Why don’t you just interpret this as “What is your ethnicity/What is your familial background?” Honestly, your attitude is VERY American. The rest of the world was divided into tribes, that became countries, only after ages and ages. Even within countries today like Iran they still make these distinctions over whether you’re Persian or Arab. It’s really only America, and commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada that anyone can come here and BE an “American”, never mind their children and grandchildren BEING without-a-doubt no-accent Americans. Just tell people “I’m American, my family immigrated from Mexico (or wherever).” I don’t want to offend you but your inability to grasp this is super duper super American, the rest of the world DOES NOT think like this: therefore, you should adapt your thinking TO THEM. Not the typical American “They should adapt their thinking to ME.”
Why don’t you just interpret this as “What is your ethnicity/What is your familial background?” Honestly, your attitude is VERY American. The rest of the world was divided into tribes, that became countries, only after ages and ages. Even within countries today like Iran they still make these distinctions over whether you’re Persian or Arab. It’s really only America, and commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada that anyone can come here and BE an “American”, never mind their children and grandchildren BEING without-a-doubt no-accent Americans. Just tell people “I’m American, my family immigrated from Mexico (or wherever).” I don’t want to offend you but your inability to grasp this is super duper super American, the rest of the world DOES NOT think like this: therefore, you should adapt your thinking TO THEM. Not the typical American “They should adapt their thinking to ME.”