Where ya From?
While I'm wracking my brain busy over here compiling my lies answers to your probbing thought provoking questions(some more thought than others--hee hee) for me I have something I'd like to ask all of you. There is no right or wrong answer, just wondering how you all would answer. Me and a friend of mine have a difference of opinion when asked "Where ya from"? She thinks it means where you were born. I havealways been running moved around a lot and do not live remotely in the area of where I was born or even the state. (haven't lived there in years--and most of family not there either). So, I have always answered where I just moved from. And being in new home sales I sell to a lot of "re-lo" people, people not from the area. I live in a highly transient area. People move in and out faster than the Concord. Anyhoots, whenever I ask someone I am usually asking you "where are YOU coming from"? (I could care less where you were born..what will that tell me?) My friend always responds by telling the interrogator where she was born and grew up. So, what do you think?
I'll be posting my responses tomorrow to my "Ask Me" post.
Update, I will be posting The Ask Me blog next week. I'm not half way through it and I'm slammed at work......Be patient. I promise not to disappoint.
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22 comments:
Here in hicksville
I answer the last place I lived
"Charlotte" then they say...
you don't sound like you're from this area
then we get into this whole Canada thing.... then I am annoyed
so I usually say Florida.... just because my non-accent is most similar to that
not saying Charlotte is hicksville.. where I am outside charlotte is.
that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
oh well
I use it to mean, where do you currently reside or from where are you moving. I would ask, where did you grow up if I cared that much.
Beverly
Definately where you currently reside, or consider your home! A University student may say NY (even though they are studying in NM) but someone who lives in NM for years, would probably say
"I'm from NM" or
"I'm from NM but originally from NY"
However, if you are an expat - a person who lives abroad, and know it isn't permanent, you usually say wherever it is in your home country that you consider home!
Can you tell I have definate views on this one?! lol
I get asked that question a lot but I think it's due to the fact that I live in the south and don't have a southern accent or drink sweet tea for that matter. So, I usually respond where I was born where they drink a lot of beer. mmmmmmmmmm.
I tell them where I was born and raised, Kansas City.
In your business,it would make sense to want to know where someone is moving from, but in a general conversation, meeting someone, etc, I think generally people are wanting to know where they have spent the majority (not just where born)of their life...generally (not always) that makes up who we are and why (accents, lifestyle, etc)
But that's just my opinion. ;)
I think I agree with Lori. In my case, I was born a military baby, but not for long and was raised here in Louisiana where I still live. It's a pretty easy question for me to answer.
I think I am very sensitive to this question because I am adoption a daughter from China. If/when someone asks me "where is she from?" I will tell them what city or state we live in. She is not "from" China, she will be from Texas. She was born in China. To me, that is a totally different question. I agree with you. If someone asked me that, I wouldn't tell them where I was born, or where my daughter was born, I would say where we live now. Just my two cents.
Lilly
For me, looking at me, when someone asks 'where I'm from' it NEVER means where I reside. They want to know my background. When I answer 'Canadian' they are annoyed and ask, "No, where are you originally from?", to which I say Canada again, and then the finally ask where my parents were born, and I say, "oh Finland" with a smirk.But I'm just a shit disturber that way.
So if I asked you where you're from, I would want to know where you were born. If I wanted to know where you live, I ask, "So where do you live"?
Capeesh?
I think it's situational. If we're traveling and someone asks where we're from I'll always say "Chicago" because they clearly want to know where we're visiting from. But in social situations when people ask I'll give them more information. I was born in Ohio, raised in Arizona and now we live in Chicago.
Hi, Just found your blog while I was blog surfing. I know that when someone asks me where I am from I usually answer first where I was born (Brooklyn NY) and second where I live now (Staten Island.)Your girls are adorable and I read one post that struck a nerve with me. I am an identical twin and you mentioned that when one twin barfed in the car you changed both of their clothes. I can tell you from my experience my mother always did things to both us even if one of us was not involved. Especially getting in trouble. She would think of something from months before just to find somehting to reprimand the other one. But I can tell you now at 45 years old my sister is still my dearest friend and being twins is very special.
Sincerely,
Kathryn
If I was wondering where they are from I would ask where were you born and raised.If they are moving to the area I would say where are you moving from.
I may say you sure do talk wierd where the hell are you from.Ok maybe not the last one.
Do what ever seems to be most comfortable to you.
I usually tell where I was born but then go into my life story of how I only lived there for a few months and grew up here and here and here... yadda yadda yadda lol Perhaps you are on to something.
I say Cuba. You would not believe the looks they give me. Yes, my child and I were both born under communism.
I was born in Singapore, but grew up in New Zealand. Thus, when someone asks me where i'm from, it ususally means 'where were you born'? However, when I visit singapore and get asked 'where are you from'? I go into a long spiel about how I was born in Singapore, but grew up in New Zealand... Also, when I'm travelling around New Zealand but out of Auckland, i answer 'Auckland' to 'where are you from'? questions. lol is this confusing?
P.S I'm a long time lurker, and i love your blog.
I was born, raised, married and currently live within an hour's drive. So, my answer is easy. Crazy, eh?
I have been out of the state... even the country a few times!
I always say were I was born and raised until 9 1/2 years ago..
Monmouth, Illinois...
YEAH...
Sorry..
Take care
Kim
I always give my current home - we've moved a lot. My birthplace would mean nothing to most people.
I always give my current home.
I presently live in the town of my birthplace and was raised here. My Dad was in the Army so I did travel some as a child but moved back "here" in the 6th grade and only moved away during college and for a few years after. Mine's easy peasy...
I always say that I'm originally from Pennsylvania, but most recently from...where ever I just moved from.
I think the answer has to do with where you feel your "home" is. For me, that's Chicago, where I was born and raised. I've lived a bunch of other places, but Chicago will always be home.
By the by, I think we might be related! does your family actually tailgate with cheap beer at funerals? gotta love it!
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