Being a Chinese in Israel = pictures???

I'd never knew I could arouse a sensation among people simply because of my Chinese-looking appearance, until I came to Israel.

In my second week in Haifa I heard from my Hebrew mora (female teacher), a local lady in her mid-40s, that there would be an annual beer festival on Haifa's gorgeous Mediterranean beach. When I showed up at the festival, several hundreds of people were already there buying all kinds of beers. Just on my way to the queue, I was stopped by a blond Israeli girl.

"סליחה!  Shall I take a picture with u?"

What the hell, I thought, "Of course!"

Just when I was still recalling the glorious moment of the Canon flashlight, a burly Israeli lad appeared in front of me. What the hell, I thought, was he the boyfriend of the blond?

"Hey man!" he spoke up, "Are you from China?"

"Yeah...?"

"Well then let's take a picture!"

What the hell, "Sure!"

Thus, before I even managed to get my first beer, I was stopped twice for pictures. I felt I need no alcohol because I was already so high!

Well, I've heard so many stories about being "foreigners", i.e. people from countries richer than the People's Republic but particularly the Caucasoid, in China. People in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are as sophisticated as their compatriots in Hong Kong, who will flatter you as long as they can squeeze as much money as possible from you. However, if you are a Caucasian or be whatever race other than East Asian and happen to be in a small city, you will find yourself suddenly become a super star. Tons of unsophisticated people will swarm to you simply to appreciate a "laowai" that they've only seen on screens.

But Israel is after all a developed country, isn't it? And, it is a immigrant country, is it not? Why are her children so eagerly in need of pictures of a Chinese guy?

I gradually figure out this. It's simply because there are so few Chinese here! After being here for more than a month, I've only seen three Chinese outside the university. Not in Safed, not in Tiberius, Not in Jerusalem, Not even in TEL AVIV. Wow, what's wrong with Israel? Or is it because I was in such a bad fortune that I was doomed not seeing my countrymen, who account, supposedly, the largest population on the earth?

Anyway, when my classmates wonder why I can smile so dazzling when taking photos, I just give them a mysterious Chinese smile: they never know how many chances I've got to practice my smiling!