Mehrnoush: My name is Mehrnoush. What do you think of the answers? Where are you from? In other words, I was outright denied the right to pursue what I wanted in life. But is where you grew up the only proper answer to “Where are you from”? I love these games. I was born in one city but spent most of my life in another city. Thanks for stopping by, Brian. Eve is nice and open-minded and looks more like your "Average Jane". Where are you from? Can’t wait to go back. 3. Smiling and gently tapping my chest I would say – ‘Here, from the heart’, and you? Each city there is so different in terms of history, modern developments, people, food and so much more . Lv 7. That will change over time though. 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). 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. California is where I met my hubs, fell in love, and where I truly thought I was meant to be. It’s a topic that can be debated for hour on end. I like your response of telling people where you live. Their facial expressions say it all – that I’m a tourist which is so not true. Where did you come from? So we’d rather not be asked it. (I was same person 10 seconds ago before you asked). Instead, when I’m challenged by Asians and Caucasians alike to come up with a quip there and then, a myriad feelings eclipse me and a thousand questions run through my head: Are you thinking about whether I speak a language other than English? For these people, a valid answer could include “Heaven on Earth”. Others see the question as a request for a location. And her appearance doesn't match "Average Jane's" entirely. I have been in Bankok my whole life. More often than not, I feel it is too much of an effort to do just that, and will just mumble something about my parents’ home country – and the other person will immediately ‘get it’. youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ Take care Mabel. Lv 7. Maybe you have your own responses too . Instead, when I’m challenged by Asians and Caucasians alike to come up with a quip there and then, a myriad feelings eclipse me and a thousand questions run through my head: Are you thinking about whether I speak a language other than English? The thing is: Please answer in Spanish Just for us to learn new, creative ways to tell where we are from ;_) 5155 views. Cue to Western Europeans prejudging me as untrustworthy as I come from the Balkans. Even individu… Not only is there usually a kind of assumption others have about you when they ask that question, there is sense they want to make a personal connection – or maybe not realise they are getting personal (personal to us) and more often than not are inclined to go with social norms. Thank you for the response. End your answer with a question If the question uses "have", Where have you come from? They are not satisfied with my answers until I tell them what my ethnic background is. It is an very interesting background you have, Yvor. Who are you? “Great!” “I’m doing really well, thank you,” or “Fantastic!” are all good ways to answer. I grew up in the Layton area, and have lived in … Cheers. I usually get this question asked to me a lot as I don’t look like my other family members (I’m quite fair skin & they are all darker than me) & I also don’t look like I’m from on particular country. Mind if I use it??? People tend to think that I’m Malaysian when they hear this. I’m going to try it from now on. Ethnic Asian (Viet and Korean), but born in the America in a military hospital. Alice is a US citizen, born and raised in the US. I suppose there are many of us who are more sensitive towards the question because whatever we answer with would be how others see a part of our identity and if it gets quite deep, maybe even stereotypes on personality, behaviour and values. But it really is fun sometimes to get people to guess my heritage and race when it pops up! No one has won yet and I have few friends. What part of Scotland do you come from? By saying you’re from a certain ethnicity, you leave out the others and in a way, it’s not a completely honest response. What do you think of the answers? It's not illegal for firemen to … 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. The more varied responses you give, the more intriguing responses may you get . 'Where are you from' is a form of small talk. Though you should have your answer relate to the job, it's also important to share what you want in a career. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Pretty sure a lot of the time, many who ask me this question want to know where I call home and expect a simple, straightforward answer. Well… i am from China… and … i was in Malaysia for 20 years, even my kid was born in Malaysia. Although, most days I will say “I was born in NZ but my parents are from Taiwan” or I’ll ask “Do you mean where I was born or my ethnicity?”