‘Where are you from?’ That’s probably the most common question I’m asked a lot and, I guess, I ask a lot too. It’s one of the most basic questions we learn when we learn a new language, when we travel, meet new people. Nothing special, just a simple question. Or so I thought.
I’ve been thinking about this question quite a lot for quite a while now and realised that I don’t really have a simple answer to it anymore. Let me explain…
Many years ago, I had a straight and rather automatic answer to this question: ‘I’m from Poland’. But few years ago I realised this answer wasn’t applicable any more. I was born in Poland, spent my childhood there, spoke the language, went to primary and secondary schools there, did my university course and a diploma. For most part of that period of time I didn’t have a choice where I lived, what customs I was to follow and so on. But then, as a young adult, I made a very conscious decision and I left for the UK. I spent most of my adult life there, my first language wasn’t Polish anymore, I bought a house, I had pension schemes, I built my life there and so on. So can I still say ‘I’m from Poland’, when actually I haven’t lived in the country I was born in for a long time now?
Just to make the matter more interesting, currently I’m based in China: I work here, have a pension fund, go to the doctors here, pay taxes, have friends. Ok, let’s face it, I won’t ever be able to say that ‘I’m Chinese’, but aren’t I from China now?
So my answer to ‘where are you from?’ question, based on assumption that people want to know the country I was born in has now been ‘Technically, I’m Polish’ . My answer often leads to really interesting and mind opening discussions about identity. I find it extremely fascinating to talk to people who come from different countries, cultures, speak different mother tongues as it’s so interesting to see how they perceive themselves. And I always learn something new about how I see myself too.
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Few days ago I was working with a group of new colleagues and as we all come from different countries, it was inevitable that I’d be asked – and that I’d ask- ‘where are you from?’. When I got this question I said ‘Well, my passport says I’m Polish’- my new colleague answered: ‘That means you must be.’
But must I really? Does a little red book really defines who I am? Does my passport really dictates to others how they should see me? I have to say that unfortunately, and too often, that seems to be the case. I’ve been discriminated against because of the red book- on professional and quite recently, on a personal level. Sad. But true.
What does it mean to be ‘Polish’? Or any other nationality for that matter? Language? Customs? Religion? Rituals? Relationships? Restrictions? I don’t think I’ve got a clear answer to that and I’m not sure if I’m really interested in looking for one any more. After living abroad for several years, travelling, meeting people from different countries, cultures, religions etc., I don’t really think that there is a simple answer to that question. And maybe Pico Iyer is right saying that ‘Where you come from now is much less important than where you’re going.‘ I love it! Wouldn’t it be great to stop focusing so much just on the place where our human life began and truly look beyond the borders?
Who knows, maybe one day my answer to ‘where are you from?’ question will be simply ” I’m multinational’ , and no one will ever raise their eyebrows…