What specific compliments or remarks (positive or negative) do you receive from other ethnic groups?

[ecoaster]

For example, a handful of times black women have told me I have "nice eyes" and I've also received general comments about my aura (e.g., "you have a nice way about you"). BTW, I don't generally hear this from other women (I'm a white guy).

What about you?

[gaffa]

I live in a neighborhood with a large Korean population, and for the most part they, true to the "Hidden Kingdom" stereotype, keep very much to themselves. But one day, while waiting for a bus, an elderly Korean woman told me how much she liked my long hair.

[Mr Downtown]

You use chopsticks very well!

[panache45]

You can't dance. Or jump.

[Shakes]

I've had many a Mexican tell me that I eat.. well, like a Mexican. (Intended as a compliment)

That is to say; I take my tortilla, rip it up into four or six pieces and then use that as my utensil to pick up the food on my plate.

I learned this from living with Mexicans as a teenager.

[hogarth]

My wife says that her Chinese friends tell her that I'm handsome. But they're her friends, what are they supposed to say? That I'm ugly?

[listedmia]

I'm white and live in a predominantly black area. I get a lot of compliments from black women on my hair. It's bleached blonde right now, and we usually get into a discussion about dyes and such.

I have gotten some unprintable ones from black men because they thought I was a prostitute.

[Thylacine]

I am surrounded by octogenarian Europeans, I used to be "too fat", now I am "too skinny". It seems it is not possible to win.

[Iggy]

I had a particular black police officer call me to tell me she likes my voice and that when she hears me on the radio she goes out to write parking tickets so she can talk to me.

[Jennshark]

I've had Af-American friends (and strangers) remark on how white I am, which is neither a compliment nor insult -- just a truism

Friends with really curly hair always, at some point in our relationship, comment on how straight my mane is. Again, just a factual observation, but my extremely curly-haired pals are usually of Italian or Jewish origins.

I do get a ton of questions and comments whenever I mention that I was raised a fundamental Mormon in Utah -- but these are remarks made by everyone, not just one group of folks; I am, apparently, quite the exotic creature here on the East Coast. (I literally brought a high-level administrators' meeting to a skreeching halt when I mentioned my religious background in response to some casual/friendly chit-chat).

*The answer to the question you're dying to ask is "yes." My great-great and great-great-great grandparents on both sides of the family were polygamists.

[Sattua]

Once in college I ate lunch with a gaggle of Chinese girls who told me that I looked like Leelee Sobieski. I don't, but I enjoyed the attention.

[MsRobyn]

The "compliment" I get most often is "You don't look Jewish," as if I'm supposed to have black hair, black eyes, and a big hook-shaped nose. (In all fairness, my nose is kinda big for my face, but that's about it. And you can see my photo on Arnold Winkelreid's photo pages.)

And, of course, there's the whole "Jews are rich and smart" stereotype, which is so prevalent that Mittens got in on the act during his recent trip to Israel.

[Zsofia]

I'm a white woman who dyes her hair with henna. Black women are constantly commenting on it and asking if it's my natural color. (I've never met a white women who grew hair in that henna red, personally.) One lady I guess couldn't think of the word for "natural color" because she asked me "Does it grow out of your head like that?" Which continues to crack me up.

ETA - oh, and it's been funny since I've been on a diet for this wedding thing - all my black coworkers are all worried that I'll "lose too much weight" and that I'm "wasting away". (Trust me, I'm not. I just hit my goal weight, although I'd be fine with losing a bit more - 140 pounds at 5'7".) All the white people keep telling me how good I look lately.

[WordMan]

Well, John Mayer used to be told by his black friends that he could hang with them, well, 'till he talked about it like an idiot... (link to thread about Mayer's notorious Playboy interview where said a lot of racially stupid things...)

[Anaamika]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

You use chopsticks very well!

I get this one from Chinese people. I do, in fact, use them very well, and can even eat rice quite happily with them.

