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!