When I meet someone and they ask "where are you from", what is the correct answer? See details.?

Question

I saw a similar question answered here. The person was told to use their current city, but they had lived in the current city the longest (30 years). My situation is the opposite. I have only lived in my current city four years. I lived in my previous city eight years and prior to that, my birth city 28 years.

Answer 1

I always tell people that I live in (insert cityor state here), but I am from (Insert city or state here)

Answer 2

I get this question all the time. I am half Arab (Arab American), and because of where I live in the Western US, I stick out like crazy. People can tell I am not Latina, but that leaves them wondering where I am from, and the only people who know immediately on looking at me that I am part Arab are other Arabs, who are in short supply around here.

When people ask me where I am from, I simply say I am originally from Northern California, but I have lived here for a long time. If they push for more details, and I feel like sharing, I do. If I am cranky, or they are clearly bigots (depressingly common), I simply repeat that I was born in Northern California, and leave it at that. Sometimes people will be really rude, and push for more details, and if they are annoying me, I will simply tell them "I'm half Arab." That always shuts them up.

You should simply reply to that question in whatever way makes you most comfortable. I think when people ask, they are asking where you are originally from, because they perceive a difference in the way you look, or the way you speak. If you want to share the information with them, feel free to do so. If you don't, don't worry about it, because it is none of their business.

Answer 3

Well, I am of Indian decent, punjabi to be exact. Every time someone asks me where I'm from I say I am East Indian decent and I was born in Los Angeles. That way, they know both things and I can't have answered their question wrong. The worst this can do is give them more information about you.

Answer 4

Hmmmm... I think, say your current city first, and then if they ask for any details about it, explain how you moved there semi-recently and tell them your hometown.

Answer 5

Just say " I came f rom a foreign country which is India but now a citizen of this country, USA."
JTM