Torsello, Davide - Pappová, Melinda: Social Networks in Movement. Time, interaction and interethnic spaces in Central Eastern Europe - Nostra Tempora 8. (Somorja-Dunaszerdahely, 2003)
Time and social networks
58 Árendás Zsuzsanna the most significant family celebrations (weddings, anniversaries, burials), and village events (the village festival, búcsú). Afterwards, relationships became reduced to irregular and very short visits (one every 2-3 years, and 1-2 days per visit). In the case of the first generation, a double attachment can be observed through their usage of the term "home”. They entitle both places- their old and the new place of livingwith this word, making a slight distinction by using two different words: haza and otthon. These are used in the meaning of „We are at home” (Otthon vagyunk), and "We go home” (Haza megyünk). This dual attachment is so strong that the family members of the first generation people (wife/husband, children), use the term "haza” in their narrative when they refer to Matúškovo, even if they have never been to Matúškovo. After the post-1989 political and economic changes in the region, economic motivation to visit Slovakia ceased. Shortages of goods disappeared in both countries; there were no significant differences which could have been equalized through such trips anymore. The "old first generation” has almost disappeared on both sides; the remaining members are elderly, unable to travel or to keep family contacts in any other way. The "younger first generation”, though irregularly, still make short visits to the village. Their age is also a significant factor in the weakening of these relationships. Even if they manage to visit “home”, they often mention in their conversations about these trips that they felt it was difficult to find a “common language” with the younger generations living in Matúškovo, and there are always fewer and fewer people to visit. About the second generation it can be clearly stated that they lost the primary, economic motivation after 1989, and there is not (and never has been) enough emotional motivation.
