Where Should I Say I am from When People Ask Me?

[Anonymous]

I was born in Alabama and when I was six months old, we moved to California. When I was eight years old, we moved out of the country. When I was twelve we returned to Alabama for one year. When I was thirteen we moved back to California. When I was fifteen we then moved to Indiana. At eighteen I moved to Maryland for college. After graduation I moved to Louisiana for grad school, stayed there six years and then moved back here and have been in the DC area this time for seven years.

[Anonymous]

Heinz 57

[Anonymous]

"All over! But I spent the majority of my childhood in California."

[Anonymous]

I have lived all over as well. I say, "I was born in Nebraska, but have lived all over." Sometimes they push for more, but they are quickly exhausted when I give the run down of the places my husband and I have lived.

[Anonymous]

Yes, "all over," but I think of home as _________."

[Anonymous]

Cleveland, that way people will feel sorry for you and want to be your friend.

[Anonymous]

I too say that I'm from all over, but that I mostly grew up in NC.

[Anonymous]

At first I thought this was going to be a post about being Asian. Despite having grown up in the US, I am often asked, "No, where are you REALLY from?"

[Anonymous]

14:29 -- That's funny, you almost sound like a real American.

[Anonymous]

Say which ever place feels right to you, even if it is Alabama because you were born there. People don't need to know the whole story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At first I thought this was going to be a post about being Asian. Despite having grown up in the US, I am often asked, "No, where are you REALLY from?"

Ha. If you're a Grey's Anatomy fan, there's a funny scene where someone calls in Cristina to translate for an old Chinese patient. Cristina gives them her look and says, "What makes you think I speak Chinese? I'm Korean and I grew up in Southern California." Maybe you had to be there, but it rang so true at the time.

[Anonymous]

I think you should say you're from wherever feels most like home to you.

[Anonymous]

1st place you lived or most recent place you have lived.

[Anonymous]

Tell them you find the question extremely parochial, and that you are a citizen of the world.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same situation as OP and I usually say I've been in Current City X for x number of years and lived all over before that. What I find strange is when they keep pushing you for more information and follow-up with "yes, but where are you Really from, where did you grow up?". I find it really instrusive and bizarre that it would somehow make a difference to them. It really bugs me that they feel entitled to a complete run-down of my previous addresses. I respond politely, but always wish I had the nerve to ask them why it even matters.