Writing Stories to build bridges

All forms of artistic expression- Painting, Writing, Singing, Playing a musical Instrument- allow us to nurture and cultivate our culture and heritage. Growing up between 2 worlds - the world of my parents and grandparents and the world of rural Northern Ontario, steeped me in the beautiful embroidery, food and language of my immigrant parents, in addition to our adopted culture of rural Canada. My mother was an excellent baker. There were always sweet treats in our family home, 7 days a week. From the traditional Poppy Seed Koluch, to Roskci ( which are like rugulas) to the white birthday cake with sugar icing, we had the best of both worlds. Gathering together- all the cousins, aunts and uncles for  sunday family dinner was the highlight of the week. All the kids got to play together while the women laboured over steaming pots of our family delicacies, like Pirogi and Holupci while the men smoked  and talked in the grassy back yard.  Then at school,  I got to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on white bread with the crusts cut off,  like all the other kids on my block. What a gift to our ancestors, to keep those family values and traditions alive, through the sharing of them through art, writing and song ! Krista-link-a -la is one such celebration of my ethnic roots.

AHOJ ! To my parents and grandparents, and all those that came before them. I am proud to be a Slovak- Canadian.