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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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?"

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

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

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

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.

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

Heinz 57

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.