Everyplace in the world we have visited, we are asked where we are from.  We say “Canada” because that is the answer.  After returning from being blown away, they ask, “but how can this be?”.  Then we explain that our parents were born in Hong Kong/China and immigrated to Canada many years ago where we were born. 

Most people assume we are Japanese and we get a lot of “konichiwas” but it hasn’t been too bad.  For the most part, the people in Santiago haven’t paid much attention to us and we get through our days like locals (that can’t speak spanish). 

However, in Coyhaique, while in the grocery store, we were harassed by one of the employees who was packing our groceries.  And he was a little person.  No, not a short or small person.  A little person.  Imagine this bizarre scene at the check out counter of a little person making cling clang and donkey noises at Jonathan and I, while his colleagues are on the floor, laughing.  And it was for an extended period, because we had a lot of groceries.

We just stood there stunned, not knowing how to react.  It has been a while since we’ve experienced such blatant taunting (once in Tanzania) and it is hard to explain the terrible anger inside when that happens. The scenarios that play out in our heads of potentional reactions never look promising, so almost always, we just stand there.  In times like these, I always think of our parents and what they may have had to go through 30 years ago. 

This also serves as a reminder of how much we love Toronto and all that it stands for.  Though we have seen great cities in this world, our hearts are never far from our home of a thousand different homes.

When we think about that wierd situation in Coyhaique today, we still don’t know what would have been the best thing for us to do.  Suggestions?

- joyce

ps. thanks to jennie for inspiring this!