I lived in Taiwan for a few years. I think I too have learned how to differentiate local and foreign-born Asians hahaha.

You’re definitely right about travel blogs being centered on the white-foreigner experience. I had coworker in Taiwan who’s [Asian] American and he told me there were locals that asked him why he didn’t know Mandarin, not realizing that he’s a foreigner. He’s Japanese descent so even if he did grow up in his ancestral land, he still wouldn’t know Mandarin. Or my friend who’s Canadian. She’s an English teacher and a parent saw her teaching in the classroom and got mad because she thought she wasn’t a native English speaker (she’s Chinese descent).

Overall, I found that in certain parts of world people think all Americans are white, which honestly is no surprise. The same also extends to other nations that primarily have one race represented in their media.

Thanks for sharing your experience .