/r/asianamerican Friday Banter - April 21, 2017

This is more of a rant, but I realized that as an Asian Indian American, I don't have equal access to Asian enclaves that Southeast Asians and East Asians have. The only well-known enclave for Indians and Indian Americans is Southeast LA County (562)-Artesia/Cerritos/Lakewood/Cypress (includes "Little India" on Pioneer Blvd). I live in Diamond Bar, near the border of LA County, SB County, and OC. Last week, I tried to find a place to hangout in Diamond Bar at 8 pm. When I couldn't find anyone, I decided to head to Rowland Heights to see if there was anyone my age (22M) and because I heard that was where the center of attention in the eastern SGV is. I couldn't find anyone, and I came home by 9:15 pm. My parents and grandparents got very angry at me for going to Rowland Heights, which they said is a dangerous place full of illegal drugs, prostitutes, and other red-light district/underground activity. I said that the area has changed since the 1990s (when they lived there), and I said Pomona is much more dangerous, but they didn't believe me. Luckily, because of my age and the fact that I graduated from college this March, I was only grounded for the night. What sucks is until the few people who I know graduate from local colleges and my alma mater (UCR) in May and June, I'll be stuck at home and in Diamond Bar for a while.

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