The (Not So) Exciting Stories Of My Adventures In The Japanese Countryside...

"If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things." -Henry Miller

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

What nationality do I appear like?


Yesterday during an introduction at Mizugaura elementary school Aaron asked the students to guess what country I was from.

Their answers?

#1 France

#2 Russia

How interesting! You know, when I was trekking through China last year a substantial number of Chinese people also assumed I was Russian or French. I wonder, might this be indicative of some broad, Asian perception/stereotype about what it means to be Russian or French? If so, what are the specific characteristics and traits associated with "French-ness" or "Russian-ness"? And what behaviors am I manifesting to suggest that I am French or Russian?

As always, your thoughts are welcome.

posted by Angie @ 1:17 AM  

5 Comments:

  • At 1:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    You've got the dark, swarthy European thing going on. Sure, technically it's Greek, but I think you're maybe a little paler than people expect for a Mediterranean person.

    Another possibility is that Japanese elementary students in the inaka just don't know what the fuck they're talking about. They think sombreros look like UFOs.

     

  • At 2:15 AM, Blogger Angie said…

    I particularly like your use of the word "swarthy".

    swarthy

    adj : naturally having skin of a dark color; "a dark-skinned beauty"; "gold earrings gleamed against her dusky cheeks"; "a smile on his swarthy face"; "`swart' is archaic" [syn: dark-skinned, dusky, swart]

    I'm not putting a lot of stock into what the kids think, per say. But I have encountered these two specific (French and Russian) mistaken identities in Japan and China before. I'm just saying...

     

  • At 4:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Huh, I didn't know swarthy specifically referred to the skin. I thought it was more of an overall complexion thing, including hair and eye color.

    I guess that makes my post a walking contradiction, and I ain't got no right.

     

  • At 10:08 PM, Blogger JJP said…

    Maybe sombreros do look like UFOs?

    Anyway, the kids in Ikata or anywhere else in Ehime never could guess what country any CIR or ALT was from. Kind of like how many Americans can't seem to tell any difference between a person from Indonesia and someone from Japan.

    Looks like you all are having a better time than I ever did- or probably ever could have had- in Ikata, which is wonderful.

    Please say hello to the Minatoura Matsuri Krewe for me, and thank Kato-san for the sake he dropped off for me moments before I departed Ikata for good. It was some fine stuff, truly.

    Cheers heavy,
    JJP

     

  • At 10:13 PM, Blogger Angie said…

    Hey J!

    Its so good to hear from you!!! At the Matsuri I told Kato-san that you send your best to him. He seemed very pleased and a little surprised that you didn't forget about him.

    Also, the teachers all send their love to you and Hatsumi. They want you to send photos of your new life in NYC when you have a chance.

    I'll write you more offline soon!

    Hugs,
    A

     

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