If I were to write a personal ad, it would go something like this: short male, black hair, brown eyes, caramel-colored skin…then I would probably go on at length about my sculpted body and model looks…ok so that’s more wishful thinking than anything.  If you came across my profile, you wouldn’t hesitate to think Latin male right?  The dark features and tan skin are dead giveaways.  But what if I added slightly oval eyes, like large almonds, what would you think then? Asian?  In South Florida?  No way…there are no Asians in South Florida.  Perhaps not many, but there are.

Yes I’m Asian, more specifically Vietnamese.  I moved to South Florida after finishing college in New Orleans.  In New Orleans, you couldn’t walk a couple of feet and not bump into another Asian.  Not the case down here.  Every once in awhile I would spy another Asian and then a slightly awkward exchange occurs.  First there’s that moment of disbelief.   Did I just see another Asian?  Or was it a mirage, like when you’re driving and you swear the road looks wet.  After a couple of double takes confirming that they are indeed Asian, a serious stare down ensues.  A silent game of guessing their nationality commences. Side note here…for those who say they can distinguish the different Asian nationalities…you can’t.  I get mistaken for Filipino all the time.  After the stare down, a couple of things can happen…both parties do nothing or they give simple nods acknowledging each other’s presence or a pretense to finding a spec of dirt on the floor interesting so one party can move in closer.  If greetings are shared, the indubitable questions are asked: where are you from, how long have you been here, you know there aren’t a lot of Asians in South Florida, etc.

Living in South Florida, Asians are definitely a minority.  You would think the tropical weather would be a magnet for Asians, but for some reason, the azure beaches aren’t much of a draw.  Due to proximity, Latin and Caribbean cultures dominate.  I took French in school, but much good that does me down here.  I quickly learned to ditch “bonjour” for “hola.” In no time, saying “mira” and “ay dios mios” required little effort.  And the one thing I’ve learned living in South Florida is people are divided into two categories…Latin or Not Latin. And if you have the slightest resemblance of being Latin, you’re presumed to be so.  People approach me all the time speaking Spanish at full throttle.  There’s no point in saying, “Yo no habla espagnol” because the response I receive is, “Si, tu habla espagnol!”

One line does not a fluent Spanish speaker make.

So what I usually do nowadays is point to my eyes, the obvious sign that I’m Asian.  Sometimes that’s enough to convey I’m not a Spanish speaker, but more often than not, the person looks up and continues to hurl Spanish words at me.  Confusion sinks in.  Should I be offended that they’ve ignored my Asian identity or impressed that they are so willing to accept me into their culture?  No Salsa or Meringue auditions, no flan making test…who knew that the mere utterance of  “que tal” is the Spanish equivalent of “open sesame.”

As an immigrant myself, I find that I have more in common with my Latin and Caribbean neighbors than I ever thought possible.  The chorus of the immigrant song is a familiar tune no matter where you are from.  Some immigrants have escaped oppressive regimes.  Others, who at any costs, risked their lives to ensure brighter futures for their families.  It’s why I understand the push for the Dream Act.  When mothers recount their struggles to get their children to the US, I see my own mother.  Fathers are channeling my own when they talk about overcoming insurmountable obstacles.  I see Haitian refugees on rafts and it reminds me of the throngs of Vietnamese refugees escaping after the war.  What if my family were turned away?  Where would I be today?  Even though, I still find it hard to add “American” after “Vietnamese” when describing myself, I’m grateful that I have the option.  Many would gladly change places with me.

So I have chosen to live in South Florida where the nearest Chinatown is over 1,000 miles away and perhaps, I don’t see people that look like me very often, but you know what…I’m ok with that.

Latin spices, Caribbean flavors, beautiful beaches…in retrospect I think I’ve gained more than I’ve lost.

 

This article was published by WLRN.  The link is here:

http://wlrn.org/post/being-asian-south-florida-means-disbelief-stares-and-latin-confusion

 

Share
  1. Claire says:

    Awesome article. My Japanese husband and myself are moving to Port St. Lucie in a few months. He was already saying there wouldn’t be any Asians there. It should be interesting. They may think he works at one of the Chinese restaurants. Lol thanks for making us both laugh.

  2. Ly Nguyen says:

    I’ve been mistaken as a Chinese food delivery man before, so tell him to be prepared. 😛 There is a beautiful Japanese garden in Delray Beach called Morikami that’s probably an hour and half drive from Port St Luce. Definitely worth a visit if he’s feeling a little homesick or just in need of seeing another Asian person.

  3. Claire Shinseki says:

    Sounds great. He lives poker, another generalization, lol. Where abouts are you in FL? We love your articles. They are right on. Keep up the good work

  4. Claire Shinseki says:

    Sounds great. He loves poker, another generalization, lol. Where abouts are you in FL? We love your articles. They are right on. Keep up the good work

4
Comments.

Leave your comment.

South Florida Asian – A Rare Breed