Just sharing-cultural shock

Orionpk
Orionpk Posts: 4
edited September 26 in Chit-Chat
In Vietnam, where I'm from originally, it's okay to call people fat, as if it's just a character, like tall or short or brown-hair. Anyway, when I was visiting a few years ago nearly everyone said that I was so fat and dark (oh yeah, being tan is a big no no too!). I wear a size 6 here and couldn't go shopping because I'd have to buy size XXL!

I'm going back there for my cousin's wedding in Nov and would not like to be called fat again lol!

Replies

  • ejmcam
    ejmcam Posts: 533 Member
    OMG,, you were considered fat at a size 6????? Thats crazy! I guess it is just cultural differences but that is crazy!
  • Mollydolly10
    Mollydolly10 Posts: 431 Member
    WOW! I had no idea it was like that! Talk about a (culture) SHOCK! I guess that can be some good motivation to kick it into high gear! Best of luck! :)
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol
  • bethrs
    bethrs Posts: 664 Member
    You will get there!

    My friend has family in Taiwan and he said the same thing. People are quite small there.
  • greeneyed84
    greeneyed84 Posts: 427 Member
    OMG,, you were considered fat at a size 6????? Thats crazy! I guess it is just cultural differences but that is crazy!

    Just what i was thinking!! I wish i could fit in a 6 as that is my goal, between a 6 and 8
  • Kurrah
    Kurrah Posts: 10 Member
    OMG,, you were considered fat at a size 6????? Thats crazy! I guess it is just cultural differences but that is crazy!

    I absolutely agree! I wonder what they consider people in the double digits? lol....
  • bmontgomery87
    bmontgomery87 Posts: 1,260 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    I knew about the being dark thing...but the being called fat thing? WOW. I get it though. My grandmothers family is from Hawaii and they basically speak how they think. If you're fat they say you're fat. It's not meant to be mean just...kind of how kids do it they think and speak with no filter. It's cultural.
  • nldsmiley
    nldsmiley Posts: 38 Member
    Very interesting fact!!! Thanks for sharing!! And by the way...I would love to be a size 6. To me, that is perfect!!!
  • kbdelarosa
    kbdelarosa Posts: 183 Member
    My husband and I adopted a baby from China last summer and while we were there I wanted to buy an authentic Chinese dress for myself....Orionpk I was like you, I was a size 8/10 but NOTHING came in my size there! How come they eat a ton of white rice over there (we had it served at every meal) and are all so thin? And there are fast food places EVERYWHERE but not many overweight people.....
  • krise31
    krise31 Posts: 53 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to

    LMAO
  • That_Girl
    That_Girl Posts: 1,324 Member
    It should be that way here too. lollll we enable people and worry too much about feelings rather than tell the truth.

    Vietnam is a beautiful country!! I'm jealous you are going...I've always wanted to go. HAHA I can be the fat American. NOOO!!! :laugh:
  • lil_missfit
    lil_missfit Posts: 565 Member
    I wanna be "FAT"!!! ...... Oh let me be that kind of fat.....PLEASE!!!! I would love to be in a six:)) That would be me shredding a whole person:))

    Good luck on your journey....you'll get there:)) Just look forward to your cousin's wedding and do what you can to get in the best shape as possible (if you're not already).
  • That_Girl
    That_Girl Posts: 1,324 Member
    My husband and I adopted a baby from China last summer and while we were there I wanted to buy an authentic Chinese dress for myself....Orionpk I was like you, I was a size 8/10 but NOTHING came in my size there! How come they eat a ton of white rice over there (we had it served at every meal) and are all so thin? And there are fast food places EVERYWHERE but not many overweight people.....

    They walk/ride bikes everywhere.
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to

    hahaha well that would be me too - I'm in 18-20
  • lil_missfit
    lil_missfit Posts: 565 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to

    LMAO

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • RunChinni
    RunChinni Posts: 149 Member
    It's actually very similar in India too. Most people in Asia are way smaller than people here. I weight 138lbs and wear a size 6. I am taller than the average Indian man and I just dislike going back because I am called fat and big. There was a point when I ended up shopping in the men's section at one time.

