When do you become "from" somewhere?

[TheGameHHH]

As a person that was born and raised in Jersey, spent 4 years of college in PA and 3 years of his early to mid twenties in South Florida, I got to thinking about this the other day. When can a person begin to say they're officially "from" a geographical location? If I'm born in Texas but raised in California would I say I'm from Texas or Cali? If I spent the first 15 years of my life in Maine but the next 15 years in Indiana at age 30 where would I say I'm from? I will always say I'm from New Jersey no matter what, even if I spent the rest of my life in Germany. So is it always where you're born and raised or can you transfer where you're from after a certain amount of time? What do you all think?

[PapaBear]

I tend to think you're from where you've lived the majority of your life. However, you can live more than half of your life in a new place, but still have the accent of your home town.

[weekapaugjz]

i have lived all but four years of my life in western new york. i don't think that i will ever be "from" another place.

[Slumbag]

I think it matters where you grew up.
I was born in PA, but went through teenage years and stuff in Indy. That's where the most of my world experience is from.
So, I'll probably always say Indy.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

I gotta say you are stuck with being "from" your birthplace, no matter if you spent a month or 20 years there. ESD was born in CA, no matter how much he wants it, he's not "from" NY.

[hammersavage]

Just take the Ronnie B. way and say 'don't worry about where I'm from' or 'your mothers ass'


I would say wherever you are from before you are married and after you are married if they are a different place. You identify yourself from where your family is from, whether it be parents and brothers and sister or your own wife/husband and childer.

Wherever you go, there you are.

[PapaBear]

Now that I think about it, I think you're from your original hometown, unless you moved away from there at a young age. My father lived the first 35 years of his life in Norfolk, VA. He left there about 47 years ago. But he still has a Norfolk accent, and he's never been anything other to me, than "from Norfolk".

It works even more for people from another country. There's an old lady in my neighborhood who moved here from England after WWII. But she'll always be "the British woman".

[Marc with a c]

Wherever you go, there you are.

i was trying to think of that saying and all i came up with was 'wherever you are is where it's at.'

i'm glad i didn't post that.

[hammersavage]

Mike Brady said it best.


And if you have an accent, all bets are off. That is where you are from until you lose it.

I speak perfectly intelligent so I could be from anywhere I want.

[PapaBear]

I gotta say you are stuck with being "from" your birthplace, no matter if you spent a month or 20 years there. ESD was born in CA, no matter how much he wants it, he's not "from" NY.
I think you meant Jersey. Anyway... I can't see it that way. Dave was born in CA, but there's nothing "California" about him. He's very much "upper middle class Jersey".

[TheGameHHH]

I think you meant Jersey. Anyway... I can't see it that way. Dave was born in CA, but there's nothing "California" about him. He's very much "upper middle class Jersey".

exactly.....but if Dave was born in CA, raised until age 11 in Jersey and then moved to Oklahoma then where's he from? like army brats, where are they ever from? i need clear cut answers.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

I think you meant Jersey. Anyway... I can't see it that way. Dave was born in CA, but there's nothing "California" about him. He's very much "upper middle class Jersey".
That might be what he "is" but not where he's from. [I thought I remember him saying he as born in CA for some reason but could be wrong] Anyway if you walked up and asked Hey ESD where are you from? He'd have to say well I was born in CA but I've lived in NJ for most of my life. So he would be "from" CA still. Like no matter how much I don't want to be a hayseed, I'll always be "from" TN. If you asked 10 people about this you'd prolly get 10 different answers, so this of couse is just my little opinion.

[hammersavage]

Dave would say he's from Central Jersey.

[PapaBear]

exactly.....but if Dave was born in CA, raised until age 11 in Jersey and then moved to Oklahoma then where's he from? like army brats, where are they ever from? i need clear cut answers.
Most Military Brats I've met do the right thing and say "All over. I'm a Military Brat."

[MacVittie]

I'll always be from Ithaca, NY.

wow, that might be saddest thing I've ever typed.

[weekapaugjz]

I'll always be from Ithaca, NY.

wow, that might be saddest thing I've ever typed.

my girlfriend wants to move there.

[RoseBlood]

And if you have an accent, all bets are off. That is where you are from until you lose it.
I speak perfectly intelligent so I could be from anywhere I want.

I try, but I can not get rid of my long island accent. I've been told I sould like Alyssa Milano, :huh: isn't she from Brooklyn? So does this mean I should say I'm from Brooklyn?

[Snoogans]

you are from where you are born. You live where you are

[RoseBlood]

you are from where you are born. You live where you are

Snoogans tips are right on.

