When I went to Chicago for college and told people I was from Texas, I was asked on a couple of occassions why I didn't have an accent. I had an Indian friend up there who was from Canada. Her family had lived in Canada for generations (which is more common there, being in the Commonwealth and all) and people would comment about how her English and French were so good. Sure, that's all she spoke. She was also a Christian and her family was from a part of India that's been Christian since New Testament times. She'd get annoyed by suggestions that her religion was inflicted upon her by those English imperialists. Her family's been Christian longer than Western Europe. As for asking "what are you?" my wife gets that frequently (she's black and Chinese, mostly). The vocabulary people will use sometimes is funny (like, "what is your nationality?" -- American), but we don't mind. She has unusual features, and we understand people are curious.
I think you handle it the right way, sometimes people are just curious. No need for anyone to get upset.
I was just asked "Do you have an accent?" by a co-worker. I wasn't sure what she was referring to, so I asked "Do you mean speech wise or the automobile from Hyundai?" Granted I do not have a name like Joe Smith on my name plate in my office, I still got a kick out of it - especially since the lady detected a British accent (I am not British - but was pronouncing all of my syllables).
When I was at THE University of Houston, some Jesus pushing douche bag approached me and handed me something about a bible study group and asked me why my head was shaved. Apparently, he assumed I was a skinhead. Though I had originally had it shaved for the Barkley Baldy promotion the Rockets were doing, I pointed out that Houston was hot as hell and having a shaved head is pretty comfortable and low maintenance. Seemed like a pretty big conclusion to come to based on a haircut. I've now had my head shaved most of the last 15 years and never had anyone else told me they thought I was a skinhead.
Actually that'd be ironic since most African-Americans don't speak... well you know where this is going... english.
I know right, when I talk to people on the East coast and they ask were our company is located, they are shocked I don't have the Texas accent.
I ask people where they are from all the time. Or what ethnic mix they might come from. I'm just curious. I would think people would be happy that someone is interested enough to care.
I'm the same way. Hell, sometimes that's the only thing I can think of to ask when the conversation goes stale for the first time meeting someone. Then again others on here apparently don't think the same. Moral of the story, don't ask anyone where they're from, it might just show you give a damn.
or it might show that you're too fixated on their nationality rather than what type of person they are.
Or it could show that you're way too damn sensitive. It's one thing to ask someone who looks "different" why they don't have an accent, a completely different thing if someone is curious about your cultural background.
Shrug, it doesnt add anything to a conversation. What does it matter if I know you're Jewish or fomr Scotland or wherever, it won't change the way I see you as a person after talking to you. If you want to know anything about me or my personality, ask me legit questions like what do I think of polio or something. Hey great, you just wasted 2 seconds to find out I'm Chinese, so how does that help anything?
i like to ask people sometimes just out of curiosity. but sometimes it could lead to me finding out i have travelled to there country. or i may know a little of the language. then after that sometimes ill state that both of my parents were adopted so i dont really know what i am. just that im white. i guess some people (like you) just get more annoyed by the question. some dont.
Don't know if this has already been mentioned in the thread, but the one that annoys me the most is "Where you from?" "Houston, born and lived there pretty much my whole life." "Where are your parents from? Like what country?"
