Yes, There are A Lot of Japanese People in Peru.

When I was speaking on the phone with Jamie last night, I had an epiphany: not everyone has to answer questions about their race everyday.

Growing up in L.A. I never really felt like a minority. In fact, I would always forget that I wasn’t white. Have I mentioned this in a post before? I feel like I have. Anyway, so yesterday, while I was speaking to Jamie, it occurred to me that no one EVER asks him about his background. Me, on the other hand, get questioned at least once a day if I’m in a new environment (where I’m likely to bump into someone who I’ve never met before and hasn’t already asked me the question).

My visit to the emergency room the other day? I got asked thirty times at the very least: people in the waiting room, nurses registering me, doctors, custodians, guy vomiting on the floor, you name it. I never really thought twice about it before, but when the x-ray guy asked me “what’s your background??” I assumed that he meant my medical background or maybe something related to x-rays. “No, I mean your race.”

Would it be rude for me to ask for his “background” as well? I feel like it’s a personal question because in order to explain it I have to talk about my parents and my grandparents. Talk about growing up in Los Angeles, etc. All I know is, if I went up to some random person on the street (or in a hospital waiting room) and asked them for their background it would be a little strange.

I wonder if my brother has to deal with the same questions. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t really mind it…up until yesterday, I didn’t even notice it. I just think it’s interesting.

P.S. Happy Birthday America.