“Muslims bomb things” (a generalisation made by fellow university students.)  “That’s a funny name don’t you think?” (Clearly she had no qualms in finding my surname hilarious.)  “If I were to have a proper girlfriend, my mother would want me to bring home a black girl,” (the relationship ended in this sentiment.)  “So what are you Iranian or English?” (The term mixed race did not exist in their vocabulary.)  “My impressions of Muslims in general are that they are much ruder than English people,” (an observation made by a friend who completely believed in its truth.)  “My perceptions of all Muslims are that they are dirty, because they eat with their hands and sit on the floor.”  (This person evidently forgot that my father is Muslim.  Obviously she was unaware that cleanliness is ingrained in their culture.) “So you are the half-caste girl then.”  (The label applied throughout my entire school life.)  “That comment was not meant to be perceived as racist, you simply interpreted it in a negative light.” (My head teacher’s response concerning his perception of what is politically correct.)  “You English Shit!” (An Asian man's sensitivity, whilst I was learning to drive.)  “That’s a funny smell.” (The usual response received when I was cooking an Iranian meal in the shared kitchen – spice is frightening.)  “Where are you my Nigger?” (A declaration made to my ex-boyfriend by his white best friend.)  “He is a legend, a black beauty, it would be better if he was white though, I have told him that to his face don’t worry.” (Unfortunately this was what followed the first defamatory remark.) “What is in that thing?” (Combined with the look of repulsion at Orlando International Airport, when they saw the Persian carpets my mother and I were trying to ‘hustle’ into the country.  We joined the queue for our luggage to be checked for the fourth time - by hand.)  “You are a little Red Indian and I am going to turn the whole school against you and come after you.” (A comment made to me by my best friend in primary school.  I remember, because it was accompanied with the most evil laugh, which predictably scared the shit out of me.)  “I cannot imagine what it must be like to be you; it must be so confusing.” (I have heard this on numerous occasions, as many seem to find it impossible to comprehend that a mixed race marriage can result in the production of a completely sane person.)  “Don’t he look like Saddam Hussein? You know one’r them people init.” (Waiting for the bus a man of Middle Eastern appearance was branded.)  “Where are you from then?  Isn’t Iran the capital of Iraq?” (This unsurprisingly has decreased with America’s war on terrorism.)  “How come you can speak English so well?” (A remark made by someone who was truly baffled).  “I tried it, ate it up, and spat it out.” (A black lecturer on his relationship with white women.)  “Your dad must be very strict, do you ever get out?” (Another generalisation made about my father after finding out he is Muslim.)  “We employ quite a lot of them in here.” (My last employers thought they didn’t discriminate.)  “There’re too many Asians with their curry houses everywhere.” (A drunken white man on the train thought he should share this with a carriage full of Asians.)  “What religion are you? - You have to chose just one. -  No you cannot be neither!”  (An argument I had with a primary school teacher, when the class was divided into groups according to their religion.  I presented a problem as I refused to choose either - so I became Jewish for the week.)  When asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding my ethnic background, I could not find a box that suited me.  When I queried the individual responsible, they told me to tick any box – I refused.