I dont like it when...

Lately I've been stereo typed for my half side being asian, my Asian part is Philipino (people from the Philippines). I've been called a chinese person, loas, and Japanese lol. Its funny though, the islands of the philippines are 1 hour to japan, 30mins from china, 20mins from taiwan and so everything is close.

But its the american kids who have never ever step foot outside the country which irritates me, saying japan and asian people are this and that from what they read and what they watch on tv. Its funny to see some people actually visit and expecting everything, but their hopes just gets crushed, for me, I've had my share of travel, I have been to hong kong, taiwan, and japan.

I have a "friend" who is one of those kids who have never ever stepped out of the country expecting things from the country like they see on TV and books or magazines they read, I tell him, its totally different and its a culture shock for you since, being american you are used to american ways and the food.

When I traveled to japan, I keep getting requests from "friends" to get them some manga and some anime and some Music CD's, when my stay was only to visit friends and make new ones, and to look around, I went to japan in september for my 18th b-day gift but I didnt officially go till christmas break. When I arrived back to the states my "friends" were expecting gifts of manga and anime and small nick-nacks from japan, the only thing I gave them was 1 yen.

It sucks to be asian sometimes, even if your half.

I'm Central American, but I get asked if I'm Native American/Canadian, Japanese (which I don't understand at all..) and more often Philipino. When I say that I'm hispanic people usually ask if I speak "mexican" or whether I'm a legal citizen. It's not easy explaining to people with closed ears what the difference between being Spanish and Central American. They assume that all latinos are Mexican because that is the only spanish speaking country they know about. Just be proud of who you are. I know for a fact that mixed race people are the most beautiful people in the world. Consider yourself a lucky guy

LoL, I have a friend from central america and its the same with her, most typical americans or anyone for a fact, but its mostly americans, that think that there is only 2 asian countries and you have to be in one of them. I had a friend who was mix vietnamese and french @____@ Oh my lord shes pretty, but not to get off topic here, what part of central america are you in?

I'm a French born Chinese and since I'm in the south right now you can imagine people's reaction when I say that I'm French
Anyway it's always funny to observe the little blank that occurs (specially since they always ask where I come from out)

Up til now, the pattern is almost always like this:

Person: "Wow we don't get many foreigners here, and where are you from?"
Me: "Well...I'm from France..."
Person freezes for a few seconds, trying to localize France in Asia
Person: "Wow that was an unexpected answer!"

My advice is to take it with a grain of salt. I've been traveling a little bit these past few years and I've had chinese people asking me if I was Japanese, Japanese people asking me if I was Thai, etc...

Usually, when I go abroad, I only accept requests from close friends (usually people I've kept in touch with for 5 years or more ), and when other ask me for things well...I always make up stories

Your coin story made me remember something similar that happened to me when I went to China. I came back with a a bunch of old chinese coins (with a square in the middle) that costed me almost nothing (probably 5$ for a handful of them) and said:
"Here take these sacred coins, they have been blessed in a temple and if you wish strongly enough, they might grant your wish"

Hahaha, too funny! there. I live in texas and being filipino and white, being light skinned, everyone things I am hispanic. Well I have a friend who is Thai and chinese, but I mean she does not look like a thai, she looks full chinese, I asked her if her dad was thai and she said ya and I was surprised >_< made me feel like a idiot.

Its funny to make up stories to make other people think it is true, especially what you mentioned about the coins lol. When I came back from Taiwan and they use New Tai Dollars as a currency NTD and I bought a few magazines which in USD it is 10$ but in Taiwan its 120$, being idiots people thought they could use our US Dollars, but its funny.

So you think you taught your less-worldly friends a lesson by stiffing them on their omiyage? bravo.

You do realize that using words like "typical Americans" is stereotyping the people around you just as much as what you're complaining about. So you know some ignorant people that can't tell your ethnic makeup by looking at you. To someone who doesn't know better, you might look hispanic; what good does it do you or them to get upset about it? I suppose it just gives you a reason to belittle those you call friends.

Well...stereotypes are everywhere and you wouldn't believe the speed at which we absorb them (literally speaking). Most of the time, a simple negative experience can make all of these "unconsciously" integrated stereotype come out again.

In a sense, I understand his exasperation but indeed talking about "typical americans" might be a lil bit too harsh. Having everybody asking you for gifts is kinda...annoying...
Still, most american people I have met in the US have never been abroad or only in the surrounding countries, and IMO that's why they should be taught instead of classified as "typical".

PS: I only partially lied about the coins for they indeed came from a temple

I had a Middle Eastern man (in Canada) ask me where I was from. I told him I was Canadian and he was all surprised (despite the fact that I spoke perfect English and was dressed like a typical Vancouverite), he had assumed I was European and told me I looked like the girls he had seen while traveling abroad.

Another funny incident was a white woman at a grocery store asked me if I was Chinese once. A Filipino woman asked me if I was Filipino, she looked surprised when I said no. And a Native man on the bus though I was a full Native (I'm only a small part Native) and he kept calling me 'sister'.

Ironically, nobody ever thinks I'm black which frustrates my mom to no. People are always surprised when they find out I'm half black because I'm pale, paler than many full blooded white people.

Souske: I'm from El Salvador, but I live in Canada.

MadamePapillon said:

Ironically, nobody ever thinks I'm black which frustrates my mom to no. People are always surprised when they find out I'm half black because I'm pale, paler than many full blooded white people.

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Hmm, did you check your mothers family tree? If you haven't... well there may be someone white (if you're that very pale say, Slavonic or Nordic or something).

When I was in London, I sat down to talk with a pair of bums, in the end both thought that I was Australian lol. Truth be told I was dressed like Crocodile Dundee (short and boots ).