letter asking for yi jianlian... hahaha
Hey, Jianlian, give us a chance
By VIKKI ORTIZ
vortiz@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 2, 2007
A letter to Yi Jianlian from a peer willing to help
Dear Jianlian,
Hi - how are you? Congratulations on being a first-round draft pick. How exciting! Truth be told, I'm not a huge sports fan, so I'm probably not fully appreciating what an accomplishment this is for you. But I do get that the Bucks want you here and you're not thrilled about the idea of moving to Brewtown.
That's why I'm writing.
I know you've said it's not Milwaukee's small Asian population that gives you pause. And I'm also aware that other people - from the Bucks management to this newspaper's own columnist, Jim Stingl - have offered to show you around the city.
Don't worry; I'm not going to go over the same old arguments.
I just think that as a single, Asian-American, (OK, technically "Pacific Islander," but from the same U.S. Census box, anyway), who lives and works downtown, it would be wrong of me not to tell you about the great things that come with being part of a small minority here.
Going out as an Asian-American can be fun in Milwaukee's downtown scene - if you make it that way.
1. Free food and a wink. I try not to eat the Chinese food at the mall food courts often. But when I do, it's rare that the Asian-Americans working behind the counter don't slip me a free egg roll or fortune cookie. Ask my friends - they're always amazed when it happens. I'm not sure why the servers do it, but I think it's nice. Just a friendly little lunchtime gesture that says, "I'm Asian, you're Asian, bon appetit!"
2. Fun with guessing games. I'm not sure how you tan, but this is something I deal with regularly, especially over the summer. People are always very curious about my ethnicity. You can always tell when they're warming up to the question. "Nice to meet you . . . are you from Milwaukee. . . . No? Can I ask what your ethnic heritage is?" Those inquisitors are usually harmless, and I give them straight answers. But sometimes, the questions get little more obnoxious: "What are you?" or "Where were you born?" or, my personal favorite, "What are you mixed with?"
That's when you can be playful with your answers.
Lately, when people ask me the "mixed with" question, I answer "vodka tonic" and hope that they go buy one for me.
3. Dance credits. Maybe this one applies more to Filipino-Americans, who're often stereotyped as being good entertainers, but it may come up for you as well. When you look like us, people like to assume you're a great dancer. Even if you hate dancing. Even if you couldn't step to the beat with a gun to your head. I, for one, love dancing, and appreciate the assumption. I'm sure my moves aren't any better than those of my white girlfriends. But people think they are - and that gives me dance floor confidence!
4. The exotic factor. True, this can be creepy from the wrong person. There will always be some guy (girl for you) at the bar who wants to talk to you just because you're Asian. I screen guys for "the fetish" in the beginning. ("Have you ever dated an Asian girl before? Really? How many? Do you decorate with bamboo? Is there any part of you that pictures me in a kimono, walking on your back, or serving tea?") And what I've found is that, most of the time, people don't have the fetish. They're just drawn to the person who looks different. That's not creepy; it's flattering.
5. Break the stereotypes. Like it or not, there are certain things people still associate with being Asian. I'm supposed to be quiet and demure. (I'm not.) You're supposed to be short. (You're obviously not.) Knowing this, there's something very cool about going out and challenging people's preconceived notions. Suddenly, even an aggressive maneuver to the front of the bar becomes a form of cultural enlightenment. And I'm just a lowly newspaper writer. Think of all the people you could influence with your status as an NBA star!
So, really, Jianlian, there are some definite upsides to being an Asian 20- or 30-something in Milwaukee. Come visit and I'll show you in person.
I know a place that has great egg rolls.
Vikki
/ / /
another amazing discovery this morning:
By VIKKI ORTIZ
vortiz@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 2, 2007
A letter to Yi Jianlian from a peer willing to help
Dear Jianlian,
Hi - how are you? Congratulations on being a first-round draft pick. How exciting! Truth be told, I'm not a huge sports fan, so I'm probably not fully appreciating what an accomplishment this is for you. But I do get that the Bucks want you here and you're not thrilled about the idea of moving to Brewtown.
That's why I'm writing.
I know you've said it's not Milwaukee's small Asian population that gives you pause. And I'm also aware that other people - from the Bucks management to this newspaper's own columnist, Jim Stingl - have offered to show you around the city.
Don't worry; I'm not going to go over the same old arguments.
I just think that as a single, Asian-American, (OK, technically "Pacific Islander," but from the same U.S. Census box, anyway), who lives and works downtown, it would be wrong of me not to tell you about the great things that come with being part of a small minority here.
Going out as an Asian-American can be fun in Milwaukee's downtown scene - if you make it that way.
1. Free food and a wink. I try not to eat the Chinese food at the mall food courts often. But when I do, it's rare that the Asian-Americans working behind the counter don't slip me a free egg roll or fortune cookie. Ask my friends - they're always amazed when it happens. I'm not sure why the servers do it, but I think it's nice. Just a friendly little lunchtime gesture that says, "I'm Asian, you're Asian, bon appetit!"
2. Fun with guessing games. I'm not sure how you tan, but this is something I deal with regularly, especially over the summer. People are always very curious about my ethnicity. You can always tell when they're warming up to the question. "Nice to meet you . . . are you from Milwaukee. . . . No? Can I ask what your ethnic heritage is?" Those inquisitors are usually harmless, and I give them straight answers. But sometimes, the questions get little more obnoxious: "What are you?" or "Where were you born?" or, my personal favorite, "What are you mixed with?"
That's when you can be playful with your answers.
Lately, when people ask me the "mixed with" question, I answer "vodka tonic" and hope that they go buy one for me.
3. Dance credits. Maybe this one applies more to Filipino-Americans, who're often stereotyped as being good entertainers, but it may come up for you as well. When you look like us, people like to assume you're a great dancer. Even if you hate dancing. Even if you couldn't step to the beat with a gun to your head. I, for one, love dancing, and appreciate the assumption. I'm sure my moves aren't any better than those of my white girlfriends. But people think they are - and that gives me dance floor confidence!
4. The exotic factor. True, this can be creepy from the wrong person. There will always be some guy (girl for you) at the bar who wants to talk to you just because you're Asian. I screen guys for "the fetish" in the beginning. ("Have you ever dated an Asian girl before? Really? How many? Do you decorate with bamboo? Is there any part of you that pictures me in a kimono, walking on your back, or serving tea?") And what I've found is that, most of the time, people don't have the fetish. They're just drawn to the person who looks different. That's not creepy; it's flattering.
5. Break the stereotypes. Like it or not, there are certain things people still associate with being Asian. I'm supposed to be quiet and demure. (I'm not.) You're supposed to be short. (You're obviously not.) Knowing this, there's something very cool about going out and challenging people's preconceived notions. Suddenly, even an aggressive maneuver to the front of the bar becomes a form of cultural enlightenment. And I'm just a lowly newspaper writer. Think of all the people you could influence with your status as an NBA star!
So, really, Jianlian, there are some definite upsides to being an Asian 20- or 30-something in Milwaukee. Come visit and I'll show you in person.
I know a place that has great egg rolls.
Vikki
/ / /
another amazing discovery this morning:
posted by steph at
2:07:00 PM
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