I have some stories that are old but wanted to share anyway. I am an Asian American born and raised in the U.S. but I have a number of people assuming things about me because of my background.
I made a thread about the man who went on a profanity laced rant weeks ago but this one is not as crazy. Mainly just ignorant and sort of hilarious how bad they can be! It's probably better to post them all in one post? Not many people may have saw my first post so I'll quickly mention that I work at a small mom and pop dry cleaner. Nice family. All Korean-Americans as well.
We had a guy come in to pick up his suit few months ago. He hands me his release ticket and I type in the number on the computer and it shows where it's located on this machine (where clothes are hanged on hangers) and brings the clothes out front. I'm standing in front of the machine waiting for his clothes to come up.
Customer: Boy...you Chinese sure are crafty!
Me: I'm not Chinese, sir.
Customer: Oh? Where did you move from then?
Me: I moved from Queens. I'm Korean if that's what you're asking.
Customer: Ohhh..I hope you didn't come here from North Korea! Har Har!
Me: No. Queens. New York City. I don't think it's common to find many North Koreans here in the States.
Customer: "don't think it's common to find many North Koreans here in the States" I hear that!
After receiving his payment, I give him his change.
Customer: I'll SEE you again next time I go to a wedding!
Me: Wedding?
Customer: I only wear suits when I go to weddings you see. You know how it is. I got one in an hour. That reminds me! Where is the nearest Dollar store?
Me: Dollar store? There's o-
Customer: Yup! I need to get the bride and the guy their wedding present!
Me: There's one across the street. Another one on so-and-so street.
Customer: Everything is ONE dollar?
Me: I believe so.
After thanking me he walks out cheerfully!
There is a pizza place right next to where I work. I notice a man standing in front of it looking around. He looks into our window and sees me. He gets excited and walks into my store going
Man: Say, do you have the menu and phone number for the sushi place few stores down?
Me: Sorry sir, I do not. You could probably just walk over there and grab one easily.
Man: Wha..naaaahh. Too far. I'm no mood for pizza so I wanted sushi. (if only you guys could see just how close the sushi place is located)
Me: Sorry. I've never been there.
Man: I figured that YOU would know of all people.
Me: Sorry.
He walks out annoyed.
We also get a lot of people asking if we used to be the other cleaners located in some other street, city, some other state such as New Jersey or Michigan or the Chinese takeout in some town I've never even heard of, or any other business with Asians or Asian-Americans.
A small number of people also can't tell the difference between the manager (he's in his 60s) and his son who is 22 I believe. Son is about 6 foot tall and speaks English as his first language. His father is about 5'6 and has a heavy accent. How is that even possible I do not know!
My personal favorites are when someone walks in and goes "do you speak English" or "can you understand what I am saying" Some of them will say this slowly. The other favorite is when someone walks in and goes "Konicheeewa" or "mushi mushi"
I made a thread about the man who went on a profanity laced rant weeks ago but this one is not as crazy. Mainly just ignorant and sort of hilarious how bad they can be! It's probably better to post them all in one post? Not many people may have saw my first post so I'll quickly mention that I work at a small mom and pop dry cleaner. Nice family. All Korean-Americans as well.
We had a guy come in to pick up his suit few months ago. He hands me his release ticket and I type in the number on the computer and it shows where it's located on this machine (where clothes are hanged on hangers) and brings the clothes out front. I'm standing in front of the machine waiting for his clothes to come up.
Customer: Boy...you Chinese sure are crafty!
Me: I'm not Chinese, sir.
Customer: Oh? Where did you move from then?
Me: I moved from Queens. I'm Korean if that's what you're asking.
Customer: Ohhh..I hope you didn't come here from North Korea! Har Har!
Me: No. Queens. New York City. I don't think it's common to find many North Koreans here in the States.
Customer: "don't think it's common to find many North Koreans here in the States" I hear that!
After receiving his payment, I give him his change.
Customer: I'll SEE you again next time I go to a wedding!
Me: Wedding?
Customer: I only wear suits when I go to weddings you see. You know how it is. I got one in an hour. That reminds me! Where is the nearest Dollar store?
Me: Dollar store? There's o-
Customer: Yup! I need to get the bride and the guy their wedding present!
Me: There's one across the street. Another one on so-and-so street.
Customer: Everything is ONE dollar?
Me: I believe so.
After thanking me he walks out cheerfully!
There is a pizza place right next to where I work. I notice a man standing in front of it looking around. He looks into our window and sees me. He gets excited and walks into my store going
Man: Say, do you have the menu and phone number for the sushi place few stores down?
Me: Sorry sir, I do not. You could probably just walk over there and grab one easily.
Man: Wha..naaaahh. Too far. I'm no mood for pizza so I wanted sushi. (if only you guys could see just how close the sushi place is located)
Me: Sorry. I've never been there.
Man: I figured that YOU would know of all people.
Me: Sorry.
He walks out annoyed.
We also get a lot of people asking if we used to be the other cleaners located in some other street, city, some other state such as New Jersey or Michigan or the Chinese takeout in some town I've never even heard of, or any other business with Asians or Asian-Americans.
A small number of people also can't tell the difference between the manager (he's in his 60s) and his son who is 22 I believe. Son is about 6 foot tall and speaks English as his first language. His father is about 5'6 and has a heavy accent. How is that even possible I do not know!
My personal favorites are when someone walks in and goes "do you speak English" or "can you understand what I am saying" Some of them will say this slowly. The other favorite is when someone walks in and goes "Konicheeewa" or "mushi mushi"
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