Comments on: Brown, Like My Coffee http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/ All that flavorful brownness in one savory packet Sat, 30 Nov 2013 11:11:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nina http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-3/#comment-157166 Nina Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:26:05 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-157166 <p>I loved your entry. You write extremely well. I can't even remember how I came across your page but I'm glad I did, because it was an enjoyable read. I have to add my two cents, that I can relate to you. I have been mistaken for everything under the sun. My dad is Bangladeshi and my mom is originally from north India, but her family also settled in Bangladesh. Bangladeshis are usually shocked and do a double take when I interrupt them in Bengali and realize I understood them all along. It's great. But, latino people usually assume I am a Latina in their presence. So do Persian people, and I have to tell them I don't speak Farsi. Arab people assume I'm Lebanese or such. I went a Brazilian restaurant recently and the servers didn't bat an eye and assumed I am Brazilian and proceeded to speak to me in Portuguese. I was getting in my car a few nights ago and some men asked if I was Armenian. That's the first time I've gotten Armenian. Usually people cannot tell I am from the subcontinent, even if they are themselves- though there was an Indian man last year who asked me if I am Indian. I have to say I really like the fact that people can't tell where I am from, and I can blend into so many cultures. I like the feeling looking multi-cultural, and keeping people guessing. The only down side, is that I have tell people that I can't speak Portuguese, Farsi, etc. It makes me really want to learn many more languages.</p> I loved your entry. You write extremely well. I can’t even remember how I came across your page but I’m glad I did, because it was an enjoyable read. I have to add my two cents, that I can relate to you. I have been mistaken for everything under the sun. My dad is Bangladeshi and my mom is originally from north India, but her family also settled in Bangladesh. Bangladeshis are usually shocked and do a double take when I interrupt them in Bengali and realize I understood them all along. It’s great. But, latino people usually assume I am a Latina in their presence. So do Persian people, and I have to tell them I don’t speak Farsi. Arab people assume I’m Lebanese or such. I went a Brazilian restaurant recently and the servers didn’t bat an eye and assumed I am Brazilian and proceeded to speak to me in Portuguese. I was getting in my car a few nights ago and some men asked if I was Armenian. That’s the first time I’ve gotten Armenian. Usually people cannot tell I am from the subcontinent, even if they are themselves- though there was an Indian man last year who asked me if I am Indian. I have to say I really like the fact that people can’t tell where I am from, and I can blend into so many cultures. I like the feeling looking multi-cultural, and keeping people guessing. The only down side, is that I have tell people that I can’t speak Portuguese, Farsi, etc. It makes me really want to learn many more languages.

]]> By: SophiaNeofitou http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-3/#comment-123213 SophiaNeofitou Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:12:25 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-123213 <p>Hi.... you wanna no sum in!! ppl ask me dat evry day to!!! My father and his family were mostly from italy, but his mother and her mother were northen irish. But m moms side is all greek cypriot. I was born in greece in 1990. And well yea ....its so annoying having to explain things to ppl bout where you from...all i say in reply is....God knows where!!! and they dont know how to react to that.</p> Hi…. you wanna no sum in!! ppl ask me dat evry day to!!! My father and his family were mostly from italy, but his mother and her mother were northen irish. But m moms side is all greek cypriot. I was born in greece in 1990. And well yea ….its so annoying having to explain things to ppl bout where you from…all i say in reply is….God knows where!!! and they dont know how to react to that.

]]> By: A N N A http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86709 A N N A Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:51:43 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86709 <blockquote>But then, everyone looked down on ABDs, even the Canuck Desis :-)</blockquote> <p>sigh.</p> But then, everyone looked down on ABDs, even the Canuck Desis :-)

sigh.

]]> By: Ennis http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86708 Ennis Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:49:56 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86708 <p>When somebody asks me if I'm from Africa, I usually say:</p> <p>"We're all from Africa, but my family left a long time back"</p> <p>;)</p> When somebody asks me if I’m from Africa, I usually say:

“We’re all from Africa, but my family left a long time back”

;)

]]> By: Puliogre in da USA http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86707 Puliogre in da USA Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:49:34 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86707 <blockquote>everyone looked down on ABDs</blockquote> <p>Thanks because we have no culture. didnt you know that?!</p> everyone looked down on ABDs

Thanks because we have no culture. didnt you know that?!