[Coach]

I was born in Bronx NY
been across the USA..found that I was taken more seriously when I said I was From Jersey.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

you are from where you are born. You live where you are
Snoogans fan meter just clicked up a notch.
(would if have killed you to say yeah I agree with F4P...)

[TheGameHHH]

you are from where you are born. You live where you are

couldnt disagree more. if my mom happens to be in NYC when her water breaks and she goes to a mid town hospital to deliver me, but we live in Jersey, theres no way i consider myself from new york city.

[Slumbag]

Just take the Ronnie B. way and say 'don't worry about where I'm from' or 'your mothers ass'




Best answer you could ever possibly give.

[boosterp]

The only answer I see is where do you identify most with? Through the military I have been all over, my family is from Germany, but I will always associate my self with Texas.

[A.J.]

I will always be from Connecticut. I'll never claim to be a Virginian.

[Gvac]

I will always be from Connecticut. I'll never claim to be a Virginian.

Who are you kidding?

At this point you're an A-rab.

[A.J.]

At this point you're an A-rab.

No way. I love pork products more than cheese.

[ANC]

Grew up in Staten Island (lived there 25 years)
Lived in the Bronx for 4 years at college.
Been living in NJ for 4 years.

I guess after 20 years I can say I'm from Jersey? Until then I'll say I am living in Jersey I guess.

[mendyweiss]

Ex New Yorker here !!, but so is most of DC !!

Mendy's observation:

Where are you from ?

Person A- I'm from the mid-west
Person B I'm from Nebraska
Person c- I'm from Los Angeles
Person D- I'm from New York... Brooklyn.....Brownsville......Saratoga Ave.. Above The El !!

[Coach_Mac]

Home is where you make it.
Damn boy, e'rybody know dat.

[drusilla]

i say you're from where you grew up because those were your moldable years & the place you lived helped to make you the person you became.

[Aggie]

It's where you most identify yourself with.

I was born in New Hampshire while my parents were in law school. (So my sister is adamant that I cannot call myself a Jersey girl. She thinks it's all about where you are born.)

I lived in New Jersey full time from age 4 to 17 (kindergarten through 12th grade).

I moved to Texas in 1996 to start college and never left. My time in Texas is about to overtake my time in Jersey but I'll never be from Texas. Even if I have cowboy boots and like country music.

So Brett, you and I will always be from Jersey.

[~Katja~]

when asked where I am from I always say Germany because I know they are trying to figure out or confirm the accent. If I said PA they woudl just ask where I am from originally anyway.

[Piuki]

I still say I am from my hometown, even though I have lived away from there for almost as long as I lived there growing up. If someone asks where I live, I tell them where I live, obviously. But I am still "from" my hometown.

I thought that would change when I bought a home. But it hasn't. Maybe when my kids are in school? When they are from somewhere, then maybe I will be from the same place? Who knows.

[ToiletCrusher]

when I was born into this terrible town I was destined to be from here and I think always be stuck here...


hopefully this changes in about a year or two. after i move, I will just say that 'that' place is where I am from.

[Heather 8]

Spent 23 years of my life living in and around Harrisburg (not born there, though), so I guess I'll always be considered "from" PA. However, a few folks consider me to be "from" Wisconsin, since that's where I last lived before moving here.

I want to escape before I EVER can be considered "from" Jersey.

[drusilla]

i'm gonna be living upstate for at least another 5 years & 5 months. after that i am so out of here. 6 years total. i never want to be considered an upstater.

[utriculus!]

As a person that was born and raised in Jersey, spent 4 years of college in PA and 3 years of his early to mid twenties in South Florida, I got to thinking about this the other day. When can a person begin to say they're officially "from" a geographical location? If I'm born in Texas but raised in California would I say I'm from Texas or Cali? If I spent the first 15 years of my life in Maine but the next 15 years in Indiana at age 30 where would I say I'm from? I will always say I'm from New Jersey no matter what, even if I spent the rest of my life in Germany. So is it always where you're born and raised or can you transfer where you're from after a certain amount of time? What do you all think?

I think the Devils are going down tonight hard. :devil2::devil2::devil2:

[skyscraper]

It's not where you're born: I knew someone who was born on a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean, so is that where he's from? You are from where you spent your formative years. I was born in Bethlehem, PA, but my family moved out of there when I was about a year old, so I have no memory of it. I grew up in the Philly suburbs, and that is where I consider myself to be from.
if you moved around during your formative years - Army brat, circus freak, vagrant, Bedouin, whatever - then you probably don't consider yourself to be from any one place. that's fine too, because where you are from doesn't define you.

[TheGameHHH]

I think the Devils are going down tonight hard. :devil2::devil2::devil2:

kiss my ass, fuck the Bruins

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

Seems like anyone with an awful ginzo accent can call themselves "from Brooklyn". :wallbash: