Defining Happy

So I’m back in Penang, Malaysia after surviving the roach infested 16 hour total train ride. My body was beat down so I decided to make a pit stop to a familiar place to rest. Being back a second time is kinda cool. I know the lay of the land. I walk with my head held high because I know where I’m going and exactly how to get there.

To make things easier on myself I stayed in the same hostel and was welcomed back with open arms which was nice. I actually met the owner and another employee this time around who were on holiday when I was here last month. The owner is a tall Chinese guy who appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s he was extremely helpful and was willing to shower me with any information I needed about the area. Definitely a nice guy. The employee on the other hand was a wild boy. King, who was a 60-something year old Chinese guy who stood at about 5’2″ talked my ear off for two whole days straight. Seriously. The conversation started on the first day with the obvious Million Dollar Question “So where are you from?” tempted to say Jamaica or Africa I just said, New York instead. I find it that when people who may have never talked to another black person before spark up their first conversation with one and they ask EVERY burning question that they’ve ever had in their head. This was the case for me as the questions were plentiful and ever so random. Some of them were as follows:

 

Blacks and Kids

Him: So how many siblings do you have
Me: None, I am my mother’s only child.
Him: What? I thought all black people had many many children.
Me: 😐
Him: I see on TV that they always have a lot of kids. Like 5 or 6.
Me: 😐 No, I’m not sure that applies to all black people. I have several friends who are either only children or come from small families.
Him: Wow *completely shocked*

 

Blacks from Africa

Me: So why is it that some people here are afraid when they see a black person?
Him: We learn that black people from Africa have a lot of problems and do bad things. They steal and try to scam people and they are involved with drugs. Many people have this belief.
Me: 😐 Wow.

 

Blacks in New York

Him: So my friends moved to NY after they retired from working for the govt and they are 50. They went to work in their families’ store in Chinatown selling fruits and vegetables. They say that sometimes early in the morning big black men knock on their door and try to sell them things. They say the men are tall like 6 or 7 feet, they are large, and have big scary eyes. They are so afraid that they always buy those things so the black man won’t hurt them
Me: 😐
Him: I always wondered why black people are so big. Why is that?
Me: How tall are you?
Him: 5’2″
Me: I think many people would seem tall to someone who is so short. Black people come in many shapes, sizes and colors. Contrary to your beliefs we don’t all look the same.
Him: Oh, wow.

 

Blacks and sports

Him: So why is it that all black people seem to be so good at sports? I mean, there are very few white people who do a good job. I think maybe only Bruce Jenner who won the Olympics but that is all. You are all so good is football, track and field, basketball and…just all sports.
Me: Uh, I’m not really sure why that is. But I could see why it would appear that way.
Him: Maybe it is your size. Like you. Your arms are so big and have lots of muscles. Do you use weights?
Me: I used to lift weights quite often but since I’ve gained a bit of weight now my arms are just big
Him: Oh, I see. Well you look very strong.
Me: 😐 thanks

 

Good Blacks

Him: What kind of music do you listen to?
Me: I listen to almost everything.
Him: Do you like rap?
Me: I listen to old school rap not really anything newer.
Him: I don’t like rap or heavy metal. I like soul. My favorite is Diana Ross. She is the best singer.
Me: Oh yeah? She’s pretty good.
Him: Yes, I quite like her. I also like Michael Jordan
Me: ? :-/
Him: He is my favorite basketball player. And there is another black that I like who plays in movies. Do you know him?
Me:  Well there are quite a few black actors. Which movies did he star in?
Him: I can’t remember but he is famous
Me: Denzel Washington?
Him: No, that’s not it
Me: Will Smith?
Him: No, but I like him too. He is much older and dark..very dark
Me: Morgan Freeman?
Him: Yes, that is the man. And Sidney Poitier. Do you know he opened doors for a lot of blacks?
Me: 😐

 

I could go on and on about the conversations I had with this cat but this post is already too long. He went from talking about Tiger Woods to money and status to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown to talking about the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans who take boats to sneak in to America…I kid you not. I was completely exhausted by 11pm when he got off of work. Two whole days of black trivia and King had managed to do a Gregory Hines style of tap dance all over my last nerve.

Before he left he wished me well on my travels and I snapped a quick picture of him. I also gave him the numbers of my close friends and family just in case he had anymore “black people” questions. So guys if you’re reading this he should be calling you all soon. 😉