FROMquestions&answers

Mohamed

From Guinea Conakry

“It is important where you come from, but it is also of importance where I am now, Sweden.

I love Guinea. That is where I have my family. That is my country of origin”

FROMquestions&answers

Maria 

“I often say that I am from God, but I was born in Malmö, in the Skåne region."

"If you had asked me when I was your age, I would have said ‘no.’(it is not important where you are from) but now I feel that I have always made it a priority to keep my language, my dialect.  

I think about when we grew up, when we were kids, I think that the dialect we live with as children is in some way a part of your identity. For me, now, it is very important that my burring “R”s exist.“It is important. There is so much with childhood that still characterizes you –even if you move far away –that ties you to your roots. I can’t say why it is that way. I can only point it out.

I haven’t lived there (Malmö) in 50 years, but I can imagine that I would like to die there.”

FROMquestions&answers

Kjell

From Stockholm

"That question, that is near impossible. I have never thought about ‘where you are from.’ No, I don’t think it is important where you’re from, but it is exciting to know where other people are from. I

t can be important to find out where you come from, yourself. For example if you are adopted and don’t know where you are from. Many who have been adopted seek out their roots to find a foundation to stand on. It seems very important -if you discuss it with them."

FROMquestions&answers

Sven and AnnMarie
From Munkfors, Värmland

Sven:

“As long as I was working, it (home) was in Värmland. It was first when I was retired that we left, so to speak."

AnneMarie:

“It (where you are from) is only important in the way that one feels something for that place. Clearly, (it is important) being born and raised there, that you feel a special way towards that place. Some are living there still, and are close relatives.”

FROMquestions&answers

Karam

From Lebanon

“I was born and raised in Lebanon, but my origin is Palestine. I have never been to Palestine, but that is my origin. Of course it is important (where you come from). Your own country...You must be proud of where you come from. You try to show a good image of where you are from.”

 FROMquestions&answers

Josefine and Ebba, from left

From: Stockholm

Josefine

“I think so (that it is important where you are from). Its not that I judge someone for where they come from but I think it influences who you become. I had certainly been different if i had been raised somewhere else.”

Ebba

“No. I dont think that its important where one comes from. But it affects who you become...who you are.”

FROMquestions&answers

Helge & Vigdis

From Mo i Rana

"Important and important...We get on well here in Sweden and we have family here in Sweden. It is much better here in Sweden than in the homeland because (back home) we don’t have the same freedoms when it comes to snowmobiling."

Vigdis

"No. It’s not really important. I haven’t given it any thought. We have it good in Norway..."

“And we have it good in Sweden,” adds Helge.

FROMquestions&answers

Fredrik and son Eddie

"That is the question. I grew up in Stockholm"

"It all depends on how far back you want to count. How I respond about where I live and where I grew up depends on what the context is and what is meant by the question. Either they (the person asking) is talking about background or they mean ‘Where do you live’. It is an interesting question. I lived in Stockholm until I moved here. Lived here for 8 years. Now this feels like home to me. But I wouldn’ say that I am from here if one is talking about origin...But I have my home here. Really I don’t think its important, generally speaking. You have to come from someplace. But for many, it seems to be important with origin etc. But I can be pretty particular in pointing out (that I am from Stockholm) So it must mean something. But I am not patriotic about it. There are many here that think it is very important."

FROMquestions&answers

Helena

From Tärna’ "Born and raised"

"To have someplace to call home, where one has roots, I think that is important. Absolutely. (Roots) are security in life. If one has a good base, (then) you don’t have to go searching there. It simplifies life. But one shouldn’t let the roots take over. It is tremendously secure(with strong bonds to roots)but it is important to have curiosity about other environments. Yes, roots are fantastically important. There are people, -refugees, but also people who have chosen to move with out the threat of political violence or similar- You can see how important holidays, food and culture are to them... All people have a need to feel their roots. It is something deep and profound with people. Something we all carry with us."

FROMquestions&answers

Ove

From Tärnaby. "Born, raised and hopefully I will die here."

"Roots are important. People are proud of where they come from, imprinted by their upbringing...for me it’s like that anyway. That is very much of why I still live here. How can I explain... The mountains are so important for me. I am the 5^th generation where I live. It is a legacy which I am the steward for my children. For me, it is very important to show respect to those who have cultivated that land. To further it, so their work is not wasted, meaningless."

FROMquestion&answers

Marcus

From Malung, in Dalarna

"I think it's about personality. I don’t think that the origin (of others) is important really. But yes, I am pretty proud (of where I'm from). It feels a little more important for me anyway. I don’t know why, but I like that I am from Dalarna. The question ‘Where are you from?’ is pretty much like the question ‘How has the weather been?’ It’s a conversation starter. Then you have something to relate to."

FROMquestions&answers

Donald and Kerstin

Kerstin

From Granås in the Tärna area

"Sometimes it can be important (where you are from), and sometimes not. It depends on the context. I am very home-loving, so I think it's important in that way. I think it is fun to be from Tärna mountains area... ‘Europe’s last wilderness’, as it’s called. This is my home on the earth. There are generations back that have trudged these parts. When it comes to homesteaders, I am the 4^th generation on this land. When it comes to the Sámi side of the family it goes back several hundred years. It cant be said exactly. (Growing up in Granås) we learned it was nature you adapted to. We were shaped by nature -it is a hopeless endeavor to go against nature. I learned patience too. But, if you are talking about (the origin of) others, then it doesn’t matter where on earth one comes from. Children are equally worthy no matter where or how they came to the world."

Donald

From a little village called Borga. Post address: Borgafjäll, in a county called Dorotea. Borga lies 200 km south of Granås, as the crow flies.

"When you talk about nostalgia, that I am from Borga...then I say I still call Borga ‘home’. I grew up there. My first years and the nature there made an impression on me. My life has been shaped by the Borga area and its progression. It has also been wilderness, it is also one of the last of the homesteaded lands."

FROMquestions & answers

Berit with dog Billy

From Skellefteå (Billy is from Kallix)

"Roots are important. I grew up there (Skellefteå) allthough my parents and siblings lived in Abisko."

FROMquestions & answers

Simon

From Gävle

"I was born in Stockholm actually. Then (moved to) Gävle, then Sundsvall, then Skellefteå and now Umeå. It’s not that Gävle is better than anywhere else –I am not as patriotic as people who are from the south (of Sweden) or from the north...No. It (where i am from) is nothing that I think about."