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Lol, that reminds me of this one time when I was talking to this American girl online and I changed my avatar to a picture of myself and she was all like, "You're ASIAN? I thought you lived in Australia!" and I explained to her that Australia was like America and an Asian Australian is no different from an Asian American, in the regard that they're very multicultural.. and she was all like, "So you're Asian Australian? I didn't know they existed!"
But yeah, I get what you mean, though I've had totally different experiences from you. Most of the Asians in Asia I've met seem to think that Australia is filled with white people yet know that I'm not an Asian from Asia and quote me tourist prices *facepalm* But on the other hand, they all seem to faint with horror when I tell them that I can barely speak the Asian language.
Lol, that reminds me of this one time when I was talking to this American girl online and I changed my avatar to a picture of myself and she was all like, "You're ASIAN? I thought you lived in Australia!" and I explained to her that Australia was like America and an Asian Australian is no different from an Asian American, in the regard that they're very multicultural.. and she was all like, "So you're Asian Australian? I didn't know they existed!"
But yeah, I get what you mean, though I've had totally different experiences from you. Most of the Asians in Asia I've met seem to think that Australia is filled with white people yet know that I'm not an Asian from Asia and quote me tourist prices *facepalm* But on the other hand, they all seem to faint with horror when I tell them that I can barely speak the Asian language.
That's funny. I'd have guessed that since Australia is basically next door to SE Asia, that there would almost naturally be a sizable portion of Asians living there. Kind of like Vancouver, but closer.
Lol, that reminds me of this one time when I was talking to this American girl online and I changed my avatar to a picture of myself and she was all like, "You're ASIAN? I thought you lived in Australia!" and I explained to her that Australia was like America and an Asian Australian is no different from an Asian American, in the regard that they're very multicultural.. and she was all like, "So you're Asian Australian? I didn't know they existed!"
But yeah, I get what you mean, though I've had totally different experiences from you. Most of the Asians in Asia I've met seem to think that Australia is filled with white people yet know that I'm not an Asian from Asia and quote me tourist prices *facepalm* But on the other hand, they all seem to faint with horror when I tell them that I can barely speak the Asian language.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinsanity
That's funny. I'd have guessed that since Australia is basically next door to SE Asia, that there would almost naturally be a sizable portion of Asians living there. Kind of like Vancouver, but closer.
We had the White Australia Policy which ensured that most of those 'Asiatic hoards' didn't enter the country. When this was lifted in the 1960s and 70s there was a steady stream of migrants from Asia, beginning with the Vietnamese refugees.
People of European descent make up 90% of Australia's population, so many people are probably unaware of the Asian minority in your country.
Its actually much closer to 80% european these days, many people are also not aware how quickly the population is changing.
My wife still gets a few strange looks when she producers and Australian Drivers Licence as ID for something, despite the fact she still speaks and acts like any other Korean.
One thing of great frustration to us is the inability of the Korean Government to allow dual citizenship. Thats another matter however.
Last edited by danielsa1775; 08-16-2012 at 09:21 PM..
Are they not accepting you as a Westerner or an Australian? Westerner in most people's minds refers to someone descended from Western European peoples. Surely they accept you as an Australian after hearing your accent?
Besides your origional post said european, not white. By Australian and US measuring systems, the populations of the likes of Iran, Iraq, Lebenon, Syria, Egypt etc etc are close to 100% white.
They sure are not european however, and neither are the 2.5% of australians who are either Aborigional or Torres Strait islanders.
Last edited by danielsa1775; 08-16-2012 at 11:16 PM..
It definitely happens. When I was in Turkey, there were a bunch of people who were like "really??" when I said I was from the US because they thought I was a local. One older guy went as far as telling me I was lying and he said I was tricking him, even though I was clearly speaking English in a non European/Middle Eastern accent. It was like unfathomable to them that someone with mid east descent could be living outside of the mid east.
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