Neither from here nor there

I've decided to write about something that I've experienced my whole life but never really talked about much. It's something that perhaps most of you haven't experienced - or maybe you have. If you have, I'd like to know your thoughts about it.

When you are asked, "Where are you from?" What do you say? Does your answer relate to where you were born or where you lived the longest? Or does your answer relate to where your parents live... or where you'd like to be from?

In my case it's a little complicated. I've been known to answer differently depending on who asks. Why? I'm not sure. I was born in Mexico, the city I've lived the longest is Miami, the state I've lived the longest is Texas. I consider myself Mexican, but I've lived in the US much much longer than I ever lived in Mexico.
Again, I consider myself Mexican... as I was born in Mexico, listen to Spanish music (not all the time though), cook Mexican food, am fluent in Spanish and practice Mexican traditions. But you see, when I come in contact with co-workers who lived in Mexico most of their life, they consider me to be American. I am not "Mexican" enough to them to really and truly be Mexican. When I go to Mexico, my family considers me American. But when I'm in the U.S., I am considered Mexican. I have gotten descriminated against and stereotyped as what a Mexican is supposed to be like to them.

If I determine my identity by how others classify me, I would be a floater. Neither from here nor there.

How do I classify myself? Not Mexican-American. But purely Mexican. It bothers me greatly when I come into contact with other Mexicans who classify me as American. Am I not Mexican enough for them? I guess so. That's a shame. What would I have to do to be Mexican enough? Have an accent? I actually do have an accent in both languages. Maybe I should have only one fluency... in Spanish... that way I can be "Mexican" enough for Mexicans. I think I'm rather blessed to have fluency in both languages. I won't take that away.

So I close in asking you... where are you from?