I experienced a stereotype!

I should feel bad about seeing this, but what I saw only embarrassed me and explained why I had to deal with people going "simple language" on me. Tonight when I went to pick up a new monthly train pass I ended up waiting on a line where this asian woman rushed up to me and asked, in a loud voice,

"Are you chinese?"

I blink at first because this is out of nowhere and she is LOUD when she says it. I was standing up reading up on the transformation of children's literature. It's like if someone just stepped out of your bathroom, sat down on your couch and then said, "I see you switched to Ex-Lax today!" You get it? It just doesn't happen! I reply,

"What?"

She tries again in that same loud garishly asian-toned voice.

"Are you chinese?"

I shake my head but she doesn't seem to register this, so I go,

"No."

"Oh. Are you Korean?"

See, I could understand the first question since it was for some reason that seemed obvious (language problems) but what was with the second question? Was she going to map my genetic heritage or something?!

"No."

"Oh."
-and then she cuts me in the line.

( What happens next makes me regret ever wanting to become a ticket agent. )

I experienced a stereotype!

I should feel bad about seeing this, but what I saw only embarrassed me and explained why I had to deal with people going "simple language" on me. Tonight when I went to pick up a new monthly train pass I ended up waiting on a line where this asian woman rushed up to me and asked, in a loud voice,

"Are you chinese?"

I blink at first because this is out of nowhere and she is LOUD when she says it. I was standing up reading up on the transformation of children's literature. It's like if someone just stepped out of your bathroom, sat down on your couch and then said, "I see you switched to Ex-Lax today!" You get it? It just doesn't happen! I reply,

"What?"

She tries again in that same loud garishly asian-toned voice.

"Are you chinese?"

I shake my head but she doesn't seem to register this, so I go,

"No."

"Oh. Are you Korean?"

See, I could understand the first question since it was for some reason that seemed obvious (language problems) but what was with the second question? Was she going to map my genetic heritage or something?!

"No."

"Oh."
-and then she cuts me in the line.

( What happens next makes me regret ever wanting to become a ticket agent. )