MostlyYank

Holy Cow I wish I knew that when me gran died, I thought about moving over and here it turns out it looks like I can become a citizen, heaven help you all

Probably tough to get a job around the Hartlepool Headlands though

Muchos Gracias!! Threadjack off.

Pete

Derrygal

You wouldn't want to leave the great state of Ohio, now would you????

MostlyYank

LOL! Monkeys & Capp, or Polka & Burning Rivers?

Pete

rallybug

I have been reliably informed by my wife that our children will be taught Britishness, and that I should keep my Zummerzet accent for as long as possible, if not longer. With buglet #1 due in June, I'd better get buying the correct versions of Thomas etc

steveq

Don't forget the complete works of the Wurzels too.....

rallybug

Already have two CDs

jeffreyhy

I agree with this. My stepson was born abroad and came to the USA at the age of 2-1/2 with his mother when she immigrated after I met and married her. He's 11 now and is pure American culturally, despite the facts that his mother routinely speaks to him in their native language and that we spend 1 month a year back there visiting family and friends. Have spent, will not be going back this year in part because he's begged us not to for a couple of years now. He considers himself to be American. The videos and such that we brought with us from his country, and that he watched as a toddler, faded from his mind quickly.

Regards, JEff

Gordon Barlow

Well, I dunno, Jeff. He may just be going through a phase, not wanting to leave his friends behind. I have two young granddaughters who live in Norway and don't speak English except when they're with my wife and & me, and they love coming once a year to where we are (in the Caribbean). It gives them bragging rights back at school, and I'm sure that's a factor.

My theory is that migration can get "in the blood". I did a blog-post in February that made this point ("Expats in the family tree"), and in another post some time before (I can't recall which one just now) I reckoned that the two girls really didn't have much of a chance NOT to become expats in their turn. Their mother is a strong Norwegian patriot, but even she has spent time on the hippie trail in Latin America, and she will probably encourage them to go wandering when they're old enough

Speedwell

There's a tradition on my mother's side of the family that at least one person in every generation will emigrate. The smart money is still on me for my generation's pick.

jeffreyhy

I agree that this is a part of it. His thoughts may change again as he gets older, or they may not.

In addition, however, he simply likes the lifestyle and the accomodations in the USA better, and does not like it at all back there.

The main point, though, is that I agree with rjps that "the kids will decide for themselves. Although parents can try to influence their children's thoughts and provide them with knowledge of their ancestral culture, the child themself will be the one to adopt it, incorporate it along with the current culture they are experiencing, or reject it completely in favor of the current culture. Different people handle it differently - their own way - ultimately without regard to what their parents want.

Regards, JEff

Zen10

An interesting thread. I'm raising kids in Australia where things are much more British really - reports on the Queen as head of state, lawn bowls, British spelling and (mostly) British vocabulary, and use of cutlery, etc. so I don't feel quite as cut off from the old culture as perhaps those in the US might.

Still, I am determined to make sure the next generation understands where they come from and what that means. I won't be able to help the Australian accent, but that is very superficial stuff.

cindyabs

I would never refer to myself as European American (sorry I have a problem with the whole African American thing as well), however, since I am and always have been interested in history and ancestry I see no harm in exploring my roots AND knowing the associated background. My Dad encouraged this all my growing up years because in HIS family, BOTH sets of his grandparents who were born either in England or NI and were still alive in his childhood. It is a bit sticky when confronted with naysayers and the comments about Americans not knowing anything about anywhere outside of America, AND the opposing belief that one shouldn't care because you just didn't come over on the boat.

I just say Pfft and carry on. It makes it easier for me since I'm married to a Brit.

civilservant

I have no problem with someone knowing where they come from, it's the *nationality*/american statement that gets on my nerves. If I was born in the UK but my great-great-grandparents lived in the Arctic am I an Eskimo?

I had this conversation with some Americans and they just cant understand it. Perhaps I need to lighten up!

cindyabs

Indeed, lighten up and carry on. Remember imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

civilservant

Never thought of it like that