Do I Look Middle Eastern?
In my previous post, I mentioned that people are surprised when I tell them that I lived in Hawaii all my life!
In most cases, people assume that I'm from California or Mexico. Hey, I have to admit, most Mexicans I know in Hawaii are either from the mainland U.S. or Mexico.
But some have also said that I look like I'm from the Middle East.
Some kids asked if I was from Iraq or Afghanistan. Other people thought I was from Pakistan or India.
That is hilarious, since none of my family is Middle Eastern, and my knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures is very limited. I haven't met many Middle Eastern people. Also, I have never visited the Middle East!
I have written some stuff saying that the US needs to be tough on Islamic terrorists. But that doesn't mean I'm against people from the Middle East.
Some of my ancestors were from Spain and Portugal. Those 2 European countries were conquered by the Moors during the 700s. The Moors who were Arab Muslims from North Africa.
However, the Moors were kicked out Spain and Portugal during the 1400s.
For more info on that, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moors
So it is possible I have Moorish genes coming from my Spanish and Portuguese ancestry. But it's extremely unlikely that I'd have Iraqi, Pakistani or Afghan blood in me. NOT like there's anything wrong with that :)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I Dont Look Local?
Hawaii journalist Peter Boylan says that other people in Hawaii are surprised when he tells them he too is from Hawaii.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/16/il/FP601160310.html
I understand how he feels.
Here's my email to him.
I could really relate to your Monday's editorial.
I am of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Portuguese and German ancestry and I grew up in Kalihi.
However, when I meet new people, they only see my Mexican looks and dont believe me when I say I lived my entire life in Hawaii. Meanwhile, Asians and Polynesians who lived their whole lives in the mainland and just arrived in Hawaii are assumed to be local, just by the way they look!
Ironic, since the last time I was out of Oahu was in 1995. And that was just for a visit the mainland.
Also, because I look Mexican, it is assumed by others that I always eat tacos, burritos, etc. In reality, I rarely eat those things. I eat Asian food a lot more often than Mexican food.
And people are so shocked when my family actually cooks shoyu chicken, saimin, kalua pork and stuff everyone else in Hawaii eats. But why is no one shocked when a local Japanese person eats pizza? People are surprised that my family adjust to Hawaii the same way all the Japanese and Filipinos have adjusted to Hawaii.
Anyways, even with those idiocies, I still love Hawaii. My existence gives me and others and opportunity to learn from each other. I embrace being the rare Mexican/Puerto Rican/German/Portuguese in an island filled with Asians and Polynesians! I wouldn't have it any other way : )
Hawaii journalist Peter Boylan says that other people in Hawaii are surprised when he tells them he too is from Hawaii.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/16/il/FP601160310.html
I understand how he feels.
Here's my email to him.
I could really relate to your Monday's editorial.
I am of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Portuguese and German ancestry and I grew up in Kalihi.
However, when I meet new people, they only see my Mexican looks and dont believe me when I say I lived my entire life in Hawaii. Meanwhile, Asians and Polynesians who lived their whole lives in the mainland and just arrived in Hawaii are assumed to be local, just by the way they look!
Ironic, since the last time I was out of Oahu was in 1995. And that was just for a visit the mainland.
Also, because I look Mexican, it is assumed by others that I always eat tacos, burritos, etc. In reality, I rarely eat those things. I eat Asian food a lot more often than Mexican food.
And people are so shocked when my family actually cooks shoyu chicken, saimin, kalua pork and stuff everyone else in Hawaii eats. But why is no one shocked when a local Japanese person eats pizza? People are surprised that my family adjust to Hawaii the same way all the Japanese and Filipinos have adjusted to Hawaii.
Anyways, even with those idiocies, I still love Hawaii. My existence gives me and others and opportunity to learn from each other. I embrace being the rare Mexican/Puerto Rican/German/Portuguese in an island filled with Asians and Polynesians! I wouldn't have it any other way : )
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