The Concept of "Heimat"

[breakingthrunow]

When I try to explain the concept of "Heimat" to people, it doesn't translate well. In German, it can sound cheesy but I think it's still valid and everyone can relate to a degree. I have come across it so many times now that I decided to goggle and see how others describe this typical German word in English. One thing I found that I believe sums

Comments

[lirren]

You know, that's a fascinating concept, and I found it very interesting to see how well I relate to that idea, because I rarely think of myself as American, even though I am for generations. Instead, I always think of myself as a Texan first. Both sides of my family have been in Texas since the late 1830's, so I have pretty deep roots here, and considering how diverse and enormous my country is, it's hard sometimes to feel that I have much at all in common with people in New York or California or Montana.

[marikanola]

I just posted that although I think of myself as am American, I think of myself more as Southern. I wonder if that is true of most Texans and Southerners ... I wonder if people up north think the same way.

[onyxwolf13]

I've lived in the South my whole life and I feel more Southern than American some times. Even though I'm not conservative or Christian, like most of the South is.
I also feel a sense of real loss, it seems to me that the things that make us Southern have faded. I mean the being friendly and polite and the food and just a more relaxed attitude ;)

I'll ask some of my non-Southern friends, see what they think about this concept.

[psych_o_girl09]

I was going to post something similar here, but I'm from Minnesota- I would have to agree that the reason for our "state first" loyalty probably stems from the fact that the U.S. is so large and incredibly. I would never feel at home anywhere else- and I know that everything from my accent to feeling like it isn't Christmas if there's no snow has a lot to do with where I'm from, and, that I wouldn't find those specifics anywhere else.

[marikanola]

My family moved from Tennessee to Minnesota for one year ... the amount of snow and how cold it was.. well beyond anything I have ever conceived.

[marikanola]

See for me it's not a state thing, I spent most of my Childhood in Tennessee, and I have spent a lot of time in Florida, but New Orleans is home -- my real home that I am connected to. Nothing feels like here ... but I have always been connected to "the south" as a region.