Posted by Donna on July 19, 2000 at 01:30:01:
I was born in Poland and emigrated to Chicago when I was 3. Only the Ukrainian language was allowed to be spoken in the house, even amongst my sisters and I. We all rebelled until we were allowed to understand the importance of heritage as we got older. I appreciate all the years I was "forced" to go to Ukrainian school on Saturdays while my friends went to birthday parties and watched cartoons. Unfortunately the language will not be passed on in our family. My husband is "American" and we do not live near a Ukrainian community in California. However my children are no less Ukrainian because they are brought up with customs and stories, pierohy and pysanki. Becasue of their upbringing, they will have the benefit of living in a country -USA- that allows them to be anything they wish to be yet have the blood and soul of strong Ukrainian women like their ancestors. What more can one ask for?