Most of the kids didn’t give a hoot. Some were insensitive about cultural differences and made fun of me, or even looked down upon me thinking that I was just another FOB (fresh of the boat, an Asian racial slur) coming to leech of America. Of course, there were many who treated me the way I expected, or even like I was another American student from out of town. Then I learned more about these folks. Many of them didn’t know (or care) about the world outside their south Orange County. Some of these kids couldn’t even point out Japan on the map, let alone Thailand.

That, my friend, was my first taste of cultural ignorance, intolerance, and stereotypes. And it wasn’t just about how they, the “Americans” (in this case, mostly Caucasians) think about me, but also how I think about them. I didn’t know much about diversity at the time, but after listening to several words of wisdoms from people around me, and taking more classes in college, I finally came to term with my very own ignorance to diversity.

The very first classes I was required to take during freshman year were a 2-semester essay composition class focusing on cultural diversity. Even though the main purpose of this class was to teach international students how to write college papers, do research, and think analytically, the class was designed to educate us on American’s multicultural society, which extends to gender issues as well. I never thought that by studying the issues of race and gender would expand my mind this much.

It’s in the human nature to judge others unlike us. We categorize things so we can understand it, but by doing so we start to stereotype others. Stereotyping is that when you assume that someone from a group is just like the rest of them and vice versa. We fear things that we don’t understand or are foreign to us, and that fear sometimes turns into prejudice, discrimination, and even hatred. Discrimination is your negative behavior toward others based upon the stereotypes you have about them. You can discriminate someone because of his or her race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social status, or even physical attributes.

For example, I stereotyped Americans the way most Thais would do. Americans equals Caucasians, equals Good and Wealthy. Realistically, it’s almost impossible to define “Americans” when you can randomly picked 10 people out of the crowd and they would all be different in race and ethnicity. Further more, not all Caucasians are Good and Wealthy. Actually, you might have heard the expression “White Trash”, which refer to Caucasians with little or no education and low income. On the flip side, who I considered “Americans” stereotyped me as most Westerners would do. Asian woman equals Obedient and Subservient. You and I know that not all Asian women fit the Madam Butterfly fantasy.

This class forced me to look at myself. Diversity was something I never really pay attention to. It is strange that I have never been taught to judge others or to discriminate. As a matter of fact, I was wondering what is the big deal about diversity. In Thailand, everything seems to be fine. We never have to talk about diversity and equality in schools. Everything I knew was merely the norms in Thailand, something completely different from America.

We studied different cases of diversities for one whole year. We discussed racial issues and gender roles from different points of view. Bit by bit, I learned more about the multicultural, multiethnic America. Some racial tensions started because of lack of understanding, such as how African-Americans and Korean-Americans have been at odds since Los Angeles Riot years ago. Basically, Korean shopkeepers stereotype African-Americans as criminals so they became overly cautious around them. African-Americans were offended by the different treatment they got from Korean shopkeepers. And this is just the basic one.

One of the events that changed my thinking well after the composition class was Matthew Shepperd’s tragedy. An openly-gay college student was beaten and left for death by 2 men who said to hate “his kind”. That event shook me to the core. It boggled my mind how people could take the stereotypes and misunderstanding, and turn them into hatred and violence. Then again, looking at myself, my own prejudice might have hurt other people’s feelings, or even offend them greatly. The more I realized about a part of me that’s quite prejudiced, the more I have learned to defy that demon.

It’s impossible not to stereotype others, but I try my best not to let that stereotype affect my action or decision. I keep my mind open to learn more about others, and give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Everyone has as much right to be himself or herself and to live his or her own life as they see fit. I don’t want to be judged by my nationality, how I look, or what I wear. I want to be judged by who I am as a person. Like the Golden Rule my mom always tells me, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Epilogue: Everyone’s experience with cultural diversity is unique. Just because I have some bad experiences, it doesn’t mean that it would happen to you. There’s only so much myth I can debunk for you. But now that you’re armed with the knowledge and awareness, you are ready to face the music.

Oakley (behind "Cal Tech")participated in the Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood.