The Question "Where are you from?" is a little like "How are you?" and often expects a one-word answer like "Germany" or "Kentucky". It is a simple question that most people can answer easily. For me, however, it always takes longer than anticipated to finish answering. Even while I try to explain my cultural identity, I realize that the person who has just asked me this commonplace question is not interested in a complex answer. Then I wonder why I put so much importance in this identity that I have had to work so hard at classifying and putting into words. I worry that I give myself too much importance by not giving a simple one-word answer.

"Where were you born?" This is the question that attempts to help me get to the point. "Montreal", I answer. "Oh! So you are French Canadian". Because of the complexity of my cultural and lingual identity, I cannot answer "Yes, that’s right" since I do not identify with this labeling in any way. If I don’t agree, I have to start explaining and I find that it is not always appropriate to start talking about myself when someone is only trying to quickly put an identifying label on me. Sometimes, however, I feel that if I don’t explain why I am not truly French Canadian, I am not being honest about who I am. In a way, my cultural identity is within three nationalities and not entirely in either. It is easier for me to say that I am not entirely this or that, than it is to say that I am this or that.
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Even while I try to explain my cultural identity, I realize that the person who has just asked me this commonplace question is not interested in a complex answer.

In a way, my cultural identity is within three nationalities and not entirely in either.