Personal Narrative: Stereotypes Of Asian Americans

I heard that New York is such a gigantic city; diverse ethnicities and everyone gets along together regardless of one’s background. So I thought I was definitely ready to start my new life in New York. I was ready to be independent, get along with neighbors, and stride down the street new college, new life, and everything. I was excited that I didn’t have to be conscious of the way other people are looking at me because it is New York. I could do whatever I want to, nobody would stare at me surprisingly like when I was in Indonesia, just because I am a foreigner. However, my thought and anticipation were broken into shivers. Many people stared at me whenever I stride down the street and even whistle. Even though, Asian Americans take …show more content…
Those are diverse and unlimited. Firstly, they consider me as a non-English speaker. It is somehow undeniable that my English is not sufficient to compare to them, people sometimes just regard me as a non-English speaker and didn’t even attempt to listen to my opinion. I had many experiences whenever I go to the McDonalds to order an Iced Coffee. The cashiers didn’t even ask me whether I want milk and sugar in my coffee or not, which I would say black if they asked me, but all of a sudden, the cashier just handed a regular iced coffee to me and whenever I complained about it, they always said “you should have told me in advance,” and just made new one. Secondly, they just regulate that I am a shy, introvert, quiet and can’t advocate my opinion well, just by my appearance. It was the day when we had to shoot a documentary for the final project last semester. I honestly was in silent when we discuss our project and became really extrovert and lead other people to do it by the time I felt comfortable with people. After the project, my teammates though I was really shy and were astonished that I was not. Thirdly, I have looked people on the street, stared at me and said, “Asian, Asian” to me. They also then say some random Chinese words, which I have no idea what the words are. Therefore, I really sympathized with the mother’s feeling when I read the …show more content…
According to the research, 49% of populations in the U.S. advocate that the racism is an enormous problem and I also think that this is a serious problem that we all have to pay attention and cooperate to abolish racial discrimination. However the minority of people doesn’t know the exact concept of racism, therefore, they have no idea whether there are being racists or not. I have actually encountered a friend, who doesn’t know about this problem. I met her a year ago at Lehman College. When we first met, she suddenly said some random Chinese words to me and gave her left hand for a handshake. I was really in shock and felt deeply insulted, so I held out my right hand and said, “this is the proper way to do a handshake and I am not a Chinese,” and at that time I could see how surprise and shock, she was and she told me “Wow, I have never seen Asian friend talk like this, all of my friends are so shy and quiet,” and she apologized to me and we became close. After we have known each other for a long time, I figured out she didn’t mean to insult me and humiliate me. Yet, due to her lack of interest and knowledge of the racial problem, she didn’t know her talk and gesture was like that sort of