Multiculturalism, Overheard Style

Asian chick #1: The thing is, he’s a Jewish guy? And like, ya know, a lot of Jewish guys are in to Asian girls?
Asian chick #2: Yeah?
Asian chick #1: Yeah. I think it’s like because, like, both cultures are so, like, into family? Like Jews are really into family and Asians are really into family?
Asian chick #2: Yeah.
Asian chick #1: But also? I think he kind of has an Asian fetish?
Asian chick #2: I hate that.
Asian chick #1: Yeah. He’s like…ya know. A nerdy Jewish guy who likes to date Asian girls?
Asian chick #2: Yeah.
Asian chick #1: Yeah, but he’s really cute in that way that he’s nerdy but he loves Asian girls?
Asian chick #2: Yeah.

–N/R 8th street station

Queer #1: So when he showed up I was surprised because he was kinda gangsta.
Queer #2: Ok, so what’s wrong with that?
Queer #1: Well, I guess I should have expected it because his profile said he was from the Bronx… but I mean you can still be from the Bronx and be Americanized.

–Union Square East

Teenage girl: I really admire immigrants…even though most of them are criminals.

–Times Square

Overheard by: intern

Guy: So then why are guys from the Eastern Europe and black guys so good at basketball?
Dad: Natural selection.
Guy: What?
Dad: They’ve had to fight to survive. It weeds out the physically inadequate.
Guy: Give me a break. It’s the ghetto, not some Hobbesian state of nature; they’re not cavemen living in anarchy up there.

–Madison Square Garden

Professor: So, when we last left the Jews they were suffering. But, then, we can take that for granted.

–Stern Building, NYU

Overheard by: Jayso

Woman to queer: … All the Jews I’ve ever seen have had the most marvelous penises.

–E 4th St & 2nd Ave

Drunk girl looking at Jewish frat boy: Wearing a kippah is like wearing a cage around your penis.

–Frat party, Columbia

Overheard by: I never go to frats bc…..

Long Island girl: Wait… What is Friday Night Lights? Is that a movie about Shabbat?!

–LIRR

Asian girl to her white friend: Oh my God, we have to leave before someone else thinks I work here.

–store in Chinatown

Overheard by: shopper

Man, leading a small group of tourists: We are entering Little Korea. This is where you can find… little Koreans.

–M4 bus, 32nd St.

Black woman #1: What is this?
Black woman #2: White people don’t know what fried chicken looks like.

–Cafeteria, 17th St & 7th Ave

Overheard by: Amanda

Girl #1: I don’t know, I think there was a language barrier.
Girl #2: Where is he from?
Girl #1: Well, Israel.
Girl #2: What the fuck do they speak there? Arabic?

–Carroll Gardens

Overheard by: Janis Glendon

Hostess #1: So the day after he dumped me, he bought me a copy of The Latin Sexual Vocabulary.
Hostess #2: And this is why classicists should never be allowed to meet one another.
Hostess #1: Yeah, now I know ten ways to say “fuck you, asshole” in Latin.

–Boat Basin Cafe, W. 79th Street