I've never really encountered direct racism before. I mean, sure, in many ways, I've been discriminated against because of my race, even back home in Malaysia. However, the first to actually hurt me happened just a few days ago.
Despite the many warnings of concerned friends and family about racism when I come to Australia, up till last week, the most racist any Australian local has been to me is when they answered my queries by raising their voices and speaking slowly, as if I were mentally-disabled and/or deaf. If you cannot provide me with the service I require, get someone else that can, instead of injuring your brain.
I find this very amusing (as well as irritating) because when I ask them something they don't know, they seem to think the problem lies in MY inability to understand English. I didn't ask you another question to hear an echo of your previous answer, in slow motion and higher volume. It's funny because I know that my English is better than at least half the Australian nation.
On my university village website, it said "Please bare with us". My Australian lecturer e-mailed me saying she was on "sabatical" leave. My Australian friend says "these ones" and "those ones" (
discussion), and has never heard of the word "carcinogenic" until I used it in a sentence (bio-medical science student, by the way).
Another incident was when one of my Australian friends said, with distaste, that "all these Asian students come here to study and refuse to leave, so we have all these immigrants." It was borderline offensive, so I pointed out that the Aboriginal people must have thought that of the British immigrants too. My other friend, also an Australian, quickly added that most of them were prisoners anyway.
I know that they meant no offense, so none was taken, but I felt I had the obligation to speak on behalf of my ethnicity. It's not fair to make such observations. Why target Asians? What of the American students that come to study and refuse to leave? What of the French? The Africans?
When there's a demand, there's a supply. Law of economics. If Australia is so self-sufficient, they can close their borders to all foreigners and live on their eucalyptus and kangaroos.
So anyway, what got my blood boiling was when I was strolling in Fremantle with my brother a few days ago. We were at cross-roads and there was one button to press at the traffic light, so I assumed it was for the other road because the people that crossed the other road pressed that one. There was no separate button anyway. There weren't any cars coming, so I told my brother to cross.
As we were crossing, this car came but it stopped to let us cross. I raised my hand as a 'thank you' gesture, before I realized that the car didn't stop for us; it stopped because the light was red. I even joked with my brother about wasting a thank-you.
Then, we heard someone talking really loudly behind us but my brain didn't register it at first because there are many street performers/preaching crazies in that area. But I turned back to look at the old man when he said, "All these people who come to our country don't even know how to cross the road."
He yelled it angrily and was glaring at us. His son was trying to placate him and asking him not to be so racist. I was shocked, obviously. I didn't know how to react, so I dragged my brother into the nearest shop.
When we were inside, I could see that the son was explaining how the traffic light system worked to his father, but the father was still shouting and glaring at me. I walked out of the store towards them and glared at the old man (I know, damn gang-sta right?) but he was already being led away by his son.
Old fuck, what did I do to you? All I did was cross the road, not kick you in the groin. What the fuck do you mean "all these people who come to our country"? That is fucking racist. OUR country? Unless you are Aboriginal, you should shut your fucking trap. You are as much of an "all these people who come to our country" as I am. You know nothing about me; for all you could have known, my ancestors have been here long before yours, limp prick. Got erectile dysfunction, then must take it out on everyone within a 10-meter radius, is it?
The funniest thing is, when my brother and I headed to Garden City after that, a bunch of girls crossed the road without pressing the button or waiting for the light either. And you know the darndest thing? They were local Caucasians. Shocking!
Then last night, I went to Mundaring for pizza with my brother, Han, Michael, Yasmin, Arif and some of Han's friends. While walking to the pizza place, a drunk Caucasian dude suddenly looks at me with crazy eyes and yelled "What's up, Asian, wanna suck my cock?" Prick (not a pun).
People like these make me wish I were married to Edward Cullen so he can throw them off a building or something. Actually, with or without people like these, I'd still like to be married to Edward Cullen, thank you very much.
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I bought some kangaroo meat to stir-fry with capsicum for my brother to try.
My new body wash and conditioner.
My Marc Daniels set of shampoo, conditioner and treatment at a promotional price of $9.99.
Lindt chocolate bars for the extended family.
Belgium flaked truffles. Yums.
Genuine leather (apparently) coin purses.
Australia keychains.
100% Pure Emu Oil for my grandma's arthritis. It's $20 for 100ml; pricey!
Lanopearl Vitamin E cream for myself, $7.
Cotton On pants that my brother bought, $10.
Some Cotton On collar tees for the boys.
Cotton On flip flops in purple and pink!
Cotton On flip flops for my brother.
Cute Cotton On bags for Xingqian and Xinghui.
The cutest Cotton On bags ever for the cutest toddlers ever, Xingken and Xingjie.
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