Where am I from?
March 11, 2012 8:05 AM Subscribe
I need a short reply to the "where are you from?" question.
I'm from the US (North Carolina). I currently live in England (West Midlands, Birmingham area). I have dual national UK/US citizenship. In a few short months, I'm going to move to a third country. I will live in third country for a minimum of one year.
What to I say when people ask where I am from? Stating one country without leaving the other seems wrong. Yet "I was born in the US and lived there until I moved to (West Midlands) England in 2007. In 2012, I moved here to third country and now live here." seems too long.
A strange question to ask on metafilter but I'm not sure where else to go.
I'm from the US (North Carolina). I currently live in England (West Midlands, Birmingham area). I have dual national UK/US citizenship. In a few short months, I'm going to move to a third country. I will live in third country for a minimum of one year.
What to I say when people ask where I am from? Stating one country without leaving the other seems wrong. Yet "I was born in the US and lived there until I moved to (West Midlands) England in 2007. In 2012, I moved here to third country and now live here." seems too long.
A strange question to ask on metafilter but I'm not sure where else to go.
Best answer: "I grew up in X, then lived in Y for a while before I moved here."
posted by decathecting at 8:08 AM on March 11, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by decathecting at 8:08 AM on March 11, 2012 [13 favorites]
Best answer: Most of the time, context is your friend and you can suss out what information is being sought. However, here's a shorter version of your spiel conveying the same info: "I grew up in the US, lived in England for about five years until I came to [country] in [month]." Let your audience ask for more details if they're interested.
posted by carmicha at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by carmicha at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012
Ha, I just realized that sounded odd. I mean to say, you can of course still mention you have dual citizenship, but most people will expect you to answer with where you were born, and if your accent conflicts with that, only then will they press further.
posted by quincunx at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by quincunx at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
I roll with "I'm from New York but I've been an expat for XX years."
posted by DarlingBri at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 8:09 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
The version decathecting posted is what I hear most often from people who have lived in two or more countries.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:10 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by zombieflanders at 8:10 AM on March 11, 2012
Earth!
Ha ha.
This is one of those questions that, like carmicha suggests, needs a lot of context before you can really answer it. (Is the person asking going to ask you explain if you stick with "it's complicated"? That kind of thing.) But I've known a few people who grew up moving around, and they all sort of just picked the place they felt like they were from and stuck with that. They may have been born in Birmingham, but they grew up in Glendale, so they're from Glendale.
Where do you feel like you're from?
posted by carsonb at 8:12 AM on March 11, 2012
Ha ha.
This is one of those questions that, like carmicha suggests, needs a lot of context before you can really answer it. (Is the person asking going to ask you explain if you stick with "it's complicated"? That kind of thing.) But I've known a few people who grew up moving around, and they all sort of just picked the place they felt like they were from and stuck with that. They may have been born in Birmingham, but they grew up in Glendale, so they're from Glendale.
Where do you feel like you're from?
posted by carsonb at 8:12 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: I was born in one country and raised in another, and have dual citizenship too. It always stressed me out to answer that question! Sometimes I say "do you want the long answer or the short?" That always elicits a laugh. If I sense the person asking isn't all that interested, I'll just say the place I was raised.
I have found that people overseas are much more used to the answer of "well I was born here and moved around a lot and just came from this other place.". America is the only place where answering in that way gets me confused looks. It's much more acceptable to be a "citizen of the world" outside the US.
posted by katypickle at 8:12 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
I have found that people overseas are much more used to the answer of "well I was born here and moved around a lot and just came from this other place.". America is the only place where answering in that way gets me confused looks. It's much more acceptable to be a "citizen of the world" outside the US.
posted by katypickle at 8:12 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
Or you can always say, "I'm from the U.S. originally." Pretty short, and makes it clear you've traveled since then without having to elaborate.
posted by quincunx at 8:13 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by quincunx at 8:13 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
"Oh, you know. Around."
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:15 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:15 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: "Most recently I'm from England, but I was born in the US."
