[Cross posted on culturepress, on November 26, 2008]
Culturepress is today’s guest speaker. You can find her blog over here.
Today’s tragic terrorist attacks and hostage crisis in Mumbai got me thinking about traveling as an American. The terrorists are specifically targeting U.S. and U.K. passport-holders, after all.
I’ve been lucky in some ways. I don’t “look” like an American, so I can pass as a citizen from another continent and feel relatively safe when traveling–even alone, even as a woman (well… okay, we’ll scratch that last part).
When I was in Bangkok a few years ago, I found that being American may cost me, but only in the sense that I was exorbitantly overcharged for various goods and services. My American accent’s what did me in.
When asked where I was from (which was occasionally preceded by, “Why you talk like white-lady?”), I said that I’m Korean-American. “Korean” got me in worse of a state, as Koreans are often seen as gratuitous spenders by other peoples of Asia.
As I uttered the words “Korean-American,” I saw a Ch-ching, ch-ching slot-machine-type effect in the eyes of these Thai vendors and cab drivers. The prices went up even further.
I thought, maybe I can fake a Chinese accent? No good. I can’t even fake a Korean one for more than five seconds with a straight face.
So, I started telling the Thai people that I’m Chinese-Canadian.
Guess what? Cab fares were cut in half. I started getting those killer deals that Bangkok marketplaces are famous for. All because I was no longer “Korean” or “American.” Interesting effect.
My (non-Asian) American friends travel with elaborate stories of Canada prepared and memorized, not so much as to get better deals, but because it’s “safer” that way. Hopefully, over the next few years, perhaps, if our nation begins to spend more time and energy on humanitarian causes as opposed to imperialistic or militaristic ones, the world’s view of America will change, and we’ll no longer have to fake-Canadian in order to travel safely around the world.
My thoughts are with the people of Mumbai tonight. Happy Thanksgiving and be safe. (–culturepress)
I am pessimistic on this one. The phobes will only continue their school yard bullying tactics until another country usurps our power. When we finally become today’s Britain, that’s when the bullies will target the next superpower.
True Americanophobes aren’t the least bit concerned about crimes against humanity. Because if they were, they’d be protesting other evils going on both past and present. Being that their only focus is on the USA, says nothing about liberal tolerance and humanitarianism, but more about feeling tiny underneath the large gorilla.
“When we finally become today’s Britain, that’s when the bullies will target the next superpower.” Yes, I see your point. And,
“True Americanophobes aren’t the least bit concerned about crimes against humanity. Because if they were, they’d be protesting other evils going on both past and present.” <- This is very well-stated. The world also fails to acknowledge that the United States has done much humanitarian work, and that is not unintentional on the part of Americanophobes.