Travel now not tomorrow

  Where are you from? It’s a simple phrase, and it should be answered easily. We’ve all got to be from somewhere, haven’t we? But as more and more of us move around the world, we find we are no longer anchored to one place. As a result, the question becomes complex. Do we identify with where we were born? Or the place we were raised? Or even where we matured and discovered ourselves? However, the people who ask, ‘Where are you from?’ are generally looking for a simple answer. So should we say we are ‘from’ our birthplace, or should we opt for the place that enhanced our life? I have no answer. Instead, I’d like to make a plea that no one should expect any single soul to come from any solo location. Like rolling stones, we roam. We might not gather any moss, but we pick up other things – patterns of life, foods, traditions, language, voice. And, like cucumbers stewed in flavoured vinegar, we acquire a different essence. We keep the original contour, but we are changed, enhan...