zboy1 wrote:
..... but the one thing I rarely see advice given on is about the strident racism in Asia
This is because the term 'Asia' is too vague.
Where in Asia, under which circumstances...
..... racism and xenophobia, although in Asia, it's less the violent kind of racism, but the more subtle kind of racism, such as being denied entry into clubs, rude stares, back-talking, and Asian woman refusing to date you because you're a foreigner or not Asian looking.
Again, about which country you are talking?
Mongolia? Singapore?
About dating, you will find the same situation also outside of Asia. I am from Europe and I never had any nice dating with a local (white) girl. All of the girls I ever met in my life for a personal talk were of Asian race.
So far wherever I have been in Asia I felt more welcome than in Europe or US/Canada.
Did I meet some rude people in Asia? Yes, I did, but it was really very rare during my 40 years now in Asia.
.....I also suggest Blacks/African Americans don't come to Asia unless they have strong appetites in dealing with racism, and have a lot of confidence in themselves, regardless of racism
In Bangladesh you will find people who are as black as Africans. In India too, and of course also in Sri Lanka. In Cambodia/Eastern Thai are not so few people who are naturally brown/dark skinned.
It's not about race.
It's often about how some people behave while living in a foreign country.
.....That said, not all foreigners will agree with my assessment, which I'm guessing will be people like Yohan (who is very happy in Japan), and maybe even Winston, himself.
Winston is a Chinese, I am a white man. If Winston (and you too, you are Asian American) are walking around somewhere in Taiwan, Korea and Japan, it is impossible to know if you are a local or not until you talk to somebody.
My case is different - wherever I go, I am a foreigner, everybody looking at me will consider me to be a 'foreigner' and why not? What's wrong with that?
So far I had rarely any problem. Of course some curious people, usually children or people in rural areas who hardly have any contact to abroad might look at me and why not? They do not have any bad intention towards me.
.....All in all, though, I don't think this should discourage people from coming to Asia, although I think some non-Asians will be surprised by the level of racism here. Asians are racist even towards other Asians.
Asians racist towards Asians? This is not 'racist' - same race -, this is discrimination concerning nationality.
If you take Japan as an example, if it is so racist I wonder why almost 17 million Asian foreigners are visiting it in during 11 months in 2016, this does not include data of December 2016.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/jpn/statistics/si ... urists.pdf
My friends from Malaysia (Chinese) were visiting me in Japan 5 times during the last 3 years. Racist? Where? How? It cannot be so bad here, otherwise they will tell me about their negative experiences.
I was many times in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines etc. I do not remember to be badly treated by locals.
Maybe you might argue, it makes a difference if you are a tourist or a resident. But tell me how can be 'race' a problem for a tourist?
For a resident, it takes a little time and patience of course, but I am using the same medical doctors since decades, the same barber, the same shop for motorcycle service, the same restaurants which fits my taste etc.
When I enter, local people working there know me, there are no problems.
Of course there are always some people who see discrimination everywhere they go and are complaining about all and everything all the time. - I can only tell them if you cannot live among people who are different from you then best is you go back to your own native country. Honestly what are you doing abroad if it is so wonderful in the place where you are coming from?