Here’s a conversation I can honestly say I’ve never had previously:

Setting: walking back into the office after having lunch with a coworker/mentor (jim)…and seeing the person who originally hired me into the company waiting for the elevator (will)..and just watching the television in the lobby.  The news is on TV showing the immigration rights march earlier today.

will: Hey Erica, shouldn’t you be out there marching?
me: uhhhhhhh…..why should I be?
will: shouldn’t you be marching for scandinavian rights? where are you from again?
me: um. I’m swedish, but I’m a natural born us citizen
jim: as opposed to an unnaturally born one
me: that would be arnold schwarzenegger
will: that’s right! sveeeedish
me: yes. svenska. My dad was born in sweden.
will: OHHHH! so you’re first born generation american!
me: yes…my dad is a permanent resident, but is working on getting his citizenship
Jim: what changed that he’s doing that after all these years?
me: bush got a law into place that allows him to get his citizenship without paying since he was like drafted and served honorably.
Jim: ahhh
me: I totally understand now why he didn’t for so many years.  He was drafted, he stayed, he served, he served honorably.

…I left the elevator astounded that someone actually thought I was foreign born…I’m really not sure what to make of that.  I had to call my dad tonight to tell him that.  His reply: "I don’t even think I’ve had anyone assume that about me!"