So "where are you from??" | ExpatWoman.com
 

So "where are you from??"

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 08:32

I'm from Scotland and ive been here a year......

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 14:10
My mom and dad are cousins. Their grandma was Arab. My mom was born in Burma (Myanmar) but when she was a toddler, my grandma moved to India with the kids because Burma was nationalized and it wasn't safe anymore. Dad's dad spent some time in India, then in Bangladesh, then came to Pakistan at the time of partition. Dad was born in India, but brought up in Pakistan. Mom came to Pakistan after getting married. I was born and brought up in Pakistan.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 13:04
I am Russian, from Moscow, although i've never really lived there. Left when i was 2, and headed over to Switzerland. Spent my first few years between Zurich and Cairo due to dad's business, after which we all settled here...that was 21 years ago...I still say im russian even though i do not fit the stereotypical characteristics, speak english as a first language, and never even think about visiting or ever going back...but it doesn't make me any less russian imho. I consider Dubai my home...not sure if i can say that about anywhere else..last time i was in russia was 6 years ago, for a few days, and i felt so lost and out of place...but LOVE the architecture of St Petersburg, and of course, can stuff my face with russian food till it hurts! i think i relate more to the older generation rather than the new generation there...i still see the bright side in communism, enjoy the old movies, and cannot stand the plethora of nouveau riche and their behaviour :) there, my story/rant over
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 10:55
I was born in South Africa, my Mom is Dutch my dad is SA but his parents are from a country we cannot mention here, been here for almost 6years now :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 10:20
I am Dutch Egyptian, born in the Netherlands, and raised in Egypt!!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 10:10
Quite clearly the answer to the question is very simple for some, for others, like myself, the only answer I can give is 'No Mans Land'. That is where I am from. I can tell you where my parents are from, but even then, they left at the age of 16 for other lands, so now at the age of 70+ does that even count? TBH I hate this question. I'm curious, does this mean there is no place you consider your home? Or there is nowhere you feel you have roots? Nowhere that influenced you strongly whilst you were growing up? I'm not expecting any answers, since you hate that sort of question, but would be really interested to know!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 09:53
Quite clearly the answer to the question is very simple for some, for others, like myself, the only answer I can give is 'No Mans Land'. That is where I am from. I can tell you where my parents are from, but even then, they left at the age of 16 for other lands, so now at the age of 70+ does that even count? TBH I hate this question. Huh. I love it. Such interesting histories, so many fascinating cultures ... and better than job hunting!
645
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 09:44
Quite clearly the answer to the question is very simple for some, for others, like myself, the only answer I can give is 'No Mans Land'. That is where I am from. I can tell you where my parents are from, but even then, they left at the age of 16 for other lands, so now at the age of 70+ does that even count? TBH I hate this question.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 09:39
I love this thread, with so many interesting families stories. My great grandparents came to Brazil from Germany/Spain on the time of world war, my grandma told me that in germany the family used to have a shop which sells/repair watches located in Frankfurt. Many years later I married a German, but it was pure coincidece. :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 07:27
The threads are beginning to overlap now....but I alway answer with "I am Scottish but haven't lived there since...the year dot..." no matter how many places I have lived in or for how long they are not really relevant in the simple question as stated above. I don't consider myself "from" any of them! Yes they make have shaped the person I am now but that is a different thing.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 07:11
then maybe someone should come up with a better question than "where are you from" to make it clear what it is you are asking :) Maybe I am not complex enough because when I ask where are you from I usually mean where were you born..then...I might ask other questions ie their heritage because ultimately that is what you are asking, so maybe the question should be "what is your heritage" ??? Perhaps it could be phrased differently but this very question asked in this way has become universally understood among global nomads and migrant workers of all shapes and linguistic abilities. It is one little (big ;-) question that binds us together as global world walkers since it is understood that we are not from"here" but come from somewhere and are shaped by a lifetime of experiences in additional to heritage
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 06:51
I'm American - ancestors on both sides fought in the Revolutionary War. My father's people came to Texas from the East Coast around the time of the Civil War, and my mother's people came to Texas from Tennessee in the 1910s. I've lived in Texas my entire life, except for one year in Mexico City. I've been in Dubai for 4 months and I love it! Both of DH's parents are 1st-generation Americans. His paternal grandparents came to the US from Japan after WWII, and his maternal grandparents came to the US from Ireland around the same time. Somehow, they all ended up in Texas by the 1960s.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 06:43
