Where Are You From? Why That's a Complicated Question

“Where are you from?” It sounds like such a simple question, one that should have a straightforward answer. But for me—and maybe for you too—it’s not that simple.

I was born in Northern Ontario in Canada, but my family moved to Toronto when I was just two years old. Toronto was home until I was nearly 16, and those years shaped much of who I was becoming. After that, my teens and twenties were filled with moves within Southern Ontario, never straying far from the Greater Toronto Area, but never quite settling into one place long enough to claim it as my hometown.

When I turned 30, I crossed the border into the U.S. and built a life in New Hampshire. I stayed there for over two decades—longer than I had lived anywhere else. New Hampshire felt like home, until it didn’t anymore. Now, at least for the time being, I live in Connecticut, while I figure out a new chapter of my life yet again.

Toronto harbour and skyline

What Does “From” Really Mean?

So, when someone asks me where I’m from, what exactly are they asking?

Are they asking about the place where I was born?

The city where I grew up?

The province or country I spent most of my life in?

Or the state where I lived the longest?

Depending on the day, my answer could be any of those. Sometimes I say Canada. Sometimes I say Toronto. Other times I claim New Hampshire, because that’s where my husband and I raised our family and where so many of my adult memories live.

The truth is, “where you’re from” is rarely just about geography. It’s about identity, belonging, and the places that have shaped your story.

Autumn in Dover, NH

The Layers of Belonging

Each place I’ve lived has left its imprint on me.

Ontario gave me my roots—my childhood, most of my education, my first taste of independence, and where my son was raised.

New Hampshire gave me my adulthood—my work, my family life, my sense of stability.

Connecticut is giving me a fresh start—a chance to rediscover who I am at this stage of life and time to decide whats next for me.

When I reflect on it, I realize I’m not really from just one place. I’m from all of them. Every move added another layer to who I am today.

Where Are You From: A Question With Many Answers

So, where am I from? The answer depends on who’s asking and how deep we’re going. If it’s small talk at a party, I might keep it simple and say “Canada,” "Toronto," or “New Hampshire.” But if you really want to know my story, the answer is longer, layered, and deeply personal.

“Where are you from?” is complicated—but in that complication lies the richness of a life shaped by many places, each of them home in their own way.

Maybe the real answer is this: I’m from everywhere I’ve lived, and everywhere I’ve been has taught me something about who I am.

Pequot Point Beach and New London Harbor Lighthouse at the mouth of Thames River in city of New London, CT

Travel as a Natural Extension

Perhaps it’s no surprise that my love of travel grew out of this layered sense of belonging. Moving between cities, provinces, and states taught me early on that identity isn’t tied to a single place—it’s built through experiences, people, and the stories you collect along the way. Each move sparked curiosity about what lay beyond the horizon, making it natural for me to seek out new destinations even when I wasn’t “forced” to relocate. Travel, for me, has become less about escape and more about connection—finding pieces of myself in new landscapes, cultures, and communities.