Today I will be writing about a question, I almost face every day. A question to which, I could never give a perfect answer. Now, I believe that its not a perfect question either. Where are you from?/Where is my home? This is the question, seems to be the simplest question to answer. To me its very complicated. I do not have a single answer to this question. May be, I never understood, what does it mean? or What answer could do justice to the question?
If the person meant to ask me, where I was born and brought up? I would answer, Its truly India, I was born and got my education in India. My family and ancestry is in India. But then, now I am a US citizen living in here for last 13 years. So I am from India, I do not know.
If the person meant to ask me whats my current residence? So for last three years I have been living in Ames, Iowa. I have lived 6 years in Pennsylvania and 3.5 years in Minnesota. Among three states of USA, I have the fondest memories from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So do I come from Philadelphia. I do not know.
If the person meant to ask where I would settle in my life I do not know.
Life has not been a straight line for me, and I believe millions of people out there would agree with me. We tend to define our own territory and try to do the same for others. In today's world, things have changed. I identify with all those who share multi cultural identities and do not wish to be confined with in the boundaries of a city, state, or a nation. The idea of home is very unique for me. To call a place my home I must have a sense of tranquility with the time and space. Above all, I really do not want my existence to be defined by the accent I have, and by the color of my skin. My racial and ethnic identity is fluid and plural its not fixed and single.
Anupma
If the person meant to ask me, where I was born and brought up? I would answer, Its truly India, I was born and got my education in India. My family and ancestry is in India. But then, now I am a US citizen living in here for last 13 years. So I am from India, I do not know.
If the person meant to ask me whats my current residence? So for last three years I have been living in Ames, Iowa. I have lived 6 years in Pennsylvania and 3.5 years in Minnesota. Among three states of USA, I have the fondest memories from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So do I come from Philadelphia. I do not know.
If the person meant to ask where I would settle in my life I do not know.
Life has not been a straight line for me, and I believe millions of people out there would agree with me. We tend to define our own territory and try to do the same for others. In today's world, things have changed. I identify with all those who share multi cultural identities and do not wish to be confined with in the boundaries of a city, state, or a nation. The idea of home is very unique for me. To call a place my home I must have a sense of tranquility with the time and space. Above all, I really do not want my existence to be defined by the accent I have, and by the color of my skin. My racial and ethnic identity is fluid and plural its not fixed and single.
Anupma