I don’t know the right way to describe this, however I’ve had some attention-grabbing conversations and encounters with individuals right here. It felt so unusual to me that individuals wouldn’t consider I’m from america. They’d take a look at me with confusion. Essentially the most requested query is “The place are you actually from?” After I reply “america,” I’d then say, “Properly, my mother and father are from Mexico.” After that, their response modified to “Ahh, sure, Mexico!” I observed they appeared to love that reply greater than “america.”
If I’m being trustworthy, I finally stopped saying that I’m from america, solely as a result of I needed to skip all that. I keep in mind telling my mother about this and my small interactions with individuals. She mentioned possibly it’s as a result of they affiliate “American” with light-skin individuals/ white individuals. She informed me, “Properly, you aren’t what they pictured.” I suspected that earlier than, however it was attention-grabbing to see how in a different way individuals react.
I do respect that they don’t seem to be disrespectful. They have been simply interested by my background and needed to know my precise roots. So now I say I’m from Mexico, which technically I’m, by my mother and father.
A latest interplay occurred on the airport in early November. I used to be sitting there ready for my gate quantity to drop. A girl got here up and requested about my Whats up Kitty bag. I informed her I acquired it again within the US. Then she requested, “Are you from the US?” I answered, “Sure, I’m.” She responded, “Oh, I’m sorry, I believed you have been Latina.” She checked out me once more, and I informed her that I’m Latina. However she appeared confused. I informed her I used to be from america, and he or she stored repeating herself. Then she walked again to her seat and began talking in Spanish. She mentioned one thing about me not being Latina. I responded in Spanish as a result of I understood every part she mentioned. She appeared so shocked that she ended up getting up and transferring away. This interplay was so bizarre and surprising.
Nonetheless, I perceive that right here in Greece it’s totally different. Their concept is commonly that in case you are born in Greece, you might be Greek, and that’s it. So I can perceive the place she was coming from. She had informed me that she was from Spain, so I don’t know whether or not this perception is comparable for her or not. However I additionally actually needed to let her know that I’m Latina, I simply occur to be American as effectively.
Different interactions have been extra like what we talked about throughout our examine overseas orientation again in March. I’ve had individuals be like, “Yeah! Trump!” or ask if I voted for him. I as soon as had an entire dialog with a German man about politics in america; he was so curious. It was humorous solely as a result of they mentioned their authorities is unhealthy too. Seeing how issues are in America proper now, we’re not far off.
To finish this off, I don’t suppose these interactions come from disrespect; many individuals are simply curious. They need to higher perceive you and your background. I believe in the event that they’re not being aggressive about it, it’s fantastic to coach them. Nonetheless, you all the time have the choice to brush them off or not interact in any respect. Don’t really feel like you must clarify your self to individuals.
Listed below are some footage from my flight that day. OH, additionally I went to go to AnnaLeah in Thessaloniki, Greece, so right here’s an image of us collectively 
It was humorous that the German man I met was really with AnnaLeah! Right here I additionally added the gyros we had collectively on my first night time there.
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