Am I a Chicagoan? (Paris, Atlanta: home, living, airport)

[JacqueDarcy]

Okay, silly question. Pointless question. But still, I'm sitting at O'Hare Airport waiting for a connecting flight and this question just popped into my head. And I'm bored.

I was born in Michael Reese Hospital and moved to Berlin when I was four. Both of my parents are German, born and raised in Germany. I have visited Chicago at least once a year, sometimes twice, due to work, and I can't help but fall in love with the city. I know that some people have "street cred." and some have been born in other countries, villages, cities and moved to Chicago and "paid" their dues. So, to those who have lived in Chicago, experienced it, loved it, hated it, would you accept someone who claims they are a Chicagoan if they left before creating any memories?

[meatpuff]

Hmmm. Who is your favorite former top baseball prospect who turned out to be a bust: Joe Borchard or Corey Patterson? If you haven't heard of either guy, probably not.

Also, look in your refrigerator. Do you have any giardiniera?

[SpikeDurden]

Yes. You can be a Chicagoan. Hell, JFK was a Berliner! I say: you were born in the city of Chicago, you've been back many times and love it, the spirit of Chicago is within you. Yeah, you're a Chicagoan! And don't let anyone tell you different.

[bluem3hatch]

No, I believe you are not a Chicagoanista.

[nJohn]

In my thought process, no, I consider you a Berliner since you were born and raised there. There's a difference in admiring to living the experience day in and day out. If I was a visitor to Chicago and asked someone directions or advice where to eat I would want someone who knows what they're talking about. Same thing goes if I visited Berlin. I would want a resident who is familiar with the city to guide me, not a newbie.

I mean, my eldest sister was born in Paris, France and moved to the States about the same age you moved to Berlin. She doesn't have any strong attachments to the city nor the country. She considers herself a Chicagoan. Even though she did a semester abroad in France (she speaks French) she still considers herself a Chicagoan and not an once of Parisian. The only affiliation she has is her dual citizenship.

It may be just me. I had to work for my titles, my experiences, and don't claim to be something I'm not.

[Jandur]

I tend to think home is wherever you associate yourself with. For instance my grandmother lived in Chicago for the first 18 years of her life. The other 50 or so years she has been in Atlanta. She identifies with Chicago even though she hasn't lived here in ages.

While you haven't lived here for a long period of time you still associate yourself with Chicago as opposed to Berlin.

Chicago is a big transplant city anyway. To each their own.

[tomcho]

Originally Posted by nJohn

In my thought process, no, I consider you a Berliner since you were born and raised there

The OP was born at Michael Reese and lived here until they were four.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Jandur

Chicago is a big transplant city anyway. To each their own.

Yeah, I think being born (or even raised) in the city limits isn't a requirement. Stud Terkel was born in NYC, Nelson Algren in Detroit, and Harry Caray in St. Louis. Are they not Chicagoans?

[Vlajos]

Sure, why not

[J-CityRelo]

Originally Posted by meatpuff

Also, look in your refrigerator. Do you have any giardiniera?

Hahaha, my fiance LOVES this stuff and we currently have a bunch of it in the fridge. And we're moving to Chicago soon. He'll be so excited to know it's required food I had no idea this was a Chicago thing!