Stark White and Startling

I know this may come as a shock to most of you, but I am white. Like really white. I am also pretty bald, which makes the whiteness (or redness depending on the season) of my head stand out. I am also what I would consider average height (although I have no basis for comparison). I had a realization today that was both startling and stunning (useless parenthetical comment). 

As I finished school lunch today, I stood up and walked the length of the lunchroom to return the little card with my name on it to the lady who takes the little cards with your name on it. As a side note, my name is in Japanese, and it is followed by the Kanji for sensei. I am sure that one of the things I will miss most about Japan is being called Jeff-sensei. What was I saying? Oh yeah. So I walked the length of the lunchroom and had my startling realization. I am the only whitest, tallest and baldest person in the room. I double-checked by standing tall and walking past some of the taller people and in fact, I am the tallest person. No where besides Japan have I had that distinction. I also realized how little I take into account race...or so I thought.

After work, I stopped by my local grocery store to procure food and sundries for the preparation of meals. As I was there in between the kimchi and bread I came across a stunning realization. I walked by a mirror that was on a pillar in the middle of the store and saw my reflection as I passed (now you know why it was stunning). I kind of jumped a little at seeing such a tall white person in the store. It totally caught me off guard. After realizing it was me and doing a few curls with my shopping basket, it occurred to me that I don't see myself as looking any different than the other people in the store. After all, I can't see myself when I walk, so in my mind, I feel like I fit right in. Then I see a mirror and realize I don't.