This is a full transcript of an interview with Other Colors Host Barbara Rodgers.

Q: Ellie, I started the interview with your sister by asking her her full name, so I'm going to do the same with you. What is your full name?

E: [LAUGHTER] My name is Elida Mayeno Saavedra.

Q: Yours is not quite as long as your sister's.

E: Well, Choy too.

Q: So now give me the whole name.

A: Okay. It's Elida Mayeno Choy Saavedra.

Q: And how do you identify yourself?

E: Like what races do I think I am? [LAUGHTER] Mexican and Japanese.

Q: So when someone asks you, what are you, and I guess people do ask you that sometimes...

E: Uh-huh.

Q: What do you say?

E: I say I'm Mexican and Japanese.

Q: So you don't have one little box you put it in.

E: Unh-unh.

Q: Because your sister said, I thought you said, that she sort of identified more as being Latina. Is that...

B: I think she identifies more with it. I noticed that the white part is conspicuously absent.

E: [LAUGHTER]

Q: Any particular reason?

E: I mean, I just don't feel that I'm a white person so I don't, I don't know.

Q: That's part of your heritage too, though.

E: Yeah, but... you know...

Q: So now you two actually have sort of a different way of looking at race, don't you?

E: What do you mean?

Q: You and your sister...

E: [LAUGHTER] What do you mean?

Q: ...look at it the same.

E: I don't understand what you mean.

Q: Do you think you and your sister look at race the same way?

E: No.

B: [WHISPERS]

E: [LAUGHTER] I don't know. I think that she likes white people more than I do.

Q: Why do you think that?

E: I don't know, I just think that she does.

B: [LAUGHTER]

Q: What do you say to that?

B: I think that I've tried to be very democratic and like everybody equally, but I think that you just dislike white people more than I do.

E: No, but I don't dislike white people -- oh, they're white, I don't like them. It's the experiences I've had with them. It makes me not like them. I'm not going to like them just cause they're white.

B: Yeah, and I'm not either, but I'm not going to dislike them just cause they're white.

Q: You had bad experiences with white people?

E: The white people I know, I don't like them. They're not nice. Except my grandma and her own friend that's white, but the other ones, no. I don't know.

Q: Did they do something to you?

E: [LAUGHTER] It's all, okay. I don't know. Yeah, when I went to Piedmont schools, there was a lot of just white people that I didn't get along with, and they were just mean, so... I don't know.

Q: What would they say?

E: I remember one time there was at some party or something, in some field or something, a baseball field, and I was calling my friend to hurry cause the police are coming or, I don't know, and I was calling her name and they were like... shut up, you wetback, hella loud and that just made me mad. And they're just not nice.

Q: I can understand you being mad for something...

E: [LAUGHTER] I know.

Q: ...like that. That's a good reason to be mad. Did you say anything to them about that?

B: [LAUGHTER]

E: [LAUGHTER] You know I did, I just don't remember what I said.

B: [LAUGHTER] This is a family show that we're trying to make...

Q: So you remember what she said.

B: I don't think we can include her response.

Q: You remember what she said?

B: I think that Ellie's response to people doing that is always to be really strong and forceful back, and maybe profane, a little bit, but...

Q: In other words what we used to say, cuss them out.

B: Yeah.

Q: So you cussed them out. That's what my mother would say. You cussed them out.

E: [LAUGHTER] And you're trying to be just whatever, and it's not, I'm just not like them. You know what I mean? I don't know. This one guy that I hadn't seen in a couple of years, I saw him and he said something and he's all, that's cause you're a cholo. I was like, what does that have to... you know, it's just stupid to me.

Q: What did you take that to mean when he said it's cause you're a cholo.

E: I just took it to mean that he's stupid cause he'd always say stupid stuff like that, right?

Q: So you wouldn't identify at all with anything that he said?

E: I don't think that whatever I did it's cause I'm Mexican or cause... you know what I mean? I don't know, just cause.

Q: Now your sister actually dated white guys at one point.

B: [LAUGHTER]

Q: She said... Did you know about that?

E: Yeah.

Q: Tell me about it.

E: I mean, I don't know. At first it bothered me. I was like -- why are you always going out with white boys. And it seemed to me she would be like -- well, I want a boyfriend, I want him to be white. But, when she told me, she was like --not that I want him to be white, that's just... You know, what'd you say, Noodle?

B: Just because I wanted people that I could really talk to...

E: Yeah.

B: And it it wasn't a conscious choice that they were white, but I think that a lot of times other people wouldn't appreciate the whole, the personality.

