It’s not so much that people occasionally speak loudly to me because they think that in doing so I’ll understand them better. It’s more that they don’t understand that even if I didn’t know a word of English, the volume of their voice makes zero impact on my comprehension.

I was born in Korea, but I don’t have a Korean accent. I’ve lived a good part of my formative years in the States, but I don’t have an “American” accent. While living in different areas of the world, researching interests in other cultures, and assimilating my surroundings, I’ve picked up what could only be called a mix-and-match of different accents. In addition, I don’t own a grocery store, nor do I eat only with chopsticks.

One of the best, or perhaps more entertaining elements, of being Korean-American, is being able to use race to my advantage instead of letting it become an invisible ceiling. I’m not talking about running around, eyes squinted to emphasize my Asian-ness, pointing at people and calling them racist. I’m speaking more to being able to use what some may call a disadvantage, as an advantage. Racial issues have be an aspect of my life as far back as I can remember, and to constantly fume and get upset because of them, to me, is a waste of time. This is not to say trying to improve race relations is not worth it, in fact the opposite is true. Unless they’re blatantly racist, then you slap them across the head. Just kidding. But only kind of.

One of the best examples of what I’ll call ignorance came a few years ago while checking into a hotel. I walked into the reception area after a layover, a delay, and to top it off, because I was sleeping, I didn’t even get peanuts. When the person in front of me was finished, I dragged myself, with luggage in tow, up to the counter. The front desk agent looked up from the computer screen, and immediately seemed to switch to “International Traveler Mode.” Understandable, as in this area they get a considerable amount of tourism from outside of the States.

“How…are…you…today…Sir?” She asked slowly and deliberately.
I looked up and thought to myself, Are you kidding me?
“I…amu…fineu…” I responded in my best Korean-accented voice.
“Do…you…have…a…reser…vation?”
“Yesu…uh…I…ah…” She had a confused look on her face.
“Okay listen, here’s my card,” I continued. “Can I get a room on a higher floor? Oh, and can you recommend a good restaurant in area?” She looked embarrassed.

It’s not her fault. She didn’t know, and I was in a piss-poor mood. I wanted those peanuts. To me, this does however fit very well in what happens almost daily to me, and perhaps others as well. Like celebrities in tabloids, I don’t actively seek instances of ignorance; they just seem to find me. It’s funny in an odd way, because it is indeed a serious matter though it has become increasingly apparent to me that not many people are making strides to correct these types of interactions.

Something people have to begin to realize is that not all Asians have lived in Asia for their entire lives. Not all Asians have an Asian accent, nor do they all have a rice bowl. Even though many Asians do know martial arts, it is in the same way that many of the English know cricket. It’s how they were brought up, a way of life if you will. Martial arts movies should not be the only Asian culture other ethnicities absorb. It’s in the same way I don’t automatically assume that if someone is Asian and twenty-something, they’ll own a Hyundai. A lot do, but that’s beside the point. There has to be more diversity within cultural groups and education of the ignorant.

This happens, honestly, more often than not in the US than other countries. While the US is very diverse, with many different countries and cultures represented, there still is a fair amount of xenophobia resounding throughout the minds of the average American. Throughout travels in Eastern and Western Europe, to say there weren’t these stereotypes would be incorrect. However, the general sense I received from travels in the area, and on more than one occasion, was more of an understanding that Asians are just like them. The skin may be a different colour; The mind may have grown up differently, with other ideals, but under the skin, past the initial biases, there lies a human being. Assumptions can be the downfall of everything from corporate decisions to meeting new people to thinking that the bottle of three-year-old milk in your refrigerator is still drinkable.

So how can you help humanity, improve race relations, represent your race in a positive light, and still have time for The Apprentice on NBC? You’ve heard it too many times: Take it one day at a time. In reality, only if you are Batman can you go faster than that, and even then it would be difficult. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t play dress-up in tight costumes and ride around in what is basically a Pontiac with wings, you can’t really go faster than that. A conscious effort on one person’s part will go a long way. Take the time to correct someone, because they might simply not have been aware. In any case, though, make sure to be awake for the peanuts, they’ll go a long way.

Tyler is the Halfway Editor-in-Chief.

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