One funny thing I've noticed in most foreign countries is that people are a bit less conscious about offending or insulting people. It's not that they have any bad intentions, it's just how things are. For example, in the Philippines, people say to me, "My, you've gotten fat!", right to my face - hence why I work out like crazy before a trip to the Philippines. And in that country, to say such things is quiet alright. No one will sue you for emotional damage! I guess we, Americans, tend to be a little bit too politically correct sometimes.
I am usually pretty politically INcorrect (among the right people, of course) and I can take a lot of jokes, especially about me being Asian. I'm usually the first one to make fun of my Asianness. But there are times when it just really bothers me. The one thing that I can't stand sometimes when I'm in a foreign country is when people assume I'm Chinese.
Ok, so I am like 12.5% Chinese, but that is not enough to call me Chinese! I've never even been to China. I know very little about my Chinese background. The closest thing to making me Chinese is the fact that I LOVE Chinese food (mmm...me want crab rangoon). I just think that when people look at me, they think Filipino, or a non-Chinese Asian. When they look at my clothes, they think American (I can't seem to lay off the Northface jacket and the gym shoes). So, I am NOT Chinese!
Last week, I was on the train and this little girl started saying, "China! China!" (pronounced Chee-na), right to my face. I just ignored her. Today, two men started "speaking" Chinese as I walked passed them. They kept doing it too until I was far enough to not hear them anymore.
But tonight was just the tip of the iceberg. I have noticed that most Chinese people here do one of three things: own/run an alimentacion (convenience store);own/run a 100 peseta store (like a dollar store except not everything is a Euro...just really cheap stuff); and run a makeshift shop on the street corners of busy areas during weekend nights selling bocadillos (sandwiches), drinks, candy, gum and cigarettes to borachos. I went to a peseta store tonight to get some school supplies for my class. I was walking around when a man asked me if I could tell him where to find the shavers!!! I was like, ok, seriously I am not Chinese! I don't work here, asshole! But of course I didn't say this to him. I just said a polite, "Lo siento, no entiendo." And he still kept asking, this time acting it out hoping I would understand him better. So I finally just walked away.
I'm not saying this only happens in Spain. I've also experienced it in Amsterdam and Ghana. It's like all Southeast Asians are considered Chinese. Ok, I confess, sometimes I can't tell between all the Asians, but at least I don't assume they are Chinese. I know I shouldn't be annoyed by it. Some people are not as fortunate to be educated about things like, Americans are not only white people...and it's not totally their fault.
However, I know one of these days it is going to really get me and I'm just going to snap at someone. Oh wait, actually I think I did that already...in Amsterdam. I had some "unknown" substances in my body (but not like Britney Spears "unknown"), so I had some substance courage. Or wait, maybe that was my friend that said something to the guy. Oh man, I can't remember anymore.
Alright, now I'm just rambling. Enough procrastinating and off to lesson planning. Yay!
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3 comments:
it's all chinese to me, fran.
wait you're not Chinese...I feel confused and betrayed.
Probably it was me who snapped...or you! oh man, i dont know!
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