Travel Musings of a Hawaiian Living Abroad
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The Drifter Journals

Drifter's Thoughts: Breaking Down Stereotypes

9/23/2012

7 Comments

 
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America is a nation of cultural variety, but what does it mean to "look like" an American? Many people around the world have preconceived ideas about the answer to this question. But what about travelers who are born in the USA but who do not necessarily fit the physical image of an American? The topic of ethnicity and nationality can be a sensitive subject to balance in any country, but for some of us, this topic of conversation is something that we have to deal with on a regular basis.
“Hello, Miiisterrrr...,” I look up, just as a moped with two young Taiwanese guys zooms by us. The kid in the back has his neck craned, and his smiling face turned in our direction. He follows us with his eyes as they disappear out of our line of sight, then points at us just as they turn the corner. Again, I hear his fading voice calling out, “Hellooooo, Misterrr!”
I can't help but laugh. I've always read online and in travel forums about the stares and the pointing, the laughs behind hands or calls from the street. But to be honest, I rarely ever experience this myself. 

Of course, this isn't because I haven't traveled before. I have my fair share of stamps and visas in my soon to be expired passport. But this young man's call of curiosity from the back of a passing moped was not actually meant for me. In fact, it was really directed toward my friend Ryan.  

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You see, Ryan is 6'2" tall, with stereotypical American features; blonde hair, blue eyes and relatively fair skin according to Taiwanese standards. I am  5'7" short, with stereotypical Southeast Asian features; black hair, brown eyes and brown skin compared to many Taiwanese. But Ryan speaks both English and Mandarin while I can only speak English. Ryan is Australian, I am American. And yet, he always gets mistaken for an American. And me? Well, I don't even get mistaken for a native English speaker.

But please don't get me wrong, I don't mind this at all. I actually enjoy being able to blend in with the people around me. And I still can't get enough of the double takes and the stares of shock or confusion when, after sitting right across from me for half the duration of the train ride, the other person who previously paid me no attention suddenly hears me speak out in perfect American English. It's an amazing thing to me, this ability to go from invisible to visible with just one word.

And this common case of mistaken identity doesn't just happen to me in Taiwan. It seems like almost everywhere I go, I am mistaken for someone else other than an American. In Mexico I was Chinese, in Laos I was Thai, in Thailand I was Malaysian, in Malaysia I was Filipino, and in Cambodia my sister and I were Japanese. Here in Taiwan, many people mistake me for an aboriginal Taiwanese, Amis or Paiwan. Even in my own country I am commonly mistaken for being Mexican. 

I guess the answer to this phenomena lies in my mixed heritage.

When my true nationality is revealed here, many of the Taiwanese are curious and will actually question me further about this confusing juxtaposition. 

“But you don't look like an American. How can you speak such good American English if you look like Asian people?” They'll ask. No, really...they do.

I've come into the habit of just smiling, and then I try to explain to them in depth about the mixing-pot that is Hawaii.


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“I am American,” I'll say reassuringly. “But I am from Hawaii, and the majority of Hawaiians my age are of at least 2, if not 4 or more, different ethnicities. Most of our parents have mixed heritage, too. Everyone from the plantations, in the 1800's and early 1900's, intermarried and blended cultures.”

“Oh, really?” They'll say, with looks of wonderment on their faces. “So what is your background?”

“My father is Filipino and Chinese,” I'll say. “And my mother is Native Hawaiian and Portuguese.” There is, of course, a few more in there, but I find it's best to keep the explanation as simple as possible to avoid further confusion.

I even had a man sit next to me during a meeting. He had just found out from someone else about my background. I looked over at him and gave him a nod. He leaned towards me and whispered, “You mean to say, your mother's mother and your mother's father are from two different peoples?”

“Yes,” I whispered back, trying to be polite towards the speaker at the podium.

“Oh, okay,” he said in fascination. He stared back at me. I could see his eyes studying my face, my eyes, my nose and skin. His mind wrapped around the implications of that truth. “Well, my name is Mr. Hsu,” he smiled, handing me a business card. “Here's my number. Give me a call. I want to talk to you more about the social studies of Hawaii and Taiwan.” And then he left.

And so what does it mean to "look like" an American? Well, the answer really depends on who it is you ask that to. As for me? I just smile whenever someone is surprised that I am American. Like I said, It's an amazing thing to me, this ability to go from invisible to visible with just one word.



And now we'd like to ask you: Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to break down preconceived ideas tactfully? How did you deal with that?
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7 Comments
chelle
12/14/2012 09:55:08 am

in my part of da world. im considered Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and all kines of Polynesian except what I really am. Which u kno I really dont care much about. jk! i love my kine...sometimes *=P

Reply
JR@TheDriftersBlog link
12/16/2012 12:49:15 am

What you mean? Your kine is my FAVORITE kine! Haha

Reply
chelle
12/14/2012 09:56:23 am

oh nice pic btw! finally made it on ur blog *=) kp's moving back! dat means more maui trips and lanai maybe.

Reply
JR@TheDriftersBlog link
12/16/2012 12:50:22 am

Any trips to Taiwan???

Reply
Edward G. Brown link
3/22/2013 05:14:10 am

I've never been to Taiwan but when I've been to mainland China I definitely stick out like a sore thumb (typical cacucasian American male). People are fascinated, suspicious, assume I have money, and so on. In Hong Kong it's interesting because in places like Hong Hum I stick out, but it's not as intense as in places like Chengdu, but in Central, there are so many caucasian people that I am more 'usual' in those parts. In China generally I'm approached a lot and asked for money or people say, 'Hallo!' Similar to Christine, my fiancee being Chinese, we've had some issues with Chinese not being accepting of us. There is that kind of thing in the U.S. but it's muted by comparison and rarer. In China it's pretty in your face sometimes.

Like Kate, comment above, I've been mistaken as German by Germans in the U.S. and in Germany, and it doesn't hurt that I speak German pretty well, though my Mandarin is pretty bad and Cantonese is non-existent.

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JR Riel link
3/28/2013 09:23:43 am

Thanks for your input, Edward. The issue of so-called ethnicity/race is something that fascinates me, and a subject I can pick apart and debate about at length. It's always interesting to me to hear of the different reactions we as travelers get!

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Vanessa link
6/17/2013 08:22:12 pm

I traveled around Europe with my American-Filipino friend and an American-Iranian friend, and I was always quite surprised when they got approached by someone who just started speaking Tagalog or Persian with them. It wasn't offensive to them, but like an act of bonding. "Oh, you're Iranian! I knew it!" I felt a little jealous actually. The more I travel, the more I realize how special it is to have a unified idea of your heritage. But I've seen also, from living in Korea, how that idea of "this is what Koreans do, so you must do it" could be quite stifling. My Korean students are always mystified when I say that even though I'm American my family is Italian, Polish, Irish, English, etc.

Loved reading your story about people's reactions all around the world! I met a guy whose parents are from India, but he is 100% "American" and people here in Korea don't believe him... there's such a stereotype because 90% of the people who end up teaching in Korea look like the stereotype. (or is it because they look like the stereotype that they get hired??)

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