Asian Stories

Have I ever told you my Asian stories? If not, get excited! Actually don't. Because mostly this is how an Asian story goes.

A random Asian: hi. are you Korean/Chinese/Taiwanese/Vietnamese/Everything except Japanese
Me: Uh...no. Sorry.
The random Asian: oh...(with a very disappointed tone of voice). Where are you from?
Me: well, I was born in L.A. but I consider Austin, TX my home.
The random Asian: oh...(even more disappointed) ok. What nationality are you?
Me: Japanese.
The random Asian: oh ok...sorry. ha ha ha ha ha ha.... (You know that Asian laugh that I'm talking about).

So about a week ago, I am walking to my work when a boy (an eager Freshmen to be exact) approaches me. Side Note: Now for those of you not at BYU, it is EXTREMELY easy for all of us to spot a freshmen boy because all men between 19-21 are gone on missions. So a boy is either a boy that looks like he needs to go back to high school or a man that seems like he's grown up a bit.

The random boy: Hi. Are you Chinese?
Me: no. sorry I'm Japanese.
Boy: Oh...ok. Were you born in Japan?
Me: No...I was born in L.A. but I consider Austin my home.
Boy: oh...do you speak any Japanese?
Me: yeah...I lived there for a little bit so....
(2 minutes of small talk happens while he follows me towards my work building)
Boy: well, sorry. I'm taking Chinese 101 and I thought you were Chinese so I wanted to talk to you. Well, I'm going this way so bye! (As he walks back the way we came).

I told Dean about this Asian story and totally forgot about it as the story was banked to my long list of Asian stories. But today, I was walking home from work when I hear:

Mysterious random freshmen boy: Hi. Are you Chinese?
Me: No...sorry.
Random eager freshmen boy: Oh are you from Taiwan?
Me: no
Random freshmen boy: Vietnam?
Me: no...sorry, I'm Japanese.
(here, I can't help but feel as though I'm having a deja vu moment...)
Eager freshmen boy: Oh ok. were you born in Japan?
Me: no, I was born here.
Eager freshmen boy: oh ok.
(and here, is where I realize that I just talked to this boy last week and had this exact same conversation!)
Mr. eager Chinese 101 boy: Oh well, I'm taking Chinese 101 right now and I was just wondering so...bye!
Me: good luck with that!

Mr. eager Chinese 101 boy, I hope you will find your Chinese person soon.