Where are you from?

Question

My boyfriend and I have been arguing about this subject for a long time.He was born in kansas and lived there for 7 years. He then moved to chicago and lived there 7 years. When he was 14 he moved to N.Y. and has lived here for 30 years. So my question is if someone asks him where is he from, what should be his answer? He always seems to answer the question the way it would benefit him most. You really can only be from one place. Is it where he was born or where he has lived the longest?

Answer 1

I would say that it is where he lives currently...yeah, he was born in Kansas, but that hasn't been relevant in 37 years. Chicago hasn't been relevant in 30 years either.

Answer 2

You're actually from both... I was born in Costa Rica, when I was 5 I moved to Los Angeles, CA. When I was 13 I moved to Costa Rica again. I did my sophomore year in High School back in L.A. and I went back To Costa Rica to finish High School and go to college. After college my job sent me to work in Curacao for 1 year and after that I lived in Puerto Rico for a year. I now live in Toronto, Canada. So where am I from? Depends where I am at the time and who's asking. I know it's a clear cut and dry answer for someone that was born somewhere, lived there and will probably die there, but if you moved around it's a bit more complicated. I feel I'm a bit of all the places where I've lived because every city has made a mark on me. In any case I don't think it's worth arguing about.

Answer 3

I think he should answer "born in Kansas moved to Chicago and at 14 moved to New York and have been living there ever since" or whatever he feels like answering. Does it really matter though? I think not.

Answer 4

That's a tough question. I think it is where you were born but then it would make sense for it to be where you've lived the longest. I've had the same conversation with my husband who says he is from MD. But has lived in NJ longer than any where. But his childhood was in MD. I know that isn't the best answer to your question. I guess if I had to chose it would be where he grew up and spent his childhood.

Answer 5

I would think it would be where you were born and raised. I grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Pensacola, Florida 2 years ago.

Answer 6

If someone asks me where I was born, I say Sydney. If someone asks where I live I say Brisbane. If someone asks where I'm from I say Sydney because that is where my heart is. As for your partner, I'm not sure. I know a girl who was born in Wales, moved to Australia as a toddler and in her early 20's went back to the UK. When she is in Australia she says she is Welsh and when she is in UK she says she is Australian? Anyway, I think she does that also (like your partner) because it benefits her at the time. Maybe your partner feels close to all these places in some way.

Answer 7

I don't believe that's true that you can only be from one place. If someone asks you where are you from, you can be "from" many places.. for example.. I'm originally from Illinois, but I now live in Florida. So that's what I say when I'm asked that question. Now if someone asks where I live then I just say Florida. I would say the best way from him to answer the questions would to just say he's from the Midwest originally but has lived in NY for the majority of his life.

Answer 8

Simple answer. He is from where he currently lives. He was born in Kansas. Chicago is not in the mix.

Answer 9

Generally, it's where you were born. But people rarely stay there for long as life takes them on different paths. My rule, though, is to reference the place I feel most at home. That's definitely where I'm from.

Answer 10

To me, it doesn't really matter since all the places you named are part of his history. But, probably the best answer would be where he grew up and lived the longest.