Often, when I have met someone at work, or when somebody hears me speak, I get the "Where are you from?" question. I often struggle when answering, and this confuses me.
Where am I from? Should the answer mention the country I was born in? Should the answer be the country I feel the most comfortable in? Should the answer be the place I feel I belong to? Or should it be the country that gave me the passport I travel and live on?
It might sound strange, but the answers to these questions differ from one to another.
I was born in Bogota, Colombia, and lived there until I finished High School. Through High School all I could think off was how to get out of that country, how to move somewhere, and forget about Colombia. I even asked my parents to send me to boarding school, but my parents refused as my mom went for some time to such a school and hated it. So I was stuck in Colombia til I finished High School, and was 18 years old.
My father is Spanishm and by birth I received Spanish citizenship. I use this as my identification, travel on the Spanish passport, and for all practical means I write "Spanish" under citizenship. I have never lived in Spain, but I hold the passport.
I moved to Boston, Mass., and attended college there. I loved my life there. It was like any life, filled with good and bad moments, but the struggle to live and be there was not present, and I felt at home there more than I ever did in Colombia.
After finishing college, and not being able to get a job there due to my beloved birthplace, I moved to Germany, where I have been for the last two and a half years. I have gotten used to my life here, and somehow, what I did not expect to ever happen, have started to settle down: I got my car, my big and beautiful appartment, furniture, and pretty much everything that belongs to a home except for the pet. I feel comfortable here, and I can see myself here in many years.
But how to answer the question? Yes, I am Colombian by birth, I am Bostoninan (not US American) by heart, I am Spanish by passport, and I am German by life (also by attitude according to many).
My answer to the question is normally "I was born in Colombia, and am half Spanish". It makes little sense. However, giving the whole answer would make even less sense. I am a citizen of the world.
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