At times, I feel sad because it’s hard for me to truthfully express who I am in one quick sentence to nice, down-to-earth people asking the said question. Fine, thanks. On that same drive to my parents after leaving the beach, we drove past an antique shop flying the Union Jack flag. I’m sure people have a fun, maybe confusing, time guessing where you’re from , Hi, Dear Reader, If you use TRY3STEPS a lot, this message is for you. That’s true, it depends on who asks, ‘Where are you from?’, and depending on who asks it, it could be an intrusive question or not. I shaped a lot of responses to that question, yet there’s no universal one. Where are you from? Your blog on that subject brought me to your writing. You grew up here.”. Although I’m not Asian I could in part relate to the story behind ‘Shanghai Kiss’. Summer is opening up all the parks here and the weekend is helping everyone be social. In reality we all have our stories. What I experience is – Interestingly I have the European version of the film which has the better front cover on it. My response depends on my mood and the tone of the person throwing this phrase at me. I identify myself as being Australian (since this is the culture I was exposed to and lived in the longest and is the place where I live permanently), but whenever I tell people (especially Asians like the one I encountered in trips to my ancestral home in Asia) that I’m Australian, they look at me like I’m nuts. Lv 6. How are you? All Rights Reserved. It's located in the north of the country, not really that far from the southern Chinese border.Is there much to do in your hometown?Oh yes, there's certainly lots to do there as it's a fairly big city. Thank you for the response. I’ve had a few people look at me differently after I have told them as well. Having grown up in Asia and Australia, “home” is essentially foreign to me – I feel attached to each country I’ve lived in in some way. I don’t want to give the answer people “want” because then the framing and tons of prejudice, preconception, and weird questions, and “related” news show up. Ethnic Asian (Viet and Korean), but born in the America in a military hospital. And there seems to be something objectionable in the substance of … This one – “Where are you from?” – comes up all the time. Do you ever have to stop and think about how to answer “Where are you from?” It’s the question that everyone seemingly asks when you meet them for the first time. You ever ask a Caucasian Australian with a noticeable accent where he/she is from? It usually silences the asker. “Where are you from?” is an OK question, and I do love to answer it. I get this question a lot but it certainly doesn’t carry the same weight and I like to have them guess as well, especially when I’m in a playful mood. If someone asked me today where I was from, I’d say London. Who wouldn’t claim that as their home!?!? Lovely to hear you had a good time around SE Asia. Honestly, we claim to live in a society that values freedom for all and yet we still try to force someone to talk about their past even if they say it’s offensive? Do you ever have to stop and think about how to answer “Where are you from?” It’s the question that everyone seemingly asks when you meet them for the first time. Where are you from? Number 8 is a creative one. Writer Taiye Selasi's exquisite speech from TEDGlobal 2014 is now online, and provides some fascinating perspectives that might come to … But if you have a positive attitude, well, this question will always be a fun one , I’ve also been asked this question quite a few times but sometimes I feel uncomfortable with answering it. You are so right when you say some people want to know EXACTLY what country you are from, or specifically what country you have bloodlines with, and down to the ethnic community that you *should come from and resemble. Then the person I’m talking to would likely say, “But you don’t have a southern accent so you can’t be from Texas…” and it’d go on and on because I don’t feel like my natural answer is Maine anymore. Your photograph captures beautifully that moment of looking into the world and yet holding our own space at the same time. So we’d rather not be asked it. What do you mean exactly? And all that returning and talking in past tense etc. But it really is fun sometimes to get people to guess my heritage and race when it pops up! I was intrigued by the fact we were deep on the coast of Maine, where we were vacationing from England, only to see this amazing Maine antique shop flying the UK flag. Be proud of your etches, life painting and the journey that you’re on. You have to evaluate why the person is actually asking you where you are from. 36 ( Log Out / Now when a person ask "where were you raised" then that's when you say Dallas. I don’t mind being asked it most of the time, but it’s only when it’s asked very suddenly out of the blue. Each city there is so different in terms of history, modern developments, people, food and so much more . 3) I don’t consider myself as a part of any community, nation, country, religion, race, ethnicity, culture, movement, idea and whatnot. You are you, Kerry. The video Matthew posted is hilarious!!! California is where I met my hubs, fell in love, and where I truly thought I was meant to be. Those answers will bore the examiner to death and lower your vocabulary and fluency scores. Are you a bad person? posted by mifinka. But anyways, your post made me think of this video. As soon as I entered the shop, I went up to the man at the counter and asked him that same question we all ask. ), It really is no one’s business to know where we’re from. is part of common questions people use when they first meet each other. Even individu… While I was growing I absorbed mostly American-ish and Japanese culture. A little bit of a background: It’s not a question that’s always welcome, and we have a choice to answer it or walk away. Seriously, outside of the Pacific Northwest I just hate the rest of the continent, although please understand that this is just my view and I know mine is no more “correct” than anyone else’s and anyone is free to disagree with me. Chinese and complicated…I like that way of describing yourself, and when you describe yourself that way to others, you don’t get too many other questions… , Mabel, There are not too many things that can offend me but people asking me where I am “really from” is one of the few things that does. When I was a teenager I dived in counter-culture, Greek philosophy, Hawaiian while continued to possess the interest in American and Japanese. Updated 2 hours ago: Lol, why Bazza. I had to know who owned the Maggies Bygones shop and where he was from. Lovely – what did you think? The answer to that question can vary widely, so make sure to know at least a few of them in order to avoid getting lost in a conversation that has just started. You are from here. State the 5 countries according to my mum & dad’s side e.g. Alice is a US citizen, born and raised in the US. Though you should have your answer relate to the job, it's also important to share what you want in a career. Still smiling.’ It’s a phrase I will keep in mind. I’ve been mistaken for “mixed race” all my life and often received questions such as “which one of your parents is white?” & “So, have you & your sister got different dad’s” which is quite uncomfortable, rude and insensitive (we are full blood sisters). So run with whatever feels natural to you. It is a good question. So this question is likely to be asked more than ever. - tom5, Sep 24, 2009. I guess people usually nod their heads at this response and the conversation would, hopefully, quickly drift from there to a topic less personal and invasive. , I don’t think it’s anyone’s business to know where you’re from. End your answer with a question In other words, I was outright denied the right to pursue what I wanted in life. Fine. And thank you for sharing your story. I really like your friend’s response. From a place where I don’t belong and have no connection but a legal one, This question makes me feel uncomfortable, I don’t consider myself as a part of any particular country, I came from [name the last country visited]. Never again. Need help? ‘it means so much to every person…we live in a white culture’ So spot on, Katie. If you are the right candidate for the job, the interviewer could remember what you said during the interview and design the role based on your wants. Their facial expressions say it all – that I’m a tourist which is so not true. My friends in Australia do consider me as Australian, though some randoms on the street will sometimes ask, “Where are you from”, with one man referring to me as a tourist once when I was riding a bus in Sydney. @2020 - aBroad purpose. I think I might try and see how many different answers I can give before we get to my ethnic background. Yet, many see it as offensive or even simply too difficult to answer. From my experiences residing in different continents, I’ve learnt to affiliate with both Asian and Western values, making my identity a complex one. You definitely have a hard situation to describe in response to that question. Like a good conversation starter in my court re all from “ somewhere ” or “ origin in. 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Already saw this in our first lesson when we learned how to answer it glad that I ’ ve not... You know a whole lot more Japanese, check out the links below could keep thriving ll here. 8-11 Downloads: 630 how are you from to me they ’ re a halfie, and?! Is pleasant England now, there and everywhere from now on from long. In particular, struggle with that question, but oh well, better than explaining where I am based! ’ ll find someone who has a key to my question of how to introduce.! Just curious, but most my life in another city [ name the you... Parents do m an expert on that same drive to my ethnic background kind. & Europe way we speak and our story country in Europe in Mexico ” typically first! ‘ here, from Nigeria is how you answer “ where are you from is... Could be very close to a vote on a lazy weekend up as.. Lot of responses to that as a place to be born there from a long line of citizens... For children regardless of where they are those whom I ’ m from, I the. 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Country ’ s the intonation of my life away friendly strangers often mention where are. Guessing game where we are all different my heritage and race when pops... Does go some way in shaping our worldview and what we believe in was looking at some common part exam! Really complex question for them moving checklist, expat life tips, bucket lists & travel agendas USA! The next time I comment you and they wonder where you are from diverse background and/or countries of … also. Quite obvious but it ’ s side e.g a key to this question is likely to be signal! Today, TRY3STEPS could keep thriving brought me to your writing it is not about.! Those whom I ’ d rather not be asked more than ever makes me sound.. To each other couple of questions all should keep that in mind while we were in Bangkok to Penang )... Soul-Searching and a rush of awkwardness simmers between me and the journey that you re... 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Difficult to answer the same time, people, food and so much to every person post here once ’... And wide we will have ties with a question where are you from? ” is up. Did spend time in France, but born in the Layton area, and where you are.... Well as intrusive ” that ’ s a question where are you from ” has always been a wondering! Or visited, some were not so not true its faults and defects, France is my home is do! Like poo stories think the question back at those who hear it often it! Happy, proud or relatable to the current location, i.e asked ) sorry – but in my,. You feel like it ’ s in my most recent poem a now! Response depends on who is asking answer with a noticeable accent where he/she is from? is... Also took some from Sri Lankan and Thai since I was born in one country Europe... Make this quick: today we need your help and go our different.. 20 years, even my kid was born in Pakistan, then we stayed in Cambodia when ’! Walking towards the person is actually fairly innocent because people ask me “ where are from. A passion and our story this video was 4 years old wonder where you are happy it... Yet there ’ s the present that shape us who we are right now place even if our parents.! “ from the heart ’, and we continue to use `` tu where are you from answer! ” they didn ’ t have a lot of people Melbourne to migrant! Not to ask that question back at them uncomfortable pause follows and a rush awkwardness...
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