Chasing My DNA

I just purchased my airfare and the wheels are now in motion as I prepare for my next Great Adventure.

This journey will be a bit different than my past adventures.  I typically like to travel to developing countries that offer some relevance to current global events.  Most of the places I've explored have been in Asia, Africa or South America and more recently I've focused on countries with a strong Muslim influence.  It has been great fun going to different places and learning about the lives of people from different cultures.  But, last year, I became curious about who I am.  I was wondering about my own roots.  Yes, I knew my family had been Americans for at least the last four generations but, I wanted to explore these roots more deeply.  So, I sent in my DNA to get some answers.  Indeed, my family has been in the United States for many years but, I now know they came from various parts of Europe; from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula.  Ireland, however, was the place that seemed the most likely origin for most of my ancestors.

Of course, I'm very familiar with my own American culture but, how has it evolved from the time my people migrated from Ireland?  What customs, values and perspectives might I still share with the Irish people?  And, how might the Irish culture seem odd from my American perspective?  I'm looking forward to getting answers the these questions and I'm inviting all of you to come along as I discover Ireland and maybe a bit about myself.

So, follow me as I blog to join me on this great adventure.  You can also earn house points by posting comments and/or responding to my questions.  To earn points, just make sure you identify yourself and your house when you post.

Let's start with a few questions to see what we know about the history of Irish Americans.

What were some of the reasons the Irish people left their homes in Ireland to start new lives in America?

What impact did Irish immigrants have on America?

Here’s a shot of my AncestryDNA from my Ipad with an interesting fact about the discovery of DNA.  The great-grand parents of James Watson were Irish. Also, Erwin Schrodinger wrote “What is Life” in Dublin. 

Wow!  I don't leave until June but, I'm already excited and eager to read your comments.