Guinness: My grandparents met on the boat from Slovenia to America, so my dad was born in Leadville, Colorado. My mom was also born in Leadville, and so were my brother and I. So in Leadville (a very small town perched on top of the Rocky Mountains) was a very large Slovenian community, imported to work at a large mine. I grew up with polkas and povitiza. I loved to hear my grandparents talk, with their lilting accents. Sadly, they didn't teach my brother and I Slovenian. They were more interested in making sure we spoke proper English. On the other side, my brother and I went to powwows and were taught traditional herbal remedies by our Cherokee grandmother. I am the first person in our family to leave the USA since my Grandparents immigrated. They are all quite alarmed that I am here, and it has been a job to convince them that I like it. PS I love the answers on this thread, so many of you have interesting stories. I'm never bold enough to ask, but I do enjoy hearing about a person's cultural history. edited by Aleta on 12/10/2011 Off topic, but I absolutely love Leadville! We've rented a house there twice to spend a week skiing and it is stunningly beautiful! <em>edited by APetty on 13/10/2011</em>
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 06:04
then maybe someone should come up with a better question than "where are you from" to make it clear what it is you are asking :) Maybe I am not complex enough because when I ask where are you from I usually mean where were you born..then...I might ask other questions ie their heritage because ultimately that is what you are asking, so maybe the question should be "what is your heritage" ???
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 05:24
I think when people ask "where are you from" that they are trying to place your facial features and mannerisms, gestures, way of speaking, accent and cultural characteristics into context. I also think it is a wonderful conversation starter amongst global nomads in order to establish common ground or simply just to learn about a new place, a new face. Sue B I completely disagree with you. When I ask someone that question (I do so all the time) it is for the above reasons. A passport is a piece of paper. I am interested in the person, not the travel document ;-)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2011 - 01:03
Think home is were your heart is?? I was born in Canada came to Scotland when I was nine grew up got married and have moved up and down the uk till we came here 9 years ago. And my point is that is were my family is so that is were my heart is and that is were home is to me:)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 22:30
Beg to disagree. Depends on where you feel you are from. I was born in SA and spent first 4 years there but remember very little. Have lived in uk for 40 years and feel that is where am from. Think that's normally what people mean when they ask that question....?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 22:25
the place you were born, that is where you are from..the rest is layers of where you lived....when someone askes where you are from...it it where where you were born. period for heavens sakes. alright already!!! my grandmother was from ireland, grandfather from scotland, mother from canada...father from canada mother and father from UK somehere down the line...so for gods sakes people....I am from Canada, that is where I was born..period....give over for heavens sakes. <em>edited by SueB on 12/10/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 22:19
I'm British with Asian descents :) My mother was born & brought up in Kenya, her parents from India. My father born and brought up in Pakistan, his family tree goes as far back as Iran.... mum hated Pakistani's...dad wasn't too keen on Indians!!! hahaha They met in Birmingham (UK) hahahaha my dad was " the boy next door" .... they eloped to Bedfordshire :D (mum was Sikh dad Muslim = shunned from family) Spent a few years in Pakistan so I'm deeply connected with my dad's roots....Wish I could say the same about Kenya & India, but my mum passed away when I was a teenager....Wish I had taken the time out to listen to her childhood stories instead of being the rebellious teenager, so many questions , but no-one to answer them :(
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 20:23
What a wonderful mix we EWers are :D
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 20:22
Dad's half Scot/English, Mom's fully English, I was born in Solihull but grew up in South Africa, moved back to Solihull, West Midlands for 10 years and now been out here in Dubai for the pasy 3.5 years! I get asked all the time, "where are you from?", because my accent is so mixed and I don't have a typical South African accent! I came from Yardley!!! lol
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 20:07
Scottish :) & very proud to be, didn't realize there were so many on here! Married to an Aussie, been in Dubai 8 years & extremely happy x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 20:00
Dad's half Scot/English, Mom's fully English, I was born in Solihull but grew up in South Africa, moved back to Solihull, West Midlands for 10 years and now been out here in Dubai for the pasy 3.5 years! I get asked all the time, "where are you from?", because my accent is so mixed and I don't have a typical South African accent! small world, we have lived in a village just outside solihull called Balsall Common!!! do you know it pollydxb?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 18:48
born and bred in uk- both parents are english- DH is english FIL is english, MIL is half burmese half indian DH get asked everyone we go where he is from- he loves it :) been in dubai for 6 years.. <em>edited by cakes on 12/10/2011</em>
414
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:47
Croatian, born, bred and proud!:) But kids however, will be probably telling stories like Cyclone T's or Guinness. <em>edited by Goose on 12/10/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:02
Aussie! Lived there all my life until I moved here more than 6 years ago!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 17:00
kiwi all the way, been here 5 years I think. About to move to another ME country. There you are! Missed you on EW lately :-)))
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 16:37
--is anyone going to keep a log of the number of nationalities/part nationalities on EW?-- :) sounds like too much hard work......
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 16:25
kiwi all the way, been here 5 years I think. About to move to another ME country.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 16:23
Born in NZ - Irish, Scottish, British and Yugoslavian descent - moved to Australia at the age of 16, lived there for 20 years. Been in Dubai 3 years.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 12 October 2011 - 16:23
Parents are Scottish and Scottish/Irish, born in England, grew up in Norway. Been here just over ten years.
 
 

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