{"id":9882,"date":"2022-08-18T22:04:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T19:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/starlanguageblog.com\/?p=9882"},"modified":"2022-08-18T22:04:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T19:04:20","slug":"how-to-answer-where-are-you-from","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.starlanguageblog.com\/how-to-answer-where-are-you-from\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Answer “Where Are You From?”"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Answer “Where Are You From?”<\/span><\/h1>\n

Where are you from? That is one of the questions that is asked the most frequently in the United States, and providing an answer can be challenging if you were born in another country or have only recently moved here. Whether you grew up in the US or immigrated here, this question can feel like an invasive one that leads to awkward silences and even more personal questions down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though there are ways to respond to this question that are polite and can endear you to the citizens you are speaking with in the United States<\/a>. We’ve put together five answers to where are you from? That will help smooth over some of these awkward moments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n

Growing numbers of Americans find the question “Where are you from?” to be loaded. It may appear harmless; why wouldn’t someone be curious about your story?<\/span><\/p>\n

To those of us who have grown up in America and have every credential except for how our eyes look or how we say “r,” this question implies that we do not belong.<\/span><\/p>\n

This question is posed to us more frequently than once every blue moon. It is one of the very few strangers we converse with. It is continuous.<\/span><\/p>\n

When attorney Aaron Schlossberg threw a tantrum in front of restaurant employees in Manhattan, his anger appeared to stem from the belief that those who spoke Spanish did not belong in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re of Asian descent, you could have had a different experience: Multiple times a year, regardless of your ancestry, you hear the phrase “Go back to China!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though these examples are extreme, “Where are you from?” appears to be a polite person’s way of making the same point: to be American, one must look and speak a certain way, and you do not.<\/span><\/p>\n

A story like Example:<\/b><\/h2>\n

For those who hear this question frequently, there is no simple response. Some have subtle techniques for exposing implicit bias for what it is. In contrast, others have found a way to transform an awkward moment into an opportunity for connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless, numerous strategies will help you maintain your zen until, hopefully, the question loses its bite.<\/span><\/p>\n

“My favorite strategy is to explain it simply: ‘Are you asking where I grew up or where my ancestors came from?’ It forces them to pause and realize how absurd it sounds, even though that is precisely what they request.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a Caucasian person asks me about my ancestors, a rare occurrence, I will respond, “I’ll tell you, but you go first.” It enables me to respond in the same objectively reverent manner as white people when discussing their ancestry. It creates a level playing field, but it is absurd<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional ways<\/span><\/h2>\n

The question of where are you from? It is asked frequently, and there are a few traditional ways to answer it. For example, you could name the city, state, or country you are from.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternatively, you could describe your heritage or tell a story about your family’s history. You could also list them if you have lived in multiple countries for an extended period.<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone asks where you are from? What would be your response?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As an example, answer like that:<\/b><\/h3>\n