"so where are you from?" (problem)

[DVA]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

[bayareababe_707]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

you can tell people about living in sweden...If I were in a similar situation I'd go with where I was born.

[Marius_JP]

America.

In other words, it doesn't really matter that much what you say. It's all gaikoku.

For your closer friends just drop what you just said in this thread. They probably won't be confused.

Och som en liten notis, nar du ar har, skryt inte med egna sprakkunskaper med termer som 'flawlessly'.

[Number6]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

Do you consider yourself German or Swedish? Once you answer that question, tell them whatever you want because in the end it doesn't really matter.

[Fujay]

Bunch of freakin cynics in here. It will matter to many Japanese people, and it will matter to many non-Japanese that you meet as well. And even if it doesnt, it obviously matters to you. Just say you are a German that grew up in Switzerland (suwissu de sodatta doitsujin).

[Marius_JP]

Bunch of freakin cynics in here. It will matter to many Japanese people, and it will matter to many non-Japanese that you meet as well. And even if it doesnt, it obviously matters to you. Just say you are a German that grew up in Switzerland (suwissu de sodatta doitsujin).

Hillarious. I'm Swedish, and get the 'Oh really, I love Switzerland!' all so often.

[DVA]

America.

In other words, it doesn't really matter that much what you say. It's all gaikoku.

For your closer friends just drop what you just said in this thread. They probably won't be confused.

Och som en liten notis, nar du ar har, skryt inte med egna sprakkunskaper med termer som 'flawlessly'.

or maybe ill just tell them i am from europe...but they might ask from wich country.

@Marius kom igen liksom att jag pratar 3 språk är typ det ända jag kan skryta med

[DVA]

Do you consider yourself German or Swedish? Once you answer that question, tell them whatever you want because in the end it doesn't really matter.

honestly i dont know. here i will always be the german dude and in germany i will always be the swedish dude (even when i explain that i am german).

hm in the end probably more german though

[AV]

Pick whatever you like. I'm really from all over the place, so I just pick the answer either at random or as the one that will result in minimum comments. I think most people assume it's a really simple question.

[Hijinx]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

Just say Europe.

[rubirosa]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

When Japanese people meet someone for the first time, they feel more comfortable if they can categorize the individual. He is from there, she went to that college, he is a windsurfer etc.

So you should take advantage of the situation, even if you are not being entirely truthful.

If you are picking up on a chick, say you are from L.A. or N.Y.

If someone you don’t want to talk to asks where you are from, tell them you are from Centerfugalton Mississippi, or some other place they can’t pronounce.

If you get tire of being asked where you are from, just say “I come from my mother”.

Or just keep it simple and tell them you come from Germany.

[kurogane]

Pick whatever you like. I'm really all over the place, so I just pick the answer either at random or as the one that will result in me getting the best looking guy at the bar.

Nice. I think this new trend to honesty is great (where's my devilish grin emoticon???????)

DVA,

I liked Rubirosa's answer, and AV's and many others. One problem that you will find is the Native tendency to often rather inflexible categorisation, at least at first meetings.

I would sugest you choose a pat answer, and stick to it until you get to know a person well enough for it to be worth the bother to explain.

Also, if you are here on a Swedish passport, why not just go with that? Simplicity is a virtue in self-introductions, and you are going to be doing a whole lot of those (we hope!). I can't imagine you will find too many Swedish National Front members in Japan, and the Gut Volk like MariusJP probably wouldn't care, even if they can hear an accent.

As has been mentioned, most Japanese are quite sedentary, personally and historically, and even if they're not, at first meeting, they tell you where they were born, and/or where they grew up. It is only when you gain some familiarity that they will tell you any other qualifying details.

That was the root to my above suggestion. Whenever possible, Going Native can be a good strategy.

I will admit that I find some of the conversational gymnastics resulting from such a simple question can get tiresome, but I was born and raised in one and only one place, so the answer for me is a given.

Also, if you are trying to learn Japanese, and finding it difficult to have people not use English, just borrow my old standby:

Jai snakke ikke Engelsk.

Works like a charm, and unlike me, you'll never get caught out if they actually do speak Swedish.

And Good luck.

[AV]

Nice. I think this new trend to honesty is great (where's my devilish grin emoticon???????)

I should hire you as a personal interpreter, kuro...

[kurogane]

I should hire you as a personal interpreter, kuro...

I don't work well when hired.

I'd rather get a team effort going.

A non-dating/whatever foreign couple is like honey to the bears, from what I've seen.

I had these two Aussie friends that used to go clubbing together, and both always punched way above their weight as far as relative beauty went. She was pretty, but quite big in build (nice build, though), but he was a geeky skunk (nice guy, though), and it used to shock the folks at The Hub with the beauties he'd show up with.

Not that anyone is above you, of course. I meant me.................

[User Name Deleted]

Just tell them like it is for the purposes of confusing them.

[Victor Ward]

A one-word explanation in Japanese should suffice:

Kaseijin

[OtoriOsaka]

Tell them ( the J girls ) your Swiss German and your rich.

[sixteenb99]

(frequently); I say `Saitama`.
End of conversation.
Cheers, 16b.

[DVA]

i guess i just have to try and stick with whatever works best.

[grin]

Half German half Swedish.

[AV]

Half German half Swedish.

Germandish?

[AV]

I don't work well when hired.

I'd rather get a team effort going.

A non-dating/whatever foreign couple is like honey to the bears, from what I've seen.

I had these two Aussie friends that used to go clubbing together, and both always punched way above their weight as far as relative beauty went. She was pretty, but quite big in build (nice build, though), but he was a geeky skunk (nice guy, though), and it used to shock the folks at The Hub with the beauties he'd show up with.

Not that anyone is above you, of course. I meant me.................

I am a really nice boss, though... you should reconsider.

[Hijinx]

Germandish?

Sounds a bit limp-wristed.

[what's it to you ?]

Germandish?

Germ-dish.

Sweemen.

[Showa45]

well i am going to japan in a few months and without a doubt people will ask me where i am from. i have german parents, i was born in germany, i think in german so i am german. the problem is that i have lived in sweden more than half my life, i am a swedish citizen, i speak the language flawlessly and i feel more at home here than i do in germany.

so when people ask me where i am from and i want to give them a quick and simple answer without confusing them what should i tell them? should i just say i am from germany? or tell them that i am from sweden?(after all i do feel at home here and i have a swedish passport)

any opinions?

I would say, "I'm from Germany but lived more than half my life in Sweden--and I prefer _____."

I think this would end the topic quick--whether you're male or female. Moreover, Japanese understand the word _____ so it should translate well.

[Showa45]

I would say, "I'm from Germany but lived more than half my life in Sweden--and I prefer _____."

I think this would end the topic quick--whether you're male or female. Moreover, Japanese understand the word _____ so it should translate well.

Also, maybe use your left hand and put 2 fingers right below your nostrils, smack your feet together, protrude right arm out straight in front of you with hand opened and flat--almost like superman, and remain silent. They'll laugh and say it for you.

[HBBV3]

I put it like this:

I was born in Boston

But

I'm from Hawaii.

[cutyourhair]

I was born in Asakasa.

(see look of astonishment on their gook faces)

[Shintaro Ishihara]

Just say you're an outsider !