Satrey Khmer Online

I am Khmer(Cambodian). Yes, I am a Khmer with light skin. I was asked millions of times if I was Chinese, Vietnamese, Philippine, or Japanese. NO, I am not Chinese, Vietnamese, neither Philippine nor Japanese. I am simply Khmer. Khmer have many colors;  light, yellow brown and dark, our skin color varies depending on how much we expose to the sun. Well, actually most Asian have yellow to dark skin to those Asian who think they are born with white skin or unless they’re mixed with Caucasian. And most Asian prefer their skin white by covering layers of clothes and thick sun tan lotion or dropped down hats, which we prefer ours to be natural. The reason I mentioned from the starting of my writing because I am very disturbed by some foreigners who discriminate against Cambodian’s skin color. We’ve been always labeled as black and ugly, what to expect after so many decades of war, most of Cambodian have been extremely exposed to outside heat.  Not that it matters, any color is beautiful to me. Whatever race it is, color is color. Really…. why it should be the issue?  What matters is one’s heart.  Questions which I found to be so annoying and very ignorance when I meet other Asians:

-”Are you Vietnamese? You look Vietnamese.”  (I am always asked every single time I meet them)
-”Are you Chinese?” and when I said no. They asked me, “do you have any Chinese blood? CambOdian peepov are thark.”
-”Are you Philippina?”  I said no. “Oh you look philippina.”

-When I meet Japanese, most of them directly speak to me in Japanese. When I told that I am Cambodian. They politely apologize me.

**NOTE: When you meet people of other race, show some respect. If you don’t know what country where one comes from, politely ask question.
-May I know where you come from?
-What is your background?
-What is your nationality?