melissaatfestoon
11/13/2016 12:55 EST
My family and I are going to Nica this winter to check out moving there... I've heard that there are some negative feelings about asians there. I am asian and so is my adopted daughter. We would like to hear your thoughts from any expats living there..
Thanks,
Melissa
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novato1953
11/13/2016 13:23 EST
Compared to most of the rest of Central America, there aren't many resident Asian-Nicaraguans, and I've never seen such racism face-to-face. But there's bound to be some And there's recent local history at play, a wellspring of aggrieved resentments swollen by the Canal incident.. If it bothers you, slap a US flag on something you'll carry.
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iguanalover
11/13/2016 15:28 EST
We see Asians all the time. There are many in Managua with the embassies, mostly Taiwanese who spend mucho dinero in Nicaragua. Japan is also a big donor and we see many Japanese. We haven't seen them being treated any differently than anyone else. We were in line with some the other day at PriceSmart in Managua and no one seemed to pay them any particular attention. We have travelled with Asian tourists on the Atlantic side and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. We had a good Thai friend who lived in Granada about six months and she never reported anything negative about how she was treated.
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Dwaine
11/13/2016 20:56 EST
No overt racism in general, but as an Asian, you will automatically be regarded and referred to as "chino" despite your country of origin or ethnicity. That might get a little annoying after awhile.
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dturoff
11/13/2016 21:36 EST
Also, it's not something at which to take offence (being referred to as "Chino")
It's common in Latin cultures to characterize people non-pejoratively by their externalities; to refer to a skinny girl as "flaca" or a chubby person as "gordo/a" or a short guy as "chapo"
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melissaatfestoon
11/13/2016 21:57 EST
I've got a pretty thick skin, so I'm not worried about the "chino" comments. Sometimes in California I think we take it a little too seriously. Thanks for all the opinions. I look forward to my two weeks there coming up!
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elzorro
11/14/2016 00:18 EST
Tell me about it! When I first moved to New York (from Nica) at an early age people called me Rican or spic, when I was in Florida people thought I was Cuban or bananero, when I moved to California people called me Mexican or wetback, Yes it could be annoying after a while. Nicaraguan in general called people "chino" not in a malicious way but for reference to someone from Asia regardless of country.
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elzorro
11/14/2016 00:19 EST
Tell me about it! When I first moved to New York (from Nica) at an early age people called me Rican or spic, when I was in Florida people thought I was Cuban or bananero, when I moved to California people called me Mexican or wetback, Yes it could be annoying after a while. Nicaraguan in general called people "chino" not in a malicious way but for reference to someone from Asia regardless of country.
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elduendegrande
11/14/2016 08:45 EST
You should hear what they call white people in the PRK.
It helps to understand the above comments. Americans are called Gringos. people with Asian features are called Chinos, and people with African features are called Negritos. and it doesn't matter a hill of beans.
People from racially psychotic places like the USA need some attitude adjustments down here.
Incidently, ethnic Nicas with Asian or African features are called Nicas.
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dturoff
11/14/2016 11:32 EST
Eluendegrande, you probably have wider experience than I do, but that's not entirely correct.
I have heard many Nicas with Asian and African appearances referred to as "Chino" or Negrito", respectively, by other Nicas, both friends and strangers.
None of it sounded deliberately pejorative; its descriptive.
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yoyobean
11/14/2016 11:41 EST
I like el D,
I am not concerned as to how people refer to me as I am secure with myself and my ideals. Sick of the touchy-feelies who worry about what others think of them, as well as those who pander to them. By the way, I am a single white American female with multiple handicaps, traveling with my service dog. If you think the tongues do not wag over me...
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Dwaine
11/14/2016 17:14 EST
There is a lot of ignorance in the world regarding other countries and cultures. In Nicaragua, anyone who looks Asian as automatically deemed to be Chinese (chino), But I see something similar in the US. For tons of Americans, anyone with brown skin who speaks Spanish is automatically deemed to be "Mexican." I have tried to explain to people that there are Spanish speakers from many different countries, such as Guatemala and Nicaragua, but they're just like "What's the difference?" I saw basically the same thing when I lived in China, where anyone with white skin is deemed to be "American." Never mind that there are white people from many countries living in China, such as Russia, France, etc, but to the average Chinese, they are all "American." The world is awash in ignorance.
