Are You Sure You’re Chinese?
I’ve gotten this question half-a-dozen times in the past few weeks. It’s not asked in the, “Are you Chinese… (versus Japanese, Korean, Laotian, etc.)?”-way. It’s asked in the “Are you sure you’re Chinese? You’re not white?”-way.
Well, how can you tell? Maybe you just misread the question.
No. You can tell. Trust me.
Yesterday, I was explaining what exactly was in a chow mein and why the only natural preservative in a chicken mei fun was MSG. The one fat, butt-ugly woman gave me a look: “I can’t believe this is being explained to me in English, and I can understand what he’s saying! He can’t really be Chinese… can he?”
Yes, I can tell this is what she thought. It doesn’t take a mind-reader.
Yes, I tell these people. I am Chinese.
Or else they ask, “Full-Chinese? You’re not half or something?”
Look at this face:
This is a face that says, "100-percent Cantonese, baby. Don't fuck with me."
My mother’s family is from the village of Dai Pang. My father’s family is from the village of Tai Shan.
I am Chinese/Cantonese-American.
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