A couple of weeks ago, I was finalizing a new housing lease and met the house's owner. “Where are you from,” I asked him as I was about to leave. I am usually careful with this question as it can appear subtly insensitive in some situations. Some people are not that enthusiastic about talking about their roots or immigration story. I was curious, however. The guy had an accent; his looks suggested he was from the Middle East.
He was. That’s exactly what he replied — “the Middle East.” He said he immigrated when he was young. He’s now in his fifties.