Hello to everyone. I'm not 100% sure of all my ancestry, but I know for sure that I am German. My grandmother was from Bremerhaven and spoke with a heavy accent, having spent the first 22 years of her life there. My grandfather was an American soldier from New York and during the war, was sent to Germany where he met my Oma and brought her back to Philadelphia (U.S.), where I was born and raised. My Oma was always a reserved and seemingly sad woman. I think she always missed her homeland and grew tired of being a foreigner. Now, at 22 years myself, we have reversed our positions and I am in Germany, after meeting and marrying my German husband.
I often imagine what it is like for people in countries such as Mexico or Japan, where society is completely homogenous... a foreigner is easily detected. All the citizens must have an extreme sense of belonging and loyalty to their particular race.
Reversely, the culture and particular city in which I grew up emphasizes diversity. The country's motto is "E Pluribus Unum", which is Latin for "From many, One". Often times, people have several ancestral backgrounds and simply describe themselves as "American", having little knowledge of their history. I have never known what it is like to be a member of a society where everyone looks the same... the idea did not even enter into my head until I came here a few months ago.
For the most part, I don't see this as a problem, just something to think about. My top priority is not my race... it is my religion, because of which, I place greater emphasis on humankind as a whole. But I like to study my ancestry for curiosity's sake. I am interested in learning about my Oma's traditions.
Looking forward to exploring the site.
Bookmarks