Representin' my home country
Yesterday I met Tumami Tui. Kalahating Hapon at Pinoy. I just formally met her recently, despite the fact that she's been sitting right behind me in Accounting 1210 and it's almost the end of the semester. We bumped into the hallway right after I finished my Marketing class while she was on her way to hers. I reluctantly said hi, not knowing if she knew me or not. For some reason we ended up talking a lot more than we should have.
She was so fascinated with my story of having to move here from Manila and getting into college right after high school despite your "typical" Filipino who ends up as a cashier in the McDonald's chains found on every corner. She is 21, has 3 jobs and just recently started the Marketing Program when she finally decided that she wanted to make something more of herself.
I told her that there was a whole crowd of us that had recently moved here from Manila just to get an education. Some with family, others "shipped off" by their parents. Tumami was in awe, thanking me for representing the Filipinos, taking action and making the most of this Canadian experience.
I guess I can't be anything but thankful as well.
Those here that have not had previous relationships or connection with Filipinos, which are a lot of my friends now, know Filipinos for: their dog eating habits, as being a DH, their pornographic films, or being someone like Edna, the friendly cafeteria lady. A lot of the Filipinos here only associate with Filipinos. If not, they are embarassed of being Filipino and disassociate themselves with fellow Filipinos in every way possible. Me? Well, I do try to mix it up a lot, having friends of every sort. But I must admit that I am sometimes picky with the Filipinos friends I have.
Hopefully I'll have the chance to make people's view of Filipinos a positive one and their experience with a Filipino, enlightening. There's so much more to us and our country and that should come through. We deserve it.