Growing up Russian

My Great Grandparents on my father's side came from Russia to the United States over 100 years ago and before my grandfather was born.  The story I've heard throughout my life was that my Great Grandfather was in the Russian Military and defected to the United States.

As far as I am aware they initially lived somewhere in New Jersey, then moved to Detroit Michigan, then to Danville Illinois where my grandfather's older brother was born.  I believe they moved around several times as my Grandfather grew up. 

During his late teen years or maybe early 20's, my grandfather and his parents had some sort of falling out and by the time I was born he rarely spoke of them.  They no longer existed in his life. My Grandfather was very much a U.S. Patriot and, on principle, considered his father a very bad person for defecting from his own country.  I never really gave it much thought in my younger years. 

I was Russian by blood and this fascinated me.  It was uncommon in my little town to find people of Russian descent.  English, Irish and Polish descent was much more common.  I wanted people to know I was Russian so I made it a point to talk about it often during my Elementary School years.  I even wanted to learn how to speak the Russian language, though I never did.

By the time I was 10 years old I was into gymnastics.  I was a typical girl doing cartwheels, round-offs, and flips across the front yard in my pigtails.  One of my teachers nicknamed me "Nadia" after Nadia Comaneci. At the time she was one of the most well known gymnasts in the world and my teacher said I reminded him of Nadia...because I was Russian and I wore pigtails and did gymnastics.  She wasn't Russian but being nicknamed after someone as famous as her was good enough for me.  The alternative would have been Olga Korbut who was in fact a well known Russian gymnast at the same time.  Both gymnasts were my idols, but I preferred to be called Nadia over Olga. 

I loved growing up Russian.


Over the years I would proudly announce I was Russian-Polish when asked. The Polish came from my mother's side. They were most definitely Polish. But it was always the Russian part that caught people attention. "You're Russian?" Yes I am! I'd say with a smile. Today I live in a much more diverse area and I doubt it would be as interesting a topic as it was when I was younger. But I cannot claim to be Russian any more.

I am not Russian. In my mid thirties I stumbled upon this bit of information. Honestly, I don't even remember how I came to know that I wasn't Russian. The shock of learning that I wasn't Russian is all that remains. It was like learning I was adopted and I didn't know who my real parents were. I didn't even want to know who they were because I wanted to be Russian. No, I was not adopted, but it turns out that my heritage was adopted.

My Great Grandparents on my father's side did not come from Russia. Maybe they came through Russia on their way to the U.S., or traveled with Russians along the way, but they definitely originated from Hungary. My name is Hungarian and it is as popular in Hungary as Smith is in the U.S. Ok, maybe not that popular, but you wont find my name in Russia.

In the early 1900's, when my ancestors immigrated to the United States from Hungary they were considered Gypsies.  They were called The Rom which was a mix of Russian, Siberian, Austrian-Hungarian Gypsies.  Apparently, it was easier to escape the Gypsy label by claiming a Russian heritage rather than Hungarian so they simply became "Russian". 

This may or may not be true but it is my supposition based on the information that I have found. It has been 15 years since I lost my Russian heritage and gained the Hungarian.  I've embraced it and now proudly announce I am Polish-Hungarian when asked.  Either way, I'd be just as happy to visit Moscow as I would Budapest.

There's only one thing still unsettled in the back of my mind.  What happened between my Grandfather and his father?  The story of my Great Grandfather defecting from the Russian Army doesn't sit well.  There are too many things that are not right about that story. The real story has to be an interesting one!

It happened over 100 years ago so maybe I'll never know the truth. 

~KB