Throughout Laos and Cambodia, a lot of people asked where we're from. Once we got to the part where we said we're from California, a lot of people then proceeded to talk about how a lot of people from their country are now living in California. Often, though, there would be major hangups about being Chinese-American.
***
"Hello, where are you from? Are you from Malaysia?"
"No, America"
"But originally, where are you from? Japan? Korea?"
"We're Chinese"
"But you look Japanese!"
***
"Where are you from?"
"America"
"But you are originally from..."
"We're Chinese"
"CHINESE?!" (deep furrowed eyebrows) "But you look Japanese!"
