Home Is Where the Heart Is: A Comparative Cultural Study of Poland's Residents and Polish Immigrants Living in the United States

Abstract

Through the use of Benedict Anderson's (1983) idea of “imagine communities” this paper examines cultural patterns among those currently living in Poland and those who identify as Polish but reside in the United States. The analysis takes into consideration themes of nostalgia, globalization and Catholicism. The scholarly conversation interwoven with data collected from interviews and observations, within Polish communities in Poland and the United States, answer the question at hand whether patterns of cultural identity, patriotism and nationalism shift with migration. The study concludes that feelings of nostalgia and separation from one’s motherland intensity the need to express one’s cultural identity. While those living within the confines of the country are more focused on chasing the Western ideals spread through the process of globalization.