Why anyone would think I'm from Poland? Ethnic iD, and perception.

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Mar 11, 10, 09:43 #1

I am a mixture of ethnicities and nationalities, and so have been mistaken for being one or another, from German (part, but not much ) and Irish to Mexican amd Argentinian - the last on the way I speak Spanish, more than my looks. But the most puzzling was being asked if I was Polish - I assumed as an immigrant - because I'd henna'ed my hair and beard, wearing a 'Greek' sea cap, Turtleneck shirt, gold plait chain with a copper-inamled piece I'd made - this was in the early 80-s, when Poland was cracking down on just about everything.
I've since wondered why anyone would think I was from Poland, under such circumstances ?

1jolaThreads: 33 Posts: 2,737 Joined: Sep 23, 08 ♂	Mar 11, 10, 09:50 #2
Although there are Polish Gypsies, I don't think you qualify.

papagarthThreads: 3 Posts: 23 Joined: Feb 11, 10 ♂	Mar 12, 10, 03:14 #3
Gee, Gypsy's one thing I've not been mistaken for - nor had I heard of redheaded Gypsies :) * I did assume everyone knew what henna does to hair, besides smell !

Allison	Mar 12, 10, 03:16 #4
papagarth: * I did assume everyone knew what henna does to hair, besides smell ! Gross!

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Mar 12, 10, 04:54 #5
henna isn't really read unless you are color blind.

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Mar 12, 10, 05:48 #6

papagarth:

nor had I heard of redheaded Gypsies :)
* I did assume everyone knew what henna does to hair, besides smell !

Some gypsies do color their hair and put some eye lentils, but this doesn't make them less gypsies. There are other aspects they are recognised by. Thus having red hair and blue eyes for example, doesn't prevent anyone from mistaking someone for a gypsy if he's a bit "tanned".

What you have passed for, depends on the people you come in contact and their experiences with other nationalities.
I usually pass for a Russian though I am very far from it.

Allison	Mar 12, 10, 05:51 #7
Darun: I usually pass for a Russian though I am very far from it. Lol Ridiculous. I don't have a drop of Russian blood and some guy mistook me for looking Russian.

DarunThreads: 1 Posts: 65 Joined: Oct 24, 09 ♂	Mar 12, 10, 06:05 #8
Allison: Lol Ridiculous. I don't have a drop of Russian blood and some guy mistook me for looking Russian. That was my point exactly. When you're mistaken for something that you are clearly not, it all comes down to the experiences the person doing the mistaken part, has had in time. It's as subjective as it can be.

TrevekThreads: 33 Posts: 2,155 Joined: May 21, 08 ♂	Edited by: Trevek Mar 12, 10, 09:16 #9
I was once travelling from Bugaria to Macedonia on a bus, withan American friend. At the border a guard came on and spoke to the driver. My friend laughed, "The guard just asked if all the passengers were Macedonian and Bulgarian. The driver said, 'No, I've got an American and a Finn as well." Seems I was the Finn-for-the-day.

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Mar 13, 10, 02:18 #10

Tevek, that is part of why I posted : such mistakes can be funny; I think the person actually asked if were from Poland - I was about 19, so hardly likely to have been permitted to just up and go to Berkeley - maybe she thought I was a student - but I wasn't dressed like the average European student I'd seen around that time - the turtle neck was my father's originally, and not even in style - sort of a pseudo faux late beatnik bit; Darun, I'd never heard of redheaded Gypsies, even black haired ones are uncommon here, I didn't say they don't exist - more to the point, I never assumed my style of dress at the time was anything like that used by local Gypsies, or any photos I'd seen of Gypsies in any reputable book or magazine. I'm easily tanned, in forearms and face, and haven't completely faded since 1980 - but, except when I was on certain medications, have never been that [emphasised] tanned ; there is someone who thinks I'd fit in in another part of the world where Indo-Iranian people do use henna regularly, but then he thought an Afghan woman had a 'typical Jewish nose ' - so, I discard his judgement. - this also goes to show that physical types cover a lot of ground, so to speak - I might add, I once knew three Hungarians and each was different - so you never can tell !

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