]]> By: desitude http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86706 desitude Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:46:44 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86706 <p>When I was in college the few Indians from East Africa considered themselves "Africans first," hung out with other black Africans, and generally looked down on the ABDs. But then,<i> everyone</i> looked down on ABDs, even the Canuck Desis :-)</p> When I was in college the few Indians from East Africa considered themselves “Africans first,” hung out with other black Africans, and generally looked down on the ABDs. But then, everyone looked down on ABDs, even the Canuck Desis :-)

]]> By: Kenyandesi http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86705 Kenyandesi Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:39:40 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86705 <blockquote>Amitabh on June 1, 2006 10:56 AM · Direct link Kenyandesi: I hear what you're saying, but aren't you on SOME level "from" Gujarat? Origins, culture, identity? The town that your great-grandfather (and probably countless generations before him) was born? Just the fact that you visit this site and have 'desi' in your handle tells me that "Kenya" alone does not describe you. Am I wrong? </blockquote> <p>I don't even know if you'll read this, but I'm in the mood to talk identity, so here goes.</p> <p>I'm Kenyan. That's a national identity. I'm also VERY Guju/Desi, a cultural identity, but, that too, I'm Guju East African'ly so (for eg. I can't stand the syrup that passes for food, tea etc. in Gujrat. Sugar/Gor is not meant to be a staple item in any diet).</p> <p>Much like desi-Americans (who are usually the first gen born here) don't like being challenged on their Americaness, I get offended if someone challenges my Kenyaness. My family has been there over 100 years. I'm THIRD gen born East African. My ancestors left the subcontinent before modern India (as it stands today with the borders that make it "India") was born.</p> <p>yes, Kenya, India, they're all bound by imaginary borders. I get this (which is why I identify with <i>East Africa</i>, and <i>South Asia</i>), but while Kenyan borders are a part of my family's cognizant past, Indian borders are not. Which is why I'm Kenyan and not Indian.</p> <blockquote>I know 3rd generation Sikhs in the UK who still proudly proclaim which village in Punjab they are "from" (which is actually their paternal grandfather's village).</blockquote> <p>in that case, we're all "from" east Africa anyway :D</p> Amitabh on June 1, 2006 10:56 AM · Direct link Kenyandesi: I hear what you’re saying, but aren’t you on SOME level “from” Gujarat? Origins, culture, identity? The town that your great-grandfather (and probably countless generations before him) was born? Just the fact that you visit this site and have ‘desi’ in your handle tells me that “Kenya” alone does not describe you. Am I wrong?

I don’t even know if you’ll read this, but I’m in the mood to talk identity, so here goes.

I’m Kenyan. That’s a national identity. I’m also VERY Guju/Desi, a cultural identity, but, that too, I’m Guju East African’ly so (for eg. I can’t stand the syrup that passes for food, tea etc. in Gujrat. Sugar/Gor is not meant to be a staple item in any diet).

Much like desi-Americans (who are usually the first gen born here) don’t like being challenged on their Americaness, I get offended if someone challenges my Kenyaness. My family has been there over 100 years. I’m THIRD gen born East African. My ancestors left the subcontinent before modern India (as it stands today with the borders that make it “India”) was born.

yes, Kenya, India, they’re all bound by imaginary borders. I get this (which is why I identify with East Africa, and South Asia), but while Kenyan borders are a part of my family’s cognizant past, Indian borders are not. Which is why I’m Kenyan and not Indian.