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:26 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:26 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
"I'm from _____ originally." Or if you think they have a specific reason, add "Why do you ask?" Then if they're wondering about your accent, citizenship, etc, you can talk about that further. (If it's appropriate, you can preface it with a joke like "How much time do you have? No, I'm from ____ originally." or "Oh, I don't even know anymore, haha. I'm from ____ originally, why do you ask?"
posted by DestinationUnknown at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by DestinationUnknown at 8:27 AM on March 11, 2012
I've moved around the US a bunch and I say "[Where I grew up] but most recently from [the last place I lived]"
posted by thewestinggame at 8:31 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by thewestinggame at 8:31 AM on March 11, 2012
"I've moved around a lot." If they wan't more info, they will ask for it.
posted by johnxlibris at 8:32 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by johnxlibris at 8:32 AM on March 11, 2012
Reading some of the ways global nomads (children whose parents were in transferable jobs like foreign service or military or global multinationals) answer this question may help.
Otoh, I usually just pick the last place I lived in and leave them bemused - right now, the answer is Finland and since my passport is Indian, it gives rise to giggles. Wait, there's a Singapore in there somewhere too... but I've been in Nairobi since the beginning of the year...
tl;dr
It really doesn't matter where you are from, as long as you're comfortable in your own skin.
posted by infini at 8:35 AM on March 11, 2012
Otoh, I usually just pick the last place I lived in and leave them bemused - right now, the answer is Finland and since my passport is Indian, it gives rise to giggles. Wait, there's a Singapore in there somewhere too... but I've been in Nairobi since the beginning of the year...
tl;dr
It really doesn't matter where you are from, as long as you're comfortable in your own skin.
posted by infini at 8:35 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: I typically say "I grew up in X, but I lived in Y for 12 years and consider that home, too."
posted by craichead at 8:38 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by craichead at 8:38 AM on March 11, 2012
Where do you feel like you're from?
Yes, this too. I say I'm originally from New York both because it's factually true and because it feels true; it succinctly explains me to people in all the places I've moved around to. They can think "Oh that's why she's rude/odd/walking so fast" and it simplifies the whole thing.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 8:39 AM on March 11, 2012
Yes, this too. I say I'm originally from New York both because it's factually true and because it feels true; it succinctly explains me to people in all the places I've moved around to. They can think "Oh that's why she's rude/odd/walking so fast" and it simplifies the whole thing.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 8:39 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: I recently moved here from England but I'm originally from America.
posted by myselfasme at 8:40 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by myselfasme at 8:40 AM on March 11, 2012
This is pretty common. I say "DC but we were in upstate New York for a few years too." Now that I've been here in [third place] a few years, I've noticed I'm dropping the second place more and more. First place is home, current place is adopted home, places in between are just stops along the way.
posted by headnsouth at 8:46 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by headnsouth at 8:46 AM on March 11, 2012
The way I get through this one is by answering with wherever I feel like home is. When I was very small, that meant West Virginia. Later it meant North Carolina, and for a hot minute a couple years ago it meant Seattle. So, think of the place you want to go to when you're in trouble or stressed out, and go with that.
posted by dalzell at 8:47 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by dalzell at 8:47 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: Originally _________, but most recently _____________.
posted by unknowncommand at 8:48 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by unknowncommand at 8:48 AM on March 11, 2012
To me, "where you are from?" refers to where you spent most of your childhood. If I ask that question, I'm curious about their language/cultural formation and background. Obviously, there are people for whom even that is rather complicated (and where the initial answer can be something like "we moved around a lot), or people who spend their entire adult lives in a new place that becomes their "adopted homeland," but neither of those seem to be the case here. You say it yourself in your question "I'm from the US." You could add that you lived in England, but where you've lived is a different question than where you're from. You are, of course, free to answer however feels most right to you, but to me there's nothing that feels "wrong" about omitting places where you've resided for a few years in contexts where brevity is expected.
posted by drlith at 8:51 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by drlith at 8:51 AM on March 11, 2012
You aren't "from" England. When people ask that, they aren't looking for a full history. You are from the United States.
posted by spaltavian at 8:54 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by spaltavian at 8:54 AM on March 11, 2012 [3 favorites]
I would just name the place that feels most like 'home'.
posted by whalebreath at 8:58 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by whalebreath at 8:58 AM on March 11, 2012
I moved very frequently as a kid. When people ask me where I'm from, I say "I'm not." Then if they look confused, I explain that I moved very frequently as a kid.
posted by millipede at 8:59 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by millipede at 8:59 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I had quite a few moves as a kid and as a young adult. I simplify by answering with the place I lived the longest as a kid.
