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
56 Árendás Zsuzsanna living conditions and homogenizing the mixed population. Industrialization resulted in a fast integration of the individual (and not of the resettled as a group) who was required to choose an appropriate and well-paid occupation. This development affected not only the Hungarians from Czechoslovakia, but also the Germans. Eventually, a radical linguistic change took place within these families, forced by indirect political pressure, as being a German was an “unfortunate" identity in a post-war socialist Hungary, an identity which was better not to be displayed in public or to preserve at all. The native Hungarian- resettled Hungarian relationship can be best characterized as "neutral”, devoid of any particular sympathy or conflicts. This was supported in narratives from both groups. During the period of the population exchange, especially in the time of the newcomers’ arrival, there was rivalry between these groups, but shortly after the natives realized that their property and status in the village was not endangered by these changes, all potentials for conflict disappeared. The Hungarians from Czechoslovakia, according to their accounts, felt closer to the Germans in Hird, because of their similar historical destiny (minority status) and the actual situation (resettlement), because of their interdependence in the early times of living under the same roof, and because of their similar value systems. Level III: External relations Home visits The first legal visits to Czechoslovakia took place after 1956, when the resettled Hungarians received travel permission and passports. Members of the “old first generation” were the first visitors; they had the strongest urge to see their village and the relatives they left behind. From the interviews it turns out that these visits were full of emotion on both sides, and were a significant event for the whole native village community. The visitors delivered letters from those who could
