Gjelina translates to “young bride” in Albanian. Ironic considering I am one of the very few in my family to avoid being exactly that. My maternal grandmother, my nona, was born in Lugjej, Dibër, Albania. My maternal grandfather was born in Palaman, Dibër, Albania. My nona was engaged to my grandfather at the age of […]
I never really cared to ask about my family’s history to be honest. Most of what I know is from what I’ve overheard from conversations among family members. I just thought, “Eh, maybe this is all there is to know so why bother ask about it?”. I thought I already knew much of my family’s […]
On 14th of August 1947 the British Vice Roy Lord Mountbatten signed the Partition Plan in which the Indian Subcontinent was divided into the Dominion of Pakistan which included East (which in 1971 became Bangladesh) and West Pakistan and the Union of India. During this partition my grandparents were in their early childhoods. They witnessed […]
I come from an interracial family. We have similar goals in life, particularly about education. After all, opportunity is what is supposed to make America quite appealing. Due to my background, certain opportunities, namely higher education, have been available. My grandfather encouraged my father to pursue higher education, probably because he wasn’t able to. My […]
Notes From a First Generation Pakistani American In August of 1947, approximately fourteen million people were forced to abandon their familial lands and engage in the partition of British India. In this division, religion was the determinant. Hindus and Sikhs hastened inside the newly established borders of India while Muslims went towards their designated state […]
The metaphorical tree of life provides a clear juxtaposition of the events and behaviors following two previous generations in an individual’s cultural makeup. In doing so, the tree provides the individual with a means to reflect upon both the individual’s own ideals and aspirations while forming analogies between those of his or her ancestors. Without […]
Often times, we as people intentionally or inadvertently, forget that who we are is a culmination of our family’s and ancestor’s roots. Each and everyone one has a heritage that is unique. Whether or not someone chooses to embrace their culture and make it part of their identity, is the decision of that individual. Nonetheless, […]
Prior to doing this exercise, I thought I knew all there was to know about my family history. And maybe this is true, but reflecting on my roots really got me thinking about what exactly I felt connected to. And it also really got me thinking about how choices my family had made in the […]
New York’s immigration fueled ethnic heterogeneity and daily economic processes have and will continue to remain reliant on one another as time progresses. This relationship can be described as mutualistic: both mediums benefit from the activities of the other without being hindered by these very same activities. This beneficial cooperation can be seen in play […]
Tracing the trajectory of my familial roots has exposed a trend towards the less traditional, enhanced with each passing generation. I’ve come to recognize the rebellious streak indelibly shaping genes at the heart of my being – perhaps not quite as radical in the eyes of my peers, but certainly drastic within the context of […]
