with other ethnicities. As a 'British XXX", being British is an adjective/description of your race and you can never truly be recognised as a British. And other reasons to not miss London - I am surprised you didn't talk about the lack of air conditioning? And what about the general state of the infrastructure? Everything here is so worn down unfortunately, especially the houses and flats. Modern homes exist but they are virtually clones of each other. Every modern flat I have lived in and have seen around the country (university accommodation, private accomodation) literally have the same appearance externally and internally it almost seems as if the people here only know how to make modern flats in one way!

[@bykchoi]

I had noticed the Asian American vs British Asian thing and find it fascinating. And yes, everything is so old/outdated which makes sense and is charming but can be inconvenient!

[@calilooya]

I’m 1.5 generation East Asian, went to high school and college in the US and then moved to England for my first job and have settled here since. I love London. It’s the only place where I feel like I can be whatever I want to be cos there is so much diversity in culture. I don’t feel like my identity belongs to any one particular culture which is what makes London the perfect place for me. I think as an Asian American, that in itself is an identity that can be quite set in its ways, then of course it’s a culture shock to go somewhere else. Personally I think London is most suitable for people who are “third culture”, who feel like world citizens. My husband has also lived in three different countries and we both feel like fish in water in London. Btw my best friend here is Korean though sadly she just moved to Australia. Loads and loads of Koreans, Japanese settled here, perhaps just not where you were at unfortunately.

[@TheObiribea]

I am sorry to hear about your experience. I hope you find happiness in the States. To each their own, I love London and the UK! Great place and people.

[@Belihoney]

As a Londoner, I couldn't stand Bristol lol

[@martinwilkinson7939]

Libertas According to the 2011 census; 84% of the population was White (77.9% White British, 0.9% White Irish, 0.1% Gypsy or Irish Travellers and 5.1% Other White) 6% Black (2.8% African, 1.6% Caribbean, 1.6% Other Black) 5.5% Asian (1.5% Indian, 1.6% Pakistani, 0.5% Bangladeshi, 0.9% Chinese and one percent other Asian) 3.6% mixed-race (1.7% white-and-black Caribbean, 0.4% white-and-black African, 0.8% white and Asian and 0.7% other mixed) 0.3% Arab 0.6% with other heritage. *Bristol is unusual among major British towns and cities in its larger black than Asian population.*

[@martinwilkinson7939]

Libertas so you're inferring that BelizeHunni hates white people to such an extent that she only likes London because white people are a plurality there but dislikes Bristol because whites there are a majority even though there are still plenty of non-white people there to feel comfortable in her white hatred obsession? What is it that BelizeHunni has said that suggests she dislikes white people at all or are you just projecting in the same way that I think that everyone experiences the sensations of hot and cold in the same way I do? Could it be that she just has a downer on smaller cities in the way that a lot of Londoners do or does the melanin in her skin (which you can tell she has from her photo, which is the only extra information other than the fact she used the words "As a Londoner, I couldn't stand Bristol lol" that you have about her) somehow mean she's immune to mega city vs small city irrational preferences? Please answer.

[@martinwilkinson7939]

Libertas so I'm a "typical Leftist" for trying to ascertain the reason you made assertions as to why a woman who you don't know said the following words; "As a Londoner, I couldn't stand Bristol lol". She clearly says "As a Londoner", not "As a Londoner with a functioning human specific solar radiation protection system, human specific hair texture, humans specific lip collagen volume..." etc. So I just found it odd that seeing as she clearly only says "As a Londoner" you decided to say the following: _"That's because there are actual English people in Bristol. You're probably not used to that."_ Remember, that's the sentence (that got you 5 thumbs-up) that prompted my initial response. There are Anglo-Saxon English people in London, they are the plurality, so the basis of your statement was plain wrong and then it got worse for you from there. You seem to be generalizing about BelizeHunni as you now say; "To a foreigner that has grown up in London, the country side and the small towns outside of it are as culturally and demographically foreign to these people as a completely different country would be, thus they prefer to stay congregated in the cities." That's just not true as much to your disgust, most British cities have a large enough non-white population for most non-whites to not feel out of place. That's assuming they are bothered about that sort of thing at all, as you obviously are. People tend to prefer to live around people similar to them but to say; "They want nothing to do with us." flies in the face of what's probably another one of your pet gripes, the number of mixed relationships and the offspring they have produced. I think you probably call that 'White Genocide' or whatever the websites you frequent are calling it this week. The truth is we both know what you were doing and we both know the extremism of your real views. You're entitled to them but don't post racially loaded comments to nice enough young black females who are responding with innocent comments to a video by a nice enough young Asian female. Save them for people like me so I can destroy you like what happened at the end of the 1939-1945 Germanic Barbarianism Incident.

