Where am I from?

My whole life I have lacked pride of nationality. While most of my friends from back home proudly displayed their Irish, Italian, Indian or Pakistani roots in the form of tattoos, t-shirts, and license plates, I sat quietly and avoided the “where am I from” question. Even though I am not the type of girl who would ever get a tattoo, I still felt like I was missing out. I was. Being Jewish, I assumed I was from somewhere in Eastern Europe, but none of my family ever bothered to tell me where. I never bothered to ask. As the prospect of study abroad morphed from dream to reality, I began to realize the extent of my ignorance. I truly wanted to study in a country that would connect me to my ancestors. But, one key question remained. Where am I from? 

I recently discovered the answer to that question is quite complex. Most of my family fled Central and Eastern Europe, attempting to avoid the anti-Semitic politics of the late 19th and early 20th century leaders. They witnessed governments that suppressed their culture and took away their rights. It is not like I never thought about my nationality. As I sat in European history class in seventh, ninth, and twelfth grade, I did wonder the role of my ancestors in history. When I read of the reforms of Joseph II and Ferdinand II, I thought of how they must have impacted the lives of Jews living in Austria-Hungary. As I learned about the Holocaust, I realized I have many relatives and ancestors that must have perished under Hitler’s rule. I now know I am Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Romanian, Lithuanian and Austrian, but I still do not know why it took so long for me to learn this. I hoped my study abroad experience would help me define my identity. It has.

 I have found studying abroad in Prague to be the perfect vehicle for learning about my culture, my history, and myself. To walk in the footsteps of one’s ancestors is an eye-opening event that most government and history majors, and people, seldom have the opportunity to experience. These next few posts will be dedicated to places I have visited that relate to this quest. I hope you find these posts both enjoyable and educational.