Hm, I tend to ask all kinds of questions about ancestry, especially if you have a name I haven't heard or a look that's not just vanilla white - and I'll ask those people too. I have a fascination about where people originated, and if they kept any of their culture from any of those other places. I will also ask if they happen to speak any of those non-english languages if they're not more than 2nd generation american. I just find it amazing how people are blended and mixed and wonderful and interesting. In fact, I was talking to a friend just the other day (SC!) about how we both think people of mixed heritage have better genetics - my friends that are "blends" tend to be more beautiful and more gifted than other friends - and my other friends are no slouches either. I think it's Mother Nature (or whoever) trying to tell us something. (i.e. Supple Cows and Abayas and all are something to aim for in our own kids!)
Would this sort of discussion offend any of you who get a lot of questions already?
I know I have some idiot thought tracks in my mind about other ethnicities, but I tend to only notice those if a person of that ethnicity is showcasing one of them. For example (since 'asian-americans' are of topic), if I actually SEE a person who is clearly of asian descent driving really really slow, I will connect the two. But it won't cross my mind otherwise. And I will connect it also if it's someone very old, or from Florida.
The stereotyping goes for us plain ol' white chicks too - I have been told I look like pretty much every single young blond actress out there. And no, I don't. People just have a comfort level - they feel better if we fit into a familiar category.