Daniel Alarcon

People who are not from third world countries have a very interesting view on them. Daniel Alarcon, a half Peruvian half American journalist and writer is one of them and has suffered only slightly the problems many other third world citizens have regarding how other people look at them. Daniel himself does not really know where he is really from, what country he really belongs to. In comparison to many immigrants, he hasn't suffered much from financial problems and has lived a pretty common life. The most interesting story he tells is the one where he is interviewed by an old woman from the USA which really sets Daniel Alarcon's temper off. The interviewer asks him about the usual things people has immigrants which is why they have come to their country, what their backround is, if they are poor and things that a lot of immigrants have to go through. Since it is so common and people outside of those countries are so use to listening to the same stories from immigrants, the interviewer does not believe Daniel at all when he says that he has gone through some rough time but not really at the same time. Many of the things the interviewer asked him did not apply and she did not believe him which is why it ticked him off because people have such a set view on these people and sometimes it is the complete opposite of what they think. Since he hasn't really gone through hard times, and people look at him this way, he feels he is not really the person he should be. He feels like he should fall in the bandwagon of immigrants and be part of the same view but at the same time is mad that everyone thinks that way of third world citizens. He wants to be part of a reocurring stereotype seen especially in America but feels that it is not correct. Putting myself in his shoes, I can see why he would feel this certain way but also I majorly disagree on him saying that he would have liked to live the hard life many immigrants have lived throughout their lives because eventually and maybe one day people will stop thinking such thing about them, so why be part of them. A few years back we had a speaker come to school to talk about this very specific topic on third world children and I could relate so much but not for me as a person but for the Indian people who live in this country. Of course I am asked all the time where I come from, what my parents do and if I am actually a Chilean citizen and goes even more for the older people who have been living here for countless years. I feel it is ridiculous how people view and sometimes even discriminate immingrants from other countries and feel they are being invaded. It goes back to the interview that Daniel Alarcon has with the interviewer and the stupid questions she asked him. Aside from me, going to an international school I am sure many other students can relate to my self and Daniel Alarcon. It is an interesting way to learn about the topic.