Do you eat rice for Christmas?

Is that your brother? Cousin? Cousin twice removed?

Do you need chopsticks?

Does your dad work at a sushi restaurant?

Do you watch anime?

Where are you from? No, before that.

Growing up as a first generation Japanese American, I get asked many questions throughout my life. These questions have showed me that there is no hope for humanity. I thought there was a certain level of stupidity that humans could reach, but somehow they have accomplished to break down that wall and reach a whole new world.

Starting in elementary school, I was already being stereotyped and I didn’t even know it. Of course I was young and didn’t know stereotyping existed, but looking back, I realize how often it occurred. My parents’ native language is Japanese and it is what they speak with my three older sisters and me. However, being raised with three older sisters who already spoke English and spoke English with me, I identify English as my first language. At my elementary school, there was an English learning program for students who had English as their second language. Every year, throughout grade school, they would take me out of class and test me on my English and every year they would tell me that I may not have to do it again saying my English was up to par. Every time, they would show me a picture which I would have to talk or write about what was happening. It would be the same stupid picture of a cat dipping its paw into a fish tank, which I believe is the reason why I like dogs better than cats.

As I started getting older and having a social life, I would start more conversations with people. This made me want to crawl back into my cave and never come in contact with society ever again. Every question that was asked would always lead to my race. For example, people would ask, “Where does your dad work?” which I reply that he is a chef. This answer runs through their mind which leads to the words, “So you get to eat sushi every day?” to leave their mouths. For the record, my dad is a chef at a French restaurant. There was also a time where I was with a friend, who was also Asian, and this man walked up to us and asks where we are from. We came to the conclusion that he thought we were tourists and told him that we were from Kansas to clarify. He then asked, “No, before that.” My friend and I just looked at each other, gave him the answer he wanted and walked away.

I know at times people are only curious about our culture and want to learn more, but there is something called the internet or wording a question to where it isn’t offensive, instead of asking, “Where are you from?” you can switch it to “What is your ethnicity?”

Now, I find some comments to be amusing and have learned to laugh. I even make jokes about my own race. I am proud to be a first generation Japanese American but I did not always feel that way. It took time and experiences to go through in order for me to feel this way about my race. At most, I am only asking for you to come up with something more clever and original to say about my race than something I have heard over and over again.