I met this middle-aged Eastern European lady who was very friendly and easy to talk to. She seemed quite world-rounded. She came to Bangkok and she said she quite liked the city regardless of how the hustle and bustle the city is. I think that was the first trip she went out of the White continents. And just like other "tourists" who cruise around the cities and towns in Thailand or Asia, make friends with other White/Black tourist fellows and probably say hello to a few friendly Thai people along the way.
She then asked me about what got me here in Paris and I told her a bit of my story. Then she asked me with a concern in her face "What's it like to be in a place where you see all White people? It must be weird, right?"
Me: "No I'm fine actually." (with the facial expression of "No, I'm fine. What kind of question is that?")
Her: "Oh OK."
I could have tried to explain myself further and told her like "Oh well, you know actually I've only dated so-called White men so far.", THAT could make her understand better but somehow I was afraid I would freak her out. (as well as whoever is reading this, probably)
It's just SO strange here in France to see some of these French/European people who, I'm sure that they have seen quite a lot of Asians in their own cities or places they have been to...but still seem to wonder how these Yellow people cope with their lives in a foreign land...or Oh wow how could you speak English so well?! (Well, education? hello?)...or some impression like wow you know this hip place?! you know these bands too?! It's like we Asians do not know anything about what's going on in this world. Or labeled as a person who comes from a Third World country who is supposed to be riding a buffalo to an office. (I could be exaggerating...it might just be an elephant.)
Well, I could be included in their category too maybe because I was like oh wow how could this Eastern European speaks English SO well!...Sorrrrrry, A few other Eastern European people I met did not really give me a good impression...
So maybe that's it!! I should blame on these Asian people that don't really give a good impression! Well, it's not like Thai women can hold any good impression anyway. I know, I know. But people in the Chinatown here need some makeover or something to better the image of the Asians here (and probably elsewhere too). After all, people generally judge you by the cover (and where you come from).
I know some of you are thinking I'm so vain...haha
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3 comments:
Love your posts! I guess that I will soon understand more of how you feel re this last post, as we (I am of Norman extraction) are rapidly becoming the minority in the UK now :o((
hahah :D
i really love to read this post...
well, i think it is pretty the same everywhere in this world. i make the same experience here in bangkok too. if i e.g. start answering questions in thai, even its only a pretty broken thai, some start looking at me as i would come from an other planet or the like. and i am also damn ashamed of some western foreigner who act here in a way in which they would just get some giant problems for in their own countries. well at least i do my best to show them that not all foreigners are like this.
but its truly a sad phenomenon that so many ppl in this world still encounter with this prejudice. i feel actually a kind of sorry for those ppl because it just shows that they missed something or at least didnt get it yet. ;)
Ich Bin Ein Auslander. I am an outsider. A foreigner. A talking dog. I am a second-class citizen.
I flippantly discarded “first world” privilege to live in a different country. With only a destination I bought a one-way ticket seeking a sense of direction. Unemployed, friendless and without any real experience of the hopelessly practical, outside world I was leaving a small, small family, far, far behind.
I didn’t have to do this. I was spoiled, but that’s not important. Being spoiled isn’t a bad thing. I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t learning anything. I was always thinking about…myself. More poignantly I was thinking in terms of “us and them”. Life was boring.
Being a white person living in Japan for nearly 5 years I’ve heard questions like…. what is it like to look around and see only Asian people?…. I look around and see only people. I don’t really look around at all. I’m busy. I have a steady routine and a job keeping me tired and satisfyingly worn out. I see my students each and every week and once in awhile I tell them…you look Canadian. They are dumbfounded. They think I’m silly. But its true, they could very well be Canadian. Life is seamless. No stitches hold us together. I can only tell the difference between others and myself when my ego is challenged.
A label has two sides, front and back. A foreigner means simply “us and them” I don’t have to choose. Life isn’t romantic or sentimental each and every moment. Melon collie seems to last forever when its there. Life is gray, blue, and rouge, white and weird, not only black and white. Tell me a story that isn’t mine. Behave in a manner I can’t recognize. It’s all about to happen when we least expect it. Isn’t that truth?
I’m much kinder and generous for the wear and tear of my life. Indifference was a clever thing once I finally recognized it. I learn to speak less but say more. Especially looking around and seeing only yellow people, wink, wink. The more I see the less I know…blah blah blah. I know, I’m not answering any questions here (not that anyone has asked me) and I still love more than ever being vague and cryptic.
Ten years ago, when I first left my now growing family I thought the discovery of noticing the similarities rather than the differences was profound. When I was a “provincial” person I inhabited circles using the differences of things. At an arms length, I discovered the similarities as a outsider or a “worldly” person. Now, this discovery has become nostalgic to me. I still notice the similarities much more than the differences, but I revel in the differences. We all want to be different.
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