Folks, do people “categorize” you when you visit their country? I think wherever you go people just make assumptions about your origin based on your appearance. Here are my experiences:
USA: Chinese/Korean American
South Korea: Japanese
Japan: Japanese (!)
Indonesia: the arrogant expat Chinese Indonesian who doesn’t speak Indonesian (!!)
Malaysia: Chinese
Singapore: Chinese
Vietnam: Korean/Japanese
France: Chinese French
Germany: Korean/Japanese
…and:
American Starbucks: Kate (!!!). Why? Here’s the story:
NYC, 2007
Starbucks guy (with weird moustache): Hi, how may I help ya?
Me: I, uh…will have a caffee latte please. Uh, tall.
Starbucks guy: Sure, what’s your name? (they write the customer’s name on the cup)
Me: Uh…”author’s real name”
Starbucks guy (puzzled): What?
Me (louder): Uh, …”author’s real name”
Starbucks guy (louder): What?
Me: Whatever, just call me uh… Kate. (the name popped into my mind because I just read a review on a film starring Kate Winslet)
Starbucks guy: Uh, okay?!
Folks, that’s the reason why I go by Kate when I’m at an American Starbucks.
T on Air 