Hey AJL: I am really glad you had the courage to voice your observations on a subject that many either have the privilege to ignore or choose to put their heads in the sand over.
As always, a critical analysis that doesn't have a positive spin gets a whole bunch of positive anecdotes to counter the unpleasant reality of your observations. Like you, I am truly happy for all the foreigners (and I gather they are all caucasian) who found love and acceptance in Asian countries. HOWEVER, let's not fib to ourselves or anyone else. These anecdotes a) are all from caucasians? b) probably represent a small minority of most experiences. I hope I am wrong. Sadly, I have seen your observations demonstrated much more often than refuted.
I can say for certain that Japanese society is seriously racist. I can also say that Koreans are almost never in a mixed relationship. And I know that the old generation at least in China, has openly espoused racial hierarchies as part of their world view. Let's hope Taiwan is more modern. But even if they are, all that will probably mean is that they'll be eager to date a caucasian.
And, no, I am not caucasian. Like AJL I am of mixed race, from Canada. Its a serious problem everywhere so I was pleasantly surprised to read the female post, however unusual it may be. Let's hope it becomes the normative standard because unless the whole idea of race is put aside and a global "race" emerges, I don't see how race wars can be avoided. But thats not the focus of this forum, I know.
I hope everyone can digest this reality in a way that will help to bring people together and support happy experiences for ESL teachers. I'm going to teach in Taiwan in 2005 and I look forward to it.

> thanks for your input. I guess it just hits me when I hear this kind
> of stuff, that racism is not just an old fashioned black-white thing.
> I mean I know it does exist, of course. But, in my family &
> community, no one would ever think these crazy things. In fact we
> always thought it would be the coolest if we got married to someone
> with another cultural background so we could each learn new things. I
> never really totally got it, that this way of thinking is not old
> fashioned.

> I can see from generation-to generation here in China, it has
> changed. Many younger people are more easily able to accept my
> realtionship here.

> I hope it continues to change, for the better of all of us, local
> & foreign living in China.

> About how the Chinese people that are on this forum probably wont get
> involoved in this conversation...Someone told me of a chinese saying
> that says how if you say some thing 3 times, it makes it true.
> (sorry, I know not as poetic as the real translation should be.) I
> gather that also means if you dont talk about something...is makes it
> not true.

> Also, totally agree with your final comment:

> That is it really. If we make it together or not is completely
> dependant on this fact.