For some, the question "Where are you from?" is quite simple. For others, it is quite complicated. I have realized that my answers vary depending on different factors: where I am at at the moment, who I am speaking with and how much time I have. Let me explain.
I am currently at a training seminar for this upcoming academic year. I am 1 of 60 North American teachers that have been selected to participate in a pilot program in bilingual schools across Spain. Today we have spent time learning about this new program and of course getting to know our fellow colleagues. So, of course after asking "What's your name?", my most dreaded question, "Where are you from?" comes. To make things simple I respond with "Indiana". But to be honest, I feel so strange as I say this. My place of birth is in fact Mishawaka, Indiana- but I never lived there. The only place I lived in the USA was Indiana, but I didn't move there until I was 17. I feel somewhat guilty when I say Indiana as it's to say that I have betrayed my other countries (Puerto Rico and Trinidad). But really, who wants to hear my 15 minute story documenting every single time I moved and every place I have lived. Now, I will be honest- sometimes I do go into the long story, but it depends on my mood and once again, who I am speaking with.
Now in other contexts here in Spain when interacting with Spanish people, I have no problem saying that I am from the United States. After all, it was the last place I lived in before moving here. I studied and worked in Indiana for 10 years. If anything, I have realized that I feel more American here than when I lived in the USA. The last 2 years in Spain have made me realized how American I really am.
I spent a month back in Puerto Rico this summer and I realized how hard it was for me to say that I was from Indiana there. I mean, I lived in Puerto Rico for 8.5 years...I spent a great part of my childhood there. Puerto Rico feels like home; one of them anyways. To say I am from Indiana, seems like I am ignoring a big chunk of my childhood. My brother always says I am jealous of him because he was born in Puerto Rico; maybe he is right.
In Trinidad I hate being labeled as an American. My sister was born there, so she is a "Trini". I lived there for 6.5 years, I spent many summers visiting my parents there, Trinidad also feels like home.
Counting all my summers and other time here and there in Spain it adds up to over 3 years that I have called Spain home. I recently moved to Madrid and have gone back to Salamanca (where I have been living the last few years) a few times and on each occasion, have mentioned that I am going "home" for the weekend.
So where is home? Where am I from? The answer is all of the above. No matter where I am, where I live, where I go, part of me will always be longing for somewhere else, part of me will always feel a bit foreign. But I am ok with that. In my early twenties, I was on this quest to find out who I was and where I was from. I have learned that all of my experiences, all of the countries I have lived in and the cultures I have experienced have helped shape me and mold me into the person God wants me to be.
I am currently at a training seminar for this upcoming academic year. I am 1 of 60 North American teachers that have been selected to participate in a pilot program in bilingual schools across Spain. Today we have spent time learning about this new program and of course getting to know our fellow colleagues. So, of course after asking "What's your name?", my most dreaded question, "Where are you from?" comes. To make things simple I respond with "Indiana". But to be honest, I feel so strange as I say this. My place of birth is in fact Mishawaka, Indiana- but I never lived there. The only place I lived in the USA was Indiana, but I didn't move there until I was 17. I feel somewhat guilty when I say Indiana as it's to say that I have betrayed my other countries (Puerto Rico and Trinidad). But really, who wants to hear my 15 minute story documenting every single time I moved and every place I have lived. Now, I will be honest- sometimes I do go into the long story, but it depends on my mood and once again, who I am speaking with.
Now in other contexts here in Spain when interacting with Spanish people, I have no problem saying that I am from the United States. After all, it was the last place I lived in before moving here. I studied and worked in Indiana for 10 years. If anything, I have realized that I feel more American here than when I lived in the USA. The last 2 years in Spain have made me realized how American I really am.
I spent a month back in Puerto Rico this summer and I realized how hard it was for me to say that I was from Indiana there. I mean, I lived in Puerto Rico for 8.5 years...I spent a great part of my childhood there. Puerto Rico feels like home; one of them anyways. To say I am from Indiana, seems like I am ignoring a big chunk of my childhood. My brother always says I am jealous of him because he was born in Puerto Rico; maybe he is right.
In Trinidad I hate being labeled as an American. My sister was born there, so she is a "Trini". I lived there for 6.5 years, I spent many summers visiting my parents there, Trinidad also feels like home.
Counting all my summers and other time here and there in Spain it adds up to over 3 years that I have called Spain home. I recently moved to Madrid and have gone back to Salamanca (where I have been living the last few years) a few times and on each occasion, have mentioned that I am going "home" for the weekend.
So where is home? Where am I from? The answer is all of the above. No matter where I am, where I live, where I go, part of me will always be longing for somewhere else, part of me will always feel a bit foreign. But I am ok with that. In my early twenties, I was on this quest to find out who I was and where I was from. I have learned that all of my experiences, all of the countries I have lived in and the cultures I have experienced have helped shape me and mold me into the person God wants me to be.
