misconceptions

[arisha]

So some of you may recall how, upon my return from Japan, my co-workers all bombarded me with questions about my trip to China. I have not had quite so many people mistake my trip to Peru for a trip to somewhere else (and one of my co-workers has even come up with quite the epic story about how I spent some time in a Peruvian flute band), but I do have a manager who has yet to get it right. Before my trip, she believed I was heading to Chile (to do some post-earthquake work that I would've in no way been qualified for); the other night, she came up with this:

"What do you mean you haven't done anything summery? What about those two months you spent in Brasil?"

Oh yes, I remember now. The summer I spent in Brasil. Was that before or after the winter I spent in Peru?

Man, even convincing my co-workers that South American countries have winters has been an uphill battle. I know it goes against every depiction we ever see of these places, but is it really that hard to believe? Sorry I didn't come back all tanned, maybe you would be less dismayed if you actually believed me when I told you Lima is one of the cloudiest cities ever!

Oh, oh, I forgot to post about this one:

Co-worker: "So when you were in Peru, did you miss being able to go to the store?"
Sarah: "... Peru has stores."
Co-worker: "Yeah, but did you miss going to stores that had actual brand names?"

FOR THE LAST TIME, I WAS NOT LIVING IN THE BUSH!!!

I even ate Kraft Dinner while in Lima. Seriously. :|

Comments

[lysanderpuck.livejournal.com]

so when you spent that fall in venezuela, did you have to hunt for your dinner?

[maitsukishiro.livejournal.com]

It really gets on my nerves when my family says things like "So how was Japan? Did they have lots of Chinese food?" or the best is when they forget that Japan in just as industrialized as America (if not more so in some respects). I know it's just a lack of knowledge, but when I've repeated myself plenty of times, it gets really annoying really fast.

[athena-crikey.livejournal.com]

Dude, how was going to work on a llama every day?

latest reply evar

[arisha.livejournal.com]

I have no idea why, but your comment made me think of this commercial, which I confess I kinda love, although it's probably as inaccurate as all the annoying things my co-workers have asked me about Peru:

[freege.livejournal.com]

It always makes me laugh how a lot of people think everywhere outside of the US, Canada, and Western Europe is backwards. XD And I totally didn't forget Canada the first time, no siree. D:

[spakadoodle.livejournal.com]

Dontcha just love that sentiment? My friend is Chinese and gets asshole comments like this a lot:

Guys: "Ne How!"
L: "I don't speak Chinese assholes!"
Guys: "You speak English?!"
L: "No shit."

[spakadoodle.livejournal.com]

I should say, her grandparents are from China. Her parents were born here and speak some Chinese, she doesn't speak any.

[the-wykydtron.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Was this L?

[arisha.livejournal.com]

She was the one asking about my trip to Brasil, yes.