People aren't looking for a life history with this question, it's just a way to find the next topic of conversation.
posted by bonehead at 9:01 AM on March 11, 2012
People aren't looking for a life history with this question, it's just a way to find the next topic of conversation.
posted by bonehead at 9:01 AM on March 11, 2012
"I've been bouncing around between the US and the UK."
posted by foursentences at 9:02 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by foursentences at 9:02 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have divorced parents who wouldn't quit shuffling states & kids. For official occasions I use my birth state (I spent 3 months there), and for unofficial, I state the place I consider my home-of-origin. For me, that would be the state where my childhood memories are most firmly rooted, which conveniently happens to be the place I most want to be identified with. So what I would say is, where do you consider yourself from? Use that unless there's an official need-to-know.
You really don't owe everybody full disclosure. If you want to open a line of conversation, you can state one place, but indicate that there's more to that story (eg "we moved around a lot, though."). But you're probably giving people more than they're looking for when they ask the question.
posted by Ys at 9:03 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
You really don't owe everybody full disclosure. If you want to open a line of conversation, you can state one place, but indicate that there's more to that story (eg "we moved around a lot, though."). But you're probably giving people more than they're looking for when they ask the question.
posted by Ys at 9:03 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
My dad was in the military so we moved a lot, and I've kept up the tradition as an adult. When people ask me where I'm from, my usual answer is "What year?"
Then we discuss it more, or not, depending on the other person's level of interest.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:06 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
Then we discuss it more, or not, depending on the other person's level of interest.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:06 AM on March 11, 2012 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Oh my goodness I feel your pain. I'm a dual citizen of the US and UK. One of my parents is American, the other is British. I grew up in the UK until the age of 5, then we moved to the States. When I was an adult I moved to France where I lived for about 10 years. Now I live in the UK.
Really, the only answer people are wanting is that I'm from the US. This is because that's where my accent indicates I'm from, but they don't want to accidentally guess wrong because that annoys some smug Canadians. So I've given up trying to explain anything and I just tell them the US city where I got my accent. It's annoying, because there's a fair bit of anti-American sentiment around here (it's like it's the only nationality that's considered ok to mock anymore), and I get pretty sick of the whole thing. But I try to roll with it, and if it gets to be too much I tell people off. I wish I had a better answer for you. Sigh.
posted by hazyjane at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2012
Really, the only answer people are wanting is that I'm from the US. This is because that's where my accent indicates I'm from, but they don't want to accidentally guess wrong because that annoys some smug Canadians. So I've given up trying to explain anything and I just tell them the US city where I got my accent. It's annoying, because there's a fair bit of anti-American sentiment around here (it's like it's the only nationality that's considered ok to mock anymore), and I get pretty sick of the whole thing. But I try to roll with it, and if it gets to be too much I tell people off. I wish I had a better answer for you. Sigh.
posted by hazyjane at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2012
Take a stab at figuring out why the asker wants to know, and give them an answer that's appropriate to that.
Most of the time it's just small talk, and a getting-to-know-you ice breaker. In that case something like "I'm from the US, but I've been living in England for the last X years" will work nicely.
Probably most people in "third country" don't know North Carolina from the West Midlands, so no need to go into all that. Unless they respond to your opener with something like, "Hey, I went to college in London. Whereabouts in the UK?"
posted by philipy at 9:18 AM on March 11, 2012
Most of the time it's just small talk, and a getting-to-know-you ice breaker. In that case something like "I'm from the US, but I've been living in England for the last X years" will work nicely.
Probably most people in "third country" don't know North Carolina from the West Midlands, so no need to go into all that. Unless they respond to your opener with something like, "Hey, I went to college in London. Whereabouts in the UK?"
posted by philipy at 9:18 AM on March 11, 2012
There are two version of the question, "where are you from?"
One is asked by people who share your accent, and presumably your country of origin. They are asking where exactly you grew up as a child.
The other is asked by people who assume that they don't share country of origin with you, because of your accent or manner. Then they want to know what country you were raised in.
E.g. when an American asks me where I'm from, I mention the two states I lived in between 2-18. I skip the one I was in from birth to 2, and I skip the ones I lived in for college, grad school. first job... etc. But when I'm out of the country, and a non-American asks me, I just say "the US". Or maybe "the US, but I spent a couple years in country x, too."
posted by kestrel251 at 9:21 AM on March 11, 2012
One is asked by people who share your accent, and presumably your country of origin. They are asking where exactly you grew up as a child.
The other is asked by people who assume that they don't share country of origin with you, because of your accent or manner. Then they want to know what country you were raised in.
