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5 Questions

01/19/2010

lists, Seriously

I have done a lot of thinking lately, and here’s what I want to know.

1.  If you’re Asian, but really american, is visiting your country of origin difficult? I know as a caucasian when I visit other cultures people tend to laugh when I operate outside of normal customs.  But if you look like you belong there, would you get in trouble?  For instance, I’m certian if we had a Chinese exchange student visiting our american home and he burped obnoxiously at our dinner table everyone would laugh assuming he didn’t realize that burping was rude.  But, if he was Chinese and caucasian I bet… nevermind.  I’d still laugh.

2.  How much time have I spent in my lifetime listening to couches that my cell phone is NOT inside.

3.  Who choose breakfast foods?

4.  Why are people more willing to make a complete fools of themselves than to let their suitcase go around the carousel one more time.  The other day I watched a guy show 50 other people how embarrassingly weak he is as he struggled to pull off his large bag while standing at a 60 degree angle.  Also, he knocked over 3 people.  Also, he didn’t get his bag.

5.  How long did it take penguins to get to the ark?

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Brandon_Schmidt Brandon_Schmidt

    A church by me has a sign saying "Perseverance: Even the snails made it to the ark"

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/joannamuses joanna

    As for number one, I know some of my friends who have an Asian ethnic background but were raised in the west do sometimes have trouble when they go to Asia. Language seems to be their big problem- people get annoyed at visitors who look chinese but don't speak Chinese (or whatever other local language). They seem to think language ability is genetic or something. While living in Singapore I did start to pick up some local mannerisms, habits and words which kinda confused some people because being very obviously not local in looks and accent people expected stereotypical Australian/foreigner behavior from me.

    As for number three..Good question. Some of them are strange choices.

    I agree number four is a bit weird. I would also like to know why people with hard to get down from the overhead lockers carry on bags always have to jump up before the seatbelt sign is even off and then block the isle for ages. Same deal for people who've unpacked the bag during the flight and now need to repack it. Couldn't they just wait a few minutes until the people behind them who are able to move quickly have gone?

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/vee_tran Vy Tran

    1) Yes. It's different for white people visiting the lands of their ancestors (e.g. Ireland, England, Scotland) because white people have already been strongly associated with the term "American." Therefore, if a white guy wandering around London happens to be an American, it's not really a surprise. Though, he may be more likely to get yelled at by a drunk guy because "Americans ruin everything."

    3) Jimmy Dean.

    4) Personally, I'm afraid that once my suitcase disappears into the other side of the conveyor belt, it's not coming back.

    5) I'm sure God magically laid down a path of ice for them to slide down to get to the ark, so not long.

  • Thor

    Penguins didn't need to go to the ark. Ice floats.

  • nate

    As an Asian, I've always found it a little difficult to adjust to the western culture. keeping shoes on in homes is a different idea and I'm honestly not a huge fan of forks (would it hurt the budget that much to give me some friggin chopsticks with my boneless buffalo wings or baby back ribs?) . Its also frustrating when people think that just because I speak with an accent that I don't fully grasp the English language.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Matt_TCoNP Matt_TCoNP

    Don't know any of the answers except for #3. Mr. Kellogg was a real health nut. You know that crazy old Jack Lelane on the juice infomercial? Kellogg was like his grandfather – totally insane, insane for health. And that deranged mind created Corn Flakes. Except he put the bag on the outside of the box. For real. Some rocket scientist had to tell him it would be better the other way around. He thanked the guy with a crate of Corn Flakes.

  • Pete

    Thor's comment is awesome. (Penguins are also great swimmers)
    Breakfast foods are the best ever. Whoever chose them is a saint. saint kellogg?
    #1, No just as easy as anyone. They still let you go. Except the plane tickets are just as expensive.

  • jolee mclean

    im half filipino half white but i have more issues in the US where i was born and raised… i sometimes get 'that chinese girl' or 'that mexican girl'…and everyone expects me to be really smart and drive bad. but in the philippines, for some reason, they have zero expectations of me. but i guess halfies dont really ever feel at home here or there…