Irvine is so not Asian

When I first got to Irvine, people told me there were a lotta Asians. I don't know if they said it like it's a warning or anything, but I've lived in very Asian cities for most of my life, places such as Taipei, Nara, and Vancouver, so I guess they were telling me this so I can feel at home.

But I get here and what do I see? Sure there's a lotta Asians, but their Asian-ness is only skin-deep. As yellow as they are, most of them speak English with nary an accent (and I doubt a lot of them even speak an Asian language) and dress like it's summer all the freaking time. Where are the fobs? My only consolation was during orientation in the Engineering School; nothing cures nostalgia like the sight of the flock of Taiwanese people with their glasses and thick plastic frames from miles away.

Maybe I just haven't been exploring enough, but there's no real Chinese restaurants every other block, and the ones I've been to frankly aren't up to par quality-wise. Though I do admit the situation is a lot better than that of Japanese restaurants, which apparently are all operated by Koreans and have either Korean or Mexican cooks. There are quite a lot of those Chinese supermarkets, but it's really disorienting to hear English over the PA system, and having to order different cuts of meat in English. Cashiers don't automatically assume you speak Chinese.

I guess this all is a good thing for my English, which has been deteriorating since I left high school (which, ironically, was in Taiwan), but I really don't need to learn how to order Chinese food in English, because a Cow's 3rd stomach just does not resonate the same way in English.

And one more word about Japanese restaurants here: what is the obsession with putting Teriyaki into every single meal combo? I lived in Japan for close to three years and I think I've only had Teriyaki like thrice at most. You Koreans have been getting it all wrong!! Please someone take me to a decent Japanese restaurant!!