It Happened Again.... (a silly little rant)

[Isla]

Someone assumed that I was Jewish again.

Not that I mind... I kind of take it as a compliment... but it has to do with the way I look. Which makes NO sense, because all the Jewish people I know look different, depending on their ancestry!

Just now, this door-to-door solicitor was trying to get on my good side and started saying "Shalom shalom" and asking me if I had a Happy Hannuka because he assumed---by looking at me--- that I was Jewish. I guess maybe I really am a throwback to my ancestors... I'm pretty sure some of them were, but we are talking about the days of the Spanish Inquisition! Waaaaaay back!

Anyway, sometimes they think I am Russian or Greek, but when I was younger this one Jewish lady tried to set me up with her son because she ASSUMED I was Jewish.... she also assumed I was single...

I just needed to get it out of my system... it is something that has happened all my life and still happens, so I guess I really do have a certain 'look' of Jewishness to me, whatever that means! All the Jewish people I know are VERY diverse looking, so I really have no idea.

Maybe I look Hebrew? Maybe I should make a poll...

What nationality/ethnicity does Isla look like?



EDIT: BTW, this is in no way, shape or form meant to be any disrespect to any culture, race, blah blah blah. I am just amazed that people are always assuming this about me! Maybe I got switched at the hospital at birth????

 

[kranky]

I don't have the avatars displayed so it's hard to say.

But since you've already said what your ancestry is, the mystery is gone.

I guess I can understand someone guessing a person's ethnic background, but why did she assume you were single?

 

[Total Refected Power]

Hmmm.. I wouldn't have taken you as a Jewish man.

 

[Isla]

I guess you are right, Kranky... I do look different from my sisters... I guess I got all the recessive genes. I guess you could say I look Mediterranian (sp)... very olive skinned. Olive colored eyes, too! I'm just a big walking olive!

I think the lady assumed I was too young to be married... and she knew me from my work at the animal hospital, where I never wore my rings (too messy). She was very nice, so I took her interest as a high compliment.

Oh well... people will always assume things...

 

[thebestMAX]

We need more and better pictures.

Dont feel bad, I have never been taken for what I am.

 

[Optimus]

Isla - you know the guys here are going to ask for pictures... many many pictures... to be able to accuratley "judge" that!

Seriously, from what I have seen in your pics, I'd say the dark hair, dark eyes, and forgive me if I'm off on this (photos are inaccurate) but your skin seems somewhat olive (much like my wife's).

Unfortuantely, many people have a set preconception of what Hispanics should look like - and if you don't exactly match that, then you aren't seen as one... In my wife's country (in Latin America), most of the population (hispanic) are fairly darker skinned, so my wife's lighter skin tone stands out and she often says how differently people look at her there (and assume she is a tourist or an American).

 

[Isla]

TRP, want to hear some weirdness?

When I was growing up, there was a Jewish boy who was born on the same date and the same hospital as me. His name was Andrew (which was going to be my name if I was a boy... my middle name is Andrea instead) and he skipped the same grade as I did and ended up in the same class as me that year! We had both come fropm different schools so we had never met each other before. What are the chances of all those coincidences? He was my biggest competition in the school spelling bee...

Strange, huh?

 

[Optimus]

Ha ha! I was writing that post before Isla responded above about being olive skinned and before thebestMax posted asking for pics - I had guessed both and I'm laughing at seeing those was right after posting mine!

 

[Isla]

thebestMax... You look just fine to me. (I'm still waiting for Merrick, BTW...)

Optimus... true! People get one idea in their mind and they don't allow for the diversity. My sisters are quite fair skinned, too! No one ever guesses that my sister Maria is Spanish because she is so fair, but my other sister has that classic Spain-Spanish (fair skin, dark eyes and dark hair) look.

Heck, I've seen red-heads from South America who are definite throwbacks to our Celtic heritage! My great grandfather was blond and blue eyed from Galecia (Gaelic).

So, all Latins do not look the same!



The Only Recent Pic

 

[Total Refected Power]

ISLA:

Sounds like a soulmate.

 

[Mday]

you look portuguese

 

[ultravox]

I used to get that all the time also.if t was not jewish then it was greek or arab or italian. In my case it's the european blood that corses through my veins. I might add that you do look european......much too good looking to be a 'merican.....

 

[Elita1]

Isla:
It is so odd that you posted this because I have had a very similar experience most of my life.
All my siblings are a dark olive skin and very dark hair. I was the odd one out born with fairer skin and lighter hair than theirs.
I've been called "la gringa" or "la india blanca" by kids at school and often mistaken for a foreigner in my own country.
When I studied in the states people assumed I was everything under the sun from french to trinidadian to slovakian to californian!
I moved to Canada and I constantly get the comment "you sound so american but you look European".
I used to find it aggravating but now it only amuses me.
People do tend to have stereoptypes of what different nationalities should look like. Some just don't understand the incredible culture blend and increase in diversity that there has been for a very long time now.

And by the way you look very latina to me. You have gorgeous features!

 

[Elita1]

By the way, Isla

I've got the perfect girl for that adorably handsome little boy of yours!

Edit: Oops the link won't work. Sorry guys. Isla I PMed you with the pic, I hope you get it!

 

[Sacotool]

bad link Elita! It says you have to sign in

 

[Electric Amish]

Yeah, whenever I hear the name Isla, Jew is the first thing I think of.....


amish

 

[ltk007]

It happens, some people are just bad at telling that kind of thing I don't know why that person mistook you though, you don't look very jewish to me. Then again I'm pretty good at telling that kinda thing.

No one can tell what the hell I am. I'm mostly russian jew more than anything else, but I have blonde hair, bluish/green eyes, and light skin so you couldn't tell by looking at me (my hair, eyes, and skin are about the only things I didn't get from my jewish dad).

 

[Aquaman]

I guess the old saying is true........

'Never Assume.......... because you make an ASS out of U and ME'

I feel your pain....... I'm Chinese and people think I'm:

Filipino or
Native Indian

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Isla]

Evan, no wonder you are so good looking!

Elita, I'd rather have your beauty.... then I would fit in with my sisters! They look like you. BTW, ygpm!

MDay, you know you are right... I do kinda look Portuguese....

Well, one thing is for sure... I'll never be mistaken for Swedish (although my sister Maria has been! )

edit: Aquaman, I know! However, I have learned to ASK and not assume because of it.

Ultravox... well then I must assume you are extraordinarily good looking, too!

 

[I'm Typing]

Getn a firewall error when i click on the link of your pic isla.

 

[DarK SagE]

Isla, personally i dont think you look Jewish at all... I think you look Spanish.

I have a similar problem, i'm somewhat dark and many people mistake me for either Spanish or Arabic. In reality im more of a Russian Jew than anything else... (just like you ltk )

 

[Mill]

You look Spanish/Puerto Rican/Latino/Italian. B&W pic makes it hard to tell.

 

[cxim]

Isla, I can't believe you stole Andrew's aura & have kept it all these years !!! That is without question what has happened... You have a Jewish aura !

& I'll bet Andrew has problems with guys hittin on him too.

tsk..tsk... well you & he need to go vist the fortune teller at the circus ( you are lucky it is in town this week ) & get the auras changed back, the way they belong ...

 

[Isla]

lol cxim,

I was thinking more along the lines of maybe we were switched at birth....

Maybe I should have had the bat mitzvah instead of confirmation!

 

[nippyjun]

I have the same thing happen to me. On several occasions at work some people were badmouthing my ethnicity right in front of me because they think that I'm something else. I don't say anything though.