[@applebee6455]

+Libertas You sound triggered. There is not much opportunities or advancement in Bristol, yet you went strait to race. Typical simple minded bigot.

[@davidpain9298]

you're not a londoner you're african , genetically made for a hot african climate not the cold british climate . You can't stand bristol because the people there are different to yourself just like i can't stand the african slums in london.

[@anhsnake13]

Thanks for posting this. I am moving to London in a couple months for work and as an Asian American also from Southern California, i have personally been pretty terrified considering exactly what you mentioned in this video. Seeing and hearing about reflections makes me actually more calm because it helps me see that the things I suspected might be difficult are the same things that you found difficult, so at least I can prepare myself adequately and haven’t missed the mark entirely. So thank you!

[@InvincibleNumanist]

I will concede that the census thing was stupid. They should just put east asian, why single out Chinese? No idea. I feel you there.

[@hannahelvete]

Overwhelming majority of east Asian in UK are Chinese. In Glasgow the majority are Cantonese speaking.

[@chiekogure9821]

I totally understand your points. Especially being an Asian in Europe might turn out as a tough experience. I'm living in France now and used to live in Bath and from that experience I think most people think Asian=Chinese. Every time when I met a new person, I was asked: Are you from China? I also don't get offended by that mistake but still it's hard to keep up your feelings and identity.

[@XIL3GANDIX]

So i suppose your main reasons were that you were not accustomed to the four seasons, felt you didn't fit in (in london btw which is one of the most diverse cities in the world) and that you were scared of the recent terror attacks which although is a fair enough reason you kind of make it sound like an attack was happening everyother day which was not true at all. I wonder if i move to california would i have a similar experience? I guess i could say i miss the rain, felt like i wasn't represented enough and felt insecure about my identity and also was scared of getting shot everytime i popped into the local 7/11.

[@bykchoi]

Fair reasons to say why I have been able to move on and not yearn for London at every moment even though I absolutely love the city and do miss it dearly

[@ennevudoppioo9763]

You talk about "diverse" places as if they were places where EVERYONE feels that they fit in. I think it's the opposite, I think they are places where NO one fits in.

[@ennevudoppioo9763]

I'm talking about every "diverse" place there is, including those who aren't pricey museums or former empires.

[@1525boy]

James H And the U.S. especially Los Angeles is A LOT better, right? Seems like the U.S. has also lost its empire as well.

[@SJ-ej3vj]

thank you for being so honest about your experiences. I can relate to your video so much. I am currently in London and finding it hard to make friends. I am second generation east Asian Chinese from Australia. I feel like people are curious to an extent but still prefer to stay away from east Asians. There's not enough second generations east Asians here to normalize this mix culture. most people would ask me where I am from and I'll say Australia. But they will ask where are your parents from. it feels like Australia cannot just be part of my identity and I'm being called out on being a fraud because I'm not declaring where my parents are from...

[@bykchoi]

Exactly. Hope you find some comfort in knowing you’re not alone! And good luck with continuing to settle in in London - there’s so much to do there so I hope you find your place!

[@lovemetu]

East Asians are lovely people, most are intelligent, talented, hard working and cause no problems, cant same the same for many immigrants who live in London, black gangs for a start. Its best to stay away from those areas where they live, especially dangerous for young women like yourselves.

[@lt3421]

Damn

[@razer0072073]

I been seeing a lot of Americans in the UK and i can't seem to know why, maybe cos of jobs? better life? anyone care to explain?

