Have you ever seen someone and just assumed that they're Chinese...or Indian...or African...whatever...?
Once was back in mid-high school. An elderly Vietnamese just came up to me and started to speak to me in Vietnamese. I was stunned for quite a few seconds before saying (in English) that I couldn't speak Vietnamese. She immediately stopped and just walked away...
But yes, the incident that brought on this "fond" memory happened this morning, as I was waiting for the tram with 7 loaves of bread. Yes, 7 loaves. Anyway, I was there waiting impatiently, when I hear this soft 'ni hao'. Freezing for a second, I decided that it could be my slightly frozen, delusional mind or it could be that Indian/Sri Lankan (no assumptions, mind you) stand a little way back, talking to me...
Playing it safe, I ignored it, and so the waiting continued. As the tram was about to pull up, I made eye contact with that person. He smiled at me.
Him: "Ni hao"
Me: "Uhh...pardon?"
Him: "Ahem, I said, ni hao"
Me: "Umm.........hi?"
Him: "I studied a little Chinese."
In my mind: 'so I hear...."
See, why do people automatically assume you're of a certain background? I mean, I do it too...but it doesn't mean I can't question that habit.
I've now decided that when people ask me where I'm from, I will answer "Australia".
Which is exactly what I did on Friday. It was Asian night at the club...
Asian guy: "So what are you?"
Me: "uhh, Australian"
Asian guy (in a surprised and slightly confused tone): "oh, okayyyy..."
Which leads me to another thought. Talking in nightclubs (or shouting, rather) is absolutely stupid. I had to keep asking people to repeat what they were saying, and if I didn't get it by the second or third time, I would just nod and smile as if I totally understood what they said. If they looked at me expectantly, I'd just make up something (at one stage I didn't even know what I made up! I didn't even make a sound, my mouth just moved!) and they'd smile and nod as if they understood everything. Absolute crap I tell you! You couldn't have understood what I said, especially if I didn't even know what I said!!!
*Sigh*
I passed my Bronze medal! Yay! Damn, I was soooooooo nervous! By the end of the routine, my mouth was so dry. I don't think I've danced as badly as that (I felt like a puppet being dragged around by the guy...though my mark said otherwise...) I just knew I could have done better. Stu-pid nerves!
*Sigh*
I ate a lot today...no surprises there...
oh, and WE WON!!!! Whoo-hooo!!! Go the Unders! (but crocs still rocks!)
and on the note of the unders winning, Theo gave me an really really unexpected hug. Geez, I was just saying bye...but I guess he had reason to be so happy. Hmmm, was really worried about my earring digging in his face, but I guess he was too happy to notice....
Once was back in mid-high school. An elderly Vietnamese just came up to me and started to speak to me in Vietnamese. I was stunned for quite a few seconds before saying (in English) that I couldn't speak Vietnamese. She immediately stopped and just walked away...
But yes, the incident that brought on this "fond" memory happened this morning, as I was waiting for the tram with 7 loaves of bread. Yes, 7 loaves. Anyway, I was there waiting impatiently, when I hear this soft 'ni hao'. Freezing for a second, I decided that it could be my slightly frozen, delusional mind or it could be that Indian/Sri Lankan (no assumptions, mind you) stand a little way back, talking to me...
Playing it safe, I ignored it, and so the waiting continued. As the tram was about to pull up, I made eye contact with that person. He smiled at me.
Him: "Ni hao"
Me: "Uhh...pardon?"
Him: "Ahem, I said, ni hao"
Me: "Umm.........hi?"
Him: "I studied a little Chinese."
In my mind: 'so I hear...."
See, why do people automatically assume you're of a certain background? I mean, I do it too...but it doesn't mean I can't question that habit.
I've now decided that when people ask me where I'm from, I will answer "Australia".
Which is exactly what I did on Friday. It was Asian night at the club...
Asian guy: "So what are you?"
Me: "uhh, Australian"
Asian guy (in a surprised and slightly confused tone): "oh, okayyyy..."
Which leads me to another thought. Talking in nightclubs (or shouting, rather) is absolutely stupid. I had to keep asking people to repeat what they were saying, and if I didn't get it by the second or third time, I would just nod and smile as if I totally understood what they said. If they looked at me expectantly, I'd just make up something (at one stage I didn't even know what I made up! I didn't even make a sound, my mouth just moved!) and they'd smile and nod as if they understood everything. Absolute crap I tell you! You couldn't have understood what I said, especially if I didn't even know what I said!!!
*Sigh*
I passed my Bronze medal! Yay! Damn, I was soooooooo nervous! By the end of the routine, my mouth was so dry. I don't think I've danced as badly as that (I felt like a puppet being dragged around by the guy...though my mark said otherwise...) I just knew I could have done better. Stu-pid nerves!
*Sigh*
I ate a lot today...no surprises there...
oh, and WE WON!!!! Whoo-hooo!!! Go the Unders! (but crocs still rocks!)
and on the note of the unders winning, Theo gave me an really really unexpected hug. Geez, I was just saying bye...but I guess he had reason to be so happy. Hmmm, was really worried about my earring digging in his face, but I guess he was too happy to notice....
5 comments:
Yeh. See this face? Cynical raised eyebrows.
I'll stop with the crap giving right there.
the lips are zipped, and henceforth, you shall ramble.
-manda
hi mel, this thing about assumption of pp's nationality is called perception/attribution which i learned from a subject called oraganisational behaviour. and mind u, everyone judges another and not just in terms of nationality but personality...so if they think u dress or look like a particular group, they immediately attach characteristics of the group to you and assume you are a typical representation of the group....ouch...but we all do it so call it prejudice or whatever, everybody JUDGES everybody...
yeah, everyone judges everyone but there's nothing quite like surprising people.
also clubbing is stupid.
i dont like talking in clubs either. and i think a lot of guys go to clubs to pick up, and i think only those who are good looking manage to get lucky because all you need to be is a himbo. which i am clearly, clearly not. ahem. which is why i hate clubbing.
anyway i hope you do keep this going because even though i see you regularly, it's nice to read what you say and i've noticed that our personalities shine through our blogs so well. we write as we speak. so cool...
also did i mention that clubbing is stupid?
Hahaha!!! Ahhhh, life is beautiful, is it not? Of course, we all strive to get to know strangers better and so on, so why not learn one or two languages in order to better communicate with them? Besides, just another step in the process of broadening one's horizons.
Hehehe, well, can't stay, got people to go laugh at, since they say that "Laughter is the best medicine."
Hope you continue this, whoohoo!
Guess who =)
Post a Comment