Shakira was disappointed to find that Filipinos in New York would not connect with her based on their race.
She wished to speak her language, enjoy the food from her ethnic background, talk about things from "back home" with people that she thought were from her country of origin. However, the people she wrote about did not wish to connect with her that way. They preferred to identify themselves as Chinese instead. Or terminate the conversation and walk away as quickly as they can.
Why is this so?
Have these people forgotten their roots? Are they ashamed about where they have come from? Are they like the proverbial "kacang lupakan kulit"?
Or is Shakira racist in wanting to connect with people of the same ethnic background as herself? Is it wrong to wish for such connections?
Many Filipinos that I meet are like Shakira. They long to connect with other Filipinos, especially while they are not in the Philippines. Even if they have lost their Filipino citizenship, they would identify themselves as Filipino, cheer for Manny Pacquiao, speak in Tagalog, and eat food that originated from that country. However, not all Filipinos are like this.
Which behaviour is better? Holding on to one's origins in preference to mixing with others while abroad? Or mixing with others in preference to having friends from one's ethnic origins? Does it matter?
Does it change for people whose ancestors migrated several generations ago, as compared with first generation migrants? Or visitors and temporary visa holders?
What is your experience in this matter?
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