[@luichen115]

Mas A, better jobs and getting out of toxic and racist bubble called america. Living there makes everyone a racist indirectly and directly everything is always centered on race and group politics

[@MadSUPANOVA]

My final conclusion is that immigrants of different cultures connect... because of the same struggles of adapting to a new environment

[@yinsoen]

I lived just outside of south east London all my life and I have to say I’ve had enough of the cold winters thinking of moving abroad. Are there any other cities in us that has all year round ☀️?

[@francescam6017]

At the end of last year I moved from my home in the English countryside to London for uni. I've always wanted to live here for a bit because it's exciting, there's so much to do and see, and it's a completely different experience to living in the country. I do miss the peace and nature of the countryside, and I'm 100% sure I will move back there in the future. But for now I'm still thrilled to be here, and I'm having the best time.

[@bykchoi]

I had an amazing time too and love London as I said in my video :) glad you are enjoying it!

[@Hannah-pk1yj]

As a Chinese, I’m so sad about the “Chinese” and “other Asians” part. I understand it is hard to distinguish the East Asians from different countries, but I still get upset when people say hello in Japanese, Korean or even Chinese.(maybe it’s a strange feeling) I wish they could just speak their language. That makes me feel more comfortable.

[@sunnyside287]

Hannah when I was in China everyone said Hello to me even though I am not form an English speaking country. I can definitely relate 😂

[@poskana2409]

Anybody else live in london?

[@xgrayvision]

Thanks for sharing! I really appreciate your discussion of ethnicity and identity. Very thoughtful and through-provoking.

[@bykchoi]

Thank you!

[@mangoxpizza]

this video translated my experience so well as a Korean american student currently studying in London. there is this feeling of being seen as a double-outsider if that made sense? i cant put it quite into words, but first impressions and the way I appear physically are things i cant change.. no matter where i go, people will see me -at least ethnically- as an asian. But I did feel on numerous occasions a sort of confusion when people realized I spoke with an 'american accent' and found out that I was from the states. I guess this is where this double-outsider comes into play. People see me as asian- but then also differently again when I identify as Korean-american. This I can understand to a degree obviously because people in the U.K will not be as exposed to asian-americans compared to the states - but in the 2 years I've been here so far I've learned that I've got my own hustle game going on and that a few bad people do not represent the whole culture..and feeling uncomfortable allows me to grow confident in who I am :) thanks for sharing your experiences though, i'm glad you brought it up! i do miss home a lot..

[@bykchoi]

I know EXACTLY what you mean by feeling like a 'double-outsider'. And yeah, it mostly comes down to lack of exposure/interaction, which is why I find the demographics thing interesting :P Glad you are becoming more confident in your identity as you live abroad! It's truly a valuable experience to have and go through.

[@mangoxpizza]

this is such a late reply but thank you soo so much for making this video! i feel like conversations and the sharing of stories through comments/communities should exist more!!

[@Delboy0]

You guys never went to Malden which is where the London Korean community is. Remember London doesn't have the racial ghettoisation of America and people of different backgrounds mix more in London than any place in America or the world.

[@bykchoi]

London's definitely diverse which I love but it just has a different racial/ethnic makeup than Los Angeles, that's all

[@Delboy0]

If you felt a bit of an outsider being of Korean American background, you should have have gone to New Malden which is where the majority of the British Korean population live. London doesn't really have racial ghettos but you have areas where you find more people of a certain background living there. New Malden is that for Korean people in London where you find second generation British Koreans.

[@waynebutane1338]

One thing I really noticed when travelling to London (or other places) with an asian person is that they get asked "Where are you from?" and stuff like that many times. Oddly enough, this question is never asked by white people, but always by others who identify as "non-white". When they would reply "England" they would get the question "No, I mean where are your parents from?" as if there is not a chance that they could also be English. I always thought it is a weird thing to ask a stranger... I also noticed that a lot of the people in china town seem to be a bit unfriendly towards non-chinese people, but maybe they all just had busy days.

[@Salahmed562]

UK is shit I live here and love and prefer USA and Canada in a heartbeat.

