The case of the missing family

When I was a child the mystery of our missing family often came up in family gatherings.  My grandparents, both born and raised in Central Bohemia (today part of the Czech Republic), took advantage of free land offered in the Volyn valley of what today is the W. Ukraine. (then it was part of the Austro Hungarian empire).

2 photos - which is which? One is NE Kansas the other is in the western Ukraine - same landscape - same climate 

So many Czech farmers were immigrating to the US that there was a strong needs to induce them to remain in the empire – so the mostly empty eastern lands were offered as free land.  Several of my grandmother’s brothers and sisters also moved to the new farmland, where a sizable Czech enclave had formed.  Still, the life there was difficult and the lure of America was so great that my Grandparents sold their land and bought steamship passage to the New World.

Village in Ukraine - You have to look twice to see that it isn't Delia!

They settled in Delia Kansas, in a community with other Bohemians, Slovaks, and Moravians that spoke the same Czech language and had similar cultural ways.  Here too life was difficult but they persevered and developed a good life.  (This is where my sister and I grew up too.)

The new world!

Modern farming practices were more efficient than traditional methods

Many letters traveled across the sea from the Boratin Ukraine village and Delia...and the letters serve as a great record of key events in the lives of the European family... that family also appeared to become relatively prosperous, they travelled widely, and some engaged in other businesses besides farming.  The family survived the First World War and the fall of the Austro Hungarian Empire with little change in their life style.

Two rammed - earth houses - one in the W. Ukraine and one in Delia..

Houses were built in the same style that was know in Europe - Thick rammed earth walls were effective in cold winters,

Their village had been part of Poland under the Austro-Hungarians but now with them gone, it was included in the Ukraine.  More Russians moved into their area, bringing different social dynamics and different tensions.  The Zlatnik/Sadek*  families were active in the Reformed Church – a minority Protestant denomination, which made them even more of a minority in a region divided by Roman Catholics and Russian Orthodox communities.

*Sadek: My grandmothers family name.

The founder of the Czech reformed tradition, Jan Hus predated Martin Luther to his opposition to the excesses of the church in his day

The last letter that we have from my Grandmother’s sister carries the message – “Hitler’s army is moving toward our village and we are not sure when we can write again.” Then since the early days of the Second World War nothing – no word from any of the European family – either my grandmother’s or grandfather's families (both extensive).

Village refugees attempting to escape the fighting in Western Ukraine - WW II

When there is a Zlatnik family gathering there are conjectures and questions raised – but nothing.

Now thanks to the miracle of the computer and English, and used 'Google Translate' to translate it into Czech (Google translations are far from perfect – and sometimes hard to make out).  This I sent to a number of European Zlatniks and Sadeks  that I found on Facebook... Indirectly we have made contact with a woman living in the same region of Bohemia that my family is from – she knows the history of all the same people we know, and actually has photos of some of the same people.   She is the granddaughter of my grandmother’s sister...which would make us some kind of cousins... (If you know genealogy please tell me the name for our relationship).  It is so exciting to have made this contact!  She is the first verified family contact since the early 1940’s!  Plus she tells me that there is another relative living in Chicago... I am attempting to contact him...

Still there are mysteries to resolve:

1... What happened to the Boratin (Ukraine) Czech community?  Did they fall victim to Hitler’s invasion?... Did they survive the forced starvations under Stalin? ...Were they able to immigrate out of the Ukraine either into Russia or into the Czech regions?    I even found that when the Russians recaptured the area from the Germans that  approximately 7,000 of the regions inhabitants were deported in cattle trucks to Kazakhstan and 1,550 were arrested by the NKVD.  So many questions – so little information...

2.  And what about the Zlatnik side of the family – there are no records.  They were hard working wheat farmers and they left very little paper trail.  I have my grandparent’s marriage license, their birth certificates, passports, and a copy of a document showing that they entered the US through Ellis Island.   I have even searched for them on the genealogical website Ancestry.com... but nothing there. 

So you may be asking.”So what!?”   ...  “Why are you even concerned about something that is so difficult to know?”...  Good questions...

I can only say it is a question that haunts us elder Zlatniks –It’s like a puzzle that will not leave us alone...  It is part of my growing up...part of me.

It is my hope that one fine day I will be able to visit my Czech family in Bohemia and sit down with them to Coffee (or maybe "Pivo") and Kolache.  We will tell each other funny stories and laugh together!

Fruits of fall...Everything in its season...

We live next to Quarry Lakes Park, one of the East Bay Regional Parks.  The landscaping is a brilliant example of ecological restoration.  The park was built on the site of old gravel quarries - reshaped with power shovels and bull dozers to form five lakes with contours and trails.  Since Niles in a historic center of  horticultural nurseries, the decision was made to base the landscaping on a variety of world plants, not just local native vegetation.

The outcome is exciting!  A peninsula extends into one of the lakes to contain a collection of rare and unusual fruit varieties.  The rule is "anyone can pick any fruit - but you can take only what you hold in your hand - no bags, pockets, or boxes... I have been exposed to some new very enjoyable fruit varieties and have incorporated several trees in our home garden...

