I’m watching the ‘where are you really from’-gate with a lot of interest. I have been asked in various contexts, with various intents for as long as I have lived in the UK. I realise I always will. Most people, even if their intentions are perfectly genuine (healthy curiosity), don’t know how uncomfortable this question can make people feel. It places an identity label on us that we might not be aligned with. No one has to identify with the place they were born in or want to have a conversation about it. Sometimes a simple ‘if you don’t mind me asking’ can make a whole lot of difference. And be prepared to just take ‘it’s complicated’ for an answer and move on #whereareyoufrom #whereareyoureallyfrom