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May 08, 2005
The Incomprehensible "Oh"
As any person of Asian descent has experienced in America... You get asked "What you are" all the time.
I really doubt it happens to Caucasians very often, because you already know the answer is probably "I dunno." Somehow I don't see anyone asking a Black-American what he is, because, well, I dunno, it seems like a stupid question, unless he has an accent. And, for some reason, everyone is too afraid to ask someone if he is Indian, Persian, Sri Lankan, or whatever, because they might say they're from Iraq or Afghanistan --and then as a patriotic American, you might have to shoot them or something. (You know I'm talking somewhat in jest, right? Whatever, I'm from Oregon; everyone here is white [as in we get no sun... and the only African-Americans here, play sports]).
So today I'm working in on a group project, with my group. A girl in my group asks, "What are you?" I am about to open my mouth to speak, when she says, "Japanese, right?" And I say, "No, I'm Korean." And, she says the incomprehensible, "Oh."
The group quickly moves on to actual work. But that "Oh" keeps repeating in my head, spiraling down into my skull. "Oh." "Oh." "Oh."
What does that mean?
Sheesh.
It doesn't help that she is Asian, with an Asian accent, and I can't figure out what part of Asia she is from... Maybe I'll ask her next time. And then I'll say, "Ooooh." Hmmph.
Posted by Stacy on May 8, 2005 08:15 PM | Filed In: Ethnicity
Comments
Test.
Posted by stacy at May 9, 2005 01:09 PM
She's right, "Oh"'s a common Korean last name... :>
Posted by ian ashley at May 9, 2005 05:53 PM
Being Dutch, some people in the States assume I am German, because to some people our languages are alike and they just don't think of or just don't know about my little country. Until I mention Amsterdam, and then they give me an 'Oh!' too. But that perticular 'Oh' says something like: 'You prostitute banging, pot smoking, terminal people killing, same sex marrying person'!
I actually enjoy it... :)
Posted by carfentanyl at May 10, 2005 12:04 AM
