How To Reply ‘Where Are You From?’ When Traveling

One of the most typical questions worldwide vacationers hear is, “Where are you from?” Whenever I journey, I’m often requested this query a number of instances a day by taxi drivers, check-in clerks, servers and fellow vacationers.

Before final fall, I often answered this query simply and with none hesitation. “I’m from the United States,” rolled off my tongue simply. My response was usually met with a impartial response or questions about touring within the States.

However, there was a marked shift because the November 2024 election. I’ve been to a few nations since Donald Trump was elected president: the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India and Iceland. On my first journey to the UAE, I observed my voice dropped to a whisper after I advised those that I used to be from the U.S. I seemed down, ashamed and petrified of the place my nation was headed. By the time I landed in India, I had began including, “But I didn’t vote for him!” after I disclosed my American roots.

Some folks laughed, and others mentioned, “Of course not.” However, many individuals seemed as uncomfortable as I felt, not sure learn how to reply themselves.

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, I went to Iceland, a spot the place residents delight themselves on being a welcoming and open nation. The foremost street in Iceland is painted as a rainbow. It’s a robust image ― a stark distinction to Trump’s assaults on range, fairness and inclusion efforts again house.

Before I boarded my flight, I gave numerous considered learn how to inform folks the place I used to be from. I needed to be trustworthy however make it clear that I didn’t help Trump with out making anybody uncomfortable. When I began my journey, Trump had begun “flooding the zone” by focusing on immigrants, trans folks and different marginalized teams. I went from being ashamed to mortified.

I began my journey by telling folks I used to be from North America, which I don’t assume fooled anybody. Because I’ve Polish citizenship, I pivoted to telling those that I used to be Polish however lived within the U.S. While technically correct, it didn’t really feel like an trustworthy reply. I don’t communicate a phrase of Polish, and the reality often got here out shortly.

To make issues worse, Iceland is near Greenland, a rustic Trump has repeatedly mentioned he needs to purchase. During my journey, I met a number of Greenlanders and needed to struggle an impulse to inform them I understood that their nation was not on the market. I used to be grateful when somebody lightened the temper by joking that he was glad to be from the tiny Nordic nation of the Faroe Islands as a result of he didn’t assume Trump might discover it on a map. While I appreciated the humor, I nonetheless didn’t really feel any higher about being an American overseas.

I left Iceland nonetheless not sure learn how to reply the seemingly innocuous query of “Where are you from?” And it seems I’m not the one one feeling this fashion. Do one cursory web search, and also you’ll see quite a few Reddit threads and comments about folks grappling with the identical wrestle.

It isn’t simply making an attempt to cover your issues over politics, both; whether or not it’s for security or easy privateness, there are many causes it’s possible you’ll hesitate to share the place you’re from. Below, journey and etiquette consultants break down learn how to politely navigate this dialog while you’re overseas.

Honesty is often the very best coverage. “As tempting as it is to pretend to be Canadian when traveling abroad, doing so is not helping to improve the image of Americans,” mentioned Erin Zhurkin, who has lived in 5 nations and is the writer of “Plus-Size in Paris.”

The particular person you might be talking with would possibly determine in a short time that you’re mendacity. They could acknowledge your accent or grow to be suspicious when you aren’t capable of reply follow-up questions concerning the nation you are attempting to signify, added Francesca Elisabetta Owens, who spends 5 months of the yr outdoors of the U.S. and is the founding father of the journey company Travel from the Inside Out.

Moreover, if the reality comes out, mendacity would possibly solidify a damaging impression of Americans and make issues worse, Zhurkin mentioned.

Travel agent Theresa Bauman doesn’t lie about the place she is from. However, if she needs to be extra discreet, she responds with the identify of the state the place she lives. This tends to immediate folks to ask questions associated to geography as a substitute of politics, she mentioned.

Nevertheless, Bauman famous she would lie about being American if she felt her security was in danger.

If you actually don’t wish to disclose the place you might be from, you may say you might be “just a traveler exploring the world,” or say, “I’ve lived in a few different places, so it’s a bit hard to pinpoint just one,” instructed Salvador Ordorica, the founding father of a translation and cultural understanding firm.

If you give imprecise responses, most individuals will perceive you don’t wish to reply the query and gained’t ask follow-up questions, he mentioned.

When in an unfamiliar setting, etiquette professional Lisa Marie Grotts instructed having responses prepared that aren’t alienating or offensive. Being ready will help you preserve management of the dialog, she mentioned. This is very vital when you’re not sure how somebody feels concerning the present state of American politics.

“You might be surprised at how many foreigners actually support the current administration and are in favor of it,” Owens famous.

According to Grotts, a response so simple as “it’s complicated” or “every country faces its own challenges” acknowledges the divisiveness of American politics in a impartial method.

Ordorica suggests steering the dialog towards shared experiences. You can disclose you might be an American and add, “But right now, I’m just excited to be exploring this part of the world.” This will shift the dialog away from the U.S. and towards the a part of the world you might be visiting, he mentioned.

However, not everybody needs to stay impartial. Some folks would possibly sign that they strongly agree or disagree with Trump’s insurance policies.

When Zhurkin lived in Paris throughout Trump’s first administration, she mentioned she had bother as an American overseas. Zhurkin repeatedly needed to cope with some “disdain and judgment for how Americans allowed this to happen.”

She selected to make use of humor to lighten the temper. After disclosing that she was an American, Zhurkin would usually add, “The people have spoken, but I’m not one of those people,” or, “No country is perfect.”

After disclosing your nationality, you may also ask, “Why do you think I’m here and not there?” to sign your disagreement if that’s what you select, Bauman mentioned.

If you wish to steer the dialog away from politics, Ordorica instructed saying, “I try to focus on the people and culture rather than politics when I travel.” You might additionally say, “I’m just here for the food and adventure,” he instructed. You might observe up by asking questions on nice eating places or actions within the space.

Instead of making an attempt to rationalize the state of affairs in America or cowl up your nationality, you should utilize your time aboard to show that not all Americans are alike, famous Adaline Kuroki, a digital nomad and founding father of the journey company Savor and Soak.

“We can absolutely show that Americans can be culturally curious and respectful, in addition to the openness and optimism we are known for,” with out mendacity about who we’re, she mentioned.