Quote:
Originally Posted by Gr3tta
If i would like to hear about where someone is from, particularly if they have a foreign accent, rather than ask, "where are you from," i will ask, "did you grow up in name of my city?" I feel this does not imply in any way that they may be from another country, and leaves the door open for an answer of either, "I grew up mostly in Tennessee," or "my parents cam here from India when i was eight." Depending on how they want to identify.
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I have a coworker from Uganda. I asked her if she's asked 'where are you from?' a lot. She says she is - when they hear her accent, and it doesn't bother her at all.
I have to confess to being very curious about Africa - and have been since I was very young. Not surprising my son's father is Nigerian, eh?
When I hear African accents in a public place, I have to resist the urge to rush over and begin talking to whomever it is. Some people might welcome it, but others mightn't. Best not make a fool of myself.
I don't think I'd be quite so gauche to ask a stranger in a store "Where are you from?" with no preliminary conversation at all, but, boy, I'd want to. This is where self-control kicks in.