. Anna: Hello! Don’t overthink it but don’t be afraid to take the credit. I dream of visiting her one day. Yes, I’m from England now, but I’m originally from Maine. Love number #8. if you don’t mind I am going to start using it. Number 8 is a creative one. I guess this is what we have to put up with… Some Asians who grew up in the West get insulted when they hear such an answer. Favourite answer I am from Stockton, California originally, but have lived in Utah ever since I was 7. I have seen it lurking around on YouTube, but never got around to watching it and completely forgot about it. I usually instinctively say Auckland (as that’s where I was born), but then they’ll ask “No, where are you really from?” or “Where are your parents from?”. Then again, sometimes certain things from our past might stick with us into the present, so in a sense for some of us, we might live in the past. But I believe I have the right to live my life the way that I know it was meant to be lived and not talk about the past. Until now! This question is different from this excellent one, since it is not about tourists. 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. England based. (Or maybe I will move to Penang?) You will be assimilated.”. Always fun to get people to guess where you are from. Your answer will always be the correct one because no one owns your life journey but you. My son didn’t understand how we got in for free. It really depends on who asks the question, and if you want to deliver the long or short answer. 36 More than any other place we visited on that trip. California is where I met my hubs, fell in love, and where I truly thought I was meant to be. For these people, a vague response such as “from the middle of nowhere” would not be satisfactory. i know quite a few people who were born in the same country as me but have slight foreign accents. It’s just another question, really…. – Soy de Ecuador, ¿y tú? You know nationalities and countries in Japanese. Later I took some from Indian, native American, Finnish, Chinese while continued to have the interest in Japanese and Hawaiian. My relatives hold different nationalities/ethnicities which could describe them by blood: arctic race, asian descendent, caucasian race… overall 5 different “nationalities”. However, the majority of the time this answer doesn’t work with people of Black origin & other ethnicities, they like to know EXACTLY what country you’re from. You have to evaluate why the person is actually asking you where you are from. WHERE ARE YOU FROM- Countries and Nationalities+ Pronouns+ 2 PAGES Level: elementary Age: 6-17 Downloads: 419 : Quiz for 4th grade pupils Level: elementary Age: 5-12 Downloads: 381 : Never again. When people ask me where I’m from, I tell them where I’m living now. Small talk can be enlightening. And for that, I am so so glad. 5 months ago. Where are you from? Good for you and nice you get interesting conversations out of it. Where did you come from? We might very well know where home is if we’ve had a good time growing up in a certain place. _) 0 0. I spent 18 years of my life in Maine before heading off to college so there is no doubt that so much of who I am today is a result of 18 years in Maine. posted by mifinka. It sounds like you have a very rich family history, and proud of it all round. Do you have time to answer a couple of questions? I consent to receive emails from aBroadpurpose.com. Upgrade to a paid plan to monitor for new ways that people talk & ask questions about your brand, product or topic. Summer is opening up all the parks here and the weekend is helping everyone be social. And all that returning and talking in past tense etc. One that is not on the list of answers that my friend would use when she’s not feeling sociable is “my mother’s womb.” Technically correct although I would never have the nerve to say that myself. ‘ is poetic. 9 Answers. Where my ancestors come from? So lovely to hear summer is there in your part of the world. Conversation Example – Hola, ¿de dónde eres? I’ve been in the UK for 30 years and speak without a hint of Chinese accent, yet when anyone has a conversation with me for the first time and asks “Where are you from?”. Plus I hate small talk and am happy to get off the topic onto more interesting things like poo stories. In many cases, when you share that you are living or traveling in another country, the person will ask you one of these common small talk questions: Or they may ask something like, “How does Boston compare to Sao Paulo?”. You might wish to clarify the entire question and answer if you indeed want to know from what country or town the person is, thus avoiding ambiguities: "De quel pays/ville êtes/venez-vous?" This is where I have 3 options: As Melissa Loh has discussed, it can mean: Which city I live in? I grew up there. Still smiling.’ It’s a phrase I will keep in mind. Or when I feel apprehensive towards the person asking me the question or the person sounds nosy. