To Further Illustrate My Point...

(Post by Tracy)

On Monday we had to take the car in to get a few things checked out.

Employee at the L.A. Ford dealership: "You talk like you're from New York. Are you from New York?"

Me: "Uh, no, Chicago."

Him: "Yeah, there you go. Same thing!"

The kicker: He is from New York, and he just told me that New York and Chicago are the same thing.

(Back East!)

I'm from East of Here.

(Post by Tracy)

To people in Los Angeles, even though I am only from Milwaukee/Chicago (which I was taught in 4th grade is in the Midwest region), I am from "Back East." And it's not that I'm from "Out East," or even "East of Here," I am from "Back East," as if everyone here was originally there.

The first time someone asked me this, "You're from Back East, aren't you?" I was confused. I stumbled over my words, saying something like, "Well, no, I mean yeah, I guess, well, I'm from Milwaukee," and they said, "Yeah, Back East."

So the next trip I take to somewhere on the East Coast, when I'm in conversation with a stranger, I look forward to answering their question, "So where are you visiting from?"
I'll say, "Oh, well, I live in Los Angeles now, but I'm originally from Back East."
"Oh, really?" they'll say, suddenly more interested. "Where?"
And I'll reply with pride, "Milwaukee," and I look forward to the look on their face.