Why do I feel so out of place in "foreign" places?

Question

Whenever I visit Chinatown, Little Tokyo, or places that capitalize on foreign cultures, I feel like the "natives" are going, "Hey! Look, it's a white guy!"

Answer 1

I know what you mean, I have visited China, Japan, and Korea and coming back to LA and going to Koreatown, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo, I still feel out of place, the way I did when I was overseas. It is culture shock, but it's true what Miss 6 said, the more you go and familiarize yourself with the neighborhood and what you actually want out of it, the more comfortable you will be.  You might even make a friend in one of those specialty shops if you keep going! Just relax a little bit and try to enjoy it:-)

Answer 2

Its called Culture shock. You can have it just by going into a different neighborhood of your city. Its a common feeling. The more to visit these neighborhoods it will wear off.  

Answer 3

lol because its not your home

Answer 4

Just the very word "foreign" means it is unfamiliar to you. We are always wary of things that we are not familiar with, so it's natural.

Answer 5

Possibly they are, but if these places "capitalize on foreign cultures," as you said, the people should be glad to see visitors from ethnic backgrounds other than their own.  So if you notice anyone actually looking at you, just smile and nod

Answer 6

Get over it...you're missing the ambiance of it all when you spend too much time thinking about stupid things.

Answer 7

It's just culture shock.  A little dose of culture shock can do you good.  Honestly, you should step out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to new things.

I'm sure the people in Chinatown or Little Tokyo have seen "white guys" before, so I doubt they're really thinking that.  However, they're probably excited to see someone from a different culture experiencing theirs.  

I definitely know what you mean.  I visited this place in N.Africa, the village had very traditional values and was a very male-dominant society.  As a solo white female with blonde hair, blue eyes, lip ring, dreadlocks, tattoo and cigarettes I did not fit in.  People would actually come up to me and touch my hair or skin.  I literally had an entourage of villagers following me yelling "blonde girl" at me.  I was the "white girl" in Africa.  So, I learned the language, the food and the traditions and I was accepted.  Granted, you don't need to learn Chinese to enjoy Chinatown, you should experience the food and art while you're there.

You only really get over culture shock when you become comfortable with yourself.  

Answer 8

Going anywhere you are not familiar with will make you feel that way. To stop feeling that way, you need to go there more often.