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atz111
11/14/2016 17:28 EST
That be fine and good. But what we do when we gut us a dark chink...confusing Could be a spick iffen you not be lookin at the eyes and even then some of the newer model chinks got round eyes. And they is a breed of slant eye spics, so it be complicated. Best keep um all separate so they don't get mixed up anymore.
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ricktee
11/14/2016 20:06 EST
The local Nica's accept pretty much everyone without prejuidice.
It's certain gringos you need to be wary of.
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Melvinkelvin
11/15/2016 09:41 EST
I would reiterate ricktee's response and add a few comments. First, this particular forum consists largely of older, white expats from the US. Take that into consideration when reading the comments. It is unlikely you will find many responses from people of Asian heritage. I have only one relevant personal experience to share: I once spent two days sharing various tours with a young woman of Asian heritage in Nicaragua. Since we were both traveling alone and since many tours require a minimum of two people, we teamed up. I did not perceive any difference in how we were treated, nor did she mention any such episodes during our conversations. As always, your mileage may vary. In the end, only spending some time here will give you the answer you seek.
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KeyWestPirate
11/15/2016 11:18 EST
We've become so thin skinned and PC in the US. Nicaragua is refreshing.
People are often referred to by their physical attributes. Gordo, Negra, I'm often address as chele.
I hear people talking about me as "gringo" but I've never been addressed that way.
There is no Black Lives Matter here,, indeed, the grievance industry doesn't exist here.
Most of us older, whiter, guys really appreciate that aspect of the life here,
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atz111
11/15/2016 11:31 EST
Amen to that. President elect Trump...like him or not...got support as backlash to the depth and breadth of PC in USA. Some is OK, but has expanded to the ridiculous.
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atz111
11/15/2016 11:31 EST
Amen to that. President elect Trump...like him or not...got support as backlash to the depth and breadth of PC in USA. Some is OK, but has expanded to the ridiculous.
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melissaatfestoon
11/15/2016 11:36 EST
Thanks for all the thoughts. I really appreciate looking at who is mostly on this Forum. My takeaways are that we as people are often identified by our color. I have no issues at all with that. That none is meant in a harmful way, just identification. Thank you for sharing a personal experience with someone who is asian! that makes a lot of sense. I look forward to checking our Nicaragua for ourselves. Thanks everyone.
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KeyWestPirate
11/15/2016 12:26 EST
There is no denigration associated with the names.
Lighter skin IS prized, both male and female, but I don't see negative attitudes against darker skins.
There IS some "Indio" negativity, I've heard roughly dressed campesinos referred to as "Indios" but not to their faces. And a darker skin is associated with "Indio"
I think that you never get away from it entirely. I don't have a problem being called "Chele". I kind of like it :)
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elduendegrande
11/16/2016 08:56 EST
My wife calls jusr abour everyone "indio" including me and our dogs!
Roughly equivalent to "hillbilly" unless you are thin skinned. Or a hillbilly.
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TMo
12/16/2016 21:02 EST
I'm Filipino and I get called Chino a lot in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It doesn't bother me. The nature of the act ranges from a mere passing acknowledgement or greeting to something akin to good-natured catcalling (without the jeering). Just for kicks, whenever a Nica calls me Chino, I respond by calling them Tico (or vice-versa). It's the funniest thing. Their smiles freeze on their faces and they don't quite know how to respond.
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melissaatfestoon
12/16/2016 22:43 EST
Hi TMo,
Thanks for the response...it lines up with what others have said:) I will be there at the end of January. I am so looking forward to checking it out.
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cedelune
12/16/2016 23:28 EST
I'm assuming you realize that calling Nicas "Tico/Tica" is calling them Costa Rican. Approximately 60,000 Nicaraguans work in Costa Rica, but there is no love lost between the two countries--land grabs and issues with the Rio San Juan and borders. I imagine a Nicaraguan might feel insulted to be called Costa Rican.
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novato1953
12/17/2016 08:23 EST
And vice-versa. Sometimes Nicaragua-Costa Rica is like Michigan-Ohio State, with T-72B tanks instead of football teams.
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