[T-Rex Arms]

I get "I love your hair" sometimes. It's healthy, thick, and straight with a light brownish red color. People from all different backgrounds, including people from a similar background as myself, have complimented it though, so not sure it counts as an answer to the OP's question.

This is not to say I hear it all the time - just that it's the one I've heard most often throughout my life.

[TokyoBayer]

That I'm tall.

At 6' (183 cm), I'm not short, but I really didn't become tall until I moved here.

[dnooman]

I get complimented on my Spanish by Latinos fairly often. If I were still in California I'm sure I wouldn't get that, but in Ohio I guess it's more rare.

Not sure if this counts but I'm often asked for directions by black people. I told a friend this and he said I was just imagining it. A while later we were at a gas station and guess what happened? After I had given the directions my friend just looked at me weird and said "That guy just walked past four people to get directions from you... you may have a point." I do tend to give pretty good directions though, maybe they have a sixth sense for that.

[Sicks Ate]

An Iranian woman who only dates black guys said that I'm pretty hot for a white guy.

I guess that'a a compliment.

[PoorYorick]

This is kind of the reverse everyone else is talking about but seems to fit the OP's request: Both of my grandsons, 4 and 7, are the product of a caucasian (for want of a better term, "white" just doesn't sound right) father and a Japanese mother. They are often told how beautiful their eyes are. While the family was driving to Alaska for their next Coast Guard post, my daughter-in-law (the mother) said that a woman in Idaho said to my grandsons, "You have such beautiful eyes! Where are you from?". They were both confused, not knowing what that had to do with their eyes, and my oldest grandson replied, "Miami?"

[Lacunae Matata]

Black women compliment my hair, especially when I grow it long (usually I donate it every 2-3 years.) It's naturally red and thick and curls in spirals/ringlets, and apparently, I have "good hair." Caucasian women ask me if I ever straighten it. (My answer is always no. I barely have time to wash it, I don't heat style it at all because I'm prone to split ends, it would never stay straight in this humid climate, and I like my curls, tyvm.)

Black and Hispanic men notice my butt, apparently. I understand enough Spanish to turn around and glare at the Mexican dudes who were discussing my assets while standing behind me at the grocery store... And Tony gets very amused when we're in public and he notices that I'm being noticed. Unless someone is discussing it, or catcalling, though, I don't even notice anymore. I've had this ass since I was 13, and to me, it's just something that makes jeans hard to fit...

[Pyper]

Growing up, I got a lot of compliments from my Korean friends on my eyes (light green) and hair (previously long, light brown, and curly). My Korean roommate in college once said I was "pretty like a princess."

Nowadays I find it flattering when Spanish-speakers ask me if I am Latina because of how well I speak Spanish.

[olivesmarch4th]

Originally Posted by Pyper

Nowadays I find it flattering when Spanish-speakers ask me if I am Latina because of how well I speak Spanish.

This is pretty much the only thing I can think of, honestly. I take it as a special compliment because I look about as far from Latina stereotype as you can get. My accent is dead on, I'll admit, but my grammar can be flawed, and understanding others' accents can be difficult for me. They probably hear the accent before I make any mistakes and just assume I'm native... but it doesn't take me long to disabuse them of that notion!

[Taomist]

Originally Posted by Shakes

I've had many a Mexican tell me that I eat.. well, like a Mexican. (Intended as a compliment)

This, from MrTao's family and from co-workers; the mister gets irritated when his mom says "She's more mexican than you!!" It isn't true, in any sense, but it's funny.

Although I colour my hair reddish, I've never, ever made any bones about the fact that it's coloured, but I've had both hispanics here in California and black friends in Virginia Beach swear that I was lying, and that it must be natural.

[monstro]

"You talk so well."

[Lasciel]

"You're so pale!"

Yes, thanks, I know. You can also replace pale with "fish belly white," "dead/corpse white," "ghostlike," or (my personal favorite) "grub-white."

