"When someone asks me, I think to myself, 'I'm about to find out if you've lived in the same town your whole life.'"
Last year, a magician from the United States performed for the local military community at the American High School on the U.S. Army Post Patch Barracks in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. He brought a seven-year-old military child up on stage to assist with an illusion and asked him, "Where are you from?" The child looked out at his parents as if he'd been asked a question in another language. The audience broke out into murmurs. The magician was confused. He thought the child's lack of basic personal knowledge was funny, but he was the only one laughing. Silly magician; the trick was on him.…
Article comments
76 - Angie, Navy Brat
Though I am not irritated by the question, I can understand the irritation. I'm a Navy brat, now in the Army. My 7 year old has had 10 homes and 4 elementary schools, and he's lived in 6 states and 2 countries. I've deployed 3 times, so pretty much screwed up his answer to the question too.
I can understand the irritation because I hate the question, "What's Iraq like?" Answer: Sandy and hot. You'll never get the rest.
When asked where I'm "from," I generally answer: my Mom's family is from Ohio, my dad's family is all over, so I'm homeless. I've been everywhere and don't know where I'll end up when I get out. If I'm asked where I was born, I get told then I'm from Jacksonville, FL. No, I lived there for only 18 months and haven't been back. Besides I was born in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, so you know that ones a little iffy anyway. I'm not sure if the ambulance was in Mayport still or Jacksonville.
I kinda just feel sorry for people who never lived anywhere but just "there." But sometimes I wish I had a more "normal" childhood.
I'm glad to know there are more brats out there with the same feelings and experience. It's not like we really ask each other, "Where are you from?" We ask, "Where'd you JUST come from?" or "Where is your family headed next?" We already understand the rest.
77 - Jim Heston
I tell people I went from being a Yankee to being a damn Yankee at age 5 when we moved from upstate (Plattsburgh) New York to Shreveport Louisiana. Now I run a guesthouse, bar and grill in Phnom Penh. Moving about has suited me well for this life. I get guest that come in and say they are from Osaka...I went to Expo 70. Threw a few swear words out to some Turkish customers once and they got a laugh. I was fortunate as my parents took us Space A to many places from Japan and Turkey. I claim San Diego as my home town as it was the first place I chose to live on my own and it was the longest I have ever spent anywhere. Now my second choice Phnom Penh is the second longest I have lived anywhere and I now call it home. Wish more brats would come to visit me at California 2!
78 - Colleen Williams
I did not like the question at all. I was born overseas, my Mom is from NJ and my Dad is from CA. I would tell people that I'm not from anywhere...then they'd ask "Well where we're you born" and when I'd answer, they would assume that I was a foreigner. I asked my Mom what I should say...and she said just ask them where they are from and then say you're from there too! When I finally moved back the states, as an adult, the police at the German airport didn't understand how I was American when I was born in Germany. I thought they were going to detain me!
79 - diana hartman
Aww, Colleen! A LOT of American kids born overseas get questioned at Passport check. You're so not alone!
80 - Tiffany
I was once asked at a DOD school where I was from. I answered that my parents were from New York State. I feel very fortunate have grown up in the Air Force-by the time I was 9 years old, I had lived in three different countries. I know that there is more out there than what is in the town I live in now, where there are actually people who go their whole lives without leaving the county.
81 - Paul Conatzet
One of the things I like living in San Antonio is that if you tell people your dad was in the militairy, they understand. Also, some will ask where was your favorite place to live.
82 - Nina
Folks are trying to get to know you. After 5 decades I have a spiel: "My Dad was a career officer in the Air Force. I grew up all over the world." I'm happy to fill in all the details which they may find interesting or TMI !!! I've seen a few eyes glaze over...But at my ivy league college admissions interview I was more than happy to give the full answer. The fact that I was able to excel in high school despite going to 3 schools in 4 years (2 states and 2 countries) and gain acceptance into a professional ballet company in the interim, seemed to impress the admissions officer. I received my acceptance letter within a week!
(How we choose to answer that question is a reflection of our personal attitude. It ain't all negative!)
83 - Mike
I graduated at that high school. Moving around with my family was awesome and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I take pride in saying that I'm from everywhere. Who needs a hometown when you have a "Home-earth". I've been to alot of places. It may not be something I should flaunt but I do.
84 - Sheri
Hi everyone What I didn't know then I know now. My father was in the army as a macanic. He lived in Germany for 2 years.
My father was very stricked and i'm sorry to say this but it did a lot of damage to me.I was bullied picked on spit on all the above. I'm 29 now and I'm Scared to talk about it. I remember my dad telling me, "don't tell anyone anything or you'll end up like marilin monroe and you don't want that."
