As stated previously, being a white foreigner in China makes you an attraction and if you fit Chinese beauty standards, and I'm not complaining, you get some free things and people will be particularly nice to you (although I imagine that in any country where you're viewed as attractive, this is how you're treated). You become like a small celebrity. In NYC, you can fool people into thinking this by wearing huge sunglasses, carrying an expensive hand bag and looking like you just finished a 3-day bender.
I have to keep reality in-check as I get a lot of praise for my looks and numerous people have told me that I'm the most beautiful woman that they've ever seen, which is outrageous. Clearly outrageous. I combat this by constantly reminding myself that anyone who thinks that, needs to get out more.
Mostly people want pictures of me or with me, hence Se Ah referring to me as "Yantai Star." In smaller cities, where foreigners are more rare, people tend to be more shy about approaching me. Here are a few pictures with some "fans."
The first girl was actually with the girls below, but when someone tried to get in on her picture, she was not having it. Like, don't-talk-to-my-man not having it. Then the group shot girls each wanted a picture alone with me too. And, once you take a picture with one person, others will see it and immediately begin crowding around, so I spent the next 15 minutes taking pictures with people. This is definitely not everyday, but not atypical either.
I've heard some foreigners complain about how annoying it is to take pictures with people. These people tend to be loving themselves too much to be able to share. My outlook is that it's an easy way to make someone happy, so it's not a burden. Also, I'm rarely so busy that I can't do it and it's not exactly something that's going to routinely happen in my life like Britney, so it's easy to enjoy.
But, I can't take pictures all day. I've got an interview and then dinner with a guy that the paps will later identify as the ex-boyfriend of someone from The Hills. Hurry up!
Wait, are you serious about The Hills thing?? Lol.
Kelly, you were always a celebrity in my book. ;)
Posted by: Kristan | November 19, 2009 at 11:19