was this wrong? Or am I being sensitive?

[dglvrk2]

A couple of years ago, I took a job with my company rather abruptly.  It was a promotion and they needed someone to fill this role.  My then manager and the HR director offered me the position after a quick chat.  I accepted feeling like it would be a great opportunity even though I didn't have all of the experience necessary on paper....Flash forward a few weeks into the job. My then boss went from treating me like I walked on water to pretty much ignoring me unless I didn't do something the way they wanted.  Lack of communication, flat out ignoring me and gaslighting became the norm.  After five months of this, including a few attempts to address my issues with the boss, I went to HR with my complaints.  In hind sight, HR did not take my complaints seriously, but offered to transfer me within a few weeks to another position. I was so happy to get out from under this person's radar that I immediately took the other job and things have been better since.  

I still have to be in meetings with this former boss occasionally.  They usually completely ignore me.

Today at a meeting with a large group of colleagues, this person sat down next to me and immediately started talking to the person on their other side. There was an awkward moment of silence.  This person is Cambodian.  They recently went on a big trip to Thailand.  I knew this...Nevertheless, in efforts to make conversation, I asked how their recent trip went.  "Cambodia" not "Thailand" slipped out of my mouth.  I said, "How was Cambodia?  I mean Thailand?" 

The person just said it was good then proceeded to talk to someone else. 

I have absolutely NO intention of assuming this person would go to their country of origin just because that's what it is.  It was a pure accident.  I'm wondering they'd take it as a slur or if I'm being overly sensitive.  With anyone else, I wouldn't think too much, but with my history with this person, I second guess everything.  I try to be incredibly sensitive to other people's cultures, especially as white girl.  Would this be considered insensitive, or worse?  Or am I being overly sensitive?

[mommyatty]

I wouldn’t worry about it. It was a slip of the tongue that happens to all of us.

[waverly]

I think you are OK. Like mommyatty said just a slip of the tongue.

In college someone told me where they were from and then I had to introduce them, and I forgot and got it terribly and horribly wrong. This was a class conversation project for Spanish class.

So this sounds better than that if that makes you feel better.

[macmars45]

I would try hard not to worry about that. People slip up in their speech often. It's NBD.

[supertrooper1]

I'm with PPs. You didn't do anything wrong.

[erbear]

It may have come off as micro aggressive to them. It happens. All you can do is apologize and correct yourself (which it sounds like you did) and try not to do it again.

[traveltheworld]

I wouldn't even think twice about it. No one remembers where others go for vacation!

[erbear]

I’m not sure I would dismiss this as not a big deal if you’re trying to learn. Even if you didn’t intend it, I think it’s very possible that it was received as a racist remark (Asian people are a monolith — something that many POC deal with regularly). You don’t need to go over the top with an apology or anything, but you should probably take a little time to reflect on what happened and how you can avoid doing it again.

[waverly]

One suggestion, if you aren’t sure it is going to come out well then I would leave it more vague. For example, how was your vacation? Rather than specifically naming a location. If the relationship is a bit icy then maybe just a smile and hi but skip small talk until the relationship warms again.