I had a really interesting and confusing experience here in Brussels last weekend. Some Japanese tourists stopped us and wanted their photo taken with me. I am an American woman with fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes...was it because I looked strange to them? We were so confused!

I know it doesn't sound like it, but this is a serious question...why did they want my picture? Any ideas??

Maybe you looked Belgian to them!

Are you sure they were Japanese? Sometimes Chinese tourists also want their picture taken with non-Asians.

Definitely Japanese. Why do Japanese and Chinese tourists want to be photographed with non-Asians?

My friends joked that they thought I was Jessica Simpson

ONly a guess, but perhaps it was just an attempt to get a photo of the "locals". Why do you find that so strange? Lots of Americans do the same thing when they travel, want to take photos of the locals. I've done it myself because I like photos of places and people who live there are part of the place. Now I don't want myself in the photo with them, but it's not too different. It's very much like tourists who take photos of themselves next to a particular monument or something just to prove they've been to some place, I guess.

You should be flattered - you didn't look strange but probably like a comely Caucasian.

Why do I find it strange that a group of complete strangers wanted their photos taken with me? Are you serious?

I personally do not take photos of strangers when I travel! But just so you know, I happily posed for multiple pictures

It all sounds kind of flattering, doesn't it? I have a small gnome that I sometimes take pictures of in front of famous sites and then we mail anonymous envelopes with the pictures to the cousin at whose yard sale the thing was acquired. In front of Buckingham Palace, Japanese tourists took pictures of me taking pictures of the gnome. It was kind of funny.

When I am out walking the dog, people have often taken pictures of me in Brussels, usually Asians in tour buses who I think are more interested in my pretty English cocker than me.
I was walking her across the cobblestones in the Grand'Place once and was swarmed by Japanese clicking away. They love spaniels. A few of them had their own cockers back at home and were eagerly showing me photos of their dogs. They all wanted to pet poor wee Raisin, who although very well mannered, doesn't care for strangers.

BTilke- we have a gorgeous American Cocker that gets tons of attention here!

Would you mind emailing me sometime? I am looking for a few things in Brussels...I think you might be able to help
[email protected]

we have 3 "hairy babies" mini dachshound, pomeranian, and yorkshire terrier, and when traveling about, we love to pet and scritch other peoples doggies. Brings you closer to home.
Eighteen years ago or so, I was working at a Toyota dealership, a busload of Japanese Tourists got off, and as in addition to other people, insisted on taking my picture in my office, at my desk.., I wonder, do they look at their usa travel photos and say who IS that??

Once we were having a student pub crawl through the old part of Ghent, with a horse drawn tilt-cart getting us from one pub to the other and we were singing and having fun while on the cart. I still wonder how many Japanese now think that they still use horse and wagon as a mean of transportation in Europe

Hi Lindsay, I'll be back in Brussels at the beginning of next week (I'm in Vienna now and will be off to Krakow later this week) so will email you as soon as I get back.
P.S. My husband had our cocker out for a run at Chateau de La Hulpe today, said she loved charging around in the snow, even if it was only a dusting. Have you been there yet?