Racism in New Zealand

So the old crew left the Laughing Kiwi (the backpackers where I work in exchange for accommodation). And a new crew came in. Claude (from Germany) and Ling (from the UK) were amongst the new crew, and we got along really well. I only knew them for a week and it felt like we had known each other for years. We shared lots of laughs. Claude and Ling left today, hitchhiking from Motueka to Golden Bay and Farewell Spit. All Claude ever talked about was going to Wharariki Beach (near Farewell Spit), so I'm glad she's on her way there. It was nice meeting Claude cuz she and I shared similar political beliefs (which I don't find alot over here).

Anyhow, now onto the title of this blog--racism. So sometime last week Ling and I were walking to the Department of Conservation office. I was going to drive (cuz I've become lazy and drive everywhere). But then Ling laughed at me, so we decided to walk. Ling was born in the UK, but her family is from China. We had only been walking for 2 minutes when a white guy drove by and screamed out his window, "go back to your country or I'll f--king kill you!" We were totally in shock for a few minutes. The idiot obviously didn't consider that my country is the US, and Ling's country is the UK. I told Ling, "hmmmm...one of the few times I've walked in Motueka and this is what happens....should've driven!"

In general, I'm usually the only person of color wherever I go. So lots of white people ask me where I'm from, and when I say the US, these are some of the responses I've gotten:

• The guy at the vehicle testing center put his arm right next to mine and said, "you don't look US!" To which I responded, "yes, I am US, we are people of all colors."

• A traveler who was staying at the Laughing Kiwi pointed at me and declared, "you're from India!," and when I said, "no, I'm from the US," he started laughing...."hahahaha." I didn't understand what was so funny.

• A guy at the Totaranui campsite earlier this week just comes up to me and says, "we were in your part of the world just last month." I just looked at him. Then he says, "you're from India, right?" I said, "no, I'm from the US." He got confused and then just said, "oh, well we were in India last month."

• A guest at the lodge where I work said, "oh, that's quite a different accent you have, where are you from?" When I told him the US, he responds, "oh, you don't sound like you're from the US." I think my accent is pretty American. But he probably meant that I don't look like I'm from the US cuz I'm not white.

I also heard one of the travelers staying at the Laughing Kiwi ask Ling if she was here studying English. Because Ling was born and brought up in the UK, she speaks English fluently. When she told him she was born in the UK, he responded, "oh, most Asian-looking people I meet here are studying English." But actually, most of the European tourists here are studying, or have studied, English as a second language.

So those have been some of my experiences with race and racism here in the South Island. I guess ignorant people are everywhere. I try not to get angry or upset. I just feel sorry for them.