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 mother has lived in the US almost double the time she lived in GYermany. Yet, she will always be German. She refuses to become a citizen although it would make a lot of things easier for her ( travel etc ...) She says that she is not an American, she is German and that is something that she will always be. many of of my friends are surprised that she is still a german citizen, but I understand it. If I went to London and fell in love with sn Englishman... it wouldn't stop me from being an American. It was very important to her that her family share in her culture. We were taught German, she did her best to celebrate German holidays, and we spent our summers in Germany. For me at least it was a good way to grow up

[breakingthrunow]

Thanks. That's really interesting and I very much can relate. I'm also German living in the US and COULD get citizenship but am not planning to at all. I honestly don't see the point - the only advantage would be being able to vote here. Regarding travel, it actually is easier to travel with a German passport in my experience - within Europe it's most obvious as you are an EU citizen and just breeze through passport checks everywhere, but even, say, if you travel to Cuba - which Americans can't officially do at all. I believe as expats/immigrants, one is forever in that limbo of "in betweens". If I had to guess, I would say your Mom (like myself) would like to take all the good things from both, Germany and the US, and start a country right in between... :)

[marikanola]

I think that the travel was more of an issue when I was wee ... She was German and I was an American, so there were a few issues at the time ... I think it is great that she has decided to stay a citizern of Germany. When anyone asks when is she becoming one< say "why should she."

[red_day_dawning]

I don't have this sense of "Heimat" relating to Australia, the country I was born in. Certainly, it's my homeland, the place I belong, the place of my birth, my life (thus far), the land that has given to me & I hope to give to...I think this may be a "first-generation" experience - caught betwixt & between - not belonging to either your parent's people, because you've been so heavily influenced by school & friends & TV & experiences, & therefore shaped quite differently, & not belonging to the people of your nation, because there's always the awareness of something "other", different & foreign about you

[red_day_dawning]

I guess despite that feeling of alienation that I describe above, & I'm sure that can relate to, I was really "connected" to the extended family. My parents were both brought to Australia during WW2, as children, with their entire families! So that extended family was there for me, too.
It sounds like you moved around a lot as a kid, & that you learned to be very self-reliant & self-sufficient. I'm not sure that I can claim having learned that for myself!

[aryshtin]

I wouldn't associate "Heimat" with something artificial like a state or a country. To me, "Heimat" is the sound of the churchbells in my hometown, the hills and dark trees of the Black Forest and hearing the accent I grew up with.

In the wake of World War II, Germans are still rarely seen demonstrating a specific pride in their 'Germanness'. With the emergence of a renewed sense of Heimat, Germans show pride in their regional origins as Berliners, Bavarians, Prussians, Swabians, or children of the Hunsrück.

I very much agree with this, there is almost no general sense of being German. Although, during the Soccer World Cup last year, there had been a small taste of that feeling among us Germans, it was suddenly okay to wave flags and be a proud German. Many people afterwards discussed that phenomenon and how much it helped us as a nation to regain our identity, but I'm not sure if it really changed something on the long run. I still think of myself mostly as Swabian.