E.g. when an American asks me where I'm from, I mention the two states I lived in between 2-18. I skip the one I was in from birth to 2, and I skip the ones I lived in for college, grad school. first job... etc. But when I'm out of the country, and a non-American asks me, I just say "the US". Or maybe "the US, but I spent a couple years in country x, too."
posted by kestrel251 at 9:21 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: Ok, yeah, I deal with this a lot too.
There are three things people are asking me.
You have to be able to use your social skills to know what they are really asking. For me:
"I'm an American." ("and my wife is from Portugal")
It is clear they are asking about my funny accent or hers.
"I'm from the UK."
This is the answer people sometimes want when what they are really asking is how far we traveled to get there. For example, if we are in a B&B in Italy, we are from the UK.
"My parents are from Mexico."
This is the answer they are asking when they seem to be remarking on my appearance. Why am I brown-skinned?
When I am not sure if they are asking one of the above, then my answer is simple and short:
"I'm from the US but I live in the UK."
posted by vacapinta at 9:26 AM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]
There are three things people are asking me.
You have to be able to use your social skills to know what they are really asking. For me:
"I'm an American." ("and my wife is from Portugal")
It is clear they are asking about my funny accent or hers.
"I'm from the UK."
This is the answer people sometimes want when what they are really asking is how far we traveled to get there. For example, if we are in a B&B in Italy, we are from the UK.
"My parents are from Mexico."
This is the answer they are asking when they seem to be remarking on my appearance. Why am I brown-skinned?
When I am not sure if they are asking one of the above, then my answer is simple and short:
"I'm from the US but I live in the UK."
posted by vacapinta at 9:26 AM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]
Best answer: You could say "I'm from the U.S. by way of England" and add "I've been living in [new country] since June" if you want to.
In most cases, the "Where are you from?" question is just a way of advancing small talk, so really, you can give as much or as little information as you like, so long as you're not holding up conversation by monologuing on your life story or creating an awkward conversational gap with a non-answer.
As others have already commented, the context for the question matters, too. Usually if I'm in my current city and somebody asks me "Where are you from?" I'll answer "I'm from [home state]." If I'm traveling somewhere in-state, I'll answer "I'm originally from [home state], but I'm living in [current city]." And if I'm traveling out of state, I'll answer "I'm originally from [home state], but I'm living in [current state]." Then I see where the conversational thread goes and add more detail if appropriate.
posted by Orinda at 9:31 AM on March 11, 2012
In most cases, the "Where are you from?" question is just a way of advancing small talk, so really, you can give as much or as little information as you like, so long as you're not holding up conversation by monologuing on your life story or creating an awkward conversational gap with a non-answer.
As others have already commented, the context for the question matters, too. Usually if I'm in my current city and somebody asks me "Where are you from?" I'll answer "I'm from [home state]." If I'm traveling somewhere in-state, I'll answer "I'm originally from [home state], but I'm living in [current city]." And if I'm traveling out of state, I'll answer "I'm originally from [home state], but I'm living in [current state]." Then I see where the conversational thread goes and add more detail if appropriate.
posted by Orinda at 9:31 AM on March 11, 2012
"I was born in the US and lived there until I moved to (West Midlands) England in 2007. In 2012, I moved here to third country and now live here." seems too long.
That doesn't seem too long. If it is too long, just say the US or North Carolina.
posted by John Cohen at 9:39 AM on March 11, 2012
That doesn't seem too long. If it is too long, just say the US or North Carolina.
posted by John Cohen at 9:39 AM on March 11, 2012
I was born in the UK, but my family moved to the States when I was two and I lived in Texas from age 5 until I left for college. When people ask me where I'm from, I say "Born in England, raised in Texas." Sometimes they get the longer version, which is "Born in England, raised in Texas, went to school in Connecticut, and now I live here [Seattle]." What you really need is not a full history, but a shorthand for your cultural referents; maybe something like "I grew up in the American South, but spent 5 years in the UK. I moved here [earlier this year | in 2012]."
posted by KathrynT at 9:58 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by KathrynT at 9:58 AM on March 11, 2012
You say "I'm from a place where we know better than to end our sentences with a preposition." And then they say "OK, where are you from, bitch?"
