By 
By Hope Sardella
Living on the east side of Tulsa has shown me a kind of cultural harmony that people don’t always talk about, but I see it every day. Asian and Mexican communities thrive here side by side, not in theory but in real life — in the food, the stores, the families, and the everyday rhythm of the neighborhood.
When I drive through my area, I pass Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese restaurants that remind me of the Asian side of my heritage. Right next to them is Morelos, the big Hispanic grocery store that anchors the Mexican and Latin American community. And just steps away is Asian Mart — one of my favorite places. They have the best selection of teas anywhere around here. Shelves full of jasmine, oolong, herbal blends, and flavors that feel like home.
What I love is how naturally everything fits together. These businesses don’t compete with each other. They complement each other. You’ll see people from every background shopping at both stores, eating at both types of restaurants, and sharing the same spaces without tension. It’s just normal life here.
Maybe that’s why this neighborhood feels so familiar to me. My own identity is a blend — Vietnamese, French, Swiss, German, Irish, English, and Portuguese. I’ve always carried multiple cultures within me, so living in a place where different communities thrive side by side feels right. It feels like a reflection of who I am.
East Tulsa shows what happens when people bring their traditions, their food, their languages, and their histories into the same space without trying to erase each other. Pho and tamales on the same block. Asian aunties and Hispanic abuelas shopping in the same stores. Cultures staying true to themselves while still creating something shared.
This is the kind of America I know — not divided, but woven together in everyday life.