Sometimes people stare out of curiosity, so just smile back at them. The smile will probably be returned and the staring stopped. If its the rare instance where the stare includes disapproval, you would accomplish the same thing. They would probably ignore you after you acknowledge them politely.
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Originally Posted by MSTRKRFT
I'm 1/2 Caucasian and 1/2 Korean, and was wondering if my ethnic identity would grant me discriminatory treatment in public places while in Japan. My last name is Italian, "Giaramito", if that makes any difference, and the only real way someone would be able to tell if my half is Korean would be to know my ethnic background, since I look kind of neutral as a halfie, or if they have an overly heightened sense of racial intuition. The numerous times I've visited Hawaii, random Japanese tourists would come up to me asking me questions in Japanese, expecting me to be able to answer, so I guess that would be my proof to the previous statement. However, the same stands for the Koreans I've run into as well.
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That may be more because you seem approachable than because you look like a fellow countryman. I am as Anglo as they come, but on my last trip to Mexico City I was frequently asked to assist total strangers as if I was a native, even by Hispanic women. I had one New Yorker come up and try speaking to me in Spanish! Once I answered her in English and gave her the directions she needed, I asked why she came up and asked me in Spanish from her pocket dictionary. She said it was because I looked quite comfortable in my surroundings (not like a tourist) and friendly. So even though Asian tourist in Hawaii may have picked up on a subtle visual clue to your heritage, its even more likely that they thought the same about you as the lady did about me...... a native and friendly.