    And yes, they say I am dark too. But who cares. I know I am healthy and you might be too! :)
  • RunChinni
    RunChinni Posts: 149 Member
    My husband and I adopted a baby from China last summer and while we were there I wanted to buy an authentic Chinese dress for myself....Orionpk I was like you, I was a size 8/10 but NOTHING came in my size there! How come they eat a ton of white rice over there (we had it served at every meal) and are all so thin? And there are fast food places EVERYWHERE but not many overweight people.....

    They walk/ride bikes everywhere.

    It's not just walking or bike riding. The weather there is a lot more humid than it is in the US and you automatically end up burning calories faster due to higher metabolism rates. Personal experience. I'd eat rice day in and day out in India and not feel bloated at all. If I were to do that here, I'd probably gain 10 pounds in a week.
  • mymelody_78
    mymelody_78 Posts: 657 Member
    Wow! I thought it might be like that in Asian culture in Asia but I didn't know it was that extreme!!
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
    Oh man, the same thing happened to me when I went to the Philippines. Not only was I the chubbiest person around, but also the tallest, which was super odd to me. It felt sooo out of place. Even better, I wasn't taught tagalog, so I couldn't know if they were talking about me, which made it even MORE fun. -___-
  • MSDRIZZ
    MSDRIZZ Posts: 246
    OMG too funny. When I lived in Okinawa Japan i felt like Godzilla and I am 5'3 and was around 130 at the time. The good part was I could find my 5'7 hubby easily at the mall. H was a head above everybody else.
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to
  • Jain
    Jain Posts: 861 Member
    At my slimmest I was about 140lb and 5'4" tall. When I was in India I felt like a blimp, I was so much bigger than everyone else. And being very pale & red haired I really drew the crowds when we were in smaller towns/villages.:embarassed: I learned quite quickly to cover my hair up to avoid the attention.

    What was strange was that being pale & larger than the average Indian lady made me more attractive to the local men. Large & pale = wealthy & high cast apparently. Go figure!:laugh:
  • Charlea1981
    Charlea1981 Posts: 72 Member
    Well in my culture I'm regarded as big boned, thick or in proportion or 'well' LOL, I call it FAT!! All my family and some friends keep saying I dont need to lose any weight as I am currently losing my best assests lol, that is my Bum and breast gone from a DD Cup to a C cup ;-( Oh well pity you can't spot reduce! lol
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    I live very close to the border with Mexico and the Mexican families are very similar. Many people have nicknames which point out their physical "issues". Seriously. If you're a fat man, and especially if you'd been a chubby kid, you might have the nickname "Gordo", literally "fat man". Similarly, an overweight woman would be "Gorda". A bald man might be called "Pelón" which means "hairless" and a fair skinned woman "Guera" (for a man "Guero") which literally means "blonde" but which they use for anyone fair skinned. The first time I encountered that I was literally shocked but the people don't take it negatively at all.
  • rachmaree
    rachmaree Posts: 782 Member
    It was the same when I lived in Japan, instead of the 'hey, nice weather, isn't it?' like I was used to, they would say 'have you put on weight?' (Mind you, back home I would still have been considered a normal weight)
    Thought I had escaped all that, then I moved to Turkey where the same thing happens- 'hey, have you put on a bit of weight?' Is quite a common way for family to greet each other. Crikey!
    At my henna night my friend heard a conversation between a mother and daughter (my husbands aunt and cousin). The mother was saying 'you are too fat to wear a belt. That dress is so unflattering! You should really lose weight!' The girl (husbands cousin) is beautiful, very natural curves and not overweight at all. When I told my husband, he was like, 'what is wrong with saying that?'

    '^sigh^
  • b00b0084
    b00b0084 Posts: 729 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to

    LMAO

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    HAHA normally I would have taken offense to that, but damn that was funny,.
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    I wear a 20 here what would I be in vietnam? lol

    godzilla.jpg


    sorry I had to

    Funniest thing I've seen in my 3 weeks stalking the forums.
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