My least favorite questions...

Whenever I hear one of those questions, I cringe and feel the desire to either run away or throw something at the person who asked the question.

1) "Are you a US citizen now?" Usually the question comes with the underlying expectation that the answer will be yes. When I truthfully answer, "No", the typical follow-up question is "But why now? Don't you want to?" As if this was something that I can control. And whether I want to or not, I am now forced to give an explanation of the US immigration system, which will of course be interrupted by exclamations such as, "Really?" or "I don't believe it. There has to be some other way." Because let me tell you, the one thing Americans and Austrians have in common is that none of them understands the US immigration system.

2) "Do you have a boyfriend?" Whenever I get that question, the Gay Rights Activist in me wants to scream and say, "Why does it have to be a boyfriend?" but I know that most of the time that would end in a fruitless discussion. And besides, if my immediate family (my parents, my sister or my grandparents) ask me that questions, that's one thing - they know me and have a right to ask that question. But the random relative I see once every three years and who knows nothing about me other than that I live in the US - seriously none of their business!!!

And then the last annoying question: 3) So what does a Hall Director do? I guess we, who work in Student Affairs, all know this question. And the frustrating part - there isn't a brief answer. So do you waste the time trying to explain it to someone, who in the end probably still won't get it or do you just ignore the question and give a very brief, vague answer?