(no subject)
I went to Taiwan for Lunar New Year (and yes, I do think of Gilmore Girls every time I say that) which is the same as Chinese New Year (I guess the Koreans just don't want to celebrate one of their oppressors holidays [as the Koreans have been ruled over by pretty much everyone for a majority of their history] and it might be something completely different in Korean because when I mentioned the holiday to one of my co-workers she didn't seem to familiar with Lunar New Year). Anyway, Taiwan was really nice. It was pretty warm, though it rained for 2 of the 3 days I was there. I got to the beach (for 20 minutes) and went in to my shins. It was pretty and I sent my family a beach report.
But what I became acutely aware of for the first time is that I am a single woman traveling alone. I haven't had any problems before (not that I've done that much traveling by myself, but still some). I've had people comment before, like 'just you?', but this was the first time that there was a bit of deal. Another related point is that it is really something being a visible minority. Now I don't have to deal with the really big problems that minorities back home do (greater chance of poverty and just generally a lower slot in life) but I do know what is like to be stared at, pointed at, laughed at, poked, ect. And I'm pretty much used to it. I get it here in Korea all the time. I stand out like a sore thumb (especially when I wear my hair down and heals as I'm already taller then average and much bigger). I really don't care. I ignore most of it, smile and nod when people try to talk to me in Korean and talk in English when people want to. I feel like it is part of my job to make a good impression for white people (yeah, because white people really need cultural ambassador [I just had to do two google searches to find out how to spell that word, yeah, I'm an idiot]).
more to come
But what I became acutely aware of for the first time is that I am a single woman traveling alone. I haven't had any problems before (not that I've done that much traveling by myself, but still some). I've had people comment before, like 'just you?', but this was the first time that there was a bit of deal. Another related point is that it is really something being a visible minority. Now I don't have to deal with the really big problems that minorities back home do (greater chance of poverty and just generally a lower slot in life) but I do know what is like to be stared at, pointed at, laughed at, poked, ect. And I'm pretty much used to it. I get it here in Korea all the time. I stand out like a sore thumb (especially when I wear my hair down and heals as I'm already taller then average and much bigger). I really don't care. I ignore most of it, smile and nod when people try to talk to me in Korean and talk in English when people want to. I feel like it is part of my job to make a good impression for white people (yeah, because white people really need cultural ambassador [I just had to do two google searches to find out how to spell that word, yeah, I'm an idiot]).
more to come