Hare Krishna!

My most favourite question to be asked is "Are you Indian?". There is probably not a more Indian looking person than me. I'm tempted to always say..no, I'm Japanese..can't you tell? Also, it's almost always followed by "I LUUURRRRVE INDIA". No kidding. I'm glad you found the need to make me feel good about my racial status and motherland, but really, you are not obliged to say that. I'll talk to you even if you hate it. Plus, half these people have never been to India. All they know of it is Bollywood, Yoga - albeit some far removed form invented by someone definitely not Indian, and fantastical thoughts of snake charmers and elephants. Most recently however, I met the best of them all. Read on..

Walking through the French Market in New Orleans, I was stopped by an a white guy (AWG), who said -

AWG: Are you Indian?
Me: (Mental sigh) What gave me away?? I wore jeans and everything!
AWG: Ha-ha, a funny Indian. OMG, I LOVE India!(Whips the hood off his hoodie and announces) "I'm a Monk!"
Me: Oh, okay.
AWG: (Whips out a book with a picture of Krishna, and some title that read - "Realizing that you can become Indian by shaving your head and carrying a book with a picture of Krishna"..or something to that effect) Are you interested in purchasing this lovely book on Kreeshna?
Me: No, thank you.
AWG: Will you accept to support me in my cause of self-realization?
Me: Not really, thank you.
AWG: Will you just give me some money?
Me: (Walking away)Definitely not, thank you.

Oh for more such honest men in the world.