While math teacher, Ms. Su, has always loved being a twin with her sister Naomi, there was also a side of being a twin that was difficult for because at times being a twin made it difficult for her to forge her own identity.
Ms. Su believes that being born a twin is like having a built in best friend, right out of the womb. They have a shared connection, even believing they could understand each other’s baby babbles when they were a baby. Ms. Su explained that being a twin is just like having a sibling, but just more connected.
While Ms. Su loved the opportunity to grow up as a twin, there were also some aspects of being a twin that made it difficult for Ms. Su. At times Ms. Su felt like she was fighting to be her own person. At some point growing up Naomi, was much bigger on twin identity and wanted to match with Ms. Su all the time. There were times when Ms. Su and Naomi were getting ready for school in the morning and Naomi would take a look at what Ms. Su was wearing and rush back to her room so they would match.
Ms. Su, on the other hand, seeing that they were now dressed the same, would wait until 3 minutes before the bus came and rush up stairs to quickly change before running to the door. These situations would help Ms. Su when she wanted to identify as her own person instead of always matching with Naomi. However, as a compromise, during special days like their birthday, Ms. Su would dress the same as Naomi.
Another thing that made it difficult for Ms. Su about being a twin was when people would first meet Ms. Su and Naomi; they would always look at them and ask about their commonalities, like if their names sounded the same or if they rhymed. In school, people would always check in to see if they wore the same or different clothing. It was difficult for Ms. Su, with all the attention they received as twins, because there always seemed be people making comparison with either twin. Comparisons, which affected both of them, would be when one of them would be told they either weren’t the pretty one or the skinny one.
Eventually these weren’t issues for Ms. Su as her and Naomi got older. Today, they work in different places, and generally have different lives since they pursue different things, Ms. Su a math teacher, Naomi a loan officer doing art in her free time.
As Ms. Su and Naomi matured as adults, both gravitated towards different things. Ms. Su gravitated towards technical stuff and formal wear while Naomi gravitated towards being artistic and clothing that are more interesting. Despite liking different things, both twins prefers Mediterranean style and savory dishes.
When Ms. Su was 30, she had to be separated from her twin due to her partner having a job in California. Naomi stayed in Ohio where the rest of the family resides. Ms. Su often wishes that Naomi would live next to her. To compensate that, Ms. Su would go back home twice a year, during Christmas Holiday and Summer and Facetime each other every few months.
