You were going to get killed for being white in the wrong place?
Re:12 Months of Mandarin
by Baeocystin on Friday October 04, 2024 @04:47PM
(#41745432)
Probably less to do with being white specifically than simply being a convenient Other, but yes. Most people are great. Some are awful, a few evil. When you stand out, you'll attract the attention of everyone, including the latter, and you'd be wise not to forget that, in all its aspects. The whole reason we were able to survive is that locals looked after us, too, and that's worth emphasizing.
Re:12 Months of Mandarin
by archsurface on Saturday October 05, 2024 @10:55PM
(#41754405)
This is normal in many areas of the world.
> green-eyed at the time
What happened to your eyes?
Re:12 Months of Mandarin
by Baeocystin on Saturday October 05, 2024 @07:29PM
(#41753635)
They turned hazel when I hit puberty. Hair got darker, too. Pretty common in white folks, FWIW.
Once we got to the smaller, interior towns, we had to be really careful with our movement, as we could attract dangerously large crowds just by going to the morning market or the like. The vast major of people were just curious, and I have a lot of happy memories of smiles and connections, but a few of coming close to getting killed, too.
Still, risk is everywhere, and the positives win out. I loved learning what I could, and I hope meeting us was a net joy for the folks we interacted with, too.