Day off

[elusivek]

I took the day off yesterday. Originally, I had plans to go to Hong Kong to pick up my Cesar Milan tickets, and do some random shopping, but then I went to Hong Kong the previous Friday on a work errand and got my tickets, and then decided, I shouldn't spend to much money anyway... so despite giving up the Hong Kong trip, I kept my day off.

I had a blast.

There is no such thing as sleeping in in this household, maybe except for my Sis as she gets to sleep in whenever she wants and I'm the one running all the errands. Walked the dogs, then went for Yoga. It's been ages since I last went to my yoga class, so it brutal! I'm now all sore and in pain... guh...Walked around downtown for a but, then went home. Spent the afternoon reading. Reading reading reading. Got a brain freeze from too much reading.

The book I'm reading, Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has left me wondering and thinking about many things. If any of my thoughts somehow offend you, I'm sorry, I truly do not have any malicious intent nor derogatory meaning. I may be using the wrong wordings too, so please tell me of any wrong I've done and I will learn to avoid such word usage or remarks in future.

The Blacks, any kind of Black - are a mystery to me. I do not have many (make that any) friends that are Black. They are rare over here. The ones that are here are mostly from ex-Portuguese colonies or somehow related to Portugal, like Cabo Verde, Timor, Angola... I know who some of the, are, but not personally, so I cannot comment on anything that they do.

Reading the book, I at least now know that in Nigeria (where the heroine is from), they study English in school, and she gets the shock of her life hearing how the US people speak English. Well.... Me too. How they can't spell, how they can't get their grammar correct. All those jokes on grammar policing and you/your/you're, it's all very true. And the guy who thought London is in France was spectacular. So I actually sympathized with her. It would seem as foreign and unknown to me what happens in Nigeria, I can relate with Ifem (heroine).

There was one part where it mentions that all new Black comers to the US should practice to be mild, soft, patient. Because any outburst and the Whites would all go finger pointing. That brings to mind my cousin's boyfriend, who is a Black guy. I never asked from where exactly, and pardon my naiveness... it's probably somewhere Africa to me. He contained himself rather well, and despite being very vocal of his opinions, he was also very restrained in his portrayal and gesturing.

In short, I think there are many well-educated Blacks around, but all these passive- or reflex- or "autopilot" discrimination simply sells them short.The best analogy I can think of are the Filipinos here. Many, many, and I mean, many, of them are degree holders, doctors, nurses, engineers... but they work here as house aids, maids, babysitters, cleaners.

It's a sad world, and just thinking about it is making me depressed.I may have more to say when I finish the book.

Comments

[oakfarm2.livejournal.com]

To be short, about Africans and the US, apparently the most well educated minority in the US is African migrants. http://tinyurl.com/lx8fw2k. Could be bad for Africa if many well educated people leave, and I would not be surprised if some well educated Africans migrate to Asia nowadays.


Stupid question, when going to Hong Kong, do you need any papers, I mean any boarder crossing?

[notte0.livejournal.com]

There are more Africans/Blacks (wherever they are from) nowadays, that is true. I even see them in china and they speak perfect mandarin.

Oh yes, despite Macau and Hong Kong being "China", but due to each having its own administration and government, there is immigration control both sides. Even when you go to China. You may not need a visa to go to Macau and Hong Kong, but you will need a visa to go to China. Or, you need separate visas to go to all three places.

[oakfarm2.livejournal.com]

That's impressive if they talk perfect mandarin. Chinese is often described as hard to learn, I can't imagine learning that, I had to work hard even to learn English.