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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Sometimes when I travel in Asia - and I've been to 5 countries in SE Asia and China now, and I tell people I'm from Australia, many seem either unable to understand or accept this. Well maybe not A LOT, but a sizable minority. Even if my accent isn't obvious enough, some of them have said 'I don't believe you, I think you're from [insert random Asian country]' as if the only Australians are white people.
They probably don't understand that Australian is a nation of immigrants and not homogeneous unlike most Asian nations, but it's annoying that they can't seem to wrap their head around this. I wonder what they think when you tell them that you only speak English, lol.
Can't say that I've ever encountered this Trimac. The only thing remotely close that I can think of is how my Father's family (native Korean) can't wrap their heads around why he married a white woman from NY.
Sometimes when I travel in Asia - and I've been to 5 countries in SE Asia and China now, and I tell people I'm from Australia, many seem either unable to understand or accept this. Well maybe not A LOT, but a sizable minority. Even if my accent isn't obvious enough, some of them have said 'I don't believe you, I think you're from [insert random Asian country]' as if the only Australians are white people.
They probably don't understand that Australian is a nation of immigrants and not homogeneous unlike most Asian nations, but it's annoying that they can't seem to wrap their head around this. I wonder what they think when you tell them that you only speak English, lol.
I spent many years in South Korea, and noticed that all the time. If they see a Korean-looking person, it's just bizarre that they can't speak Korean.
In both Korea and Japan, I've been with my Asian wife who is neither Japanese or Korean. She doesn't look like either either, as she's southeast Asian. However, routinely when we go to restaurants, they always ignore me assuming I don't know anything, and look at her, assuming she must know everything as she's Asian.
It's actually the opposite though as I've spent a lot more time in Korea and Japan than my wife. Nontheless, it is what it is.
I've also spent a lot of time with Korean-Americans in Korea, and they get a ton of grief for not speaking perfect Korean.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,047,835 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger Beer
I spent many years in South Korea, and noticed that all the time. If they see a Korean-looking person, it's just bizarre that they can't speak Korean.
In both Korea and Japan, I've been with my Asian wife who is neither Japanese or Korean. She doesn't look like either either, as she's southeast Asian. However, routinely when we go to restaurants, they always ignore me assuming I don't know anything, and look at her, assuming she must know everything as she's Asian.
It's actually the opposite though as I've spent a lot more time in Korea and Japan than my wife. Nontheless, it is what it is.
I've also spent a lot of time with Korean-Americans in Korea, and they get a ton of grief for not speaking perfect Korean.
Oh I know, it must be annoying for you. I think, though, generally people will know I'm a tourist by how I'm dressed, but occasionally I've had people try to talk to me in the language of the country I'm visiting.
They probably don't understand that Australian is a nation of immigrants and not homogeneous unlike most Asian nations, but it's annoying that they can't seem to wrap their head around this. I wonder what they think when you tell them that you only speak English, lol.
From my experience, seems in China, you have to speak the local dialect to be accepted as one of them.. even speaking Mandarin isn't anything special since many Westerners are learning it in droves.
As far as traveling went, I've personally have not encountered it (yet). They don't mention it to me. But on Facebook, that's a different story. I hear a lot of criticisms - many that bordered on prejudices - by Asian-based Chinese. Even a number of Western-based Chinese do it too. All of them were men (women tend to be less uptight about it). Has a lot to do with the way they were raised and the attitudes they fostered at home. Or maybe it's just the more uptight, anal, self-loathing ones that are most vocal in cyberspace, probably for lack of social life (or girlfriends). I now realize why I don't like to hang out with those guys. Because they keep reminding me of how ugly home was. Tired of seeing the glass half-empty.
When I go back to my country, I get a lot of positive looks from people, mostly because I speak fluent English and I look and dress different. I don't speak my language fluently but I can get by with it.
Ive been to China, Japan, Hong kong, Macau, The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Never encountered this. People just hear me speak English and see how i dress and they know i only look asian...but im American. Id be asked if i was from the US, Canada or Oz. The only place ive encountered this was in the US from Americans who assumed I should speak Chinese and know karate.
I get this in Los Angeles when I come across people from China or Korea. I was born and raised in Britain and have a British accent. My parents were from India, so I look Indian.
They never believe me when I say I'm from UK, and even after I've explained it to them, they still don't accept me as British. They consider me Indian and sometimes I catch them saying something like "When you go back to India.."...I've never lived in India! Having to explain my background gets really tiresome after a while.
I never have this problem with white, black or Hispanic people - they accept me as being British.
Funnily enough in Hong Kong everybody would try to speak to me in Cantonese - I guess they thought I was a local...I know that there's a long established Hong Kong Indian community.
Sometimes when I travel in Asia - and I've been to 5 countries in SE Asia and China now, and I tell people I'm from Australia, many seem either unable to understand or accept this. Well maybe not A LOT, but a sizable minority. Even if my accent isn't obvious enough, some of them have said 'I don't believe you, I think you're from [insert random Asian country]' as if the only Australians are white people.
They probably don't understand that Australian is a nation of immigrants and not homogeneous unlike most Asian nations, but it's annoying that they can't seem to wrap their head around this. I wonder what they think when you tell them that you only speak English, lol.
People of European descent make up 90% of Australia's population, so many people are probably unaware of the Asian minority in your country.
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