To be sick and tired of being asked where I am from

Even if it was something different you are always asked, your wish to have varied conversation is reasonable.

Obviously you do know, for it to be a question at all.
How much are you talking to strangers to get it "multiple times a day"?

Because you don’t know someone is from ‘somewhere else’ when you ask. You are assuming they are, based on something about that person that you consider ‘foreign’ or ‘not from here’. And having that pointed out to you multiple times a day, as the OP is experiencing, is wearisome at best and very painful at worst, especially for the children of immigrants, and people who have been part of a community for decades. By all means, ask. But tske a moment to consider the context of the question and sometimes find out something else, before asking that. That’s all.

Honestly I wouldn’t care.

Most people are asking out of curiosity. It’s not malicious, just interest in someone who is different to them. It’s a natural human response - you don’t sound like me, you’re from somewhere else, I want to find out more.

I appreciate if someone wants to feel they ‘belong’ or have assimilated into a new country that they might be upset by constant questioning, but the reality is, if you have an accent, people will ask you. It’s part and parcel of living abroad and you do to a certain extent have to expect it, and learn to deal with it with good humour and grace. If you have issues with being reminded of your home country or sensitivities about your identity or whatever then you can’t put that on other people and make it their fault when they ask you innocent questions based on hearing an accent.

I do find it wearying that everything is ‘othering’ and ‘hurtful’ these days - people commenting on difference aren’t all racists and bigots. Often they are just curious or seeking to make a point of connection. People commenting on the fact that you are originally from somewhere else doesn’t mean you don’t belong or aren’t welcome.

When I first moved to London in 1998 I was asked several times a week "Is that a Northern accent? Where are you from?"

Now it takes them several minutes as I've slightly lost my accent. Not on purpose.

I go to the Edinburgh festival every year. I am not Sottish . It is perfectly normal for people to chat with complete strangers whilst waiting to go into a show. I'm obviously not from Scotland and Americans will freely ask where I'm from. My DIL is American and from LA so we'll have a chat about that too. It's just chat. My SIL is Australian. If I'm chatting to Australians I'll mention her too. It's not othering. It's just chat.

There's no point in getting irritated by this question - it's just genuine curiosity and making conversation. Happens to everyone to some extent.

I have lived abroad in different countries and was always asked this. Why would I get upset with being asked where am I from?! Take it as a compliment that people want to make conversation, are interested in you and probably want to learn more about you.

I really do think there is no need to get so wound up about it!

People are just interested in other cultures and countries. It’s a British thing more than anywhere else stemming from the multiculturalism that has existed here for so long, they don’t mean anything by it. It’s curiousity.

Many people are here because they had to leave their native country in unhappy circumstances. So, no I don't think it should be a standard question, it can be triggering. Find some other common ground, weather is an easy one in the UK. Also, if you're non white there are more dynamics around power if it's a white person asking.

Yes, it's one of those things you don't know is offensive until you are told so 😬
I once asked a well known Scouser which part of Liverpool he was from? I work there regularly and enjoy the different twangs in each suburb.
He replied bluntly "I'm from The Wirral me luv" 😂
I used to live abroad and this is what I dealt with on a daily basis. Pretty much a repeat of the same conversation for a decade.

I find it very hard to believe that in the huge melting pot that is London, that ANYONE would give a rat's behind where you're from.

I think some posters are missing the point.

Not wishing to speak for the OP but I would imagine that the occasional question at a new job or at a party would be expected and not a problem.

But the OP has no obligation to engage in 'polite conversation' with strangers or 'show off about her culture' just to satisfy someone else's nosiness curiosity. She shouldn't have to 'get in there first' or 'steer the conversation' when she has no interest or need to speak to someone in the first place.

It feels a little misanthropic - and as though these days people can’t win. If no one shows any interest people feel invisible, unseen, lonely and disconnected from society, but if a stranger shows interest, tries reach out and try to connect on a human level by asking where you are from that’s invasive and loaded.

A lot of people don’t ’choose’ to move to a different country. They are shifted, by parents, grandparents, war, economics. Climate change. Whatever. ‘Home’ may no longer exist. This place may be all they have and they have worked hard, for decades often, or generations to belong. You don’t know when you ask this simple, innocent seeming question. So people should be sensitive about it. And assess the context before asking.

I live in London and am white and from Manchester, from a long line of people from either Manchester or the West Midlands (I've gone back to 1758 so far), and I am often asked where I'm from. I've been asked the same all round the UK and Ireland and anywhere I've been in the world. Even when I am actually back where I'm "from". Surely it's just conversation?

Why on earth is a hurtful to have it acknowledged that you're from somewhere else? It's not a value judgement (it can be but that tends to be obvious and that's not what we're talking about here). Ive been in my adopted country for decades, it's not hurtful for people to notice I'm originally from somewhere else.
And "othering" is just nonsense. We're all other in some way. We naturally talk about the differences between us, it's interesting! That's what small talk is, little interesting snippets of life.

Why are people so negative and self absorbed?

If its a repeat invitation then presumably other topics of conversation would arise. If I know you're from Cameroon (because you graciously told me last time ) then I don't really need to ask you again.

God forbid that someone should be friendly and take an interest.

Embarrass someone who was showing a friendly interest? Why?

I'm Australian and I used to get this a lot when I first moved to the UK 30+ years ago. It's very tedious especially from people you're only meeting for 5 minutes.

My Australian accent has faded and it hardly happens anymore.

Why would anyone want a repeat invitation from the "where are you from?" crowd?

It's part of life if you move to a different country. People are curious or interested and you will spend your whole life upset if you let it bother you.

You can't blame people for asking, if a foreigner moved to your home country they would be asked the same question everyday. And no, you can't really complain about it, it was your choice to move here and that involves accepting the curiosity of others when they realise you aren't from here.

Just embrace it, see it as an opportunity to show off your culture or language. It's wonderful that you're different and add interest to people's lives. Please don't get frustrated by the questions.

I get it. After decades in the UK, my accent still gives me away and people are naturally curious, especially as it is an 'identifiable' accent and people like to be proven right in their guesses. I roll with it, but OP's point about unintended intrusion is spot on: my relationship to my home country is complex, as are the reasons for why I have remained here. When people ask me what brought me here, or why I'm not raising my family there, or if I travel back often (people often have quite a bit of 'surface' knowledge about my country, so it appears a reasonable question) I'm painted into a corner and, as the truth is too personal and not really casual small talk material, I fib. I do it because the truth would likely make the person asking feel awkward, or worse, my DC. It's a pity; if it stopped at "Excuse me, is that a _ accent? Ah, I thought so, thanks," it would be easier, but once the questioner is buoyed and emboldened by being right, a presumed 'rapport' is built (because I am polite) and further questions naturally follow.
Not everyone ends up where they are through empowered, autonomous decisions, even if subsequent circumstances appear to 'heal' the past.

Either making conversation or just being rude.

I Had this conversation once.
Them - ' How long have you lived here, do you like it ?'
Me - ' Sorry ?'
Them - ' No, no, when did you come over here'
Me - ' What ? I've lived here all my life'
Then - ' Really ? You look Polish. Is that were your parents are from ? You picked up there accent.
Me - ' No. Everyone is scottish. '
Them - ' Are you sure ? You definitely look Polish '
The person got annoyed that i kept saying i was scottish. They were convinced that i sounded and looked polish.
I have a very obvious scottish accent, it was quite bizarre.

My family tree goes back to the 16th/17th century and bar one person about 150 years ago that came to Scotland from Ireland, everyone is scottish.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