I'm not always clear on what it means to be decended from any group of people in particular. When I visited England anyway, I know I felt some sort of connection there, but I get homesick when I'm out of Canada for more than 5 days. So when I get off the plane in Toronto, I smell that poluted air and say "Ahhhhhh, it's good to be home."
The only time I really freaked out over being Half Irish was when my (adoptive) grandmother called me Polish. She said "Well your mother was Polish, and so I see you as Polish." This pissed me off on a level that has yet to be measured. Not because I have anything against Polish people, or because I don't love my mom or anything (which grandma also called into question after I met Siobhan) but because she refused to acknowledge a part of my identity that is actually there. I've also found myself getting angry when people have assumed I'm Italian...I'm not Italian.
My parents have noted I have had a craving for potatoes since early childhood. So who knows? Being half Irish doesn't define me, but it's still there. I think St. Patrick was a bastard. I spent the day with a couple frinds here at home and listened to Irish Flute music. We didn't want to deal with people wearing green hats and using the holiday as an excuse to act like assholes.
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The only time I really freaked out over being Half Irish was when my (adoptive) grandmother called me Polish. She said "Well your mother was Polish, and so I see you as Polish." This pissed me off on a level that has yet to be measured. Not because I have anything against Polish people, or because I don't love my mom or anything (which grandma also called into question after I met Siobhan) but because she refused to acknowledge a part of my identity that is actually there. I've also found myself getting angry when people have assumed I'm Italian...I'm not Italian.
My parents have noted I have had a craving for potatoes since early childhood. So who knows? Being half Irish doesn't define me, but it's still there. I think St. Patrick was a bastard. I spent the day with a couple frinds here at home and listened to Irish Flute music. We didn't want to deal with people wearing green hats and using the holiday as an excuse to act like assholes.
Jenn*