Asian Invasion

Being Asian in SA is certainly a very interesting and often frustrating experience. In terms of the dating scene, as an Asian here, you have to keep in the back of your mind that this guy may only be interested in you because you’re “exotic” and some fetishized version of some Asian orchid or something gross like that. It’s hard enough to deal with in the US where the Asian population is significantly bigger than the ~2% population here. SA is a country where racism and sexism, though no longer institutionally sanctioned, are shamelessly blatant. Everyday without fail, I will get at least a sprinkling of racial slurs, and a irritating barrage of sexual harassment. These may be catcalls, arm caresses, or some man yelling “I LIKE CHING CHONG” leaning out of a van taxi window. Whatever form it may take, it can be very taxing to constantly have my guard up. Ultimately, this is the life of a minority, and I know I’m strong enough to handle it. Plus, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right? It’s even strangely invigorating to be somewhere where at least the prejudice is out in the open to see and deal with, rather than lying deep under the surface and in the subconscious like in the States.

            There are some definite perks to being Korean in SA though. I met a Korean family today!!! I was shopping in a gift store at the big mall complex here and realized that the woman at the register was East Asian. She was definitely Korean but MAY have been Chinese and I didn’t want to make an embarrassing assumption. So I looked frantically around her counter for some sign of Korean-ness- a word, a flag, anything. Finally, I spot a small notebook on her register… there’s Korean on it!! A huge leap of happiness wells up in me when I ask her “한국분이세요??” – “Are you Korean?” She looked so stunned- the look on her face was hilarious. Then she asks me if I am- she’s so surprised that I am because she thought I was “from here.” Does that mean I look South African? I dunno, I have gotten pretty tan I guess… We chat about when she came to Cape Town, her two kids (one of which is a first year at UCT), my family, etc. She then tells me to come back anytime if I run into any problems in Cape Town. Such a sweet lady and her daughter is really cute and sweet too. I love how the Korean Diaspora reaches so far and no matter how elitist and obnoxiously nationalist we can be, we’re undeniably a tight and awesome race. A little bit of home away from home~