Where are we considered from?

Question

The Ethnic origin? The place of birth? The place of parents's birth? Or just nationality?

my mom is kurdish from lebanon, my dad is german.. I was born in egypt because my dad was a diplomat there.
anyways, we moved from egypt when I was 5 months old and I became an american citizen when I was 8 years old.. I've lived in US for most of my life. Now my question is where am I from? What should I respond when I'm asked "where are you from?" I always pause and don't know what to answer..

should I be considered a german? a kurd? a lebanese ? an american? or an egyption?

Answer 1

I think that you are from the place you were raised, you call home and love the most. If not that then the place where your father is from, since you carry his last name and his legacy.

On your case, certainly not Egypt, you are not originally Egyptian and I doubt that you know the culture or the language. You mentioned you were only born there and left when you were a baby. So that's nothing! Today you can travel anywhere by plane and give birth. So I think that only being born somewhere doesn't make you from that place at all.

For example I know a girl who was only born in Italy (because her parents were on vacation here and her mom gave birth 2 months early) but she left Italy when she was a baby. Yes she was born here but no way is she going around saying she is Italian. She considers herself English because that's where her parents are from and where she grew up. English is what she is.

So I think.. if they ask you where you are from, you should say I'm American but originally German & Lebanese Kurd.

Only say Egypt when they ask you were you are born!

Wow.. I wrote so much.. Hope it helps!

Answer 2

Depends on the culture you live in.

In New Zealand, once you get citizenship you are a Kiwi (New Zealander). The more English you speak, the more accepted you become.

In Japan, even families that have been born here for three generations are not considered Japanese if they don't have 'pure' Japanese lineage.

In the US, I have heard everyone is an American 'something'. American Irish, American Japanese, American Lebanese... The USA has taken on a multicultral model which results in separate communities within the society...

For me, I'm a mongrel (a mixed blooded dog). Half Irish, part Jewish, Italian, Spanish, Scottish... born in New Zealand second generation and living in Japan. But if I stay in Japan and take Japanese citizenship, I will consider myself Japanese.

Answer 3

Well You are mostly whatever you find yourself invovled in what culture you follow the most. As for me I'm Irish, Scottish, British, German, Polish, Czech, French, and Swiss. I've lived in America all my life. I'm American, but i wanted to figure out what my true roots were. I figured that my roots are Czech because that is the one I practice the most.

Answer 4

That's a tought question to answer. I would have to go with Egypt because this is where you were born.

You say that you live in America, so you should say that you live in America when you are asked where you live.