[@flagzgeekyume8336]

Saleh Ahmed yessssss sameee

[@Salahmed562]

@@flagzgeekyume8336 you from the UK?

[@flagzgeekyume8336]

Saleh Ahmed yeah

[@faizariffin4660]

@Telive Qwenton Asian people are the best

[@lloydfrancis9149]

Until you get SICK you will running back home to use the Fantastic NHS health service, I live in the USA trust me with the mass shootings, Mexican Cartel kidnappings, Human trafficking, Kids with legal Assault Weapons or War, racial tension, no Gregg's Sausage rolls, No Mark's and Spencer, homelessness, and Eviction at Gunpoint and level of ignorance and a dumb president I'm moving back to London England BORN AND BRED, USA was great 10 years ago not anymore, I refuse to get old in American Capitalism where they don't bloody care about the poor, I'd rather be in Good ol England despite the differences.

[@colourpop2329]

What Lipstick is that ? It's really a pretty shade 😆

[@bykchoi]

in the description box!

[@jaym-bu3cr]

I have friends in London but it is not my favourite city nor a friendly city too be honest

[@stanlee6436]

Hi K Choi you mean you graduated already? ur back to the states?

[@bykchoi]

+Stan lee yes my master’s program was 12 months long and I submitted my dissertation 1-2 months ago :)

[@stanlee6436]

wow congratulation! time past so fast

[@bykchoi]

Thank you! I know 😭

[@Rmadridista4life]

i was only in Europe for 3 weeks and i had similar concerns about safety. Almost had a couple of scuffles with "Merkels people" in Barcelona and Rome

[@Rmadridista4life]

Why would i make this up? Try drinking in public at night in some of these European cities free loaders, beggars and thugs will try tricking you or straight up rob you.

[@MrJm323]

Well, let's be fair to Wally. This stuff doesn't happen inside his rectum, ....where his head is. ....Lots of shit happening in there, but...

[@applebee6455]

+Pax Mongolia What country are you from?

[@MrJm323]

The fact that he has an agenda makes his account IMPLAUSIBLE? ....It doesn't work that way, dummy. No one needs you to validate the well-established fact of high crime associated with immigrants from certain parts of the world.

[@CloraxBleachSplashLess]

Wallace Sparks Aww Tell that to Sweden's rape statistics

[@blazer2100]

Do you feel safer in the states compared to london?

[@osmans1694]

Europeon are just very cold, bitter and sad people. American and Canadians are friendly people.

[@BigDave15]

What was different from when you were in Bristol? It isn't less safe in the UK than in the US.

[@Alan_Mac]

This is a particularly odd video to make when one of the London suburbs (New Malden) has a Korean population of more than 20,000 people. I can only conclude you didn't get out much.

[@bykchoi]

Yea I’d heard of New Malden! Wanted to go there for Korean food but never got the chance. Didn’t go past zone 2 much really since I was busy with my master’s and there’s only so much of zones 1-2 I can see in one year :)

[@Alan_Mac]

Aye so you didn't get out much ;) I actually feel quite protective of London. I came here for Uni (from Glasgow) and in 1981 and just stayed on. I also made the conscious decision to raise my kids in the city centre (well Pimlico) when most of my contemporaries moved to the suburbs or the shires. The change over 35 years has been remarkable not least of which is how socially integrated it is and how folk from all places rub along well. In my office we employ the brightest and best whatever their ethnic origin etc is and most Londoners similarly embrace diversity. I've travelled a lot on business including SoCal and would argue that no city does racial equality better than London. Oh and on the weather...I've had 2 years when I've had to walk to the office wearing wellingtons because the snow was too deep to wear normal shoes. Only 2 years in 35, mind!

[@bykchoi]

Hahah I love London too, just as I stated in the beginning of the video! I appreciate that you and others are willing to defend it as well. Obviously this video puts all of the negative things together so it may seem like I don’t appreciate London, but I do. It has a very global culture that I enjoyed while living there, and I know that most people are very tolerant and open to other cultures, just like you seem to be. Nonetheless, it was a unique experience as a Korean American when compared to my upbringing in Los Angeles. And although I missed the sun (you have to admit it sets pretty early during the winter), I appreciated the change of seasons, especially around Christmas time, and loooooved the long summer days!

