I'm what?

Part of my job is meeting with clients. Most of the time, I thoroughly enjoy doing this because I get to meet some very interesting folks and hear awesome stories. On the other hand, I also get to meet people that can make me stop in my tracks with the things that come out of their mouths.

Recently, I met with a elderly lady who just wanted to chat. Time schedule be damned. She told me about her grown kids and their families. She told me about her past times. She told me about some of her ailments.

Then she told me that I wasn't "from here."

What? Here's how the conversation went from there.

Me: "Ummm. Noooo. I was raised about three and a half hours away in eastern North Carolina."

Client: "Well, with your dark hair and skin I'd say you were fur-in."

Big pause as I translated what in the hell 'fur-in' meant. Oh, foreign. Ok, my tiny brain caught up.

Me: "Oh dear..... [another big pause]..... Ummm. Yes. I am actually half Asian. But I was born in America.

Client: "Huh."

Me: "I've enjoyed chatting with you! But, ummm, I guess I'd better get back to work. Have a good day."

I quickly scurried out of the conference room and through the door that separates the lobby/conference rooms area from the back, where all the offices are located. I was too frightened that my Asian roots might give her flashbacks to 'Nam and she'd try to take me down.

Good. Grief.