|
|
I'm back in Vermont, 6 years since I first came here for work. I'm actually here for the same client, though most names and faces I'm sure will have changed since then. This was one of my first traveling gigs way back when, travel was such a new and cool thing for me.
Now I'm old and jaded. :-P
I stopped by the mall for some food, after several 3 point turns and U-turns when I got lost. As soon as I walked in, I realized that I had been there before, the last time I was here. The stores had changed, but the people hadn't. One of things that really interested me when I first started traveling was the lack of diversity in some cities. The first time I went to this mall, I remember looking for an Asian face, then, after not finding any, looking for ANY face that looked like it could be a minority, and finding none. That's a weird feeling for someone who's grown up in a diverse city like Chicago. I grew up in a predominantly Polish-Italian neighborhood, but there were still one or two Asians in my school.
Not here, in South Vermont. To me, it was something that I became very aware of - the looks, feeling out of place, trying to just blend in but knowing that I couldn't. You'd have to experience it to really understand what I'm talking about.
It was a bit different this time around. Sure, a majority of the people here were white, but since I've been here they've opened up a Chinese joint and a Thai fast food place, and they seem to have 'authentic' people working there. Yep, that's about it.
I went to go and order my potstickers and coconut chicken, and the lady at the counter was all smiles. I think she understood what I was thinking, or was really shocked to have another Asian ordering that didn't work there. "Are you Japanese?" she asked, I told her I wasn't, that I was Filipino. She smiled and nodded and gave me my Thai Iced Coffee for free.
Hmm, I think I have a favorite place to eat in Vermont!
Posted by Yano at April 19, 2005 01:29 AMhaha. She probably thought you were Japanese cuz of those chopsticks in your hair--and the kimono you were wearing.
Fight the power, Yano! Show 'em how we do it in Chicago!
By the way, isn't Thai Ice Coffee the best?
Posted by: Sam on April 19, 2005 08:48 AMThat's happening all over the country. I remember when the first Mexican workers started showing up in Alabama. Now Atlanta is like New York 75 years ago. "The times they are a changin'" and certainly for the better in the food department!
Posted by: SusanG on April 19, 2005 11:43 AMI have relatives in Vermont, and I visit from time to time. The only nonwhite people I remember seeing were the adopted children (adopted from India) of my uncle's brother and some college friends of one of my cousins.
But imagine not having a Chinese place to eat! Of course, where I went to high school didn't have one either.
Posted by: Trisha on April 19, 2005 05:19 PMI know how you feel. Up there they look at me like I landed from another planet too, I guess because I'm dark and Italian and therefore a shady character. The NY plates on the car don't help matters much. :P
Posted by: Denizzy on April 20, 2005 10:09 AMi love your "choose a layout" feature. :D very cute. i like this current layout very much too.
Posted by: slurpee on April 20, 2005 11:29 AM