There is something wonderful about going into our own  garden and picking fruit fresh from our own trees.  Figs are just finished... and they were so good this year... we had enough heat that they had a high sugar level.  I like them best warm from the sun...  Some people peel them but I love the texture of the outer skin too.  To me squeezing a fig to find if its ripe is a very sensual experience!

After figs we have jujube fruit known as Chinese Dates – the fruit is about the size of a big cherry with one small seed.  I always start eating them too early – but even immature they are delicious.  At their best they get wrinkled, deep red,  and very sweet.  It is a fall treat to pick a handful when I’m working in the garden – just for a snack...  You may recognize them from Chinatown - where they are commonly sold by the small bag full. Their proper name is Zizyphus!

Next come guavas – I planted the small red Chilean guava – called Strawberry guavas – their flavor is very intense and I enjoy them a few at a time.. They must be really ripe to be good.  Also I have green colored Pineapple Guavas about the size of a large hen’s egg. When they become ripe and soft I cut them in half and use a spoon to scoop out the heart.  Milder flavor than the Chilean variety...

I’m starting to pick an occasional Granny Smith Apple – they are a true “winter” apple – with the main crop getting ripe in November... those we will make into canned apple sauce for the long cold months of December – April when there is no fruit ripening.

Also we are looking forward to  two varieties of persimmon... The flat, Fuji persimmons have a texture like an apple – tasty and crisp. These Hayashi  persimmons are more rounded and larger. They become very soft and are best eaten just on the edge of frozen... they have a sweet nutlike flavor... wonderful!.. Persimmons have such beautiful orange color, sometimes with black spots.  They ripen just after Halloween.

I planted a quince tree that bears well – but we are not too fond of the texture and flavor of quinces... They are good baked, and they make a wonderful quince butter ( like apple butter ).  We give many of  them to a baker friend that makes delicious tarts with them...

When I was a kid in Kansas we thought of Rhubarb stems as a fruit– and I am growing genuine Kansas rhubarb brought to California by my uncle Delbert.  He grew it in southern California.  Many forms of rhubarb die back with frost – but not this one – Its bright red stems and green leaves are attractive all winter long... It gives me pleasure to share my “Uncle Delbert” rhubarb with others.  I am put out by people making jokes about rhubarb!  It makes  one of my favorite pies!

To a botanist, tomatoes are a fruit – and they continue to produce a bounteous harvest continually from very early July to Thanksgiving.  I grow “Ace” and ”Earlygirl” because they are so prolific and bear steadily all season.  Forget heirloom varieties – most of them require a much hotter climate than we have here... 

I also planted a bed of new hybrid strawberries  that are large, well shaped fruit, that taste like strawberries should taste... an intense sweet flavor!  They bear continuously for several weeks in the summer.

Oranges, Tangerines, and Lemons are pretty much year round... but I am picky and go looking for year old oranges that are hold overs, still on the tree from last year – they are the sweetest and have the most flavor.  Naval oranges just don’t ripen well in our climate – but Valencia oranges are super!

For the next ripe fruit we will have to wait until the end of May or early June – when Loquats ripen... they are a strange little fruit – with a sweet sour flavor and huge brown seeds.  I planted a modern hybrid with larger fruit and smaller seeds... I am quite fond of them!

What winter doesn't have in fruit – I compensate with lettuce and greens... two kinds of Italian Kale and two kinds of leaf lettuce... plus this year I am experimenting with planting potatoes in October... Potato plants will take a bit of frost, and even if we get a heavy frost the soil will not freeze solid, so growth will quickly return.

I welcome each new fruit as it comes into season and eat them with pleasure.  And with the last of each fruit I am sorry to see them end.. but its time to move on to the next variety.  I think there is a great lesson about life in there somewhere...

Dealing with change

I love the gentle turning of the seasons.  Its happening again! Daylight is diminishing by about 4 minutes a day.   The liquid amber trees are turning reds and orange, the cottonwoods are showing signs of turning yellow and brown.  I am waiting for the Granny Smith apples to ripen  ...also the Hayashi Persimmons... I know of a street chestnut tree in my neighborhood that drops chestnuts to the sidewalk for people to collect in competition with the squirrels.  The nights are dropping to below 50 F and an extra blanket feels good. 

I am back to work – Field supervisor for 3 student teachers with Mills College, and at Cal State University I have 3 interns (teaching 5 paid periods a day) and 4 student teachers who teach one.  My good friends at Teach for America did not receive a grant this year and so had to drop all paid field supervisors. I miss them; they are good folks.

Education Building - Mills College

The Science/Math program at Mills College is developing a new program to explore how best to support new teachers in inner city Oakland.  We met yesterday, for an evening dinner meeting,  with a group of experienced Oakland teachers who are all hosting student teachers in their classrooms this year.  We met to brainstorm with them such questions as “What keeps a teacher in the Oakland Unified system?" "For what reasons do people leave teaching in Oakland?"  "What additional skills do new teachers need to be prepared to be successful in inner city schools?"  "What role can school administrators plan to increase the chances of new teacher success?"

