"...Every being in the universe is tied to his birthplace by tiny invisible force tendrils composed of little quantum packets of guilt. If you travel far from your birthplace, these tendrils get stretched and distorted. This compares with an ancient Acturan proverb, "However fast the body travels, the soul travels at the speed of an Acturan Mega-Camel." This would mean, in these days of hyperspace and improbability drive, that most peoples' souls are wandering unprotected in deep space in a state of of some confusion and this would account for a lot of things."
"The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" Radio Programme, Episode 10
It's hard to disassociate yourself from the place you 'came from'. After all, we all want a bit of stability in our lives -- that's why we seldom try the Wasabi, even though everyone says we should. We don't know if we'll be able to handle it.
Many people in the world move many times throughout their lives, but it is a select few who actually leave a country to be in another. Moving from city to city or state/province/district to state/province/district isn't quote the same, in all fairness -- when you change national bounderies you become more acutely aware of your roots when you come free of them. The change in language, climate, accent or people does something, make a part of your mind start working overtime.
I've lived in United States for more than half my young life now, and I'm 'at home' here, but this isn't home. Perhaps it's simply a desire to be different and define myself, but I still think of my soul as being Canadian.
I'm unwilling to give up that part of me because, for me, this defines my heritage. Many people are able to move past this and become a 'citizen of the world', but I'm not comfortable enough with my identity to do that.
It's not like I go back often, and my accent is slowly fading (not without a fight, though), but It is acomfort knowing that, through anything, I know where I 'came from'. For me, it drives on the saying "To know where you're going, you must first know where you've been".