I am practically translucent, and every single non-white person (and a good many of the white people too) I encounter seems to find it impossible to resist informing me of that, as if I might have somehow missed it.

[Autolycus]

Living in Japan I get the usual comments:

"You use chopsticks so well" (Usually just an ice-breaker but sometimes they will pointedly insist that they actually, truly mean it.)

"You speak Japanese so well" (Bullshit 99% time of the time, and often means I just garbled something badly)

"Your skin is so beautiful" (I would like to thank my gamer tendencies for making me very pale).

"You have beautiful eyes" (They're just big, not particularly beautiful. By Japanese standards, I have amazing upper eye-folds.)

"Cool hair!" (Actually, I think your Japanese black hair is much prettier, but hey I'll take it.)

"You're really fast" (This one is actually not a compliment, because my beer belly means this is actually read as 'Wow you're much faster than I would have expected considering you're kinda a fat-ass. Still, it comes in very handy playing tag with my young students . "Oooh, I'll never catch you....I'm so big and slow... yes laugh... laugh more... aaaand speeeeeeeeed got you POWER BOMB mwahaha.")

And lastly, from various drunks at parties: "It's so big, right?" (To which I can only reply, why yes, thank you for noticing!)

[NoClueBoy]

I'm pretty fly for a white guy.

[grude]

*I live in a country where white people make up 1% of the population, my son looks white with an afro.

Every damn day almost someone asks "is that your son?" Usually followed up with is his mother black?

It is really annoying.

[Sodalite]

Originally Posted by monstro

"You talk so well."

I get this all the time from all other ethnic groups (and my own) and it makes me a little stabby. So far, if I've answered at all, I've just been able to grit my teeth and say something like, "Oh. Okay." With older people I may even squeak out a 'thank you' or some other quiet thing.

It's completely different from people telling me I have a good voice for radio or that I should read for commercials. I can accept that as a compliment and it's something I wouldn't mind doing.

[Becky2844]

Originally Posted by monstro

"You talk so well."

...screeches to a halt...Wait a minute! Does that mean you're black? Because you've just never sounded like it.

Sorry, just had to say that. I don't know if you're black or white but Oprah used to comment that she heard that all the time.

[Becky2844]

Leaving the drugstore I frequent one day the cashier called me over and asked me how old I was. (A black girl...one of the "familiar strangers" you expect to be there but don't really know.) I told her (I'm old) and she said "But you don't have any wrinkles! Your skin is so smooth." She wanted to know what I know I use. Since I only barely use soap, I said Soap.

Apparently, sometimes, white don't crack either.

[Anaamika]

Oh, I occasionally get "You speak English very well for a second language!" From white people.

[gallows fodder]

The only people who whistle at me on the street are black men. I take this as a comment on the size, shape, and projection of my ass.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Sattua

Once in college I ate lunch with a gaggle of Chinese girls who told me that I looked like Leelee Sobieski. I don't, but I enjoyed the attention.

More than one of my wife's acquaintances in Brazil has told her (after seeing a photo) that I look exactly like Harry Potter.

I don't look anything like Harry Potter. I suggested that it was only the round glasses I used to wear, but they insisted no, it's my face too. Spitting image of Harry Potter.

Baffling, but I guess it could be worse.

[Kevbo]

I have had Koreans and Vietnamese tell me that my prominent brow means something positive. That I will be prosperous or a great leader or something like that...I forget exactly, as I put zero stock in it.

[Jragon]

I've had Japanese people tell me I'm "very Japanese." I don't look Japanese, so they must mean something in my demeanor or personality.

I'm still not sure what that entails.

[cornflakes]

"This curry is really good, and I'm Thai!" I brought a curry to a potluck at work. The platter was untouched during the first pass and was clean five minutes after a coworker said that. Too bad that I forgot how I made it.

[PoorYorick]

Originally Posted by gallows fodder

The only people who whistle at me on the street are black men. I take this as a comment on the size, shape, and projection of my ass.

Oh, I don't know. Are you male or female?