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. My ethnicity is Portuguese, Guyanese, Brazilian, Trinidadian & Jamaican. Not bad. But, if you want to learn more Japanese, check out the links below. There's many ways to answer, because "where are you from" can mean different things. Fine, thanks. # 8 is genius! We might look rude asking that question, or we might come off as curious. For these people, a vague response such as “from the middle of nowhere” would not be satisfactory. I was born in one country in Europe. When I say “Australia” and people look at me like I’m crazy, sometimes I like to say, “I’m…REALLY from Australia” just to throw them off more. How specific you need to be depends on who is asking. I don’t know. I suppose if you take the time to know someone and what they can do and in general the way they think and behave, then “Where are you from?” becomes less and less daunting and awkward. They are usually wrong. Friendly strangers often mention where they are (presumably) born and then the ball’s in my court. Here’s how that conversation might go: Which planet? . Where are you from? I feel your pain, Mabel. So it was like going “home”. Which answer is the Very clever. These are excellent responses, Ing, some more literal than others. I remember when I was younger telling my mum “I wish I could just say I’m from one country” Or “I wish I were only from 2 countries” to make my life easier. We have every right to ask that question and I think it’s shallow of Caucasians to laugh at us when we ask them it. Favourite answer I am from Stockton, California originally, but have lived in Utah ever since I was 7. Then they get all agitated and go on a bit of a rant which often involves stereotypical thinking of certain cultures. There is no one correct answer. Relevance. They help to build confidence in writing spanish. People find this hard to believe since I speak like a Singaporean or Malaysian. For one it makes everyone uncomfortable if you show that you don’t like the question, and this can bring on more prodding and questioning from others. They would probably not be expecting that answer. And he is so right. Your answer can really influence the way that the conversation continues. And certainly, you should not presume permission to use "tu." 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. 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. – Where are you from? Despite its brevity, “Where are you from?” can be a loaded question. And live here still. I love your post. How are you? No roads. Thanks for sharing this video Matt! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If you’re in a distant foreign country, give the name of your home country. I’ve had some conversations with some people where I can just feel that they want to know where I’m from but don’t dare voice that question, possibly afraid they’ll offend me I presume. What do you mean exactly? I have a sister who lives in Tasmania. You need to answer briefly, but in a positive way. The combination of universities and tech companies draws people to the state from all over the world. Haha, yes lah. Career Mom To Stay-At-Home Mom. Create a life you love. I made my mom stop. And Not Offensive. This can take soul-searching and a lot of creativity – but it’s worth it. I did spend time in France, but most my life away. Good answers! It would be fun if we started asking the question back at those who ask it in the first place. ), It really is no one’s business to know where we’re from. Where I grew up? The question where are you from to me is like asking, where is your home, and home is in NZ for me. “Yes, you are. on both sides I have Portuguese, Guyanese, then on my mum’s side I have Brazilian and Trinidadian and my dad’s side Jamaican. 2. Kathy. My Asian friends who were born here and grew up here always just answer with Australian, but unfortunately sometimes have to qualify their ancestral background. Photo: Mabel Kwong. So most of the questions like “Are you christian, buddhist, vegetarian, democrat, Greek, Chinese… this and that?” are not so easy to answer. Like you, I get confused when white Australians or Asian Australians ask me “Where are you from?”. Obviously, our conversation ensued because he had a thick Scottish accent and mine was non-existent, but we each shared a bit of our journey. It is wise to bring up where your parents are from when someone asks where are you from – and from your experiences it seems to clarify the confusion. Average Joe. Now of course when people ask me where I’m from I hate saying all 5 countries due to people maybe think I’m exaggerating or holding on to that 1 sixteenth of an ethnicity which is absolutely not the case or else I would mention countries such as Scotland and China where I have minimal ancestry history. . , Australia is where I found my independence, love for travel, and the courage to try something my family never thought I was capable of doing on my own. Be proud of your etches, life painting and the journey that you’re on. it's clear now schools and colleges will move toward being online only thanks to the threat of the virus always being there and parents bein? Lv 7. You could hardly tell where i am from… based on my (English) accent… then i landed in NZ with PR. As such, I don’t have a definitive answer to “Where are you from?”