So you made it to your US port of entry after a 30-hour long flight. You’ve won the first half of the battle as an intending immigrant. As the excitement slowly subsides, you begin to notice the things around you. That you stand out. And that you are a minority.
Now that you’re here the word “minority” finally hits you and you slowly begin to understand it. People use this word all the time, and oftentimes loosely, in the Philippines but if you’re a) Catholic or b) you do not belong to a tribal group, you could not really fully relate to it. My man here told me that back when I was still in the country and now I understand.
I’m probably oversimplifying things but more than likely you will run into situations that will remind you of your identity. Or what percentage of the population you represent. Sometimes people you run into will try to second-guess your ethnicity and it’s interesting to know what they come up with.
Last month, a plumber came into the apartment to fix a leaking pipe. Himself an immigrant, a Peruvian, he made an effort to engage in small talk. He was courteous enough to ask where I come from but when I said I was Filipino, he responded: “Oh, I thought you were Chinese.”
Uh, what? Nothing against the Chinese but I never, ever considered the possibility of being mistaken as one. Slanted eyes? Nope. Fair skin? Nope. Not that I’m stereotyping but hey, I am what among Cebuano-speaking folk would consider “bisdak” or “bisayang dako.”
A friend of mine living in New York, another “bisdak”, was once mistaken as of Hispanic origin. I guess the possibilities are endless. My man here told me to get ready to be generally labeled as Asian because most Americans can’t really tell us (Filipinos) apart from the Vietnamese, or the Indonesians, Malaysians, the Chinese, Japanese, and so on and so forth. I don’t think I can distinguish those other nationalities as well based on appearance.
I have read once that when you find yourself in a foreign country, chances are you will try to seek out compatriots within your area. I think it is innate among Filipinos to want to be surrounded by many people – family, relatives close and distant, friends, friends of friends, even friends that we don’t really like. Out here it is easy to feel so alone that finding a fellow Filipino, and especially one you feel you could start a friendship with, is like manna from heaven.
The friend I mentioned earlier shared that in the streets of New York, Filipinos who come across those they suspect as Filipinos simply state that one familiar password. “Kabayan?”
Posted by fleur at November 3, 2006 06:23 AMHay naku, Jac, although I'm not too fond of Jollibee, I wish there's one over here because that would mean seeing lots of Pinoys in the area. :-) I've seen a few Filipinos in malls and instead of hollering "kabayan", we'd stare at each other before exchanging tentative smiles. One time though a Filipina working at a furniture store simply asked, "Pilipina ka?" as soon as we walked into the store. Then we started chatting about TFC. Hehe!
Posted by: Fleur at November 7, 2006 09:15 PMDito naman sa Bay Area, punta ka lang sa Jollibee, you get a Manila-like ambience. And Pinoys here are not too eager to do the "kabayan-hollering-thing". More like, a shy-smile-hello-and-nod-greeting. Sanay na kasi, everywhere you look you see a fellow Filipino. Re Michigan, I remember Kuya Virgee (Francis' uncle)saying that their whole brood first lived in Michigan in the early 90s before they transfered here. He did say there are a lot of Filipinos there.
Posted by: Jacqui at November 7, 2006 08:09 AMHi Cleo! It's nice to see you dropping by! I'm glad to know that you're adjusting well to life in Michigan. It's cool that there are a lot of Asians in your area. Are there a lot of Filipinos too? What's the weather there like these days? I've been reading your journal too and it's easy to see that you're one lucky woman. It's great to be surrounded by wonderful people. Keep blogging!
Hello wishmaster, it's nice to read your journal again. Yes, i remember my husband also told me that it's difficult to tell or distinguish a filipino from all other asians. I am here in Michigan and so far i had very little incidents that someone stared me and curious what is my nationality, maybe because in here, there are lots of black american and also hispanic people, and asians too, or maybe i dont look too small for my husband, that they really don't care and noticed at all. There were also some who really stared, i noticed most were kids, hehe! i dont know:)but maybe because i stared them too, i just like to look at their cute faces. Yes it's nice to know that we are sorrounded by filipinos too, good to meet friends of your friends, am so lucky that they are all nice and also my husband and his family are very supportive and great, i have nothing to worry but to accept and enjoy my new life now:) Thank you and Good luck always:)
Posted by: cleo at November 7, 2006 03:16 AMJudy Ann! Err... Debs! Hehe! Glad to know you dropped by and checked out the site. As to being mistaken as Chinese, it was pretty funny. Of course, it reminded me of you and your umm... sentiments. *wink* You know what I mean. I remember your stories about living in Dubai and Hong Kong. See, you will fit in quite nicely over here. Be perpared to be called Chinese!
Later!
Posted by: Fleur at November 5, 2006 11:19 PMHi Luntao, funny they should mistake you for a Chinese. Unsa na lang kaha kung ako? Arrghh! Ang hollering "Kabayan" to someone who looks Filipino is what I experienced in Dubai and what I did in Hong Kong. Dare I say that I'm the friend you mentioned in this blog?
Take care, friend. :0)