What are you?

As an American living in Australia is a little different. Let me explain...My looks are distinctly of Asian features. My speech is American as well as my mannerisms and such. You can say I'm more Westernized but can speak fluently my native language as well as other languages. Here in Sydney it's a diverse place where there's definitely different cultures mixing but one thing that still gets on my nerves. Why do people think I can't speak English???

I've had this happen to me a couple of times by some locals and some foreigners as well. My school is mainly of International students coming from China, India, Malaysia, etc. as well as Aussie students but seems like I'm the only American. With my looks people categorize me as Chinese automatically of course and think my English is either poor to none. Ah still getting on my nerves!!!

I have this one Indian guy come up to me and ask a question about directions. Well since I'm not a local the look on my face is a little confused because 1.) I'm not great with directions 2.) I don't really know where everything is at and 3.) I had a hard time trying to interpret what he was saying with his heavy accent. Well I guess the confused look on my face said it all because he just turned to his friend and said "Oh she's Chinese she doesn't understand what I'm saying".

Ha!...to their surprise this "Chinese girl" speaks and understands perfect English. I tell them "Excuse me but I'm American and I understand English just not with the accent that you have so it's not like you're easy to understand thanks."

Wow the "Chinese girl" has an American accent and isn't completely dumb. Gosh these people just assume one thing and are in for a heavy surprise. Has this happened to anyone else or is it just me?? Or are these type of people just plain old ignorant??

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Speak Chinese

I have a couple of new flatmates now. I thought it would be alright since we're all girls and we're Asian right. Well boy was I WRONG!!!! Don't get me wrong I have no problems with having flatmates and I really can get along with people quite fine.

Here's my problem though...they don't speak English in the house to each other. They speak Chinese all the time. When I mean all the time, it's constantly, all I hear in the house is Chinese all day long. Now I wouldn't have a problem with them speaking their native language because I speak to my family in my native language also, but when I speak to them it's in ENGLISH. They sometimes respond or speak to me in Chinese and expecting me to understand. Yeah the American accent gives it away that I speak and understand fluent Chinese.

I sometimes think that they're secretly talking about me behind my back...well not so much behind my back as to in front of me and me not knowing what the hell is being said. I want to just shout at them "Hey I'm not Chinese so please speak English"!!! Gosh I speak 4 languages and I can't pick up Chinese in 2 weeks now. A little English does help me understand or not even English just use hand signals if need be.

Do anyone know any kind of Chinese to prepare me??? I want to be able to pick up little bits...a word here or there...just to see if my flatmates are talking about me or not. If they are give me some phrases or words in Chinese so that I can retaliate...HA!!!

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