MTV's My Life Translated

[amezri]

MTV finally did a documentary on what it's like to live with crazy Asian parents be a bi-cultural youth.

Of course, I never heard about this thing until I caught it half-way through on tv and now I can't find additional airdates to tape it [face palm] But here's the letter from SuChin Pak describing the show. I'm not cutting because.. eh.. because.

LETTER FROM SUCHIN PAK - MTV

Dear Friends

I'm writing to let you know about a documentary show I'm hosting for MTV about bi-cultural youth. The show, called MY LIFE TRANSLATED, follows young people who are juggling two different cultures (and trying to find their identity somewhere in the midst). The show attempts to demonstrate how this experience shapes the decisions they make, the lives they lead and the consequences they face.

This is definitely the first time I've seen this topic addressed on MTV and it hit home immediately. As you may or may not know, English wasn't my first language, I wasn't born in this country and since coming here at the age of 5, I have struggled with trying to figure out how to be both the good Korean daughter and simultaneously the typical American young adult.

As you know, there is no template for surviving your teenage years as a bi-cultural kid. There is no book, no television show, no movie, no support group giving you any clue on how to be both and be sane. There are libraries full of material for American teens on how to survive those crucial years of sex, drugs, dieting, the perfect prom dress... but where are the TV shows about how to tell your mom what a prom is, when she's never heard of one? I mean, I'm not sure there's even a word in Korean for dating. None of my American friends could relate to what I was going through and all of my Asian friends were just as confused as I was. I never talked about it. I just silently figured it out (with lots of failures and few successes) how to be "American" and Korean at the same time.

But to be honest, even though the concept of the show resonated with me, I was still skeptical about getting involved. Not only because I knew doing the show would mean revealing so much of my personal life on national television, but also because I knew the show (being TV) ran the risk of oversimplifying a very complex issue. But in the end, I decided to take that risk with the hope that this show will help give voice to such a common, yet overlooked experience.

MY LIFE TRANSLATED, airs this Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m. If you have a moment check it out, I'd love to hear your thoughts--good, bad and ugly.

SuChin

Comments

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

TiVo doesn't show any upcoming showings for the next two weeks. I'm going to set up a wishlist item for it, so if it's on again, I'll get it down.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was a pretty interesting show.

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Re: My Life (Translated)

In case you didn't see my post (you were in transit back to the states), my TiVo managed to grab this show. I archived it to tape, so if you want me to mail it up, let me know.

[amezri.livejournal.com]

Still haven't caught up on people's journals yet ^_^* And I would love a copy of the show! What's your email? I'll send you my address. Do you want any money for teh tape and shipping cost? :)

[thepeopleseason.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about shipping. Post your address here, and I'll send it on sometime later this week.

P.S. Your icon is totally weirding me out.