It's bizarre: most of the time, people who ask "where are you from" are genuinely interested in your culture, background, and family history. It's a sign of interest and potential connection, not a racism-probe.
Right! It's usually easy to spot the hostile questions. But this weird cultural taboo prevents a lot of people from asking and learning about other cultures. I usually ask "what's your family history" or "what language is your surname" as substitutes for "where are you from."
