Here we go again
If you have already read/seen this on Instagram, apologies for the repeat, but it’s too funny not to share.
While chomping down on some supermarket cheese and what seemed like pre-packed fruits dumped on a nice platter at the wedding reception this weekend, my brother-in-law and I were chatting with one of the groom’s friends. At some point, the guy asked where we were from.
Now usually I try to avoid this question when I am in, uh, how do I say this? Certain parts of the country (essentially the South and small towns). Why, you ask? Because I start getting stupid and annoying questions.
So I let my brother-in-law answer and hoped this guy would not then ask me.
But he did, because of course. I thought, well here we go again…
Random guy at wedding: And where are you from? Abingdon? (VA)
Me: No. Lebanon.
Guy: Lebanon, PA?
Me: No, Lebanon the- (really not letting me answer at this point and desperately wanted to guess it appeared)
Guy: Lebanon, VA?
Me: No. Lebanon the country.
Guy: *takes a second to figure out where Lebanon is* Oh. But you’re whiter than me!
Me: Well, we have white people in Lebanon.
Guy: Oh *surprised look*
This is not the first time someone has made this comment so I really wasn’t surprised. I saw the look on my brother-in-law’s face out of the corner of my eye and he was desperately trying to keep from bursting out laughing (as was I).
About ten minutes later, I was asked the same question by someone else and again, they kept guessing some small podunk-town called Lebanon in one of the states here in the US. And of course the look of surprise appeared on their face when I told them “the country.”
Ugh people. Read news on the internet or something.
Marie's Café 
… or, don’t be douches? 😉
Right??
I never really know what to say when I am asked this question…. have they detected a slight accent? Should I say Germany… or should I say California… or be more specific? I don’t know.
Me too. I usually say I’m originally from Lebanon because I don’t really feel like I’m from any particular US state. Although, Boston does feel like home most of all for me here in the US.
Maybe they wanted you to answer DC? It’s funny because when people ask me where I’m from, I say “Germantown”. And then they’re like, “No where are you FROM.” And I’m like “Philadelphia.” It makes them so mad.
Haha! If they keep asking where you are from after you even say Philly, you should then throw out random city names or even something like “the Moab desert” and give them a completely serious face.
You could answer “Lebanon next to Israel” unless you fear they’ll follow up with, “Oh! Israel, West Virginia?”
BTW, this site had another ad that actually floated down the page as I scrolled and covered your comments section until I X’d it out.
I’ve done that before, but I don’t like to always do that. Let them figure it for themselves. I’ve actually had no problem with people who live around the DC-metro area (more intelligent and well-read perhaps?).
I know, I hate the ads that pop up here, and which I have no control of (and actually can’t see myself). Very annoying. Sorry about that. 😦
Wait wait wait. Did you just say that DC Metro is more educated and well read? The part-time home to all of the U.S. Congress is more intelligent, by your estimation?? Oy.
I know a little nuts right? But amazingly the people around here know where a lot of countries are on a map. Not all, but many. (This does not include Congress because they a, uh, separate breed of human .)
Haha – read the news or crack a book once in a while. I get kinda taken aback when I come across people like this, who seem to have no idea about the wider world they live in. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes it makes me wonder about the human race!
Just before I moved to Bahrain, I got a lot of “huhs” and “whats”. A lot of people just think I live in Dubai now.
Right?? Sadly, such people no longer surprise me. I now expect them to ask me such questions, and when they don’t, I’m usually surprised.
Also people need to crack open a world map at some point. Or you know, just google “world map” and figure out where places are if they don’t know! (I can’t believe they think you live in Dubai when you are really in Bahrain. Not the same!)
Yes, Google has made it SO easy to find out pretty much anything. But you have got to want to find out and learn more. I know I’ve done that a bunch of times.
We just gotta rise above!