Old joke, sorry, couldn't resist!
posted by raisingsand at 10:23 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
Old joke, sorry, couldn't resist!
posted by raisingsand at 10:23 AM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think these are all fine responses, but I just wanted to point out that you're not obligated to answer the question at all. Everyone seems to be assuming that "I need a short reply" and "what do I say when people ask" necessarily involve explaining the logistics of your origin. "A short reply" could just as easily be that it's none of their business, although I'm sure there are more graceful ways to deflect the question.
posted by Jeff Howard at 10:24 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by Jeff Howard at 10:24 AM on March 11, 2012
you only lived in england for the last five years. that's not really a long time, relatively speaking. so that's not where you are "from." you were born— and grew up in the u.s. that's where you are "from." however, if you need to clarify the part about england, you can always say "grew up in the u.s., just moved here from england."
posted by violetk at 10:26 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by violetk at 10:26 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: I have the sense from your question that it's your intention to return to the UK once your stint in Country #3 is over. It may, therefore, be reasonable to reply, "I'm originally from the US, but I consider England my home, which is where I've lived since 2007." I lived abroad for about 8 years, and considered my second country "home" during that time period. When asked, I answered in this way - I felt that it gave people a sense of "where I'm coming from" as well as "where I'm from" (if that makes sense).
posted by pammeke at 10:32 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by pammeke at 10:32 AM on March 11, 2012
I'd go for "I grew up in the US, but I've spent the last 5 years in Britain" as the default level of information to give.
But like vacapinta says, the answer you want to give is the one that brings the conversation forward. Do you want to bring why you've moved to the new country into the discussion, so finishing the explanation with "and then I moved here to..."? Or do you want them to think of your cultural references as being British, so it's all cream teas, Blackadder and Manchester United and whatever else the UK stands for? Or would you rather be thought of as American, so it's Coca Cola, Hollywood, Times Square and the Grand Canyon?
Or maybe you'd like to focus on what you did in the UK and US. It's all fairly open to you to decide for yourself how you present yourself.
posted by ambrosen at 10:57 AM on March 11, 2012
But like vacapinta says, the answer you want to give is the one that brings the conversation forward. Do you want to bring why you've moved to the new country into the discussion, so finishing the explanation with "and then I moved here to..."? Or do you want them to think of your cultural references as being British, so it's all cream teas, Blackadder and Manchester United and whatever else the UK stands for? Or would you rather be thought of as American, so it's Coca Cola, Hollywood, Times Square and the Grand Canyon?
Or maybe you'd like to focus on what you did in the UK and US. It's all fairly open to you to decide for yourself how you present yourself.
posted by ambrosen at 10:57 AM on March 11, 2012
Best answer: I feel your pain. I lived in six states and 16 different cities/neighborhoods before I turned 19, and I have to sit down with Excel to be sure of which state I've actually lived the longest in. It's either California or Ohio - maybe Ohio, I've been here awhile now.
I try to answer depending on context. I usually switch between two big ones, since it's mostly Ohioans asking, who've either demonstrated they are sure I must not be from Ohio ("I was born in California, but I've lived all over, and off and on in Ohio since 1995") or are not aware of this ("I live in Clintonville/Columbus, but was born in California, and went to high school in Bucyrus and graduated from Ohio State.")
But other popular answers have included "I live in Ohio right now," "I was born in California," "I went to elementary school in California, and was homeschooled after that, the last two years in Bucyrus," and "I graduated from Ohio State."
A large minority of where-are-you-from questioners really mean "what high school did you go to" and "what college did you go to," by the way - at least in midwestern states where that answer is almost always one of two or three alternatives which tell you a lot about the person. When I polled our Toastmasters club membership for this "origin" information, people who had lived in more than one place before they started college were invariably acutely aware of that fact and made an effort to be really precise in their answers, and everyone who hadn't lived in one place emphasized their neighborhood/high school in the "where are you from" part, even though I gave them the chance to specify high school later on in the survey. When I talk to my supervisors at work about their origin, area-of-town is often a BIG part of their answer: they didn't come from Columbus, they attended East High School.
For people who think like that, it might be helpful if you say "I was born and went to school in the US - the state of North Carolina - but I consider England my home, specifically Birmingham. I live in [neighborhood in country] right now."
(You may also want to say "on the East coast" if your questioners are unlikely to be familiar with the names of the 50 states and where that translates to in terms of geography, or if you have a hint of a Southern accent that they may be trying to place.)
posted by SMPA at 11:03 AM on March 11, 2012
I try to answer depending on context. I usually switch between two big ones, since it's mostly Ohioans asking, who've either demonstrated they are sure I must not be from Ohio ("I was born in California, but I've lived all over, and off and on in Ohio since 1995") or are not aware of this ("I live in Clintonville/Columbus, but was born in California, and went to high school in Bucyrus and graduated from Ohio State.")