[@Alan_Mac]

Oh I appreciate the fact that you're not a London knocker and you clearly think well of the city. I respect you for this. I guess the big problem with London's weather is that it's boring as fuck. NYC and Paris, say, are wetter. NYC has some horrific winters yet has summers where you could fry an egg on the pavement. I've also had sun burn on my bald patch in San Diego in December. London has none of this. I have family from the north of Scotland and my ex wife is from northern Sweden. Summers nights in both places allow you to read without artificial light until 10 or 11 pm. there. London is boring by comparison. Except in spring. London really does a lovely spring!

[@bykchoi]

So true! London's weather overall is very mild in comparison to some other cities'.

[@willwong1234]

That's exactly why I don't like to be referred to as "Asian" since being "Asian" might look like Gandhi, Osama Bin Laden, Uygur, Dalai Lama, Jackie Chan, or even Vladmir Putin. So looking like an "Asian" really doesn't mean anything to me. I'd rather be referred to as an "Oriental" or "East Asian" instead.

[@pom3222]

London may be called one of the most international and diverse cities in the world but unless you integrate, mix and associate with different nationalities and cultures, people will always just stay monocultural and fixed/rigid in their thinking about other people from different backgrounds. the majority will just make assumptions about you based on your looks borne out of their own experiences, prejudices, preconceptions , etc. because they simply don’t know any different. It’s actually a VERY rare thing to come across someone who is truly international and open minded in their outlook and how they see and treat you.

[@domzbu]

Pom 3 try mixing in the ghettoes

[@Hanna-ny5nn]

Germany is a very open minded country ❤️

[@RaikenXion]

where do you feel most happiest? it feels like life just moves way too fast, but bustling city and you either get onboard that train or you get left behind, thats how it feels sometimes.

[@fidgetykoala]

Well, you are talking about the ethnicity group thing to fill out, to this extent I can tell U that there is the same 'gap' about the white group. I have to thick 'other white', I am Italian btw. Nothing to worry about, though.

[@bykchoi]

Interesting!

[@fidgetykoala]

Well it's actually British, Irish Polish, then others

[@fermentedsourdough5462]

British media says "Asian" when they mean Muslim. In most of the Anglosphere, 'Asian' means East Asian: Korean, Chinese, Japanese.

[@bencarter1666]

Sedentary Lifestyle Very true. Contemporary media manipulation has created that impression but growing up Asians were East Asians

[@inspectionnegross8695]

I'm White and actually do believe this very same thing about being around Whites. It's how some of are wired.

[@samirah278]

I love London since I was born and raised here but I get the whole seasons thing. It's always raining and dreary and the summers are annoying cos literally everyone smells. And I'm always confused about the time since it's dark really early most of the year which is sometimes stressful.

[@bykchoi]

Hahah yes exactly

[@maxmullen6337]

The way things have changed in this country, being English requires a defence of identity.

[@yettiluch1]

masters in what? if you dont mind me asking

[@bykchoi]

management (business)

[@bellsTheorem1138]

Stayed in London for 2 weeks. I would love to live there.

[@kh7736]

Extremely expensive city but amazing

[@dbsk06]

I'm an Asian American who lived in London and I had a completely different experience. Obviously you're entitled to your own opinion but I must respectfully disagree and feel somewhat obliged to comment because people who watch this video might get turned off from what I consider one of the most amazing cities in the world. True, I lived in zone 1 and I had a relatively high income but I personally would not choose California (LA or SF) over London. The weather I didn't find it to be a huge problem. Most London streets in zone 1 are miles cleaner than your typical New York City street and people are generally friendly whereas in NY you can expect shuffling at barbaric levels. I can safely say the amount of racism I experienced in London is not even a fraction of the daily experiences of racism I have had in the US both in school and at work in a large European firm. Having your Korean American community is something that you will only find in your Korean American community but that applies to any other city that you travel to outside the US. Even within the US, it's not like you would necessarily bond with a Korean (from Korea) either. The terrorist threats are severely overstated and dramatised in American media and I'm sure as an American you might have been unconsciously affected by the overblown anti terrorist rhetoric. Of course you have a "right" to feel unsafe but just to put it out there, the actual number of terrorist attacks in London has decreased since the 1980s. A lot of my friends in London during those attacks weren't really scared and handled it quite well so I can't help but believe you were influenced by American media's exaggerated portrayals. Terrorism in Europe is not really how "terrorism" is portrayed in America. AGAIN, you're entitled to your views and *~feelings~* but at the same time, I don't think Americans (Asians or not) should be deterred from living in London without hearing counter arguments.