I know 3rd generation Sikhs in the UK who still proudly proclaim which village in Punjab they are “from” (which is actually their paternal grandfather’s village).

in that case, we’re all “from” east Africa anyway :D

]]> By: A N N A http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86681 A N N A Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:06:18 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86681 <blockquote>Roma's off A St.? I remember it being on E St.; my jazz band used to play gigs there all the time in 7th & 8th grade.</blockquote> <p>There were <b>two</b> locations; your band played downtown, I hung out at the other Roma, which was near the deathstar, off-campus books, Raja's, Ali Baba's et al, not that any of this exists anymore (aside from the deathstar).</p> Roma’s off A St.? I remember it being on E St.; my jazz band used to play gigs there all the time in 7th & 8th grade.

There were two locations; your band played downtown, I hung out at the other Roma, which was near the deathstar, off-campus books, Raja’s, Ali Baba’s et al, not that any of this exists anymore (aside from the deathstar).

]]> By: vivek http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-86665 vivek Thu, 14 Sep 2006 09:06:11 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-86665 <p>Missed this post...</p> <blockquote>I remembered my junior year at Davis, when I went to Roma off A street right before a final exam and ordered a triple shot drink.</blockquote> <p>Roma's off A St.? I remember it being on E St.; my jazz band used to play gigs there all the time in 7th & 8th grade.</p> <p>Anyhoo...</p> <blockquote>"Where are you from?" I fucking hate this question.</blockquote> <p>A few years ago I was in Chicago for my cousin's wedding, and my family had put up in some hotel. A few of us got into the elevator to go up to our floor along with an older black woman. It was a long ride, and the woman had plenty of time to look us over and ask the question (in a solid American accent).</p> <p>My cousin and I instinctively replied with our US places of origin, and the woman of course wanted to know where we were REALLY from. But this time it was different - she asked in a way which said, "Come on, I'm not like everyone else asking you this question - you can tell me, look at me, I'm different too." It was interesting...</p> <p>kavita (#58):</p> <blockquote>I confess that I'm not beyond such techniques myself. Sometimes you just want to know. Sometimes it's just a way to connect with another person whom you suspect might share experiences similar to your own...</blockquote> <p>Indeed!</p> Missed this post…

I remembered my junior year at Davis, when I went to Roma off A street right before a final exam and ordered a triple shot drink.

Roma’s off A St.? I remember it being on E St.; my jazz band used to play gigs there all the time in 7th & 8th grade.

Anyhoo…

“Where are you from?” I fucking hate this question.

A few years ago I was in Chicago for my cousin’s wedding, and my family had put up in some hotel. A few of us got into the elevator to go up to our floor along with an older black woman. It was a long ride, and the woman had plenty of time to look us over and ask the question (in a solid American accent).

My cousin and I instinctively replied with our US places of origin, and the woman of course wanted to know where we were REALLY from. But this time it was different – she asked in a way which said, “Come on, I’m not like everyone else asking you this question – you can tell me, look at me, I’m different too.” It was interesting…

kavita (#58):

I confess that I’m not beyond such techniques myself. Sometimes you just want to know. Sometimes it’s just a way to connect with another person whom you suspect might share experiences similar to your own…

Indeed!

]]> By: A Little Bit of Ganja http://sepiamutiny.com/blog/2006/05/31/brown_like_my_c/comment-page-2/#comment-66170 A Little Bit of Ganja Mon, 05 Jun 2006 18:05:35 +0000 http://sepiamutiny.com?p=3425#comment-66170 <p>You're saying then, that you really wouldn't get what the fuss is about if you're Indian and are from India?</p> <p>That said, I've been accused of being Spanish by my Thai colleague, French by a university acquintaince (sp.), Singaporean by a Malaysian backpacker, and Cambodian at heart, apparently for my love of things Khmer. I still insist that I will truly find my roots only when I seek lunatic asylum in Samoa and finally realise my dream of being a beachcomber.</p> You’re saying then, that you really wouldn’t get what the fuss is about if you’re Indian and are from India?

That said, I’ve been accused of being Spanish by my Thai colleague, French by a university acquintaince (sp.), Singaporean by a Malaysian backpacker, and Cambodian at heart, apparently for my love of things Khmer. I still insist that I will truly find my roots only when I seek lunatic asylum in Samoa and finally realise my dream of being a beachcomber.

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