Was I wrong for being surprised? What's the diff between acknowledging someone's culture & not stereotyping

Question

For ex, the other day my mom & I went to a diner. I was shocked b/c it was operated by all Asian people from Asian. There was no Asian cuisine on the menu, just American food. The food was great!!! And at the end they brought us a beautiful fruit desert. And were very appreciative of our business. We normally don't get such good service.

Answer 1

Well, I'm glad that you got such good service, and really liked the business. ^_^

Well the difference between the two is this (I'm using my friend, who is from India, and something that happened last year as an example):

Acknowledging someone's culture--(When asked why my friend, Laj, eats Indian food for lunch everyday) "Both of her parents were raised in India, and because she lives in America, and doesn't get to be as in touch with her roots, they like to make Indian food for her and her sister, because it is a big part of their culture."

Stereotyping--(What somebody else at the lunch table said) "She's from India, and her parents probably don't know how to make American food." (which isn't true because both of her parents are not only very well educated, but her mother loves to make "American" food [which pretty much is only a blend of other cultural cuisines] for the family--half the time they eat spaghetti, sandwiches, and other things that are vegetarian and "American")

Acknowledging someone's culture is understanding and respecting it. Stereotyping is assumptions that someone of one culture, doesn't understand another culture or isn't apart of it because they're culture is different (assuming that they can't make American food for example, because they are Indian).

Answer 2

It seems that if you call someone 'white' he seems pleased that you're acknowledging his culture, I've yet to see anyone offended by this.

Personally I don't mind being typed (stereo or otherwise) as 'white'.

However if you dare to call someone 'black' he often seems to take offence. One starts to wonder if they're ashamed of their culture.

Answer 3

No you weren't wrong.  But, I will say...You got lucky for the extra dessert and great service.  Although it wasn't Asian food......  We love Chinese food!!!!!!  But, here in Ohio where we live...ALL of the Chinese restaurants here are tight as h**l!!!!  They hand you less food for more money, they keep raising their prices and less food, they hand you the check within 1 minute of giving you your food, they don't take your empty dishes until you leave, and yet hang around at the table trying to rush you up waiting for a tip...a tip for what?  We have to go find them, if we need anything or refills.  I personally have to get my own extra napkins because if you ask for them, they give you 1 napkin.  We usually eat and most of the time, get more to bring home...then they want to charge me for a cup of frigion water after I just spent $40.00 there plus tip...even though the service sucks at all of them here...we also don't want spit in our food!!!!!!!!!!  That is the rule for any place we eat at...is always tip unless we NEVER plan to eat there again.  

Answer 4

What, did you think people from Asian can't give good service?

Answer 5

no you werent wrong for being surprised. if the place was called something like 'hong kong' (thats in my town) and it was operated by all asain people then i would expect something more of the food since they were trying to play up saying its exotic. it's not like you went to mcdonalds, all asain people were working there and you were surprised there was no asian food on the menu

Answer 6

Nothing wrong here at all.  There was nothing to do but be appreciative of the good food and excellent service.  It's not at all unusual for people from other countries to operate restaurants which don't have items from their native lands on the menu.  It's all a matter of what will sell.

When you stereotype someone it the same as saying, "Oh, he's g*y" or "She's Asian" and then assuming that because a person is this or that he/she always behaves is a specific way.  Kind of like the idea that all Irishmen are drunkards or all Jews have big noses.  We know neither of these is true in real life.

Answer 7

I don't understand this question, but just so you know, there is no country called "Asian".