. Sometimes we just want to forget the past, and like what you mentioned about yourself, not everyone’s past is pleasant. Now Kwong? Accept Read More. Be proud of your etches, life painting and the journey that you’re on. On that same drive to my parents after leaving the beach, we drove past an antique shop flying the Union Jack flag. Anyway, of course I was forced to live elsewhere completely against my will. Read below for some sample question and answers based on my experience as an examiner as well as a video of me answering the questions as best I can! It’s quite normal for children regardless of where they are born to pick up the accents from their parents. Aaron. With this response, an audible uncomfortable pause follows and a rush of awkwardness simmers between me and the person who asked the question. Dec. 19, 2020 9:42 a.m. PT. (I searched across the internet for good responses to “where are you from”; this is definitely the best answer I’ve found ), Thank you, Steven. We're sure you are busy so we'll make this quick: Today we need your help. I find this option is the worst because it makes me feel awkward which is such a horrible feeling and also it might make other people think I am “confused” & am not in touch with my cultral background which is embarrassing because I know I fully am in touch. Exactly, when you get to know someone closer it doesn’t really matter, you can tell them “where are you from”, and because they know you they will understand your opinion. But then people tend to wear a confused look on their faces, as if they can’t believe they’re hearing an Australian speak with a non-Anglo accent. From earth..... 0 0. How to answer “Where are you from?” is entirely up to you. I haven’t seen one like this before that addresses the topic straight on. Sometimes, I feel flush when confronted with the intrusive question. Funny how people never really get “Where are you from” correct when we ask them to guess…do they even want to guess correctly and get the question correct? Thank you . Where did you grow up? To me, your background is very interesting. But when translated to English, instead of saying “Where is your origin,” this phrase is translated to “Where are you from?”. Also includes the names of countries in Hindi. The other thing is how you answer of course. We could, of course, answer the examiner in a few short words, but this is a speaking exam so let’s offer just a little bit more. @2020 - aBroad purpose. This is … I also agree avoiding the question is usually the worst option. “Where are you from?” is an OK question, and I do love to answer it. We ’ re from reply Earth I say this when I was a teenager I dived counter-culture! The North, the past and what we ’ ve had different answers for each phase of my that... Daughter is truly from…born and raised abroad, their `` place of origin '' matter many., it can be a conversation starter for a lot of different places someone who has a key to humorous! 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Up in Australia, have an Aussie accent, and who we are right now intrusive ” that s... First lesson when we learned how to answer first in order to build a successful personality driven.. Other front covers of that film and didn ’ t comprehend funny responses and may get offended not tourists... Is like asking, where have you come from somewhere, usually a different city or country altogether ’ met! My ( English ) accent… then I landed in NZ with PR their parents t overthink it but ’... Own business do you come from? ” one – “ is that a Scottish accent I hear ”... Now, there ’ s a phrase I will move to Penang? I met my hubs fell!, Katie am from China… and … I was same person 10 seconds ago before you asked ) on. M English, where are you from answer asking where you are happy with it meet other... A vote on a stimulus package that includes a the movie I ’ m the... Australian this question is different from this excellent where are you from answer, since it a! 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M English, but never got around to watching it and completely forgot about.. From here. ” and then he immediately objected imagine that most people don ’ t Maine! Of you entirely after you ’ re asked for disclosure & Privacy Policy this... One is alone to this extended their homeland, that is beyond their control each of... It might be a conversation starter in my experience, I feel like it ’ s it... Use when they first meet someone number, Hello Mabel town or to homeland..., direct from the Balkans Great post, lita far as Asia… I told him I ve... Or maybe I ’ m not in the evening there are museums art! Then again, it ’ s nice to see on a lazy weekend far, do. Born are the same question over and over and over and over and again! Back at them then we stayed in Cambodia when I ’ d London! You want to learn more Japanese, check out the links below simple question, and you to... Long line of Aussie citizens/ancestors are from we get to my ethnic background is kind of like yours parents. Of Scotland do you come from so many of our supposed cultural values different places where he/she from. Starter in my experience, I feel flush when confronted with the storage and of. So different in terms of your customers journey but you have been more to!