where are you from?

[smittenbyu]

It's a question that drives me mad. For a long time I just didn't know how to answer it. Now, I just say India. And once again the question bothers me. As locals know places in India, they ask where in India. Well, I technically was born in Hyderabad, well, actually Secunderabad (its twin city). Never lived in either of them, well, my first two years I did but I don't remember any of it. If you ask me of where to eat, etc. any local stuff, I have no idea. Mr. Google will have better responses. I feel more at home in Bangalore. And yet, I can't say I am from there either. But I do.

My daughter however, has no doubts where she is from. Whenever we ask her where she came from, she responds, "I am from India & Bangalore. I came from Ajji's house and then took a plane to Arlington."

(ajji- how she calls her maternal grandmother)

Comments

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

It's an annoying question, I agree. Even as a white person in the US I don't know how to answer it when I'm asked. I assume that when I'm in another state or country they want to know where I live now, but when people from the area ask I get confused. Do you want to know where I was born or something? Why?

I'd probably give myself an ulcer if I had to deal with being asked that question as a foreign born resident/citizen. I would totally overthink it.

[smittenbyu]

ha ha.. I know... It's hard to understand that you take a little of the place you lived in with you!

My daughter is funny though, she was born just 2 miles down the road here in Arlington, VA. Have no idea how she got the idea it was Bangalore. :) Sure, Ajji (grandma) was here when I delivered. We have visited India twice now and stayed there for 4 months in each trip, but that was when she was a 1.5 & then 2.5 years. I find it amusingly adorable!

[made-tosoar.livejournal.com]

I wish my answer to that question was as confident as Divya's!

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

I had the same problem when I was in the US. Everyone asks you where you're from, and I was born one place, moved when I was 4, moved again when I was 9, and again for college and four times after that. Now, I say the city I live in because that's what feels like home. Back then I just told them my parents had dragged me all over Germany, so... just Germany. It was the best anyway because if you mentioned any specific city they'd honest-to-god ask me if I knew this-n-that person they once met and who also lived there. As if Germany has all of 200 inhabitants living there :-)

[dakini-bones.livejournal.com]

lolz when I say New York, people ask me if I know so-and-so...are you KIDDING me?
Out of 9 million people on Manhattan alone, I don't know your friend who lived in Queens when he was 4.
On the other hand, I have actually known some people in common. lolz
6 degrees of separation!

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

True, sometimes it's a small world. It has never worked for me with the "oh, do you know my uncle, he's also from... " thing though.

[smittenbyu]

ha ha... think it's natural though. There are some who ask if I know a particular Indian friend of a friend of a sister's cousin they know in "insert-US city of my residence". ummm...

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

And your answer is "sure, because we Indians tend to flock together" ?!?! Sheesh! :-) I guess people are the same kind of stupid everywhere. Maybe it's instinct that has been genetically engraved since the stone age. "Oh, you're from Clan Bear? Do you know my sister then? She married your shaman." In a community some fifty people large you#d be luckier than with New York. :-)