I didn't know I wasn't white until I was about 10 years of age. I wasn't aware of ethnicity until someone pointed it out to me.
But someone did point it out to me and they continue to point it out to me to this day.
I remember working at Bentley in Nanaimo. Some guy walks in and asks if I can help him. Being a super luggage expert I say sure. He then pulls in a Chinese exchange student and asks me to talk to the exchange student because he sure as hell couldn't understand what he was saying.
Riiiiigggghhhhttt.
When I volunteered this year with immigrants it was the same. Sure, I was in a room full of people from other countries but I had to point out to each and every teacher that walked in that I wasn't a student. You would think the accent would tell them something but no.
I went to the dentist on Tuesday. The hygienist takes one look at my mouth and says "oh yes, they don't take wisdom teeth out in Japan." The dentist seemed shocked that I was born on this island. Asked me if I was related to Yugi who goes there, the one who speaks great English but can't read it.
I'm sick of it. My father is just as Canadian as my mom, yet people assume that my dad is from Japan and my mom is 100% Canadian.
What does it take to be considered Canadian?
Hell if I know.
S.
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3 comments:
Jesus tell me about it. I could write a ten page paper about this. Try living in an area where it is predominantly Chinese. Like 99%. And try going to Paris and being told by some Persian guy that you're not Canadian, but Arne is. His dad is not even a citizen. Sheesh.
Oh Shari, you really need to stop worrying about it. You're one of the whitest girls I know!
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