[@bykchoi]

Totally fine and I stated multiple times that I love London, and I would hope that people would look to consider more than the small fraction of my thoughts that I documented after a couple of months of being back in the States :) thank you for sharing and being respectful!

[@barrelrolldog]

i don't quite agree with what you said. there are not many asian people in england, but there are plenty in london. and their might not be many american born koreans, but how could you expect that? there are plenty of koreans, chinese, japanese in london.

[@bykchoi]

Yes yes but not in comparison to Los Angeles. And not as many second generation Asians either (compared to LA). The majority of Asians I encountered were not Korean and were first generation immigrants or expats, so although there is a connection there, it’s still a little different! It’s different than what I’m used to which is NOT a bad thing by any means. I love to be challenged. But I was just being honest and real that it was uncomfortable at times :)

[@barrelrolldog]

yea sure, but thats not what you said in your video. i think its a bit unrealistic to expect there to be big population of overseas born asians in the uk.

[@bykchoi]

I thought that what I said/implied throughout but I’m sorry if I was unclear! And of course it’s unrealistic. Again, I was just stating my observations :)

[@charliehelyes]

I agree there is a huge korean population in new malden and SW london in general. London is so much bigger than zones one and two New Malden its literally 15 mins away from the centre of London by train. Central London doesn't represent the overall london vibe at all. I dont know how anyone can evaluate london by only seeing zones one and two. Greater London covers a huge area.

[@Tommy1991yan]

I’m Chinese (with a bit of Korean in the family tree) and I’m wondering whether I’d have a better time in London or New York. East Asians are definitely my kind of people in terms of your point of sticking together. A lot of it is about values I think. I will always have diverse friend groups having grown up around the world, but I still always want a group of friends that are Asian. So New York or London?

[@sunpi]

I wouldn't miss it my dream is to move to the us

[@islamisrightaboutwomen8611]

Traitor!

[@man2762]

I don't really understand why the US is so popular, it's just like London exc. NY and California

[@dominic1297]

Just like London?....i think you don't fully grasp how big and diverse that country is....the whole country doesn't even experience the same seasons and have varying landscapes

[@SageWesley]

I advise you not to.

[@TheDifferenced]

Watashi WAtari SASHIMI!

[@tomd5678]

Bristol is young and full of art, music and life. It's a great place to be a student. London isn't England / England isn't London. London is a cosmopolitan/world/working city. You can be different in London and people won't notice. Even people who are like you won't notice you. You can be anonymous and feel anonymous. When life is good in London - it's really good. When you're down - it's overwhelming. London works-it's where you start a career

[@NaomiCharles]

Yeah I would have a hard time being away from my family too. I actually visited this June and I left literally two days before for the London Bridge situation. It is very scary

[@bykchoi]

Ahh that was a really scary time :( Glad you got back home safely

[@PluviophileTraveller]

wow that is certainly scary. Glad you're safe!

[@theuglykwan]

As scottish born chinese, it was challenging sometimes when I was studying in London and other parts of the south. People would gasp sometimes when they heard my accent. Other immigrants and non immigrants with accents would imitate me or get me to repeat myself for the novelty. It would routinely take a few minutes for the taxi driver to get going. Then I went to the states and Americans had an even greater fascination with it. I was getting girls all over me and I'm gay. My straight friends from Scotland loved it though. I actually pretended I had a FOB accent a few times to avoid long ass convos with people on buses etc.

[@bykchoi]

Sounds accurate, we Americans love a British/Irish/Australian accent lol

[@QuackDragon]

I'm English but I don't like living in London, but I'm here for university. School is fun tho

[@southlondon86]

Quack Dragon Is your dislike due to multiculturalism?

