You’re definitely thinking of China. Nobody in Japan will touch you. Not even to hug you. What you’ll get is a polite bow, and if someone is feeling bold - a handshake.

Post-colonial white hegemonies have all of this in common - trampling on the lives of their rightful indigenous owners, creating structural systems that continue to oppress and marginalize their ancestors for generations. As much as I love NZ, it still has that underlying issue of racism, and it’s directed at Māori…

Thirst trap detected!

I’m writing about it next month. ;)

Sorry, no place is perfect. And this, unfortunately, is a big problem. Like - really big.

Sadly, this is also true.

No problem! :)

That’s how he spells his name - all lowercase. I didn’t ask for the background - if that’s how he wants to spell it then that’s fine with me.

But they so fine...

Thanks for pointing that out - the North Island has more than 3 million people. Also, the racism that people *do* experience in New Zealand, from what I’ve heard, is more hidden - way down deep beneath that British veneer of formality.

We should talk. Can you find me on Twitter and we can have a private conversation? Only if you like. If not, we cool. @LadyGodiva83

I hear you and I feel your pain. When I first left America, I felt certain I would experience more freedom and acceptance elsewhere (because I was super young.) But instead I was faced with intersecting platforms of privilege and oppression that are called different names in funny accents, but function in much the…

I can’t blame you. I was really shocked but also fascinated with the idea that a gay black man would move to Jakarta for work, willingly conceal his sexuality and live a relatively comfortable life. But he still lives in danger if caught out. So that fascination, for me, was quickly replaced with fear and dread.

Honestly, that was my take away from it as well. The advantages appear to be livability if you have a Western wage, but the social oppression is no.joke. And from what I could ascertain from the interviews, it’s getting worse.

Yes! I lived in Japan for a year. Where you at? I was in Yamaguchi. The problem is picking a city to profile - Tokyo seems like the obvious choice, but I think Osaka or Fukuoka makes more since for liveability reasons. Eventually I left because I was in a tiny town. I was really tired of being examined with everything…

Not really a “cultural stereotype,” but yes - Melbourne is pretty safe. Venture into rural Victoria and brown snakes/red backs are more likely. Still, nothing prepared me for my first huntsman encounter.

I, for one, appreciate your transparency in admitting your error.

I will pass that along.

*everyone who isn’t white.

“Decently,” is debatable. Suffice to say, there is a very pervasive element of racist ideology in Australian culture that hates everyone, regardless of how it’s expressed.