It's the question that I get asked on a daily basis here in K-town. I'm used to being asked 'what' I am in my hometown of D.mond but no one ever asks 'where' I'm from. It's like being reminded on a daily basis that I'm an outsider. I don't look like I belong here...in fact, I don't look "Canadian" at all. But isn't Canada known as a multi-cultural country? So why am I assumed not to be Canadian just because I'm not white? Why is the white face representative of "Canadian?". I'm still in Canada, right? It's amazing how different a culture can be between two towns only 5hours away from each other. People who know me know that I consider myself to be a proud Canadian. For the first time in my life, I'm being denied that part of my identity. If people around me don't recognize me as Canadian, it's like I'm not allowed to act like one either. Whatever I do or say gets labeled as something 'different' and 'exotic'....the labels can be both positive and negative. I have never heard the term 'your people' used so much....wow. I have been here for 6 months now and I have become aware of the duality of my existence here. I am painfully visible and invisble at the same time. It's like being pushed on stage and having your voice taken away. What I love are the people who are just so convinced that I don't belong in Canada so much so that they continue the questioning like this:
Local:"So, where are you from?"
ME:"Oh, I'm from D.mond."
L:"(confused look).......where are your parents from?'
M:"They're from D.mond, they still live there."
L:"(more confused)......no, where are they REALLY from?"
M:".....My family's originally from 日本, if that's what your asking."
L:"Oh! yea, yea, so do you miss it there?"
M:"Um, where do you mean, D.mond,or 日本?"
Don't get me wrong, I'm totally having fun with this too...
Local:"Where are you from?"
ME:"
WHY do I find it so funny when they believe me??
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