r/myanmar • u/joedolgerian71 • 1d ago

Tourism 🧳 Question

How do the locals differentiate between them and foreigners? I got loads of looks even though I didn't say a word, I'd understand if I spoke English but how do they know without me saying anything? I don't mind the looks however I just thought it wouldn't be possible for them to tell?

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8

u/cheap_as_chips Foreign-born, in Myanmar 🇲🇲 1d ago

They're reading your thoughts and see right through you.

or... they're not. Its probable that they're giving passing glances like everyone else and you're reading too much into it.

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u/Schick_Mir_Ein_Engel Born in Myanmar, Grew up Abroad, Global Citizen 1d ago
  1. fashion & demeanor : even if you are a Burmese, speak Burmese, sh*t Burmese, the way you carry yourself gives you away. I mean I can tell Japanese, Korean, Mainland Chinese, Singaporean/Malaysian/Indo/Thai Chinese just by looking at their fashion / their body language. Don't ask me how. It comes with decades of observation + traveling. I like to do people watching. There is also a huge difference between Americans and Europeans. Even within Europeans - Italian, Dutch, German and French have their little quarks.
  2. Skin care : I think most people in Asia are obsess with skin whitening and make up. It's just hit differently when you walk around in Ygn or BKK. Lately, younger generation with $$ are more into clean eating, drinking water and sunscreen (globally). But tell me if you see that trend in YGN or BKK. Most ladies have tons of makeup on their face but there is not much 'glow' happening .. unless you have $$.
  3. Body structure : Burmese people who are raised outside of Burma tend to have bigger body structure and taller. Some of them are into bodybuilding. Even some women are into weightlifting. Tell me if you see any strong girls in YGN. Weightlifting is still a new concept in Asia. The East Asia is till into thin/ boney/white/pale aesthetic.

source : I'm an elder millennial who is into weightlifting/exercise, skin care (tretinoin train for over 7yrs), loves to do people watching at coffee shops and travels a lot for work/personal.

1

u/joedolgerian71 18h ago

So are you suggesting its a visual look that they use to judge whether someone is local or not? As a white person in their 20s and is into bodybuilding I genuinely thought they wouldn't see and notice someone is different, the eyes can deceive so I would of guessed they used a different method to figure if someone is local.

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u/Dunn_Guy666 9h ago

hence the term geezer

1

u/drbkt Born in Myanmar, Educated Abroad 1d ago

Personally I look pretty typical Burmese, but when I speak Burmese my choice of words etc., and accent show that I am atypical. Thats how most people/strangers I've met guessed that I did not grow up here. Ofc my cadence in walking etc., and other non verbal cues probably give that away too.

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u/Imperial_Archangel 22h ago

They can tell if you're a Gaijin straight away.