Germany might be a pleasant place for the lighter complexioned among us
Well, I guess that's why I mingled pretty easily, then.
The Germans I've socialised with seemed to have nothing but conventional ideas about complexion and race. Nobody I met in Germany wanted to associate me with an oriental flavour. They generally assumed I were either Irish, or British. When I told them I'm Turkish, they asked if I had British parents. After the negative answer, they questioned why I am so "pale" as if being white is a European privilege.
One of the strangest dialogues I had was like this, while I was trying to pick up a girl. The bar was pretty noisy, though.
Girl: So, where are you from?
Z: I'm Turkish. What about you?
Girl: I'm from Argentina.
Z: Oh. [a moment of silence]
Girl: So, which part of England are you from?
Z: ...
And yes, some of my friends lied about their nationality to escape the negative associations of the Orient. I didn't, and not because I have any nationalist sympathies. I just don't like lying.