Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

I have been told several times by different people here that I am "so pretty" or "beautiful". Yesterday was the 2nd time I was asked if I had been in a beauty pageant when I was younger - "maybe miss universe"?

I almost choked from laughing - but I realized she was serious and I didn't want to offend her. I tactfully told her that in America there are very high standards for beauty and you have to be "perfect" to win a beauty pageant.

Interestingly, the facial features (of mine) that are so admired here are my nose (long and slender), my eye color and the shape of my lips. I never spent much time thinking about my nose, but I suppose it has served as another reminder of what I can thank god for.

The young women here find it hard to believe that americans think the women in asia are beautiful. I've noticed that every store shelf here sells a product called "whitening cream". I've also noticed that on days when I see women wearing facial makeup, their skin is a shade lighter. I told the women here that american women spends lots of money going to tanning salons or applying lotions and/or facial bronzers to appear darker. They laughed.

I was hoping to post a picture taken of me and Maricel (staff social worker)yesterday when we were out on the town for lunch, but I didn't like the picture: it made me look fat...