Comments on: A tiny taste of racism http://www.theroterts.net/blog/2008/07/12/a-tiny-taste-of-racism/ A candid look at the Rotert family as we learn to navigate Italian life. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:07:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bryan http://www.theroterts.net/blog/2008/07/12/a-tiny-taste-of-racism/#comment-1886 Bryan Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:41:21 +0000 http://www.theroterts.net/blog/?p=282#comment-1886 We had similar experiences looking for our apartment last year and we quickly learned when we called someone to look at an apartment to say we were americans. There is no hiding the accent. More than one individual told us they would not rent to certain ethnic and nationality groups. One of those unfortunate realities of life here. We had similar experiences looking for our apartment last year and we quickly learned when we called someone to look at an apartment to say we were americans. There is no hiding the accent. More than one individual told us they would not rent to certain ethnic and nationality groups. One of those unfortunate realities of life here.

]]> By: Katy Smelser http://www.theroterts.net/blog/2008/07/12/a-tiny-taste-of-racism/#comment-1738 Katy Smelser Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:14:16 +0000 http://www.theroterts.net/blog/?p=282#comment-1738 This sounds SO familiar! Most of the time when the Germans talk about foreigners, they mean people with dark skin or with thick Eastern European accents. They don't usually count us as foreigners, especially up here in the north, where we are few and far between. We had a renter once who complained to us about all the foreigners taking up all the apartments. He ranted on and on until Randy reminded him that he was renting his room from a foreigner. Many years ago we were looking for an apartment here in Peine just a few months after the wall fell. There were a few times people thought we were "real" foreigners. Once when we went to look at some used furniture the woman asked if we were from "over there (the East)." When we said we had just moved from Hannover, she asked if we came from the "refugee" camp. Boy was she embarrassed when we said we were American. I guess she couldn't picture "rich" Americans buying her mother's (in good shape and over our budget) used furniture. This sounds SO familiar! Most of the time when the Germans talk about foreigners, they mean people with dark skin or with thick Eastern European accents. They don’t usually count us as foreigners, especially up here in the north, where we are few and far between. We had a renter once who complained to us about all the foreigners taking up all the apartments. He ranted on and on until Randy reminded him that he was renting his room from a foreigner.

Many years ago we were looking for an apartment here in Peine just a few months after the wall fell. There were a few times people thought we were “real” foreigners. Once when we went to look at some used furniture the woman asked if we were from “over there (the East).” When we said we had just moved from Hannover, she asked if we came from the “refugee” camp. Boy was she embarrassed when we said we were American. I guess she couldn’t picture “rich” Americans buying her mother’s (in good shape and over our budget) used furniture.

]]> By: Naomi http://www.theroterts.net/blog/2008/07/12/a-tiny-taste-of-racism/#comment-1737 Naomi Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:01:47 +0000 http://www.theroterts.net/blog/?p=282#comment-1737 What's the positive version of racism? Is there such a word? We get treated specially here because we are foreigners, specifically Americans. Sometimes, people give us free coffee, discounts on prices, or invite us over for dinner simple because we are Americans. Surely, for us, the temptation will arise where we can take advantage of someone because of our nationality. It seems the opposite of what you're encountering. What’s the positive version of racism? Is there such a word? We get treated specially here because we are foreigners, specifically Americans. Sometimes, people give us free coffee, discounts on prices, or invite us over for dinner simple because we are Americans. Surely, for us, the temptation will arise where we can take advantage of someone because of our nationality. It seems the opposite of what you’re encountering.

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