Where You From?
“Hello. Welcome. Where you from?”
How often have we heard that on our travels? Literally, hundreds of times. It might be a barman, or someone about to tempt you into their shop, offer their services as a guide, or someone just plain being friendly, but it’s the opening gambit for all manner of introductions. Once we English have answered, the next question is usually….
“Oh, England! Where? London? Manchester?”
Although for one brief summer a few years back and for reasons which possibly only the English will understand, it was…
“Oh, England! Where? London? Leicester?”
A while ago, at the start of a long haul flight, we heard two people behind us introducing themselves to each other, an Aussie girl and a British guy. The usual question came from the girl, but the guy’s answer interested us.
“The UK’”, he said, and at that moment something dawned on us: we would never even think of replying “the UK” to that question. We would always – have always, probably will always – say “England”. I wonder why that is. What does that say about us? That we consider ourselves English rather than British – let alone European, one might add – is that it? We don’t have an answer, it was only when we heard that guy’s response that we realised we always answered that way.
Equally, if you ask, for instance, a Swede where they’re from, they will say Sweden; ask an Aussie, they’ll say Australia. Ask an American though, and they rarely say “the USA”, instead, they’ll will usually reply with their home state. “Where you from?” “Tennessee” or “New York State” or “Massachusetts” will be the answer.
Once we’ve established that we’re English and the follow-up, more specific, question, comes, we will always say, “about one hour from London”. It isn’t strictly true but it saves quoting a city which they won’t have heard of and then having to draw a map of where it is.
The football question usually comes next in this sequential introduction process.
“Which team? Chelsea? Manchester United? City?”
“Ah”, I will say, “my team is at second level, not in Premier League”, thereby avoiding another convoluted discussion which leads nowhere. Let’s not bother bud, just take me inside your shop, it’s easier.
Only once has anyone asked why we said England rather than Britain, and all I could think of on the spur of the moment was to say that, if I’d said Britain, they might have thought I was Welsh, and you wouldn’t want that, would you. It was a joke of course. I think it was, anyway.
I wonder what would happen if we pretended we are Dutch. Would they say, “Oh, Dutch! Where? Amsterdam? Rotterdam?”. I suspect not.
Any road up, we will no doubt continue to respond England rather than UK. I don’t know why, we just will.
26 Comments
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderersl
Interesting, Yes thats the number one question we get as well and our answer is two part, We are expats retired in Colombia but we are from California. Although, actually we have lived all over the US its much easier to just say California where we lived most of our years later in life. We are glad we are not from Idaho or Nebraska as hardly anyone knows of those sparsely populated states. Cheers!
Phil & Michaela
So why didn’t you say ‘USA?”! …… see what I mean!
Annie Berger
A good topic of conversation, Phil, as I struggle when asked that question. Do I answer where I’m “from” in the sense of where I live or where I was born and brought up? The former is Denver and the latter is Ottawa. That’s why I prefer asking the question, “Where do you live?”
Phil & Michaela
And I bet you would say “Denver” or “Colorado” not “the USA”!
Annie Berger
Of course!
Annie Berger
Phil, Thinking more about this question and I realize I would only say Denver or Colorado instead of the US if it were previously established Steven and I were l ‘from’ the US! I hope that makes sense.
Phil & Michaela
It does, but you will usually get the state rather than the country from an American. Still not sure why Michaela and I say “England” rather than “UK” though!
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
My mother was born and raised in Sussex and always said that she was from England as well. When I’m travelling I’m frequently asked if I’m Canadian or American but I have been asked a few times if I’m from the UK. That’s only happened in Europe, though. I used to live in the US and after returning home I was told that I sounded American; while there, Americans always said that I sounded Canadian. Interesting how we sound to others and also Interesting the names we can give ourselves, either by country or through personal choice. Cheers.
Phil & Michaela
People in Tennessee assumed we were Canadian….they had to ask twice when we said England.
Monkey's Tale
As I was reading I was thinking of Americans who always say which state they’re from and not USA, which we always find odd. I can’t imagine saying that we’re from Alberta and not Canada.
