I am half Italian, so when I went to Italy over the summer I thought I would feel a very strong connection to the country because it's "in my blood." I did love the landscape and enjoyed every city I went to, but I found the only connections I had to the places were realizing that my cousin had spent an entire semester abroad during college at an apartment building we walked by, and discovering that my sister had taken a tour of the same glass-blowing factory that I did when she went to Italy years ago with her school. If I had not known I was Italian, I would not have thought that I should feel any special connection with the country, and maybe then I wouldn't have been so disappointed. I feel as though my heritage has more to do with the traditions and time I spend with my family than with the actual country my great-grandparents were from. If I had been adopted into a family with an entirely different culture, I don't think I would feel out of place. I think I would feel more connected to the culture I was submersed in than the one that is technically in my blood.
Furthermore, although I am equally as Polish as I am Italian, I feel much more connected to the latter part of my roots. I think this is because I spend much more time with the Italian side of my family than the Polish side, and the Italian side is much bigger. This just reinforces the thought that if I was to spend a great deal of time with a culture that I was in no way blood connected to, I would end up feeling as close to it as I do to my real roots. Is there anyone else who feels this way?
-Alexa
I completely agree with Alexa, but that might only be because the only thing my family does to get in touch with its roots is eat Swedish meatballs on Christmas Eve (which we only do sometimes). Still, I don't think that "roots" manifest themeselves in one's blood. Thinking back to Giovanni (see Becca's blog), I don't think he'll feel Guatemalan unless he or his family makes an effort to experience Guatemalan culture. It's not like his blood is South American positive or something. Connection to roots is nurtured, not innate.
ReplyDeleteColin
I know exactly what you mean. I'm 75% Italian and 25% German, but I have experienced much more of the Italian culture than the German, because my German relatives live in California, while my Italian relatives live in Philadelphia. I know that if I ever went to Italy, the culture would be completely foreign to me, because I have grown up with the Italian-American culture instead of the pure Italian, as my grandparents did.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your second to last sentence, I went to England and Ireland last winter. I felt very connected to the Irish culture, because I played Celtic harp for 2 years, and learned every jig there is out there. I think that I felt a lot closer to this culture than I ever would with the culture in Italy.
-Audrey
I definitely agree that feeling a connection to one's roots is dependent upon an individuals upbringing. Growing up, my family never stressed my national roots and consequently I never really cared what nation my ancestors had come from. I've always just considered myself an "American" (whatever that is).
ReplyDelete-Bryce C.