ethnic question

a lot of patients are curious about my ethnic background. how to respond?

I'm American.

~faith,

Timothy.

It's too bad that you don't feel you can proudly answer questions about your ethnicity. Just try to remember that most people (certainly not all) may ask as a way of getting to know you better, or perhaps there is something about you that appears interesting and they want to know more. I am always interested to learn about where others are from or about their experiences whether they be from Maine or Greece. It's my way of learning about the rest of the world. I too am a private person but I don't want to blend in with the wallpaper either.

Question: Where are you from?

Answer: I live on the _________ side of town. (southeast, northwest, etc)

Or you could say, 'I am from ________ , but I got here as quickly as I could.' (and then smile)

why be ashamed of your heritage...and as suggested you could say (if from scandinavia. i'm frome astern europe, or from korea, im oriental. etc. If you dont fell comfotrabel with ltos of details, don't give them in a polite & tactful manner. Liekwise I've had several patients (and staff) ask my age (young)...dependiong on the situation...soemtiems i've usually just told them....(i dont care) but soemtiems i just reply with "how old do you think i am?" they'll give a guess thats realtivley close...and ill say "ima round there...and then joke or soemthing & cahnge the subject".

They're likely curious about your accent and are trying to be friendly. Maybe they speak your native language and would love for someone to practice with, but they're wanting to confirm that you are from X country.

I also find it sad that you feel like you have to hide your heritage.

It is interesting that you say the reason you don't want to respond to the question is because you are shy. I've had an ongoing discussion about this subject with my dh, who absolutely hates it when asked where he is from (and he is not shy).

He says he sees it as a form of discrimination, and resents being asked where he is from just because he 'looks ethnic and speaks with an accent'. Oops! I've always enjoyed asking people where they are from and delight in discussing how they find the U.S. etc.

My dh has actually come really close on more than one occasion to punching out someone who asked that, so now I work with a lovely young woman who sounds as though she is from a Scandanavian country, but I'm too paranoid to dare ask.

In answer to your question, my hubby says "I am American" and then glares. This though he has never bothered to get his citizenship. Oy!!!

It's sad that one would consider the question too private to answer, and another would take offense. There is rarely offense intended in such a question, and I have a hard time understanding why it would be considered discriminatory. I am of mixed ethnicity, and I am proud of it. I sometimes see pts whose ethnicity I can't determine, and I have never felt too uncomfortable to ask: "That's an interesting name, where's it from?" or "I hear an accent but I can't figure out where it's from....where did you grow up?" I have never had anyone take offense at that.