Asian Student in the South

Nurses Men

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Hi everyone

I have applied to schools like U of So. Alabama or any in the south. I have asked many of my friends about me going to So. Alabama and most of them don't think that's a good idea.

How bad is it for an Asian going to a school in the South? Some say:"They will treat me differently." Some say:"They will ask me to cook orange chicken for them or some other jokes" (Thats fine with me) Some say:"They probably won't beat me up for no reason unless I say or do something wrong."

If I don't go out that much and just stay in school most of the times, is it okey? I won't stay there for a long time. It's just for 1 or 1.5 year for school and I'm coming back to CA.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

Surely, you folks don't think racism and prejudice is limited to the Southern US, do you?

I grew up in Alabama, until I joined the Navy. When I moved to North Carolina, I found they were waaaay more redneck than Alabamians. And the North Carolinians listen to the song "Sweet Home Alabama" waaaaaay more than Alabamians ever did. Go figure? Dont' worry so much about the racism, worry about the Humidity and Heat.

I live in Alabama and attend a CC for LPN then RN in the northern part of the state. It seems the northern part of the state is so diverified compared to the southern part. As far as "where are you from", you will most definately hear that from people here but only because we are curious and find other cultures interesting. If you can adapt to the heat and curious southerners, you will love it if you are in the northern half of the state. As the poster above said, I do hear sweet home alabama in other states more.

I grew up in Alabama, until I joined the Navy. When I moved to North Carolina, I found they were waaaay more redneck than Alabamians. And the North Carolinians listen to the song "Sweet Home Alabama" waaaaaay more than Alabamians ever did. Go figure? Dont' worry so much about the racism, worry about the Humidity and Heat.

Even funnier when you recall that the 3 writers of the song weren't even from Alabama, 2 were from Florida and one was from California. :D

I know that most of you who commented did so in good faith. But if you're a Caucasian, I don't think you can really relate 100% to what minorities have experienced. I myself get caught off guard here and there by some of the racism I still experience and I live in the "north".

Although I don't run into racism much, I would say that I do run into it maybe ones every few months. For example, l when I was getting my car serviced, I returned when to the shop because they basically didn't do what I asked them to do. The mechanic told me to "take my jap car back to my own country - maybe they'll be able to fix it better." Of course this is an extreme example of something I've encountered - but it was very dehumanizing. And for me at least, it really ticks me off.

It doesn't matter that my family has been in the country for generations, or that members of my family serve in the military, or how good my english is, nor how much money or education I have. It just take one ignorant, hate filled prick to really affects you to the core - at least for me. I've worked on it by sort of feeling sorry for the person and I've been careful so that I don't let his hate infect me and turn me into a hateful person myself. But it is unpleasant nonetheless and I don't want to always be on guard and naturally I want to avoid such situations. The fact that some people channel their hate by making people of another race "others", really makes me angry and sad for our society. And although I know my experience is totally anecdotal, I can't help but notice that I run into racism of the most blatant kind more when I go to the sound. It really is stunning to me how some people can be really nice and decent, but then when they're approached by someone of a different race, they turn into monsters.

I've personally stopped trying to make my goal to rid or educate other people's racist attitudes - blatant or thinly masked. I've come to terms that there are racist people everywhere. You will run into less however, the closer you get to either coast and the farther north you go. Plan accordingly.

That is sad but true.. The funny thing is in my town. I am the minority and I am your average southern white female. You do not have to be hispanic or african american to be a minority and to understand that feeling anymore.The way I see it, no matter the color or ethnic background, everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time and we all bleed the same blood as everyone else.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I'm also white, and a minority in my city. By a large, large margin.

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

I know what you mean. Not only am I a transplanted Texan (that alone is an interesting phenomenon) I am female in a male dominated culture. I live in a city of over 2 million people & am I'm guessing 1 of less than 500 Americans. So yeah, prejudice & bigotry exist everywhere. Where I live, in the "right" (or is it wrong?) circumstances, I am asked why our president/country/fill in the blank is so bad/mean/arrogant/fill in the blank. I'm viewed as an oddity because I am female without a husband or children---those two items necessary for living successfully in this part of the world. I am pushed in front of by men, because I am a woman, and sometimes am spoken to as if I am stupid, just to name a few incidents. So, even with its problems, America is still the best and I love my country unabashadly.

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