85 - Frank Schiffel
I remember being part of a Boy Scout troop that was put together from members in the military in Japan to the World Jamboree in Japan. When we met American troops from the US, they asked, 'Where are you from?' we answered the local base. They didn't believe us. They had no idea that Americans lived in Japan or that there were military bases there. And they couldn't get their head around that we were an American Boy Scout troop.
86 - Frank Schiffel
The other thing, is depending on your age, a lot of places you've been to no longer have a military base there.
87 - USCG BRAT
im a coast guard brat all the way... i hate that question and now that im in college im getting it a lot more. my common answer is Hawaii. where I'm from is where my heart still longs to return to. lived there for a few years then had to move. i still want to go back and its where i felt the most at home and accepted
88 - Jon
After spending a childhood on the go, one learns not to care about the question.
89 - AAFES BRAT
We had 12 transfers and I went to 16 different schools by the time I was 16. The longest we stayed in one state was actually 4 years I think but in those 4 years between 7th & 10th grade I went to 8 different schools. (I had to repeat 8th grade). Even though my parent was at the same base, he kept moving us to different towns. Not sure why. Four kids, not one graduated but we all did get GED eventually. I find that sometime I get angry, feel sorry for myself (I am in my 50's now) but on the other hand I do beleive that I learned some very important people skills along the way, was able to see many places and meet many people. I do not blame our moving on our not graduating. We were very capable intelligence wise but for me and my siblings as well, it was always easier to fit in with the "cool" crowd and of course that crowd was the ones that cut school, smoked, etc....Eventually I just did not care anymore. I can say though that my husband thinks we are very strange. I continue to move. I move every 3 years approximately, lol. Two of my brothers are truck drivers and constantly on the road. I think it's in our blood? I always feel like I can't find home. I don't get offended at all when people ask where I am from. I answer "Which year?" or "Pretty much everywhere". Being AAFES and getting stateside transfers we were not eligible for base housing or schooling. I do think it would have been much easier on us kids and our mother had we had full base priveledges and been around families in the same situation as us. Glad to find this site as I've always wondered how everyone else felt.
90 - Jason
At the guy that asked about accents. I am a Air Force Brat, lived all over the country, as well as Germany, England, and Japan. I generally picked up the accents where I was very quickly. I lost them and moved to the next very quickly as well. I think the things that give me away most frequently now that I am a 32 year old adult are dialectic difference. I use words, phrases, and sayings from all over, all said in my normal Midwestern Iowa accent. Have lived here since I was 18, but still get funny looks when I throw a y'all, or a bugger off, or even something as simple as soda in while I speak. In college I took a class in American English Dialect, the professor prided herself in being able to tell where someone was from by asking a few questions. She offered extra credit if anyone could answer her questions honestly and stump her. Let's just say I got the extra credit.
As for where I am from, I have taken to just using the small town my parents moved to in Iowa when dad retired. As a younger man and child it never offended me, I was always willing to explain it. That said, when you are growing up, if you live on base no one ask, they just want to know where you were at last. They all have the same story.
I will say that I hate the people that try to pitty you for moving around so much. I love that I got to see and do so much. I have seen 49 of 50 states (got to get to new Hampshire some time), most of Europe, Egypt, Australia, Japan, Russia, and so many other places I can't even list. I saw and did more by the time I was 18 than most everyone else in the country will get to do and see in their entire life.
91 - Rachel
My father was in the navy for a few years before college and I love to hear his stories about his time in the submarine where he worked. I love to hear peoples' stories - so I am the type of person to ask where someone is from. And, if given the answer, "everywhere" I assume military (since my family has a long military history on both my mothers and fathers side). Is it okay to them follow up with a genuine "That sounds fun, what kind of fun places have you been to?" or something similar? Or are military kids not keen on sharing a few stories?
92 - NaomiJennings
I am a pads brat as we are called and agree completely with this article! I dread hearing the question 'where are you from?' as I feel like I am from everywhere. For example I British but have lived in britain the least amount of time.. Therefore can I class my self as British? The article is great :)
93 - Rosanna
At least you military brats have the excuse of being a military brat. I had lived in new York, Minnesota, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska by the time I was five. My parents just couldn't stay in one place.
94 - Jackiesue Roycroft Denney
I just tell them I was born and raised in the Air Force..if they want to know more, they can ask..
95 - cindi kanipe
I'm an Army brat. I work with the public. I 'm frequently asked "where are you from?" I look at them and ask "originally?" That opens the door for explanation.
96 - Yvonne
I was an Air Force brat growing up and I always answer that I grew up all over the world.
97 - Army Brat
Only military brats can relate and understand each other about that question. At one point I said I'm not from anywhere...lol
98 - Megan
Army brat: I just say I'm like a nomad which almost always gets me the face then I tell them my list: Louisiana Alabama Arizona Korea Texas and Maryland. And everyone is always like you lived in North Korea and I'm just like yes I had coffee with Kim Jong un every morning