Everywhere and Nowhere, USA

On remaining an American despite many, many years abroad. Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. I have, for my whole life, passionately hated the question “Where are you from?” To answer it, I run through a rapid decision tree in my head. Is the person I’m talking to American? If not, say “the U.S.,” and if they ask for a state, it could be Louisiana or Virginia. Dealer’s choice. Sometimes, there’s a temptation to say Texas, where my dad is from, if for no other reason than it seems to be the only state besides California or New York for which those abroad have a frame of reference. Mary Trimble is the communications manager at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute. She was previously the editor of The Morning Dispatch. More on Place