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. To be fair, questions about the weather typically come first, but asking where you are from is a close second.
For me personally, answering “Where are you from” has always been a struggle wondering what the correct answer is.
Is there a correct answer after all?
It struck me that there simply might be after my son corrected me the other day when I said, “I’m not from here.”
Caught Off Guard
We were walking towards the beach after entering Maine State Park without paying the park entry fee. My son didn’t understand how we got in for free. He said, “Mom, how come we didn’t have to pay?”
I said, “I don’t know. I’m not from here.” And then he immediately objected. “Yes, you are. You are from here. You grew up here.”
And he is so right. I am from Maine. 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. And that amount of time certainly warrants claiming it as a place to be from.
But is where you grew up the only proper answer to “Where are you from”?
If someone asked me today where I was from, I’d say London. Then I’d likely adjust my answer to, “Well, I live in London, but I’m from Texas.”
Then the person I’m talking to would likely say, “But you don’t have a southern accent so you can’t be from Texas…” and it’d go on and on because I don’t feel like my natural answer is Maine anymore. And people usually don’t believe Maine anyway since I also don’t have a Downeast accent.
Why It’s Complicated
Texas is where we last moved from and where my daughter is truly from…born and raised in Texas for most of her life.
Oregon is where we had our son and loved every minute of it once we discovered the nearby wineries within a 5-minute drive. Who wouldn’t claim that as their home!?!? 🍷
California is where I met my hubs, fell in love, and where I truly thought I was meant to be. I couldn’t have been more proud to tell everyone I was from California. At that time in my life, I lived in LA, spent weekends on Hermosa beach, had bleach blonde hair with the tan to go with it, and went to red carpet events while working for NBC Universal.
I mean come on. No hesitating there. 🎬
Georgia is where I became roommates with my sister once again. 👭
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. 🇦🇺
New Hampshire, Connecticut, Virginia, England…I could go on and on but each place has etched part of my personality, a way of thinking, open-mindedness, and relatability to others.
Throughout my life, I’ve had different answers for each phase of my journey, and have answered it accordingly.
If this sounds familiar to you, then you totally understand why “Where are you from?” is so complicated but also why you might have a different answer depending upon where you are when you’re asked the question.
Why It’s Often About Relating
On that same drive to my parents after leaving the beach, we drove past an antique shop flying the Union Jack flag. I made my mom stop. I had to know who owned the Maggies Bygones shop and where he was from.
I was intrigued by the fact we were deep on the coast of Maine, where we were vacationing from England, only to see this amazing Maine antique shop flying the UK flag. I felt a connection and needed to know.
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,
Where are you from?
“The United Kingdom.” He said.
And I replied, “Me, too.”
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. How I got to England and how he got to Maine. But we were relating, finding things in common, sharing a passion and our story. Yes, I’m from England now, but I’m originally from Maine.
Own It
So run with whatever feels natural to you. Whatever makes you happy, proud or relatable to the one you’re talking to.
Maybe, it’s simply that you’re from “America” because it’s too complicated to explain or perhaps from a country or state that no one has a clue where to pinpoint on a map (er, uh, Maine). But who cares.
It’s your life, your journey, and your story.
Be proud of your etches, life painting and the journey that you’re on. There is no one correct answer.
How to answer “Where are you from?” is entirely up to you. Don’t overthink it but don’t be afraid to take the credit.
Whether you moved one state over or halfway across the world, you deserve to claim your new home as where you are from. Your answer will always be the correct one because no one owns your life journey but you. 😉
And for help moving and living abroad with kids, be sure to join the aBroad purpose list 👇to receive an in-depth moving checklist, meal plan with a shopping list for the first week living in the UK, and more.
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