Identity Crisis
I was at the big kids` school, waiting for Big Son and Daughter. I went over to see what one of Daughter`s little third-grade friends was doing.
She was sitting with another little girl, whom I didn`t know. This girl looked up at me and asked me, "What culture are you?"
Before I could answer, Daughter`s friend chimed in, "She`s Japanese!"
The other little girl looked skeptically at my light hair and clearly non-Asian features.
"She sure doesn`t look Japanese," she finally said.
"Well, Daughter is Japanese and they moved from Japan, so that means they`re Japanese," Daughter`s friend said, looking to me to back her up. "Right?"
"Um, right," I said. "Daughter`s father is Japanese and we moved from Japan."
"Say something in Japanese!" demanded the skeptical girl.
So I did.
She seemed satisfied.
But I was left feeling a little confused.
She was sitting with another little girl, whom I didn`t know. This girl looked up at me and asked me, "What culture are you?"
Before I could answer, Daughter`s friend chimed in, "She`s Japanese!"
The other little girl looked skeptically at my light hair and clearly non-Asian features.
"She sure doesn`t look Japanese," she finally said.
"Well, Daughter is Japanese and they moved from Japan, so that means they`re Japanese," Daughter`s friend said, looking to me to back her up. "Right?"
"Um, right," I said. "Daughter`s father is Japanese and we moved from Japan."
"Say something in Japanese!" demanded the skeptical girl.
So I did.
She seemed satisfied.
But I was left feeling a little confused.
posted by L. at 1:19 PM
11 Comments:
You are multicultural.
It's a good thing.
We have a major identity crisis here.
People think I am south american, brazil usually, and complement me on my English all the time and speak to me in Portugeuse ALWAYS. MY husband is chinese but Japanese people think he is Japanese, and Chinese think he is Korean. When he went to Shanghai he was complemented on his Chinese and he was soooo offended.
My father would always call me a quarter horse - 1/4 German, 1/4 russian, 1/4 English, 1/4 Scottish but 100% Canadian.
It gets a little strange around here too. Look at the girls and look at that picture of me.
Song in head: I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so (The Vapors)
New song: We are all earthlings, on a planet of the sun (from sesame street)
Just tell 'em you're an earthling.
(some of my best friends are earthlings.)
Ohhh Uncle R I like that!!!!
things aren't always what they seem...
I think it's great that kids can be so easily moved... you speak Japanese, therefore you must be Japanese.
I sometimes have to remind myself that while I am a Californian, my kids are.... not. I don't knwo what they are, but certainly not 'just like me'.
and, that's okay. who knows where they will end up. but we are all finding that who we are isn't necessarily tied to where we are. or where we're not.
How interesting. Not sure how I feel about kids starting to label things or people at such a young age, but I guess it's the way of the world.
http://annadilemna.typepad.com/anna/2005/12/100_cashmere.html#comment-12125979
Go here and read this blog. She is an American living in Japan. Thought you might be interested!
Okay, L, after reading your post at Anna Dilemna, I have to ask... WHAT exactly did you say to that little girl in Japanese? 8^)
lucy in tokyo told me about your blog. great read. i am transitioning from 30 years in japan to the states...maybe. resisting it, psychologically, i am currently "homeless" wandering from country to country. i know it's a stall tactic right now but i'm also hoping that i find an alternative. in the meantime, your writing cheers me greatly. lots to identify with...
Hi there-
The hospital where Nico was born was a small clinic in Seijo called Kinoshita byouin (or however it's spelled!
) I understand how u feel about tokyo- I hate it but at the same time would really miss my life if we were to leave. I like your blog by the way!
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