Itt-Ott, 1999 (32. évfolyam, 1/131-2/132. szám)
1999 / 2. (132.) szám
standing and living may vary, but there exists a common thread, that of our desire to experience both identities. The natural place to begin is the time when I first became a bicultural individual, when I moved from Marosvásárhely to Phoenix at the age of ten. As a child, I learned the new language quickly, through school and television. I did not have too much contact with Hungarian youth, outside of a few family acquaintances, but rather immersed myself in such American activities as being part of Girl Scouts. While I spoke Hungarian with my family, I was more involved with the American way of life. My interest in my origins was manifested mostly through projects, such as a paper on the history and culture of Romania, written in the fifth grade. My first experience with a living and thriving Hungarian community in America was in the summer of 1989, when I first attended the Itt-Ott week in Ohio. I must admit, the atmosphere, while permeated with youth, did not appeal to me. I was at an awkward age, not really fitting in with either the young children, or the teenagers. Until a few years later, I did not enjoy going to the camp. I believe the turning point regarding my affinity for my culture was when I visited Budapest and Erdély in 1993.1 felt so wonderfully, not just because I was seeing missed family and friends, but also because I felt a real sense of belonging to the culture. We went to such places as the Nemzeti Galléria in Buda and Csíkszeredák Nagy Imre Museum, with a garden full of Puskás Sándor statues. We also listened to Muzsikás in Szentendre and in a later visit, the Budapest Festival Orchestra at the Heros' Square. Through being impressed with the arts of Hungarian culture, I became more interested in learning about, and also genuinely cherishing, my biculturalism. Since the/., I have, through enjoying personal relationships, grown to love Itt-Ott, and see it as truly one of the cultivators of Hungarianness abroad. I have attended human rights workshops, and meetings in Hungary, held by the Magyarok Világszövetsége and its youth. Through meeting Hungarians from all over the world, including Australia and Venezuela, I appreciate the strong embrace of the nationality I am part of. If I were asked what the most important reason for my affinity, or for that matter, anyone's affinity to a culture is, I would say it is mainly the existence of personal experiences, bonds. As long as there are others who share your passions and languages, whatever your nationality may be, you will be a strong part of it. I have come to realize this both in being an American, as well as a Hungarian. After all, while Munkácsy's earliest memories were: "stirrings in the Hungarian fight for freedom, when I was four years old and of course didn't understand anything from the whole event (1848);"* he became known not only as one of Hungary's national painters, but also lived in Paris and worked all over Europe. Being the cosmopolitan man he was, he embodies what I view as a perfect example of multiculturalism. * Mihály Munkácsy, Emlékeim, translated from French by Sándor Lestyán (Budapest: Amicus, 1921), p. 17. Munkácsy began the very first paragraph of his autobiography with this statement. A SOKKULTÚRÁJÚSÁG * miért vagyok magyar-amerikai? Kovalszki Anna (Detroit, MI) 1999 áprilisában befejeztem Munkácsy Mihályról írott egyetemi szigorlati dolgozatomat, amire meglehetős büszkeséggel gondolok vissza. Tanáraim szintén szerették a témát és felfedezve munkám érdemeit a legmagasabb osztályzattal jutalmaztak és odaítélték a Kitűnő Eredményű Művészettörténetszakos Egyetemi Hallgatók "Henry Tappan" Kitüntetését. Bár ez a bevezetés egy folyóiratba szánt rövid cikk elején furcsának tűnhet, mondanivalóm számára azonban nagy a jelentősége. Mikor meghallottam, hogy alkalom nyílt, hogy írjak az Itt-Ott-ba, úgy éreztem, hogy csak egy olyan témám van, amiről bizonyos fokú megindokoltsággal írhatok. S ez a téma olyasvalami, amit mindannyian megtapasztalunk, akik Amerikában élünk: a kettőskultúrájúság, melyet elfogadunk, mihelyt úgy gondolunk magunkra, mint "magyar-amerikaikra". Ennek a ténynek megértésében és megélésében lehetnek különbségek közöttünk, de van egy közös összekötő fonál, s ez a bennünk élő vágy hogy mindakét nemzet kultúráját megismerjük. A kiindulási pont, ahol kezdhetem, az az időszak, amikor először lettem kettős kultúrájú egyén és Marosvásárhelyről Phoenixbe kerültem tíz éves ko8 ITT-OTT 32. évf. (1999), 2. (132.) SZÁM