[@rlam86]

Quack Dragon haha, funny name, caught my attention

[@politure]

Can't say I didn't expect something like that from "Shlomo Bergblatt-Shekelstein" lol

[@MrBrownnn696]

I wanna go to London don't know when... are there alot of Latinos there ? I image alot of Spanish right ?

[@bykchoi]

I guess Spanish people so Hispanic yes but Latino not so much

[@nobby5409]

Why do you call Spanish people Hispanic but not Latino?

[@bykchoi]

People who are of a Spanish speaking country are called Hispanic. So most of South America and Spain are Hispanic (Brazil is not Hispanic because they speak Portuguese). Latino refers to those from Latin American countries or of Latin American descent. So Brazilians would be Latinos but not Hispanic, and Spaniards would be Hispanic but not Latino.

[@JudyPenelope]

Haha I laugh when people complain for example in uk about the darkness... welcome to finland, and u will know what real darkness is😐😂😂

[@bykchoi]

LOL

[@mikhaelaston9099]

Hello Darkness my old friend 😂😂

[@amazinglazedonut]

That's cuz ya'll Finns stole all the light and stashed it away it in your skin pigmentation.

[@EOTA564]

The north of Scotland is the same. Playing golf at 10pm in the summer is fun though.

[@jdgamboa5201]

@@mikhaelaston9099 That's exactly what I was going to write, lol.

[@garryhyland2795]

Hi you would have a hard time in New York State , or New England area.Very Grey in the winter.

[@Viper4ever05]

The seasons thing is basically like living in Boston or New York City.

[@twodimensionsjhr]

Oh do you have SAD(Seasonal affective disorder)? Where I live (Vancouver) it gets dark in the winter months about 4-430pm :\ ...I get used to it. Summer, it's bright up until 9pm (sunsets ~830pm).

[@bykchoi]

London was very similar! I'd never experienced SAD before, maybe because I grew up in California (although I know people in CA can have it too)

[@LeyLeyStaring]

The UK is very unique in its own cultures and manners for people who used to live there will miss it over the long run

[@janigmoney5436]

London is like this busy city which is old and dirty. Canary wharf is the only area I like.

[@clincpb8903]

There 's a small park with red fish, but the rest is depressing !

[@edwardopichardo7837]

i searched up "london asian" and found this. lol

[@roshlouis8767]

So the UK weather is your issue. We can't change it. Deal with it. I am Asian too, born in Hong Kong but left that place when I was a baby. I was torn in between two identities while at uni. Whites won't be my friends straight away as I looked Chinese. Chinese won't take me in as a true friend as I spoke and acted like British. I was always an outsider for both sides. Took me some time and effort to make friends. It still hurt my feelings so badly.

[@jaym-bu3cr]

I have noticed in the USA that certain races and cultures don't usually date out whereas in the UK mixed relationships are normal and Asian ladies will date white guys it ain't unusual

[@livnjaktopovi]

I moved to London from Canada a month ago and am really enjoying the city. What I don't like is that there isn't a sense of pride in this city. No London pride and certainly no British pride. Canada is very multicultural but we are all bonded as Canadians, which is something truly special. If Canada is competing on the international stage, you can be 100% certain that refugees, immigrants, and everybody will be socializing together and cheering on Canada. London simply doesn't have this. London is like a cow and everybody is here just to get their share of the milk, once the milk runs out, 90% will leave.

[@HiddenWen]

Thanks for bravely expressing your experiences there, I feel a lot of people would be too afraid to speak their mind. Being in cold, rainy locations (Seattle as another example) for extended periods of time definitely affects mood.

[@man2762]

These are not reasons why you should not visit London. A lot of these reasons are much personal issues with the capital or about the weather, not about the city itself. This is a video on personal experience and shouldn't stop you from bashing or hating on London. You guys should seriously take this on board. London is a beautiful place, and, much like other cities, is very modernised and expensive.

