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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Maybe OP could move to a state that has a lot of people with German and Norwegian ancestors.  Minnesota maybe?
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This is actually not a terrible idea -- there are parts of Minnesota where they've retained a lot of cultural traditions from "the old country" and there is a sense of community around them. You could meet people with similar familial backgrounds and maybe find things in common between your family's history and theirs. All without having to try and get a visa to live abroad and learn a new language. And if you have kids, you could raise them with more connection to your ancestry, but also as Americans since that is what you are.

This is the first concrete suggestion in this thread that I think actually addresses OP's problem in a practical way instead of yelling at her for feeling as she does. OP, think on this! I understand why you feel as you do and think it's valid, and this might be one way to address it.[/quote]

Actually, I don't think this is a good idea.  Trying to connect with people because of some common ancestry way back and because they share skin colour seems like a futile exercise.  I don't see how this would create a sense of belonging.[/quote]

So what do you suggest? This makes more sense to me than trying to move to Germany when you don't speak German, but it's obvious OP is seeking some kind of connection to a place and people. Her family is already scattered through the US, why not try moving to an area where she might find some people who are a similar amount removed from the immigrant generation and whose families might have similar stories. I don't think the issue is about shared skin color -- presumably OP meets white people all the time, but she doesn't feel like she belongs with them. This might offer some belonging. A community with deep German roots will likely also have German cultural events, be more likely to teach German in the local schools or at a community center, have a history of German-inspired arts, etc.

I know it seems really basic, but I've known many immigrants who are just one or two generations removed who have found community in immigrant enclaves with lots of families with shared heritage. I think there might be something to this.[/quote]

Given her comment about her ancestors emigrated on a whim, it's doubtful OP has any familiarity with their history and culture.  If she's feeling a lack of belonging, she's better off getting more involved in her local community whether through religion, volunteering, or hobbies.  This is a really transient place where it's hard to make strong personal connections, so I empathize with OP, I just think she's built a fantasy that doesn't reflect reality and won't actually solve her problem.

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