I sat next to an older German man named Gerhard on the plane from Koh Samui back to Bangkok. When I told him my name was Kim, he asked me if I was Korean.

That was a first. I've been mistaken for French and Italian, but never Korean.

During our conversation, he asked me if I was married. When I replied, "no" he asked if I was going to marry my traveling companion. I laughed and explained that I was traveling with a girl friend. To this he responded, "oh well, you can't marry your girlfriend."

I think he figured out I wasn't a lesbian because he asked if he could touch my hair.

Note to Adam Redlich: J Kim lives!