But other popular answers have included "I live in Ohio right now," "I was born in California," "I went to elementary school in California, and was homeschooled after that, the last two years in Bucyrus," and "I graduated from Ohio State."
A large minority of where-are-you-from questioners really mean "what high school did you go to" and "what college did you go to," by the way - at least in midwestern states where that answer is almost always one of two or three alternatives which tell you a lot about the person. When I polled our Toastmasters club membership for this "origin" information, people who had lived in more than one place before they started college were invariably acutely aware of that fact and made an effort to be really precise in their answers, and everyone who hadn't lived in one place emphasized their neighborhood/high school in the "where are you from" part, even though I gave them the chance to specify high school later on in the survey. When I talk to my supervisors at work about their origin, area-of-town is often a BIG part of their answer: they didn't come from Columbus, they attended East High School.
For people who think like that, it might be helpful if you say "I was born and went to school in the US - the state of North Carolina - but I consider England my home, specifically Birmingham. I live in [neighborhood in country] right now."
(You may also want to say "on the East coast" if your questioners are unlikely to be familiar with the names of the 50 states and where that translates to in terms of geography, or if you have a hint of a Southern accent that they may be trying to place.)
posted by SMPA at 11:03 AM on March 11, 2012
Depends what you want to emphasise and who's asking and why, as people above have said. For Brits asking I tend to say 'London now, but originally I'm from Liverpool - been down south about ten years' which explains some of my weird kind-of-south-but-northern-vowels accent. For when I'm abroad I just say London, unless I think there's some reason the person would be specifically interested in my being from Liverpool. I consider London my home, so I'm happy to front-and-centre it.
Someone mistook me for an American recently and asked me how long I'd been here. I (thoroughly British, confused) said "About 20 minutes?"
posted by corvine at 11:29 AM on March 11, 2012
Someone mistook me for an American recently and asked me how long I'd been here. I (thoroughly British, confused) said "About 20 minutes?"
posted by corvine at 11:29 AM on March 11, 2012
I just say, "All over the place." If they want to pursue the topic, I'll go into more detail.
posted by trip and a half at 11:42 AM on March 11, 2012
posted by trip and a half at 11:42 AM on March 11, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks for your answers everyone. I'm going to go with "I'm from the US by way of England" and also "I'm from the US by way of England, which I consider my home."
To answer some questions and comments:
I would just name the place that feels most like 'home'.
That's a really, really hard question to answer. Third country will probably complicate that. I have wanted to live in third country for years.
pammeke hit it right on the head!! vacapinta also understands with the three different questions. SMPA also got it -- I'm from the US, England is my home, living in third country (neighborhood)".
To clarify questions and comments:
1. I don't mind the question -- happy to answer, no need to create an air of mystery.
2. My permanent dwelling is in England. After third country, I'm going back to England. If I meet someone who is going to England, I'll be happy to give them a bed and show them around. I do not want to give people the impression that I can do the same for the US. (This has happened before.)
3. I'm going to third country on a British passport. This will serve as my identification for a while. Thus stating "I am American!" while showing them my British passport and introducing them to my English husband may cause confusion.
4. My accent is "American" with an undercurrent of "British" -- I also use a lot of British slang and phrases. To give you some idea, Americans here in the UK rarely recognize me as American! But English always do.
5. I'm not trying to imply or emphasize anything. And yes, I realize five years isn't a long time and it doesn't count as being "from" some place. I'll always be American and from the US.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:56 AM on March 11, 2012
To answer some questions and comments:
I would just name the place that feels most like 'home'.
That's a really, really hard question to answer. Third country will probably complicate that. I have wanted to live in third country for years.
pammeke hit it right on the head!! vacapinta also understands with the three different questions. SMPA also got it -- I'm from the US, England is my home, living in third country (neighborhood)".
To clarify questions and comments:
1. I don't mind the question -- happy to answer, no need to create an air of mystery.
2. My permanent dwelling is in England. After third country, I'm going back to England. If I meet someone who is going to England, I'll be happy to give them a bed and show them around. I do not want to give people the impression that I can do the same for the US. (This has happened before.)
