(2/2) I’ve never found the way I looked to be an impediment. For example, I found a job as an engineer really quickly after I finished uni. But there were always little things that happened. People would ask questions like, ‘Where are you from?’ And I’d say, ‘Australia’. Then they’d say, ‘And before that?’ And I’d say, ‘England’. And then they’d say, ‘And before that?’ Or I’d get double looks, the odd racist comment, or people would have trouble with my name. After 9/11, some would see the turban and associate it with Osama Bin Laden and terrorism. I remember walking along the street one day and this ute slowed down and waved an American flag out the window while driving slowly in front of me, which was confronting.
In 2012, I got into stand up comedy as a way to break down stereotypes. When you stand up on stage, people have to look and you allow them to judge you. You know people are probably thinking, ‘Indian accent, probably can’t speak well’ or perhaps that you drive a taxi. Then you come out with this British accent and crack some jokes and give them something to think about.
There’s a real buzz when you get laughs out of that, and you’ve changed someone’s perceptions.
Ajit
UK
Arrived 1985
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Stand up comedy was not how I imagined this story to end!
Would love to see you someday do a show. Pretty sure you’d be amazing!!!
You’ve won me Ajit
Where are you from??? Is a pretty isolating question for proud Australians with non UK background especially when you’re young, when you know they want you to answer with your ethnicity. Working with international students I’ve noticed other nationalities identify themselves by nationality regardless of ethnicity.
How do I find out about your next show?
I want to see the show too- awesome!
my son was born in Sri Lanka but came to oz as a six week old baby when asked where he is from he says Glossodia the village he grew up in .We are all from earth and are from the human race .
Sometimes I do ask where people are from or what their ethic background is, but this is more because I am facinated with human stories and culture. I love that we are such a melting pot in Australia and sorrow when people don’t see it as a valuable thing.
My husband is an Indian from England whose parents are from Kenya. People get so confused by brown children. It sometimes requires several minutes of interrogation for them to determine that yes my husband is brown.
Being an Indian who is a fifth generation Kiwi, I completely understand what he means about the blank stares you get when people ask you where you’re from and your answer is not India! I found it really weird when I first moved here, no one back home ever asked or was ever bothered by it. Nowadays I just laugh and make a joke about it. Usually LOTR related. Hahahaha.
My husband was born in Uganda. His stock answer to ‘where are you from? is Turner (the suburb where we live in the ACT) or if interstate Canberra. Then if he gets the next question (ie and before that? ) it’s Newtown / Sydney (where we used to live). Some people don’t get why he’d say that – because if he said Uganda he’d get a conversation about Idi Amin because that’s pretty well all most Australians know about Uganda and if can be a bit boring! So before you ask that question about where are you from next time think about your follow up conversation point.
If you put your thumb over his head on the pic like I just did, he looks like a hip young CEO or entrepreneur. His body language is relaxed, open, and he seems comfortable with himself. Probably a smart and good bloke. And what a great smile! Pity a piece of cloth someone wears on their head would change our perspective so much.
Would be great to have a little video to a company this of a joke! Would love to hear his comedy.
You have one of the best attitudes ever. No wonder you are successful wherever you go. If only more people were like you. The world would be way more peaceful.
I am curious too.It is not meant to be rude,but I suppose it would be annoying to be asked that.In Australia all non Aboriginals are from overseas.
I am white, 7th generation Australian yet I get asked where I am from just about every day. I say I am from the moon…that gets them thinking
difficult to understand how the way you look could be considered an impediment as you look absolutely beautiful. #itsasinghthing 🙂
It’s a shame that you have to disown or play down a part of yourself to be acceptable to some people because of the actions of a madman 🙁
I often ask people where are they from only because I find it very interesting .
We are a country of many diferent cultures and by asking them about there cultures you learn so much . I am proud to be Australan and apriciate other cultures