Just how different is it?

Snippylynn · December 2010

Ever wondered just how different living in certain areas of Europe is?

H was just telling me about his overnight trip to Italy. His team had an offsite and went to Ferrari. While everyone else was inside having a tour, H and his two bosses went outside beccause they had all been to the museum a few times. While outside, this girl from one of the stores that sells Ferrari drives came over and was talking to them. She asked H where he was from, he responds "Stati Uniti" because she didn't speak English.

She got this confused look on her face, PULLED BACK THE CORNER OF HER EYES and then pointed at him again to say, "But you're Asian!"

Oh. My. God.

ohwhynot · December 2010

Jeebus. I know I'm making a huge generalization, but race sensitivity does seem to be just way way way off there. Sensitivity to racial issues and to minority rights in general (see: Muslim headscarves) seems to be lacking, somehow.

Which is odd, because back in the not-so-distant past, Europe was where Black American entertainers went to be appreciated.

akhensley81 · December 2010

Ha!

How did he respond to her after that??

Snippylynn · December 2010

They don't think of it as being racist, they just do it. His response was "Uno generation-o" in his most annoying, American accent.

And you're right OWN. They say it's about protectin the interests of the state, but I really believe it's so THEY can feel more comfortable around people who are different.

aplatanada · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-different?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3cec42b4-831b-46d6-8b02-180c4b56bf66Post:567fa737-6288-4375-8efc-2d289c367ea9">Just how different is it?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ever wondered just how different living in certain areas of Europe is? H was just telling me about his overnight trip to Italy. His team had an offsite and went to Ferrari. While everyone else was inside having a tour, H and his two bosses went outside beccause they had all been to the museum a few times. While outside, this girl from one of the stores that sells Ferrari drives came over and was talking to them. She asked H where he was from, he responds "Stati Uniti" because she didn't speak English. She got this confused look on her face, PULLED BACK THE CORNER OF HER EYES and then pointed at him again to say, "But you're Asian!" Oh. My. God.
Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

I lived in Honduras for a while. I was friends with a black American in the same city where I lived. All these people would come up to him and detail their medical problems, ask him for medical advice, etc. He usually chalked it up to cultural difference but one day he was usually like, "WTF, why you asking me?" The "patient" said, "You're the Cuban doctor, right?" And he said "No, I'm from the US."And the person said, "But you're black!? You're sure you're not Cuban?"

Snippylynn · December 2010

lol... That's a completely different perspective!

GeauxTigers17 · December 2010

I lived in Europe for a while and this always blew my mind. I think they just don't think it's a big deal and aren't nearly as sensitive about pointing out differences as Americans are.

Snippylynn · December 2010

Absotlutely true Tigers. They just don't think about it at all.

Jennifer&Nate · December 2010

A classmate of mine who went to undergrad at Emory said that while she was there, a few German students showed up to a Halloween party in blackface. They were absolutely mortified when they were told that you just never EVER do that here. Apparently they had no idea (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt) how inflamatory that is considered here, especially in the south.

zantster · December 2010

Yup, when I lived and worked in Geneva, Switzerland for a year I was sitting in the lobby of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and someone asked me if I was from Colombia. I said, uh, no. I'm from Detroit. My travels abroad have been very enlightening as it pertains to racial/ethnic assumptions about my place of origin or cultural norms. It has taught me how truly impossible it is to judge someone based on outward appearances and how unfortunate it is that so many fellow Americans never travel, which can lead to a very closed minded world view.

mica178 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-different?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3cec42b4-831b-46d6-8b02-180c4b56bf66Post:7e4a2ca7-605a-4ac5-a926-df54a6bd4971">Re: Just how different is it?</a>:
[QUOTE]They don't think of it as being racist, they just do it. His response was "Uno generation-o" in his most annoying, American accent. Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

That's awesome.

LDYGTR13 · December 2010

Amoro - YGPM

TatiMarie · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_just-different?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3cec42b4-831b-46d6-8b02-180c4b56bf66Post:cddc751c-18b5-4a28-a732-5b7d612a4983">Re: Just how different is it?</a>:
[QUOTE]Jeebus. I know I'm making a huge generalization, but race sensitivity does seem to be just way way way off there. Sensitivity to racial issues and to minority rights in general (see: Muslim headscarves) seems to be lacking, somehow. Which is odd, because back in the not-so-distant past, Europe was where Black American entertainers went to be appreciated.
Posted by ohwhynot[/QUOTE]

I definitely agree with this, but sadly, I think this happens in every country/continent.

And don't even get me started with stories about my friends who are Korean-born but adopted in to Italian-American or Japanese families. Amazing some of the dumb questions they get from Americans AND Koreans.

emilyinchile · December 2010

When I was studying abroad in Chile, one of my friends was of Chinese descent. At a hostel, the owner asked us where we were from, and we said the US. She then said to a different friend and me, "y la chinita?" (and the chinese one?) while pulling her eyes. We were shocked too.

It's one of those things that while not particularly polite isn't seen as all that bad here. There's not much racial diversity, and the people of other races tend to stick together rather than mixing in with Chileans, so it's more a lack of knowledge than intentional racism. Still a bit jarring though.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · December 2010

I know you mentioned before that Italians would do that a lot - make fun of Asians by doing slanty eyes. But they see nothing wrong with it.

Hell, you KNOW some people in the US think there are no black people in Canada and no white people in Mexico. Ignorance is universal.

Snippylynn · December 2010

It's true Mery. Damn stupid people are everywhere.

Just how different is it?

Re: Just how different is it?

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