[@bykchoi]

Yup. And I even said in my video that I love London! There are just a few things I don’t miss which I have for all cities I’ve lived in. For everything I don’t miss about London, there are 10 that I do :)

[@man2762]

kchoi Always! As a Japanese-Brit there are always downsides to each and every city, but they all have unique features which make us attracted to them.

[@jeff_t_matsuda]

Yeah, I hate that with usually European Americans (although others too) who ask where I'm from. Los Angeles. Parents? From California. Grandparents? One grandparent from Hawaii and the rest from Japan. Aha! They're satisfied that you fit in some box in their head and only then are they ready to move on. That "box" (which is really their problem that becomes our problem) is that you're from someplace else, even though you're fluent in English and America is all you know.

[@peersvensson9253]

A place with stronger seasons is actually more pleasant than a city like London, where the winter is just wet. When it gets cold and snows the air feels so different, it can be cold but in a much more pleasant way, and the snow reflects so much light that it does a lot to offset the darkness. It can also be amazingly moody. I'm from Scandinavia and I can tell you that the 'mild' winter in the south is much worse than the proper winter in the north.

[@bykchoi]

I would tend to agree!

[@modernmind]

I fully understand the reasons that you adroitly state so well but don't you miss the generally elevated quality of life in London in terms of average intelligence, lack of pretense and authenticity of human interaction? In my experience, the level of civilization that is apparent in London is unique compared to what I find in the US. It's the reason why I miss London.

[@bykchoi]

I absolutely miss the people and culture in London! And lots of other things.. I'm sure I'll talk about those sometime in the future :)

[@paulcharles5128]

Chrys Hansen Thank you Chrys, for seeing beyond the superficiality and supposed prejudice of Londoners. London has been voted the no. 1 city in the world for its music, art, architecture, history, fashion, tourist sites, etc. Its the most cosmopolitan city in the world. I knew if l searched through the comments of this negative video, l would find someone who loved our city and its inhabitants!

[@bykchoi]

+Paul Charles I love London too :) as evidenced by my year of enjoying living and vlogging there :)

[@naughtydorf18]

Murica has it's problems too.

[@RaikenXion]

"authenticity of human interaction" i get this all the time, i struggle to really "connect" with people. whats dangerous is i seem to enjoy my own company more.

[@praetoriancorps]

Northen Europe's dark winters can cause a lack of Vitamin D in your system. Lots of people suffer from winter depression

[@dawidwyborski3753]

I start to missing Poland now. I know what you feeling.

[@bboykee]

California is the best place to live seriously.

[@noface3928]

bboykee Any west coast state tbh. I live in Hawaii and never experienced racism. You see Asians being represented everywhere here

[@HidingInMyRoom1989]

I hate London :(

[@JamitMan]

Hey Daniel haha :)

[@HidingInMyRoom1989]

JamitBoi how did you find me lol

[@JamitMan]

hiding in my room haha I don't know 😂

[@nonconvexgreatrhombicosido9435]

Don’t come back

[@thestudentsofscience2660]

Lol

[@mothcub]

Yeah I'm born and bred in London and sometimes I'm just screaming at the sky "SNOW YOU COWARD"

[@bykchoi]

LOL

[@sunnygirly2k4]

It did snow on Dec 10th, but it was soon gone after a few days :-D Not a patch on 2010's cold snap (don't ever want that again).

[@sunnygirly2k4]

It did snow on Dec 10th, but it was soon gone after a few days :-D Not a patch on 2010's cold snap (don't ever want that again).

[@zayaolkhonuud]

I relate to this so much! I'm staying in Germany for my postgrad and I totally feel the first 2 points you made. I was surprised (and still am) by how little ppl here know (and somewhat ignorant) about non-Chinese east Asians. And this darkness and gloominess I'm only starting to get used to.

[@Tina-td3so]

My Korean friends are studying here in London and they’ve had ignorant people say “konichiwa” to them right in front of me. I was so in awe to see it happen but more so upset because they’re my friends. I’m helping teach them English but it made me think of their difficulties. (I’m south Asian for reference)

[@bykchoi]

It’s a strange situation because it’s not violent or overtly unfriendly, but it’s uncomfortable and comes from ignorance