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Comment by vowelless | Hacker News Reader

I always have a hard time answering the question "Where are you from?"

I was born in a country that doesn't give out citizenship (A middle eastern nation). My father, too, was born there. In fact, I need a visa to go visit my own birth country (where my parents still live).

I inherited Indian citizenship through my father and his family (I've never lived there), and potentially British citizenship through my mother (she was born in England but British nationality laws are very complicated). I travel on an Indian passport although I can not vote in India as I am a Non-Resident Indian (That might change for the 2014 elections).

My permanent residency, interestingly, is in Canada; and I live and work in the US.

Edit: I just know there is a business in here somewhere.

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Same here. I was born in Dubai. Dad was working there as an engineer during the building boom in the 70s. I inherited British citizenship through both parents, and US citizenship through Dad.

But, I've lived most of my life just outside Washington DC, USA.

What was the country you were born in?

One of the GCC [1] countries. I am sure none of them give citizenship or even permanent residency to non-citizens born in them.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperation_Council_for_the_Ara...

Generally only in the Americas is citizenship given to those who were born in a particular country. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_soli

It used to be the same in India. But it changed a few years ago. Now you can Indian citizenship if you are born in India and atleast one of your parents is an Indian citizen.

I think I know which country you're talking about. They do give citizenship only to non-citizens (as you've said), but there are other exceptions.

Yup, that's what people usually really mean when they ask "Where are you from?"

I went NZ -> New York, NY -> Scotland and if I'm say on holiday somewhere, doesn't really matter whether it's in the UK, Europe, US, and someone asks "Where are you from?" then I have to think.

Depending on my mood I might answer New Zealand because that's the accent they hear and they really mean "What country were you born in?". Or I might answer Edinburgh or Scotland because that's where I live and consider my home, in which case the response is often "... but you don't have a Scottish accent", and I then explain and they get the answer they were looking for or expecting. Or I might answer "Where does the wind come from?" and disappear down the rabbit hole.

My children have triple citizenship and will no doubt have their own difficulties with "Where are you from?" in later life.

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