Whenever someone asks where I am from, I always say Kelowna. Although I grew up in Ontario, Kelowna feels more like my home now.They usually follow up with “But where were you born?”. Which I usually reply Canada. Then with a little more frustration, they ask “Well where is your family from?”. This happens to me at least one a day. Although it is nice that people are interested in my cultural background it can get very tedious.
- People either ask me to tell them how to say something in a language I don’t speak or speak to me in a language that I don’t understand. They then ask me what my first language is…English, its English.
- People tell me I have a nice tan all year round, which evidently is my skin colour
- People say offensive racial slurs without realizing my background, not that it would be okay either way. Once they find out, they follow it with a “no offence” comment.
- People try to set you up with their one coloured friend, because you are their new coloured friend and it just makes sense the two of you should meet.
- My sister and I are mistaken for twins, my brother and I mistaken for a couple and none of us bare any resemblance to my father.
- Other cultural groups identify me as their own, and try to take me under their wing.
- People tell me I am not _______ enough for whichever ethnicity they think I am.
- I get asked if my hair is real and it is considered to be a completely acceptable question.
- People tell me I look like someone they know, or famous celebrities that I don’t even vaguely resemble me. Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Leah Remini, Raven Symone, the list goes on.
- Customs tries to force me to go into the locals lines when I arrive at a tropical destination. In Mexico, I looked Mexican, in New Zealand I looked Maori, in Italy, I look Italian, I think you get the point.
