Do you ever get "where's that?" when you tell someone where you're from?

[bcla]

DH and I used to get it when we lived in Agawam, MA. When the questioner gave us a blank look, we'd then say Springfield, MA. Still got a blank look, and then usually, "Is that anywhere near Boston?" (or the Cape). No. It's really nowhere near Boston.

Of course, I once heard a news meteorologist say that Boston was "the southern coast of New England," so...

I only know of Springfield for basketball, but never heard of Agawam. Still - Massachusetts (and all states in New England) is pretty small. For someone who lives in an area where largish cities are spread out, the scale is very different. I also ended up taking a business call from someone from Massachusetts. I think he was surprised that I could pronounce Worcester.

 

[Hikergirl]

No because I usually follow it with what its near.
I say Lockport NY. Its about a half hour from Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
If I ever just say I'm from WNY (Western New York) everyone assumes NYC for some reason as though NYC IS New York State.

I know what you mean. If I tell people I'm from NY they always ask "NYC?"
I then just tell them how far I am from the city, there is no point in telling anyone the city I live in they don't think NY has any others

 

[nene0182]

I’m from North Dakota and most of the time when we are down south people are just amazed to “meet” someone from North Dakota and ask if we are from Fargo (we aren’t)

 

[ncc1701]

We live in a NJ suburb of Philadelphia. I always say our town is outside of Philly. Otherwise many people think you live outside of NYC in North Jersey. Or the occasional is that near XYZ shore town.

 

[low-key]

Im from Akron, if they dont know I give them Cleveland (to be honest though, I know Akron isnt that big, but I think if you never heard of it, you barley passed geography )

 

[china mom]

I used to live about 20 minutes outside of Washington DC. I would always tell my overseas family "you know that star on the map if the US? Next to that"

 

[powellrj]

I just always say north of Indy. Even a guy I met in Paris once made a voom, voom sound. Indy is pretty well known, my town not so much.

 

[CdnCarrie]

If they are hockey fans they have heard of Winnipeg Jets.
If not they have no idea where it is. To non hockey loving Americans I just say north of North Dakota/Minnesota.

 

[mamamary]

I’m originally from a part of NY that almost everyone has heard of. Where I live now I assume most people don’t know - I didn’t before I knew the area.

 

[OKW8297]

Rhode Island. Long Island? No. Rhode Island......ya know smallest state.... never mind. We’re from Boston.

 

[North of Mouse]

No, everyone knows where midway between NOLA and Baton Rouge is.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

All the time. In CT, those that work in NYC don't know any towns beyond their eastern border. I've been guilty of that myself when I was younger. I went to college in the Midwest where people assumed you either lived in NYC or Washington DC if you were from the east.

 

[GreatLakes]

I never state the actual suburb I live in unless I'm talking to someone locally. I just use the Metro which everyone has heard of (some even good things).

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I'm from Michigan, so I just pull out the hand-map, point to where I'm from, and they go "ohhh!".

Now in IL, if the person is from the Chicago suburbs, I will just say I live in the western suburbs near a large attraction. Most people have a general idea where it is. If I am talking to anyone from MI, I just say I live in Chicago...my town name has zero meaning to them since they all pretty much think that anything west of Lake MI and east of the Mississippi is all "Chicago"

 

[pattyw]

No because I usually follow it with what its near.
I say Lockport NY. Its about a half hour from Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
If I ever just say I'm from WNY (Western New York) everyone assumes NYC for some reason as though NYC IS New York State.

Hi neighbor! I live in Lockport!! Yes- everyone thinks Buffalo, NY is right by NYC

 

[BrianL]

I don't usually get "where's that?" but when I say I am from Rhode Island, I often get "what part?" Um, well, it's Rhode Island and the whole state is smaller than many metro areas, so, the Rhode Island part?

I have been asked if I go to the beach all the time because I live in Memphis - or the mountains. Where exactly do they think Memphis is?

 

[Kellykins1218]

Unless they like roller coasters they probably have no idea where it is. We just say we're an hour west of Cleveland and an hour east of Toledo.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Hi neighbor! I live in Lockport!! Yes- everyone thinks Buffalo, NY is right by NYC

That's wild! If you don't mind me asking where about do you live? No need for your street if you don't feel comfortable but just what major street are you near or what school are you closest to? When it comes to my home town I am fascinated lol.

 

[AlohaNow]

I'm from Delaware - some people don't even know it's a state.

I spent my childhood in Delaware and I distinctly remember a teacher telling us about a time that someone in Texas would not sell him gas because they thought he had a fake license plate.

Did you guys know that though Rhode Island is the smallest state, it has more counties than Delaware? Fun fact.

Sacramento native here. 61 years. I have more than one East Coaster think it's a 30 minute drive to Disneyland from here.

You mean it’s not?

 

[pattyw]

That's wild! If you don't mind me asking where about do you live? No need for your street if you don't feel comfortable but just what major street are you near or what school are you closest to? When it comes to my home town I am fascinated lol.

Town of Lockport- near Niagara County Produce. off Tonawanda Creek Road North