The FOB Mark

Are you even Asian if you don’t have the FOB mark? Better yet, what is this FOB mark anyhow? Most commonly, for any Asian that has immigrated from or spent a significant chunk of their childhood in an Asian country, they probably have what’s known as the FOB mark. It is called the FOB mark as FOB stands for the phrase, “Fresh Off the Boat,” which is a TV show as well by the way, and refers to Asian immigrants who would more commonly have this mark. In fact, I have one myself, on my left arm, as I spent the first few years of my life in China. Ok, so this FOB mark is no jewel at all, it's basically a scar from a vaccine. Ouch! Good thing you don’t remember much from the early years of your life. But, imagine a small steel rod with small prongs on the ends and the nurse on duty just uses it to puncture your arm in a circular area about fifteen times. Yep, that’s some real high tech smallpox vaccination for ya. Supposedly the gap between the prongs holds the freeze dried smallpox vaccine but obviously with the procedure, you are literally scarred for life. You may also be wondering why this tends to be Asian specific thing and the reason is simply that even though smallpox was considered to be officially eradicated in 1980, many countries, primarily Asian countries, continued to practice administering the painful vaccination. Hearing this really makes you rethink and consider perhaps those needles at the doctor's office aren’t so bad after all. That is, only if I get to leave with my Mickey Mouse Band-aid and Spider-man Sticker. :D