3. I'm going to third country on a British passport. This will serve as my identification for a while. Thus stating "I am American!" while showing them my British passport and introducing them to my English husband may cause confusion.
4. My accent is "American" with an undercurrent of "British" -- I also use a lot of British slang and phrases. To give you some idea, Americans here in the UK rarely recognize me as American! But English always do.
5. I'm not trying to imply or emphasize anything. And yes, I realize five years isn't a long time and it doesn't count as being "from" some place. I'll always be American and from the US.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:56 AM on March 11, 2012
This question is the bane of my life. It always makes me feel like such a weirdo. I had been answering with, "I'm not really from anywhere. My parents moved a lot while I was a kid," but that answer doesn't seem to satisfy people, so I advise against using it. I thinking picking the favorite place you lived or the place that feels like home, as suggested above, is probably a better option, unless it's someone you really want to talk to at great length.
I've lived so many places and had so many jobs in my relatively young life, I wonder sometimes if people think I'm making stuff up when one day I'm from Idaho and the next from Virginia.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:03 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've lived so many places and had so many jobs in my relatively young life, I wonder sometimes if people think I'm making stuff up when one day I'm from Idaho and the next from Virginia.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:03 PM on March 11, 2012 [1 favorite]
My very not-white brother-in-law, who has a very distinct accent, tends to answer this question with "Adelaide" (another Australian city) which is true, to a point, as he emigrated from Sri Lanka when he was 15. It also causes confusion and hilarity which he very much enjoys!
posted by Cheese Monster at 2:18 PM on March 11, 2012
posted by Cheese Monster at 2:18 PM on March 11, 2012
Agreeing with carmicha on context, but also assess the social situation and the need to provide more or less detail. Stating "Originally from the US by way of England" seems adequate, and if the asker needs or desires more, or if the subject generates a conversation, more information can be provided.
I was born in Pennsylvania, spent my (air quotes) formative years in Colorado, and have gone native in Idaho. That pretty much tells people where I come from.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2012
I was born in Pennsylvania, spent my (air quotes) formative years in Colorado, and have gone native in Idaho. That pretty much tells people where I come from.
posted by BlueHorse at 2:47 PM on March 11, 2012
I just wanted to pipe in to let you know I share the challenge and always wanted to ask this question as well. Five countries for me. The current country is home, but I'm liable to add another country to the list before too long.
In any case, if I suspect the person asking appreciates a rye joke, I might answer the question of "Where am I from" with "My parents..."
I don't know if this is the same for you but one additional complicating factor is, when answering I grew up in the US, the follow-on question invariably is where. We moved around a fair amount there too. But, I really try to simply take their queries as a means to connect and share experiences.
posted by michswiss at 5:46 PM on March 11, 2012
In any case, if I suspect the person asking appreciates a rye joke, I might answer the question of "Where am I from" with "My parents..."
I don't know if this is the same for you but one additional complicating factor is, when answering I grew up in the US, the follow-on question invariably is where. We moved around a fair amount there too. But, I really try to simply take their queries as a means to connect and share experiences.
posted by michswiss at 5:46 PM on March 11, 2012
…stating "I am American!" while showing them my British passport and introducing them to my English husband may cause confusion.
this actually isn't so odd. a good friend of mine was born and raised in the states until about age 12. her family then moved to germany through hign school and she then went to university in scotland, where she met the scot who would later become her husband. she did grad work back in the states, and after getting married they lived in england for a number of years before moving for a couple of years to thailand and then shanghai. they are now in seattle for the time being. her accent is also american with british inflections (that becomes stronger when she is in britain). despite only spending about a quarter of her life in the states, she always self-identifies as american because her parents are american and that's where she was born and raised as a child.
posted by violetk at 9:10 PM on March 11, 2012
this actually isn't so odd. a good friend of mine was born and raised in the states until about age 12. her family then moved to germany through hign school and she then went to university in scotland, where she met the scot who would later become her husband. she did grad work back in the states, and after getting married they lived in england for a number of years before moving for a couple of years to thailand and then shanghai. they are now in seattle for the time being. her accent is also american with british inflections (that becomes stronger when she is in britain). despite only spending about a quarter of her life in the states, she always self-identifies as american because her parents are american and that's where she was born and raised as a child.
posted by violetk at 9:10 PM on March 11, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
I think you answered your own question, here. I'd go with the U.S. unless you have an English accent.
posted by quincunx at 8:07 AM on March 11, 2012 [4 favorites]