E: And then some of the boyfriends that she had that were white, it'd show me that they're nice, and there's really nothing wrong with them, so it didn't really bother me. But I just don't like friends of hers sometimes.

B: But then also, the other ones that were not so good that were white, they were not good cause they were white.

E: [LAUGHTER]

Q: How would you describe your sister?

E: But I don't think what she said is true. It's not cause they were white, it was cause they weren't nice and then they were white. That was just the extra, you know... But how would I describe her?

Q: Now, I heard you call her Noodle. Where'd you get that nickname?

E: From when I was little, I used to call her Berma. And then bermacelli noodle, [LAUGHTER] and then just stuck with Noodle after that.

B: [LAUGHTER]

Q: Bermacelli noodle. What does that mean, I don't...

E: It's a kind of noodle, isn't it?

B: [LAUGHTER]

E: Vermicelli, but I just call her Bermacelli.

Q: Oh, vermicelli, and you said berma. Gotcha. How would you describe your sister, Ellie?

E: I think she's very sensitive. And I think that she's a very nice person. When someone makes her mad, instead of being mad at them back, she'll just try and be more nice. I don't know, she's just a nice person and she always tries to get along with everyone. She doesn't like, want to fight or anything. And, I don't know what else.

Q: How would you describe Ellie?

B: I think in a lot of ways she sets an example of being fearless cause I hold things back and I'm afraid a lot. And even though she's the little one, or younger, she's always been the one who is not afraid to go out and say what she felt or do what she wanted to. And I think that she's very brave and loud and funny. [LAUGHTER]

Q: We talked earlier about the differences in the different parts of your heritage. You said the Asian side was more reserved and the Latin side was more up front in your description. And it seems that you two sort of represent what you pointed out as the differences. Would you agree with that? So why do you think, same mom, same dad, there is such a difference?

E: I don't know, cause my mom's like that, too. If we're somewhere she doesn't like me to be loud and she doesn't like me to call attention. Like the other day she said she just wants to blend in and just be like everyone else, but I don't know... I mean, she's really worried about what people think and that doesn't really bother me like her.

Q: So where do you think you got that sense that it was okay for you to be louder and to do what you wanted to do?

E: I don't know. I don't think I got it from my mom. I don't know.

Q: Not from your dad?

E: Not really.

B: You're sort of like Daddy in that way.

E: I might be like him, but I didn't get it from him. Because I've never really lived with him and learned things from him or anything.

Q: You did go to live with your father for a while.

E: Yeah. Just for, like six months?

Q: What was that like?

E: I don't know [LAUGHTER] what it was really like, but I don't really like him, and I don't get along with him and he makes me angry.

Q: Did you identify at all with his culture?

E: Maybe with my other family, but with him, he would just make me hella, hecka angry, just made sick. I didn't even feel like that's my dad, you know what I mean? Like...

Q: What was it about him that made you angry?

E: He's just not a nice person. He didn't treat me like I'm a person. He treated me like I'm a girl or I'm a little kid, I don't know anything, you know what I mean, so, that just makes me angry.

Q: Now earlier we were looking at some photos in your family album... [LAUGHTER] What's that look about? What do you think I'm going to ask you?

E: Oh, I don't know. [LAUGHTER]

B: About our mom, probably.

Q: Yeah, you're right. Tell me about your mom and some of the photos we saw in the album.

E: I mean, she looks really different now.

Q: Tell me about when she didn't look like she looks now -- those photos that we saw.

E: Um....

B: When she was in her low rider phase. [LAUGHTER]

E: [LAUGHTER] Well, she would tell us stories that she was always not as quiet as she is now and trying to fight all the little hootchies and all this so, I mean... [LAUGHTER] or whatever.

B: I think she didn't really know what her identity was at that age, so I guess she kind of adopted one that belonged to other people, seeing as her boyfriend and most of her friends were Latin. Grandpa said that a school official came over to the house and they brought all her class schedules and it was Spanish [LAUGHTER] and Chicano/Latino history.

E: She told me that the white people didn't really accept her, and the Asian people didn't really accept her, so that was one of the few that just accepted her and wasn't like -- well, what are you? Are you half and half -- well, you can't be us, you know what I mean? So, she just felt more accepted than being with the white people or being with the Asian people.

Q: So she adopted the Latino culture even though she biologically was not at all Latino?

E: Yeah.

Q: You identify with that?

E: What do you mean?

Q: In terms of what she did?