I also starting thinking about the point of your post and the English/British/UK people that I’ve met. I probably don’t pay as much attention, but I can specifically think of a couple of early 20 year olds we recently met on our travels who said they were from the UK. As it turned out they were both English. Is it a younger generation thing? Maggie
Phil & Michaela
I think it probably is….
Lookoom
Where we come from is part of our identity, and to agree to reveal it is to open up to others. In France, it is common practice when visiting a museum or a site to be asked for your postcode, for statistical reasons. But at the same time it’s revealing yourself. As I feel attached to several parts of France, I answer one or the other, according to the mood of the moment. To spice things up, I sometimes give my Canadian postcode, and that’s when people get lost.
Phil & Michaela
Ha, yes. I can’t really explain why we say “England” rather than UK though!
leightontravels
I usually answer with “The UK”, sometimes “England” if the mood takes me. Perhaps this is because I had a welsh grandfather and went to boarding school in Wales for four years. Or that I spent years living in Scotland, where my mum, dad and sister have been living for the past 15 years. When they ask where? I just say London to simplify things. It’s where I was born, but we moved all around as a kid. The football team thing made me laugh as they are always looking for Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham once you say London. Here in Azerbaijan a guy in a restaurant grinned when I told him “QPR” and answered with a wide smile” “Queens. Park. Rangers”. It’s the little things.
Phil & Michaela
Ha ha yes! A waiter at Epidavros pushed me on the name of my team. When I said Derby, he went quiet, paused for a moment, and then, with hands in mid air, drew the shape of a ram’s horn. Priceless!
Travels Through My Lens
Interesting topic. When we lived in France and were asked that question, we always replied États-Unis (United States) not Washington, since most people assumed that meant DC, rather than the state. We did not want to be associated with DC. If they inquired further, we’d say Seattle. We would initially say USA or the states, rather than the city or state, as it seemed the one most people could relate to.
Phil & Michaela
Interesting….we usually get the state not the country when we ask. But I still don’t really know why we say England and not UK….😄
WanderingCanadians
How interesting. I never really put much thought behind that question. But you’re absolutely right how Americans love to say what state they’re from rather than saying the US. I typically just say “Canada” and if they ask where in Canada, I say “just outside of Toronto”. Someone in Virginia once thought we were British, which we took as a compliment.
Phil & Michaela
Funnily enough, people in Tennessee and Alabama thought we were Canadian! I can’t really explain why we say “England”, but we always do..
Toonsarah
I would always say England too, even though I prefer to think of myself as British (or even European) as unfortunately Englishness has been somewhat hijacked in recent years by groups I’d rather not be associated with. Or sometimes i just say London, as everyone has heard of it! I get the Leicester referenc, of course. Whether people recognise Newcastle when Chris mentions it tends to depend on the nationality of our current (or sometimes past) squad. Most people in Peru knew of it, for instance, because of Nobby Solano 😃
Alison
Yes we get that all the time too. Now of course we say Australia, but interestingly I do say the UK. Anthony just makes something up as he has a very distinctive accent. Born in Japan with an Austrian mother and then living in Hong Kong. He sometimes says South Africa, Zimbabwe or Denmark! He’s been caught out few times.
Phil & Michaela
What a naughty boy he is! 😂
grandmisadventures
You know, I’ve never thought about it but that is absolutely true. Americans never respond with the USA but always with their home state. It must say something about our identity and pride in a particular area of the country. I get asked where I am from a lot because my Utah accent doesn’t quite fit the lovely Tennessee accent that I am surrounded by 🙂
Phil & Michaela
Or maybe there’s an assumption that we’ll already know they’re American!
Born to Travel
Given most people we meet pick our Aussie accents, we say from the Mornington Peninsula on the bay south of Melbourne.
gsilvosatrekpix
We were in the UK recently. One of the things that struck me was when somebody mentioned the UK as four countries united as a kingdom. Which is probably why people will identify which UK country they come from. Just like the USA probably, people will identify which state they come from. I may be wrong in my assumption.