'Diversity'? According to a website, it means 'point or respect in which things differ'. In this country, diversity is relevantly used as accepting others of a different color, culture and background. I am an active member in the Asian Diversity Group. But today, we volunteered and helped the BEA (Black Employees Association) to sell tickets for their Scholarship Award that will be held next week.
Eventhough I can be a familiar face at the cafeteria (4 buildings in all and 90 district offices in North California), they might also be asking themselves…why an asian at the BEA booth? It wasn’t as thought they gave me a weird look, but I was asking myself if they would ask the same question to themselves (like self conscious lah).
Anyway, back to my initial topic, I was asking myself especially after the volunteer work this afternoon…'How diversed am I?'. I think that I am 'kind of' diversed, to start by marrying someone who is not from my own ethnicity, but then again, others might say that american cultures are easy to adopt. Not really.
Eventhough I can be a familiar face at the cafeteria (4 buildings in all and 90 district offices in North California), they might also be asking themselves…why an asian at the BEA booth? It wasn’t as thought they gave me a weird look, but I was asking myself if they would ask the same question to themselves (like self conscious lah).
Anyway, back to my initial topic, I was asking myself especially after the volunteer work this afternoon…'How diversed am I?'. I think that I am 'kind of' diversed, to start by marrying someone who is not from my own ethnicity, but then again, others might say that american cultures are easy to adopt. Not really.
I realized that asians tend to be 'shy' but said to be 'unfriendly' by americans as we were brought up to not look into someone's eye directly out of respect, tend to not speak out our opinions when we have one, our of respect (sorry, I don’t have that character!) etc etc. I had to also train myself never to interrupt when a person speaks, which I didn’t know that I had that poor habit until I married my husband (my dad and a few asian friends tend to have that habit too).
I had problems making friends with others when I moved here almost 4 years back. Color coded at first? I have no comments. Maybe I was unfamiliar with my surroundings? Maybe I didn’t know how certain community would react when we talk to them? Or maybe I might sound a little too loud for people?
In order for us to train our kids to live a life of diversity, we had to train ourselves first kan? As parents, my husband and I had to tolerate each others' cultural habits, good or bad, and then we move on to another totally different culture.
I had problems making friends with others when I moved here almost 4 years back. Color coded at first? I have no comments. Maybe I was unfamiliar with my surroundings? Maybe I didn’t know how certain community would react when we talk to them? Or maybe I might sound a little too loud for people?
In order for us to train our kids to live a life of diversity, we had to train ourselves first kan? As parents, my husband and I had to tolerate each others' cultural habits, good or bad, and then we move on to another totally different culture.
Knowing California, it is not just made up of mainly Chinese, Indian and Malay…but, 5 different types of Hispanics, Chinese, about 4 groups of African Americans and about 20 or more groups of the white people, including 5 or more different groups of Jewish group and...malay? What is Malay? Is it near China? That's the question that almost everyone would ask me.
Some would think that I am hispanic and start speaking spanish to me when they see me. Some think that I am filipino (close enough!) which I wouldn’t mind at all being mistaken for that and some know that my husband is jewish by looking at my last name (can't disclose that, sorry…and no, it is not Schmuck!).
Oh and don’t forget the gays and lesbians. I know, some would come to me if they could and say shhhh! I can't cos I am in San Francisco! This city is so diversed that it has a special district called the Castro District where gays and lesbians hang out and have fun, get married and live in that area. I have to admit that I was not at all diversed about it when I just moved here. But I have learned a word and attitude called 'tolerance' living in a community. They are normal people who are mostly proffesionals, who could be your kids' teachers, proffessors, our family Drs, or even our bosses. To me, they is no handicap in them and what they do in their lives have got nothing to do with ours except for their services that we need everyday from them. Some of my close co workers are gays and they can be such darlings when it comes to tackling emotional problems. And they're known to be solid customers too!
So really, how diversed are we?
7 comments:
just like you, you'll probably find out how diversed you are when you're right smack in a place that's foreign to you. It's always good exposure. As Malaysians we're always mistaken for Philipinos, Mexicans etc..etc.. which is funny sometimes. And while its good to adapt to different cultures, one must always remember to keep their feet firm on the ground, and remember their roots. People like you Ely, are lucky to be able to experience this, and at the same time be able to bring yr culture there too, Nagasaris and currypuffs and all!!
yes mammal, i know what u mean!
my husband read this posting and started laughing saying that i was in total culture shock. i was scared of hispanics, of african americans, of philipinos and i only liked the indians (cos they cook good food!). it was so funny, but really not when i was going through it!
i cant say that i am totally diversed YET or ever. i learn to have more tolerance and understanding about other cultures and i feel that i have so far taught myself pretty well. thanks to my husband too who helped me adjust to this other side of the world.
my co workers and friends still cant believe that i just moved fm singapore 4 years back. maybe cos i am too loud, obnoxious at times and speak good english (r they ignorant or what?).
anyway, those currypuffs and nagasari have been flying around. Ely will still keep promoting the Malay culture!!!
I think the West coast is one of the best places to describe 'diversity', right up to the sexually diverse ones :D I don't feel out of place when I'm in big cities like New York either. Maybe coz these are the melting pots for all cultures and ppl from all over. But try going to Kentucky... oh my... STARES all over!!! I totally felt like a sore thumb while I was there. Masuk kedai kasut pun macam all guns were targeted at me... ye lah, country kata kan, jarang nampak muka Asian :D While here at the office, I work in an all-Black environment. Weird huh, in Singapore, all-Black?? *hehehee* Sampaikan security guard pun tanya why I am the only Asian there... funny lah orang ni.
Don't worry about the BEA :) I'm sure the brothas and sistas are welcoming of you. Selalunya diorang alright dengan Asians, but of orang puteh, ummm coz it's a black organization... no comment lah... :D
hartini, yeah when we went to visit my in laws in Florida, it was a weird sight to them, asian wife and kids, jewish husband. so they stared at our every move. the old jewish people. when we caught their gazes, they just smiled. hhehehe.
true, san francisco is most diversed besides LA. in SF, there r 51% of asians, so asians rule in SF!
Ely,
Try living in the South the bible belt area.. There's diversity but.. you'll find out when you live around here long enough... :) Only the capital has diversity other than that.. you'll feel the heat.. man!! :D
51% is a lot!! Florida lagi sikit Asians. I didn't see ANY when I was there. Like funny gitu... I think even Atlanta has more Asian restaurants than the whole of Florida. So your in-laws relatives still stare at u? *hehee* Maybe they just find you interesting to look at. Just like us, kecil2, baru2 nampak mat salleh, pun kita stared at them *hehehee*
Yea Suriyati, you're still considered quite up north... A few miles out of Atlanta is already the red neck zone... I wonder how much worse it is in Alabama and Mississippi... lagi no diversity! No wonder the KKK lives long there :D
suriyati, i dunno how i will be able to adjust myself and even the kids with that kind of environment?
hartini, it wasnt the in laws relatives staring at me. u see, in florida, it was majority jewish. u dont see much of asian there. so when we go to the jewish deli, org tgk kita mcm lain jer hehehe.
Post a Comment