Ah, those tourists

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By Minje Woo

When I watch the movie Godzilla, or other similar films, there is always that Asian tourist with glasses, who is wearing binoculars around his neck. He usually looks into the camera and yells, "Look! Godzilla!" in a very Asian accent. I don't know about everyone else but, when I watch those scenes, I can't help but laugh out loud and think, "Ah, those tourists."
Just last week, I had the chance to visit the Canadian Rockies for the first time with my family. We stopped often to look at the views. I excitedly got out of the car, grabbed a pair of binoculars and placed them around my neck. I started to take pictures of the scenery around me and then, without thinking, I said, "Look! Mountains!"
Wait a minute. Didn't that sound familiar? I sounded like a tourist. I suddenly felt like a tourist in my own country. But how could this be? I thought I fit in so well with everyone. So, how could I be a tourist? 
I grew up in Canada. This is the country that I consider home. I came to Canada from Korea a very long time ago, and I have no memories whatsoever of Korea. I graduated from elementary and high school here, and on top of that, I'm going to go to university here. I've lived on both the East Coast and the West Coast of Canada. I know both English and French. Yet, I still felt foreign in my country. Why?
The odd thing is that, in the movies, it's rarely a Caucasian in an Asian country who says, "Look! Godzilla!" It's usually the other way around. Why is that? It seems like it's the cultural norm for all Asians to be tourists.
I've met many Asian-Canadian professionals in Canada. But others still assume that they are either tourists, or "low-class" Asian immigrants who work at a laundry.
I believe that those stereotypes were started by Hollywood. After seeing one Asian tourist on the big screen, it seems like all Asians are tourists. After seeing one old Asian neighbour - who knows karate and can trim bonsai trees - it seems like all Asians know karate and can trim bonsai trees.
Those stereotypes - often perpetuated in the media - not only influence others, but also influence Asian Canadians too. The images become unconsciously embedded in our subconscious minds, and we begin to believe what we see. But it's time to break free from them.
It's true that Korean Canadians are a visible minority in Canada. However, it does not mean that this isn't our country. It does not mean that we should feel foreign here. We should feel as Canadian as anyone here. It's important to recognize both the Korean and Canadian cultures in our lives. There are no reasons why we should feel foreign in our own country. 
We are Korean. We are Canadian. We should be proud to be Korean Canadian. We are blessed for being able to live in such a multicultural country. This country belongs to us as much as it belongs to anybody else. We shouldn't allow Hollywood's sometimes-negative depictions influence us. We are all welcome in Canada, and we should live in harmony and peace with everyone in Canada. This is our home, and nobody can change that.

Minje Woo is a recent graduate of Burnaby South Secondary and a part-time magician. To submit a column to C3 News & Views, contact Angela MacKenzie at aymackenzie@gmail.com.

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