(1)
Mr A Fährmann is a mechanical engineer from Munich. In 1995, he moved to Swindon for a two-year secondment at the BMW Plant there. He never went back to Germany, because he fell in love with a Spanish woman. They decided to start a new family together in England because they both speak English.
If you meet him in the pub, he'd proudly tell you he's from Germany. He may also tell you that - as he has been for years - that weißbier is better than anything he could find in Swindon, Germany plays football better, and so on.
In 2001, the year his son was born, he received the Census form from an enumerator. For the ethnicity question, he ticked the box next to "White - any other White background".
(2)
Mr A Watanabe is a mechanical engineer from Kobe. In 1995, he moved to Newcastle for a two-year secondment at the Nissan Plant nearby. He never went back to Japan, because he fell in love with a Taiwanese woman. They decided to start a new family together in England because they both speak English.
If you meet him in the pub, he'd nicely tell you he's from Japan. He may also tell you that - as he has been for years - that Asahi Dry is better than anything he could find in Newcastle, his island nation (Japan) does seafood better than this one, and so on.
In 2001, the year his son was born, he received the Census form from an enumerator. For the ethnicity question, he ticked the box next to "Asian - any other Asian background".
(3)
It's now 2021. Mr B Fahrmann is a student in Manchester. He grew up in Swindon, and English is the only language he speaks fluently. He understands a bit of German because his father is from Germany, but don't expect him to read Goethe or the Süddeutsche Zeitung. When the Census letter arrived, he just logged off a Zoom lecture and started blutacking the message "9K 4 WHAT?" on his window.
For the ethnicity question, he ticked the box next to "White - English". It must be right. Whenever his coursemates ask him where he is from, he always answers Swindon. And Swindon is in England.
(4)
It's now 2021. Mr B Watanabe is a student in Nottingham. He grew up in Newcastle, and English is the only language he speaks fluently. He understands a bit of Japanese because his father is from Japan, but don't expect him to read Murakami or the Asahi Shimbun. When the Census letter arrived, he just logged off a Zoom lecture and started blutacking the message "9K 4 WHAT?" on his window.
For the ethnicity question, he ticked the box next to "Asian - any other Asian background". He does not like being asked where he is from.
(5)
"Fährmann" is the German word for "ferryman". "Watanabe" (渡邊) can also mean "ferryman" in Japanese.
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| A traghetto crossing the Grand Canal of Venice; taken on 12 April 2012. |
