The "where are you from?" question

First, I am usually asked if I am an American.  Sometimes I am asked if I am American or Canadian.  I am not sure why, but it's a question I've been asked more than twice.  "Yes, I am an American, and I am from Cleveland, Ohio."  If I receive a blank look in return, I respond by saying, "It's located on Lake Erie, one of the five great lakes."  Then the subject gets changed. 

It's nice to know the difference between the American and the British way of answering this question.  Thanks Maui_to_Midlands.   

I dread that question.  I filled out something the other day that (US-specific) that asked for my "hometown."  So I asked my husband what my hometown should be.  He just shrugged.  I left it blank.  Ha. 

I've lived in 7 states, total, and moved 6 times in the past 5 years and that's just TMI for some poor unsuspecting asker.   

So if it's just a random, casual question, I just say Boston.  Which is a lie, because I've never actually lived in Boston, but instead, across the river in Cambridge.  But when in the UK, even fellow Americans seem to think I mean THIS Cambridge.

Digging a little deeper, I'll say that we moved from Boston, but that I grew up in PA and RI.  Invariably, that triggers the person to say that they're from Baltimore and I am compelled to admit that that's where I'm REALLY from, as I was born there and my extended family is there.   

I take it more to mean "where did you grow up, live for the longest?"

I agree with this. I will always be "from" Florida, even when I move and live somewhere else for the rest of my life!

My grandmother has lived in Miami for almost 40 years, but she is still "from" Cuba. I guess I just interpret that as a "what are your origins?" type of question.

I think the best way to answer it to avoid confusion would be as many have said previously upthread "I live in [insert place] currently but am from [insert place of origin]".

I think you can say whatever the heck you want.  That's my theory, anyway. And if I had lived somewhere more interesting than Dallas, Texas (like Hawaii!) then I would certainly say I was from Hawaii! Well, actually maybe I wouldn't, because then you would get more of these comments - "Why on Earth would you leave Hawaii to move to England??!!!"  And then maybe some questions about Obama, since I get asked about Bush all the time since I'm from Texas.   

Bush is from Connecticut!!! I always make sure to stress that whenever he is brought up. After he left Washington, he actually moved to a neighborhood near mine in Dallas, ain't that something?

I have recently told people that my accent comes from watching too much BBC and I have lived most of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area. If pressed I will say I was born in England but I have lived in the US 54 years (time for a change )

I've been getting asked whether I am Canadian a lot lately.  Perhaps because I've lived in the UK with virtually no contact with Americans for 5 years now, so my accent is getting all confused? 

I usually tell people Colorado, because that's where I grew up.  Sometimes I tell them I was born in Missouri and lived in New Mexico before I moved here, but generally only if I want to chit-chat.

Telling people you are from Colorado can have unintended consequences, though.  At a Halloween party last week the host kept singing John Denver songs at the top of his lungs whenever he saw me...

I usually end up saying "The states" first to clear anything up from that end, and then go into as much or as little detail as the person/conversation warrants, usually ending up with the "why did you leave Miami to come here?" and I say, "Because there's open space and sheep here" and that brings on a great laugh and "we sure have sheep" conversation. 

I always say I'm from Portland, Oregon, even though I only lived there for four years. Mostly because if I say I grew up in Louisiana, people want to know where my accent is! And then I have to tell them that I moved to the Northwest when I was a teenager and lived in a tiny town they've never heard of, and after that I moved to Portland.

If I had a strong southern accent, I'd probably say I was from Louisiana. But Louisiana's culture is so vastly different from Portland's, and my values coincide with Portland's. So I'm "from" there, at least in spirit if not in roots. 

I usually end up saying "The states" first to clear anything up from that end, and then go into as much or as little detail as the person/conversation warrants, usually ending up with the "why did you leave Miami to come here?" and I say, "Because there's open space and sheep here" and that brings on a great laugh and "we sure have sheep" conversation. 

When people (in the UK) find out that hubby and I are moving to England next summer we always get an incredulous "but you're from FLORIDA...why would you ever want to LEAVE??"

Ugh! Tired of concrete strip malls, swamps, and the ridiculously hot weather. I always say Florida is great for a visit, but not fun to live in. Well, not if you prefer rolling countryside, temperate weather, castles and sheep everywhere!

When people (in the UK) find out that hubby and I are moving to England next summer we always get an incredulous "but you're from FLORIDA...why would you ever want to LEAVE??"

because the 'crocks can out run me.

Telling people you are from Colorado can have unintended consequences, though.  At a Halloween party last week the host kept singing John Denver songs at the top of his lungs whenever he saw me...

I had a stranger in a pub a few months ago drag me to meet her husband when I told her I moved here from Colorado because John Denver was their favorite singer.

I have a hard time with this question too.  If it's casual conversation, I just say Colorado, since that was where I lived just prior to coming to the UK.  If someone is genuinely interested, I say that I grew up in Minnesota, but moved here from CO, and lived in various other states in between.

I spent the first 27 years of my life in California but then lived a long stretch in Michigan. I get tired of explaining where Michigan is so my short answer is California.

Ho far from Grand Rapids or Misgegan?

May have the spelling wrong?

Where are you from?

Is that like asking 'how are you'   =  'fine'

So you say you are from Ireland (you may get away with it) and then they may say 'I thought so'

I used that here in the US so when people asked where I was from I would say Boston and they would say 'ITS'.

I've only lived in New York, so it's pretty easy for me!  But a lot of people assume that means Manhattan, so then I educate them on the glory of Queens. 

I do get a lot of the "But why would you move here?".  And I live in London!  Most people from home were jealous when I was moving, but my friends here love, love, love New York.