In primary school in Fairfax, I only remember one Japanese girl in my class. I get along very well with my classmates, I remember vividly one day at lunch, everyone gave me their rice side dish because they didn’t like it, some of the kids even sneak in the other side dish, mix vegetables. I kept eating and pile up the Styrofoam cups like a tower. fun times, until the teacher came and took the cup tower away.
I didn’t meet any other people of my age who speak Chinese while growing up, most Asians I met in school were Koreans, Vietnamese, and Cambodians.
I’m 10 years older than you.
My wife is from Taiwan. Her family is from YangMei but she grew up mainly in Taipei.
Where we live the High School is 80% Chinese or more (from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines) with also probably some other East Asian. Other high schools around are also similar.
It’s a huge Chinese community and it’s very vibrant and dynamic.
It would have been quite a different experience for you growing up if you were ten years younger and your family had moved to San Gabriel or somewhere around here.