I Am Not Chinese!!!!

fatboyonadiet

In some parts of the world they think London is England and vice-versa (maybe some people in London think the same) to avoid the hassle I just used to grit my teeth and agree yes I am from London!

SnowyOwl_2

When I was in the states a person asked me if I was from London - I have an Irish accent. So I said no, I am from Ireland! Then he said where's that...the reply just had to be near London, or I would still be there....

Bargain_Rzl

As others have said, I'm more inclined to ask someone where they're from if they have an interesting accent - a much more likely indicator of their own (rather than their ancestors') origin than their looks.

If I know somebody relatively well - acquaintance, work colleague etc - who looks "exotic" and/or has an interesting foreign-sounding name, then I will ask. I had a friend at uni who had a very broad, flat facial bone structure and wide jaw, along with very striking pale skin & dark hair. Really unusual looks, coupled with an equally unusual name (Scottish accent though!) So I asked - turned out her family originated from Fiji. I once asked a work colleague too, having been trying to work out for several months where she looked like her family had originated (in her case it was just the exotic looks, rather than name or accent). To my shame I can't remember what she said, but it was a mix of Burma and at least two other countries from completely different areas of the world.

Me on the other hand... I'm born and bred in Durham but have no regional accent from ANYWHERE (never picked it up). People don't believe me when I tell them. There is one vowel in my accent that if you listen reeeeally carefully, gives away that I am from the north (the way I pronounce "Southern"). To my recollection, only ONE PERSON has ever picked up on it, other than my fellow students when I was doing phonetics as part of my degree!

By the way, people assume I went to private school because my speech is virtually RP and I like opera... Then they get all surprised 'cos I come across as a 'lady' but drink pints...

Trix

I'm from Northumberland but people who aren't from around here always say I am a Geordie. Northumberland is the county next to Tyne & Wear (which is where Geordies are from) so I CAN'T be a Geordie. Once I explain the difference people never seem to be able to come up with a 'Northumbrian' stereotype though so I just either continue being called a Geordie or a 'Northerner'. Strange thing is when I'm in the North East people ask where I'm originally from because I'm told I don't have an accent from around my area, but when I'm in any other area people say 'you're soooooo Geordie'

I hate the whole 'say something Geordie' bit as well. I can, but being a Northumbrian why would I? And even if I was I'm not a performing animal. People who aren't from the North East always say 'Howay man' as soon as they detect any 'Northern' accent I have as well. The big shock news is although it is heard, mainly among older people, even Geordies don't say it that often! They certainly don't just say it as the greeting people seem to think it is. It is usually used either for 'you must be kidding' or 'hurry up'.

We all have our regional or country stereotypes but if no malice is meant and derogatory terms aren't knowingly used then it isn't REALLY a big deal as far as I'm concerned.

myprincessmaya

I find your post funny. You remind me of this friend I have who thinks all orientals are Thai's... hehee.... oh well

chaching

myprincessmaya wrote:

I find your post funny. You remind me of this friend I have who thinks all orientals are Thai's... hehee.... oh well

Haha....yes I've got a few guy mates that insist that all oriental/asian girls are japanese..has a thing with them i think! Must be down to all that Manga they watch......

chaching

Trix wrote:

We all have our regional or country stereotypes but if no malice is meant and derogatory terms aren't knowingly used then it isn't REALLY a big deal as far as I'm concerned.

Í'm sure thats true of most people.....but it can get waaaayy annoying! :eek: But it cracks me up especially when non-oriental/asian (if u are allowed to call them that!) people start bowing to me to greet me in the street or attempt to say hello or how are you in a asian language i dont understand. Haha this does make me laugh....because they ARE trying sooo hard to welcome me into this country.....hahaha :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

before_hollywood

Bargain_Rzl wrote:

As others have said, I'm more inclined to ask someone where they're from if they have an interesting accent - a much more likely indicator of their own (rather than their ancestors') origin than their looks.

