Kei Huynh

I read with interest the article 'Being Chinese in a westernised workplace.' I too work in the City and even for multicultural London it is 'very public schoolboy' and is still very 'white dominated.'

I too understand the scenario to fit into the workplace and have never really thought about being different from my work colleagues. Many a times have I been quizzed about a number 49 or chicken chow mein always leading onto a number 69 or to talk in with a chinese accent 'haarow' and 'rubbery.'

To me I too find it amusing as they find it amusing but that was the same at university. Its not malicious racism but stereotyping which is very difficult to get away from. I know for a fact that the majority of my work colleagues don't know any other Chinese person besides myself and so its hard for them to breakdown and understand the cultural differences. Likewise many a times have they voiced their opinions of the French and Germans (so typically English) not to mention Kosovians and Albanians. But like the Chinese these stereotypes will ever continue; passed on from previous environments and/or maybe generations.

What I find offensive is when they use words such as 'chink' in the workplace and brings you back to the taunts at school. And I remind them it's not PC to say such a word. Only this morning a joke was passed around that goes like this:

Three chinese men at the gates of heaven. God says to them if you could lift this rock you can come into heaven. The first and second succeeded but the third man couldn't lift the rock with all his might. God then replies 'you are the weakest chink. Goodbye'

A female work colleague says to me "you don't find that offensive, do you?" to which I replied "do you find ignorant bitch offensive?"

I guess we Chinese have different degrees of tolerance to which we would find something racist but it is such a fine line.