The "where are you from?" question

I think you should just say whatever you feel describes you best...whatever you identify best with. I'd probably say Hawaii if I was in your case, too. Given how long you have been away from your birthplace, it wouldn't really make sense to get into it.

It's easy for me, because I lived near Seattle my whole life. But my husband was born in Phoenix and mostly lived in Kansas and later Seattle. He usually says he's from Kansas, but sometimes just says Seattle for convenience sake.

I find it the most entertaining when British people try to guess where you're from based on your accent. They don't say, "Where are you from?" They just go, "Are you Canadian?" Most British people seem to think all Americans speak with a thick Southern accent, which is funny. When a Brit imitates a Yank, they always throw in a "ya'll" and some twang. I get asked all the time if I'm from Canada and a lot of Australia too. It's so weird!

Ho far from Grand Rapids or Misgegan?

May have the spelling wrong?

I think you may mean Muskegon.  (I was from Coldwater, about 2 hours from Grand Rapids.)

I work as a cashier so get asked "the question" about 100 times a day.  Most people do ask if I am Canadian, I just figured the Michigan accent sounded similar.  That and I watch too much Anne of Green Gables and Road to Avonlea so I say "Sorry" like a Canadian! lol

I have been guessed at Australian, Irish, and there was even some guy who kept insisting I had a South African accent.  You have got to be kidding me!  I sound nothing like South African.  I don't know why he thought that at all. 

When they ask why I moved, I say for true love .  Then I tell them that Michigan has five months of snow.  That usually ends the discussion!

we always get an incredulous "but you're from FLORIDA...why would you ever want to LEAVE??"

We lived in Florida for a while when I was a kid.  My mother still shudders when you mention the palmetto bugs, or whatever they were.  Great big flying roach things.  Blech.

"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. 

LOL too funny... I LOVE fields of sheep in England - I used to put my head out of the mini and BAAAAH at them to start them off!

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.   

This! I always found it easiest to say "Florida" because
A) that's where I had spent the majority of my life
B) Everyone knows where that is

I remember having a conversation with someone one day who had asked me about where I had lived and when I said South Carolina I got this blank look like I had said something in Martian. Even with "It was one of the original 13 colonies" I got nothin'. I gave up and said it was halfway between Fl and NY. 

Quick question: do Britons know where Texas is? Sometimes I get blank stares, but I imagine that is due to them imagining me as a red-neck I usually get a nod of the head if I say "Dallas, you know...four hours drive from Houston"

This! I always found it easiest to say "Florida" because
A) that's where I had spent the majority of my life
B) Everyone knows where that is

I remember having a conversation with someone one day who had asked me about where I had lived and when I said South Carolina I got this blank look like I had said something in Martian. Even with "It was one of the original 13 colonies" I got nothin'. I gave up and said it was halfway between Fl and NY. 

I say, 'the South.'  If pressed, then 'Georgia. [pause for blank stare] It's the one on top of Florida.'

I usually say I was born in Brasil but grew up in Ohio. Those who have heard of Ohio don't usually ask why I would leave it!

LOL, too funny!

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. 

I think its a speach pattern thing with the NE Ohioans as to why you get asked American or Canadian.  Its not like you have a strong twang or New England accent.  Its quite a soft "accent."  I usually say 6 hours drive between either Chicago or New York or give reference ot several movies / TV shows.   

Personally I take the question to mean where you've lived the longest despite having grown up and lived in the same place most of my life.  I usually answer I'm orinally from Cleveland, OH but now live in Yorkshire.  I usually get asked why I moved, but I deal with that as it happens.

I don't know, I think the longer I live in the UK, the more confused I get by that question because I need a point of reference...where am I from, now, or when do you mean?  lol

For instance, a couple of years back when I lived in Erdington (a part of Birmingham) an American friend (who also lived in Erdington) and I hopped a bus to another part of the city to go to a free museum.  When we got there, we found out there was also a free tour, so we decided to be back at the start of the tour at the appointed time (had a cup of tea first!).  When we got back for the tour, we learned we were the only ones on the tour, which was ok.

The tour guide started out by telling us a bit about the history of the property, and we had a nice little chat, asked a few questions, etc.  Then, he asked us where we were from.  There was a pause while we both went through the point of reference thing in our heads, and then we answered him in unison - 'Erdington!'  All three of us started laughing, with him saying he hadn't been in Erdington for a few years and hadn't realised the accents had changed so much.

Still, if people have cottoned on that I'm American, then I say I'm from Wisconsin...I use a city, Chicago, as a point of reference as to where the state is!  Except I'm running into more and more people in this country who have a fairly good idea that Wisconsin is one of those northern states sort of in the middle of the country, by those big lakes.  Maybe it's because the only 'big' city I ever lived in was Minneapolis, but I just don't get into trying to describe where in Wisconsin I'm from unless I run into someone who actually starts naming Wisconsin cities, and that's rare...even for Wisconsinites!

Quick question: do Britons know where Texas is? Sometimes I get blank stares, but I imagine that is due to them imagining me as a red-neck I usually get a nod of the head if I say "Dallas, you know...four hours drive from Houston"

I find they usually know Dallas before they would Houston because of the TV show. I say I'm from Texas and their eyes light up and they start talking about Dallas. They're always shocked when I say I've never watched it. If I say I'm from Houston, I usually get "Ohhh...HOOston".

Those who have heard of Ohio don't usually ask why I would leave it!

During my first month in the UK I went to the local hardware store, and once the owner heard my accent, we got to chatting.  He asked where I'd moved over from, and when I told him New York City, he paused for a moment, and then with a shocked tone of voice said "You moved from New York City ... to Finsbury Park?"

 

Quick question: do Britons know where Texas is? Sometimes I get blank stares, but I imagine that is due to them imagining me as a red-neck I usually get a nod of the head if I say "Dallas, you know...four hours drive from Houston"

Hmmm... most everyone I have spoken to knows where Texas is, roughly, anyway. They all know Dallas. And many of them have been to Houston sometime for business of some sort or have family there. Maybe it's a string of coincidences? 

During my first month in the UK I went to the local hardware store, and once the owner heard my accent, we got to chatting.  He asked where I'd moved over from, and when I told him New York City, he paused for a moment, and then with a shocked tone of voice said "You moved from New York City ... to Finsbury Park?"

 

I get this nearly every single time I tell ANYONE where I am from!! I just tell them how much I love Manchester and what a great city I think it is.

I say, "I was born in Wales, but have lived all over the place."

If they want more details, they ask and I'm happy to launch into the whole saga. 

Substitute MA for Wales and you have my answer.