Digital Nomads

I’m American but my parents are from Bangladesh. I met some Bangladeshis in Rome who refused to believe I was ethnically Bangladeshi, even after speaking Bangla to them. 😑

It's also frustrating to travel internationally as a white America because people expect me to explain US politics and foreign policy.

Sometimes I say I’m American when I am asked what my ethnicity is.

Actually do often.

I’m Filipino, white. But American.

But all in all, I’ve only been out of the country once.

I have been working in SE Asia /Middle East for 5 years as a Black American. Never had any odd follow up question like that.

I just keep applying the Socratic method until they feel like an idiot.

"Where are you from?"

"England"

"Ok but originally?"

"... London?"

"But where are you parents from?"

"England"

"And your grandparents?"

"England"

"But you don't look English"

"Have you been to England?"

"No"

"Then how would you know?"

"Well... I guess I've seen on TV..."

"Like Downton Abbey?"

"Yes... well no I mean..."

American isnt a race! American =/= white. Yes im "full american" even though im ethnically latino! If you want to know my ethnicity/race then just ask me that instead of implying im not a "real" american.

You yourself are doing what you accuse others of doing. Latino is an ethnicity not a race. You can look racially Asian, Arab, Turkic, African, or European and be "Latino"

I know most people asking this arent doing so from a place of malice, but damn does it get tiring after the 100th time.

Pot, Kettle

What’s funny about this is the U.S. govt themselves lump Hispanics into the white category. Next time try and explain that to whoever is asking you these questions while abroad. Should be a good convo.

As a giant white guy abroad, I'm sick of being assumed German, British, or Russian: "Rus. Gözenle." (trans "Russian. It's in your eyes.") one Türk told me as she was MAKING A PHOTOCOPY OF MY AMERICAN PASSPORT. (ffs)

I worked in a Thai school where we had a white teacher from South Africa and a black teacher from London. The kids were in disbelief and thought it was a prank or some kind of practical joke.

Wild that this actually happens.

I'm Australian and I got exactly the same in Europe. Same old questions.

Riz Ahmed made a song about that question. Where you from?

Bruh get over yourself. It's a non issue. Stop being a baby.

You remember that scene from The Middle where Sue said she was a native American on her college forms, because she never thought she could be something else? People are prejudiced, don't let them bring you down ❤️‍🩹

I think it goes deeper than certain people want to admit. It goes to show how even if you are a naturally born citizen, it takes more to be seen as American in our society. There are American passport holders all over the world with no connection to the country or the culture whatsoever. I’d assume the same goes for other countries even with multiethnic populations. If your parents or grandparents are not from America, it more than likely will show in your speech, mannerisms, style, other methods of expression. The Americanization typically happens in or after the teenage years but by then what’s taught at home is usually already ingrained to a degree. It’s no surprise that other Americans that aren’t first generation can sniff this out. It’s probably similar for any country with a history and populations that have been there for long spans of time.

Why people with recent immigrant history here in America pretend they aren’t still very connected to their ethnic groups while still retaining those cultures is disingenuous. This tends to be manifested a lot via interpersonal conflicts that take place within certain Latin American and Asian American individuals who are more than likely tend to be from very recent stock. With recent arrivals of various subgroups vs those that have already been through this rodeo, the “why am I not seen as” is exasperated.

Flip it back "and where are you from? France? The only natives are the native Americans"

I’m curious to hear what you all think of this. I’m white with an unrecognizable accent that came out of years of not being able to talk right (so not a pleasant memory to relive with strangers). I get asked this question a lot. I really want to say “Hope you don’t ask this to someone you think LOOKS different!” But most of the time it happens at work and I have to avoid any confrontation. I really have no idea how to respond to this other than to literally answer the question and then they get confused or throw in the “but where are you REALLY from??”

It’s annoying as hell, but I started using it as a filter. The people who I end up becoming friends with don’t ask me that question and I will share my story later on. They know better.

This annoys you? Really? That’s crazy lmfaooo.

Not sure why people identify the US as a white country. Whites are the minority especially in the big cities, people must look at the statistics.

It ain't the '60s anymore

They had no idea what Americans are like overseas I swear to god.

They are not asking your nationality.

I’m white and my (now deceased) mom used to do this and it was cringe.

However at the same time, my mom was kind, an internationalist traveler and was genuinely interested in a persons heritage because she had a complete shit life with abusive parents until she met my dad. She was very kind and would invite you over for a meal or give you a place to stay if you needed it.

Some people come off ignorant but they just don’t know any better.

Yea I get you. I didn’t for the longest believe I was American even though I was born and raised here. It’s sad how we are conditioned to believe American is only white. It’s sad because honestly unless you tell me otherwise or I clearly see you aren’t American, I assume you are just American.

yea. many folks don't realize nationality != ethnicity

hell, even israel have arab israeli and other ethnicities as citizens, despite being denigrated as an ethno state.

As a Nomad, you should get used to different varieties of political correctness in different regions.