If I know somebody relatively well - acquaintance, work colleague etc - who looks "exotic" and/or has an interesting foreign-sounding name, then I will ask. I had a friend at uni who had a very broad, flat facial bone structure and wide jaw, along with very striking pale skin & dark hair. Really unusual looks, coupled with an equally unusual name (Scottish accent though!) So I asked - turned out her family originated from Fiji. I once asked a work colleague too, having been trying to work out for several months where she looked like her family had originated (in her case it was just the exotic looks, rather than name or accent). To my shame I can't remember what she said, but it was a mix of Burma and at least two other countries from completely different areas of the world.

Me on the other hand... I'm born and bred in Durham but have no regional accent from ANYWHERE (never picked it up). People don't believe me when I tell them. There is one vowel in my accent that if you listen reeeeally carefully, gives away that I am from the north (the way I pronounce "Southern"). To my recollection, only ONE PERSON has ever picked up on it, other than my fellow students when I was doing phonetics as part of my degree!

By the way, people assume I went to private school because my speech is virtually RP and I like opera... Then they get all surprised 'cos I come across as a 'lady' but drink pints...

my home town is just outside manchester and on the border of greater manchester and lancashire, and we have an accent all of our own.
not so much a problem in the local area, it's a north west accent and thats that, but as soon as we go down south or abroad the fun begins.
we get all kinds "were are you from?" "Bury" we reply, and to their credit some people have heard of it, 'cos it's one of those towns you have heard of but couldn't place on a map.
People ask where it is and if we say near manchester then they think we are typical mancs (trust me, no such thing outside of moss side or wythenshaw), but if we say "in between bolton and rochdale", which it is, they think we are lancastrian flat cap wearers who say "by 'eck" all the time.
WE ARE NEITHER :rotfl:

my personal favourite answer is 'the town next to bolton' and then people quote peter kay, max and paddy and phoenix nights to us. :rotfl:
"garlic bread????" etc :rotfl:

Milky_Mocha

Quackers wrote:

My husbands father was from Pakistan. My husband was born in England.

People are forever asking him where he comes from. He always replies 'England' but they say 'no, where are you from originally?'. He still insists he's from England and they think he's a bit nuts and must be confused or maybe not understand them even though he was born here and he has a fab midlands accent and can understand every word they say perfectly.

I have a colleague who was born in this country but whose parents are from Ghana. I find it admirable that when she's asked where she's from she states she was born in England but originates from Ghana. I can understand that had her origins been many generations ago then there would've been no point saying that. I frankly think people who don't acknowledge their origins are either ashamed of them or simply lack a bit of education. It is quite silly in my opinion that in spite of people stressing "where are you from originally?" he insisted "only" on being "English", particularly if he obviously looks Asian.

This is purely my opinion. Love it or hate it.

chaching

Milky_Mocha wrote:

I have a colleague who was born in this country but whose parents are from Ghana. I find it admirable that when she's asked where she's from she states she was born in England but originates from Ghana. I can understand that had her origins been many generations ago then there would've been no point saying that. I frankly think people who don't acknowledge their origins are either ashamed of them or simply lack a bit of education. It is quite silly in my opinion that in spite of people stressing "where are you from originally?" he insisted "only" on being "English", particularly if he obviously looks Asian.

This is purely my opinion. Love it or hate it.[/QUOT

No I agree with most of it. When people DO actually ask me where I'm from...I tell them where i originate from...but then add that I was born here. I've got no qualms about telling people where my family comes from. I do think that a lot of people should practice what they preach, in terms of 'not acknowledging their origins" . I mean I'm sure some 'white English' People originally come from other parts of the world, but through integration etc they 'have more english blood' in them or whatever.....Apparently...correct me if im wrong...some blond people are orginnally from Sweden etc.

p.s. this is totally irrelevant...but Elvis was born blond. Saw it in a documentary the other day!