E: Yeah, I guess so. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

B: You kind of did it a little in the earlier years when you were hanging out with all Mexicans.

E: So that's why I don't think there's anything wrong with it! [LAUGHTER]

B: [LAUGHTER]

Q: But you are part Latino.

E: Yeah, that's true. Well...

Q: When you think about growing up, having children of your own, Ellie, what do you think you might tell them, about heritage and race? What would be the message?

E: I don't know. Well, I don't understand the question.

Q: What do you think you would tell your children if you had children, about race? And the importance of race, or whether it is or it isn't in your life?

E: I would tell my children it doesn't really matter, about race.

B: But probably you've made comments about what people think that they would...

E: I guess so. I'd try not to, cause I want them to have their own opinion and to know about people. But I'd just tell them it doesn't matter and just don't be around people that are mean to you.

Q: So you believe that it doesn't matter, that race doesn't matter?

E: Yeah, I guess so. I believe it, but then at the same time, the other people that don't believe, that makes me not like them. I don't know how to explain it. I believe that race doesn't matter, but the people that usually to me are... these white people, it matters to them. They'll look at me different just because of the race I am, so that's why... I don't know. I want my... I don't know. [LAUGHTER]

Q: Do you think people of other races do that as well?

E: Do what?

Q: Say that if you're not in this race you don't matter. Whether they're African-American, Latino, whatever race.

E: Yeah, I've seen that a lot. When I went to King Junior High and my friends they'd be like -- don't talk to those black girls. They'd get mad at me and ignore me and stuff and I was like -- well, if they don't want me to talk to who I want to talk to, then I don't really want to be friends with them.

Q: So your friends are mostly what race?

E: Well, my best friend's white, so I don't understand why it's such a big deal. Like she's like saying I hate white people when my best friend's white, so that should say something.

B: I don't think that you hate white people specifically, but in general there might be stereotypes there. And the white guy that she's best friends with was my white boyfriend from when I was younger, so...

Q: So your best friend is white, and your other friends?

E: Most of them are Mexican or black... Asian.

Q: So in other words you have a mix of friends. And do you think your choice of friends is at all influenced by the fact that you're multiracial?

E: No, I just think if someone that I get along with, then they can be my friend, and if they get on my nerves then I don't want to be their friend. [LAUGHTER]

B: [LAUGHTER]

Q: Okay [LAUGHTER] You two look beautiful.

E: Thank you.

Q: Yes. The beauty of youth. You know when you're this age you always are beautiful. Don't you know that?

E: [LAUGHTER] Thank you.

Q: And then when you're my age you'll still be beautiful, you see.

B: Thanks.

Q: [LAUGHTER] So that's my words of wisdom for you, that the older you get the more beautiful you get.

B: [LAUGHTER] My mom's aging pretty well I think.

Q: Yeah, it's all inside you.

B: She comes home, whenever she gets carded, it'll be like -- she'll call us and... guess what happened to me today, I just went to try to buy some alcohol and they carded me.

E: Or sometimes she'll be like -- Ellie. She'll be mad at me when I call her mom, cause people go -- you're her mom? She's like -- how about I call you Mom today? [LAUGHTER] I'm like -- Mom, it's not going to work.

Q: [LAUGHTER] Great. We were talking before about identity and race. Where do you feel most comfortable? Is there any place you feel more comfortable than any other place?

E: Like just with my family and stuff?

Q: Wherever.

E: I feel most comfortable with my mom and my step-dad and my Mayeno family cause I've grown up with them all my life.

Q: You, too? So the place that you feel most comfortable is the place that you feel most loved. Has nothing to do with race?

E: Uh-huh.

Q: Identity?

B: No, I don't think so. We're the same as each other and we're the most comfortable around each other more than anybody else in the world, but it's not just because we have the same racial make-up, it's because, I love you. [LAUGHTER]

E: [LAUGHTER]

B: It's cause we love each other.

Q: Is that true?

E: And cause we've grown up with each other so we've learned to deal with each other. [LAUGHTER]

Q: [LAUGHTER] Hey, we're getting some bonding going here today, huh? So you call her Noodle. What do you call her?

B: I don't know. Every time she makes up a nickname for me it always sticks, but every time I make a nickname for her it never sticks, so I mostly call her Ellie. I tried elbow macaroni in response to vermicelli noodle, but nobody would catch on. I don't know.

Q: So you don't have a nickname, huh?

E: Uhn-unh.

Q: Thank you so much ladies for doing this interview.

E: Thank you.

B: Thank you.