Classroom wall poster - Designed to build personal accountability

A goal of the meeting was to start in motion a new task force to create a plan to be implemented in one year. The Design Team will advise the Secondary Math/Science Education program at Mills in developing a closer working relationship with a limited number of target Oakland schools to place and support long term success of new teachers....to prepare them to better meet the need of all kids in their classes.

At Mills we say " There are lots of ways to be smart"... But some of these ways have strong cultural roots. If you are of one culture it may be difficult to recognize or value "smart" in someone of another culture...

These are powerful questions with implications for far more than Oakland schools.  For those of you not familiar with Oakland, it is a perfect laboratory for this project.  Oakland is noted for a wide diversity of communities – bridging the complete national, social, and racial spectrums. The special high tech industries of the Bay Area have attracted talented people from around the world.

View across Oakland, and beyond, across the Bay, to San Francisco

 Many workers from all parts of the US have moved here, attracted by ship building in the WWII years,  and by opportunities to work in Silicon Valley today.  We are a center of many fine medical centers...which also are in need of a vast well trained support staff.  All of these factors contribute to the make up of our schools today.

A lower middle class neighborhood in Oakland

Some of the problems that emerged last night...

·      *  Some school administrators allocate the lowest achieving classes, made up of students who have failed a course at least once to new teachers.

·      *  Some schools do not foster collegiality and communication between teachers.  A new teacher may feel isolated and without adequate support.

A classroom wall poster to remind kids that everyone has something important to contribute to problem solving and learning

·      *  A teacher of one culture may come into classrooms with students of different cultural traditions and may appear condescending or with expectations of imposing his or her culture on everyone.   If they do so, they are frequently met with resentment or a tendency to drop out.

·      *  New teachers often feel that they do not have an adequate knowledge of how to deal with discipline in classes of differing cultural expectations. (What do you do where there is a strong-minded student who competes with the teacher for control of the class?)

·      *  Funding cuts remove vital support people, valuable class offerings, and materials necessary to run the programs.

A village school in Ecuador...

*

It is important to note that some schools have already developed positive proactive programs to build high standards of student responsibility.  Some teachers last night spoke of staying in Oakland because they loved the students – “Oakland students are unique – they have a special way of seeing the world.”  We heard of schools that do support young teachers to increase the chances of their continuation in teaching.

Self portrait of BayArea student

 There are BITSA  (on site school support) programs to assist new teachers in their first years.  Many teachers are only too pleased to share their files (made increasingly easy with internet sharing).... Part of the problem is setting up real or virtual opportunities to share.  Still there is a lot of work to do.  One suggesting last night was “Just don’t hang out with the negative people that are perpetual complainers – they will only bring you down.”

Self portrait of BayArea student

Self portrait of BayArea student

Self portrait of BayArea student

Self portrait of BayArea student

Photos: Chinchero Village Annual Fair

Chinchero has an elevation over 12,000 ft. It is located in the Alto Plano of Peru.

To get here we travelled by a small collectivo bus from Oyatatembo, and then to reach the fair grounds rode in this motorcycle taxi.

In the mountains above Chinchero it has snowed the night before.

We found ourselves among a group of local indigenenous folks who were showing their animals and wares, selling food and homemade chicha beer, and home made articles.  People were sharing stories with friends... Many of the people were rural mountain people and the fair was a major social event of their year. There were only a small handful of "extranjeros" (foreigners) there... it was so cool!

A bull that did not take a liking to me

There were classes offered on issues of health, animal practices, farming...

The majority of women came dressed in traditional clothing.  This woman is spinning yarn using a spindle, and working with raw wool.  it is common to see women in the village streets spinning yarn in this manner.

After the wool is spun into yarn it is dyed... The dyes are made of natural plant products that produce soft rich colors...  Here the dyes are being "cooked".

 I have the same response when I get smoke in my eyes from blowing on a fire!

These women have set up hand looms, anchored at one end, and each new thread added one at a time to make elaborate patterns.  

 The fabric the women are wearing was made on a hand loom.

 The "warp" thread of a woven fabric run lengthwise.  The "woof" threads run crosswise. These women are preparing the warp threads before starting a new hand loom piece.

Livestock must be fed.  This woman is using her "rebozo" to carry grass. A rebozo can be used for warmth, to carry babies, groceries, to sit on as a cushion... 

Great banda music to liven up the day!

A highlight event - was the judging of dressed up guinea pigs... They also had guinea pig races... and rosted guinea pig to eat!

This stately woman was watching men race while carrying raw eggs in a spoon.

The food court section - almost anything your heart desired... I walked past and a cup of hot atole drink was thrust into my hand - it was hot and sweet and very tasty... I thanked the woman and enjoyed it.

For people looking for something a little more "fuerte" this is alcoholic chicha... it is fermented and drunk fresh while it is still undergoing fermentation... Not bad...

The "barbacoa"... probably beef and goat... but I wasn't sure...

This young mother demonstrates how the rebozo doubles as a child carrier...

My hero! This is the man who found my lost camera and sent his wife to tap me on the shoulder and tell me "Yo tengo algo de usted!"( I have something of yours!! )  I gave them both a reward but I only regret that I didn't buy his hat too.