Implementing Your Heritage
As we begin preparing for my grandfather’s 95th birthday in April, I have stopped to ponder everything that has transpired in the years that he has been alive- several wars, the introduction of the internet, and countless advances in technology. Yet, how did we get here? Relatively speaking, my husband and I are relative new comers to this country. My husband is only the second generation to be born in America. I am the third generation. However, in the relative newness to America, we have lost our heritage to become “Americanized.”
As I come to this realization, I have determined to make our heritage remembered in the years to come. First, we have a wealth of cultural opportunities through the Arts. We can look at books from the Old Country, study composers and look at paintings from there. Another way to gain knowledge of our heritage is through food. My grandmother was a wonderful cook and she has left our family several multi-generational recipes. I’m going to pull out her cookbooks and attempt one recipe a week. Finally, my grandparents did was speak their native language. Sadly, we have lost all but a few words, of their native dialect. I am thankful that, nowadays, there are several websites that can enable us to hear our native tongue. These ideas should not take more than a few minutes a week and should ensure that my children will remember where they come from and preserve their heritage for the future generations. Hopefully, you will join us!!
Here are a few resources to get started!
Arts:
Artcyclopedia
Worldwide Local Radio Stations
Recipes:
Regional Cuisine
Worldwide Recipes
Language:
BBC Languages
Duolingo Languages
Jennifer Harkai and her husband, Jay, reside in Simpsonville and are blessed with 6 children here. They have been homeschooling for over 16 years. Jennifer received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Developmental Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, cooking and baking.
Photo Credit: Copyright funlovingvolvo / 123RF Stock Photo