re: Why is the question 'where are you from' difficult?

Born in New Orleans.
Lived in Atlanta.
Lived in Augusta.
Lived in Birmingham.
Lived in Auburn.

All before the age of 20.

Where am I from?

It's an issue because people ascribe a list of qualities and characteristics when you say where you are from.

I'm from New Orleans. So did I go through Katrina? No. Where's my accent? In a few words. You eat spicy food? Yeah is that New Orleans? You're an LSU Tiger fan? No. You ever get into voodoo? What the frick?

I thought all people from New Orleans could be defined by those things? Well, I moved from New Orleans when I was a kid. So you're not from New Orleans? Well, I am but I lived in August for a while. Oh, so you're from Augusta? Sort of, I also lived in Birmingham for high school. So you're from Birmingham?

You know what? frick off. Don't ask me where I'm from. I don't want to answer it.