Slovakia is more than a point on the map or the politics we complain about.
This story is part of a Global Slovakia project documenting the journeys of Slovak descendants reconnecting with their heritage through Citizenship by Descent and the Slovak Living Abroad Certificate.
It is difficult for many Slovakia-born Slovaks to understand why someone whose ancestors left this country generations ago would travel thousands of kilometres just to stand in a small village church, walk through a quiet cemetery or search for a family house that may no longer even exist.
After all, the grass always seems greener on the other side. For many Slovaks, North America still represents opportunity and prosperity, while Slovakia is where we tend to focus on everyday frustrations. Perhaps because we know it so well, we often overlook its virtues while dwelling on its imperfections. It almost seems to be part of our national character.
From that perspective, it is hard to understand what draws descendants back to the so-called "black hole of Europe" that many still believe Slovakia is. Time and again, I see genuine bewilderment on the faces of Slovaks when I tell them how eager Americans with Slovak roots are to visit, and how deeply they fall in love with Slovakia once they do.
