The 8 Types of Ethnic Conversations

I was recently working at one out of my two jobs, at McDonalds as a Team Leader. I have been working there for over three years now and have gotten an array of ethnic conversations. I feel that these will make you laugh or make you cringe and hopefully make you think twice on how you ask someone what their ethnicity is. For the most part, I do have to laugh at conversations like these because that’s all you really can do.

How do people ask you what your ethnicity is? What are your conversations like? Comment on Facebook or under my blog’s page.

1. The ‘Where Are You Actually From?’

“Do you live here?” “Yes, I do!” “Okay… but, where are you actually from?” “Uh, well, I was born from China, but moved here from Toronto ten years ago.” “Oh! Ni hao!” “*laughs awkwardly as I plaster a ‘Dude, you’re the third person this week to do this’ smile on my face* Ni hao!”

2. The ‘Are You Sure?’

“*stares intensely at me* Are you Filipino?” “Uhm, no, I am Chinese actually!” “… Really? Are you sure? You look Filipino.” “Nope, as far as I know I am Chinese.” “Hmmmmm *stares skeptically at me*”

3. The ‘I Have A Daughter-In-Law Lookalike’

“What ethnicity are you?” “I am Chinese.” “Oh, yes, you look a lot like my son’s wife. She lived in China, but she met my son when he was working there as a teacher and now they’re married in live in Canada. You do look quite like her.”

“Ohhhkay….????? Good for her????”

4. The ‘I Know More About Your Culture Than You Do’

“Where are you originated from?” “Well, I am from China.” “Oh really? So you know all about the People’s Republic in China and Mao’s reign of power that caused and is still causing havoc and distress throughout China?!” “Uhhhhhhhhhh…. No?” “Do you speak Chinese?” “*grimaces because Chinese is not a language* I do not speak Mandarin or Cantonese.” “Well, geez, you should look into that, that’s your culture! I have been able to learn Chinese myself. Seems like I know more than you do and you’re the Chinese one!”

5. The ‘Pity-Party’

“So how did you come to Canada from China?” “I was actually adopted from China as a baby.” “Wow *looks of pity* that’s so sad…” “Actually, it’s really not that bad, I enjoy being adopted because it makes me unique!” “Well... That’s a good way of thinking about it *quietly prays that I don’t suddenly burst into tears because that would make them uncomfortable*”

6. The ‘Aren’t You Lucky?’

“You should feel lucky that you have been adopted!” “Yes, I am.” “Because if you weren’t you probably wouldn’t have an education, you might not have a roof over your head or clothes. You would have to work horrible hours and have to support your family.” “Yes sir, I am lucky to live in Canada.” “You should be grateful and thank your parents!” “I am very grateful and thankful to my parents.” “Well, good! Don’t forget how lucky you are!”

7. The 'Boomerang'

"*inaudible words*" "Sir, remember, I told you I don't speak Filipino." "You did?" "Yes, I told you that before because you tried speaking Filipino like you did now." "Oh, well.... You obviously understood what I said because you responded to me." "No, actually I didn't. I just knew you have tried speaking to me before." "Well, I will remember now."

Or sometimes they just go right for it

8. The ‘Assumer’

"*inaudible words*” “Sorry, what did you say?” “*more inaudible words*” “Uhhhhhhh….” “Aren’t you Filipino?” “Uh, no I am not! But good try!” “Oh sorry! Well, have a nice day!”

^This incident happened only a week ago. My co-workers and I agreed that I should wear a shirt that states, “I am not Filipino” when I work to clear other people’s confusion. Ethnic confusion isn’t just experienced by me, many adoptees, people who have accents, or people of different skin colour get questioned. Laurianne even got asked if she was Mexican, Izze and Julia get bombarded at work asking if they’re Filipino and my good friend gets skeptical looks when she tells people she's Portuguese because of her fair skin and blue eyes.

Sometimes the conversations are funny, but sometimes people seem skeptical of our own knowledge about who we are and where we come from.

Feel free to comment and share an experience you’ve witnessed or overheard that made you cringe or laugh!