Today I was talking to a Vietnamese-French guy who had been in Paris for 35 years. He spoke French perfectly (as far as I could tell anyway; and after all these years, I really can tell a bit). "So you're really Parisian," I said.
"It's different for you," he said. "From a distance, you look French. With me, they always can tell I am asiatique."
It's true that people often ask me for directions in Paris. When I'm here, I dress in "protective coloration" and not like an American. But I asked him if his children felt more French, or more Vietnamese.
"Oh, they're not the tiniest bit Vietnamese," he said. "They don't speak the language and they don't know the culture. But they'll never really be French, either."
I'm not sure he's right, though.
I agree with him. In some eyes, they will never be seen as French, either to the French or foreigners.
As a Vietnamese American, it was irritating to get cat-called in Paris because it was always with a "ni hao." And in my travels, most people don't want to hear "USA" when they ask where I'm from.
Posted by: Kim | 27 June 2014 at 00:36
That must have been so annoying! I wish I could think of some snappy retort.
Posted by: Sedulia | 03 July 2014 at 20:05
I have been told by more than one Parisian that my ancestors are not really French because they were from Metz and Strasbourg. It doesn't matter how many generations they lived there, or if they had served in France's wars, they are not counted as true Frenchmen.
Posted by: Dovid | 28 July 2014 at 03:50