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Archiver > BANAT > 2000-06 > 0960685234
From: "Rosina T. Schmidt" <>
Subject: Re: [BANAT-L] Why The Exodus From Banat?
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 21:00:34 -0400
References: <1e.660cb4f.2673933e@aol.com> <20000610.111257.10382.0.NEELOC@juno.com> <001201bfd312$fca66aa0$da8497d1@rosschmidt> <39426E8F.E05CAE16@erinet.com>
Carolyn,
That was a smart grandmother. It was not uncommon for the young girls to
travel to distant places to look for working opportunities and gain life
experiences. It was and still is a way of life in Europe. The girls did
travel in a group as a safety measure, they also had an address to go to.
The boys had to learn a trade, starting at the age of 14. By seventeen they
finished their education and had to do their "Wanderjahre" (traveling
years), for three to four years before they were permitted to return back to
their hometown and settle there. Naturally, many did not return but settled
down in other places. Mostly only son's returned who were to take their
fathers business over.
As the girls did not learn a trade, they worked as domestics, nannies and
such, to save money for their dowry.
Even in our times, the graduates would look for working experiences in
different cities, countries and continents. Back in 1965 I came to Canada
for one year foreign work experience and am still here...
Rosina
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Garber <>
To: Rosina T. Schmidt <>
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2000 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [BANAT-L] Why The Exodus From Banat?
> Hi My husband's grandmother was one of the smart ones. Around 1906
> she came over along with 4 or 5 of her teenage girlfriends from a tiny
> village in Burgenland. They went directly to Chicago where they had a
> married friend. All advertised in the German newspapers as
> "hard-working girls, fresh from the homeland" and got jobs as
> domestics. The other girls eventually returned home. Grandma married a
> fellow from Batschka in 1912 and started her family. Life was hard, as
> her husband abandoned the family after 7 years of marriage and 3
> children. Grandma did not return to Austria until 1957 when her two
> sons paid for her trip. She was accompanied on the visit by her
> daughter. Some of the original girlfriends were still living in the
> home village. They all cried and said that if they had known, they
> would have stayed in America. They all went through the WWI and WWII
> years.
>
> I find it amazing that the parents said goodbye to their teenage
> daughters, and in Grandma's case they never saw their daughter again.
> Grandma's brothers and their families were still living in 1957. Even
> now at Christmas there are cards and notes exchanged with the remaining
> relatives.
>
> We (my husband and I) just got back from a trip to Ellis Island. It was
> fascinating. We spent about 5 hours there and that was not enough time
> to absorb all the displays! I'd like to return when they have the
> research up and running.
>
> Sorry for rambling, but your comment reminded me of Grandma's story.
> Carolyn
>
>
> > The smart one's - as the history tells us - just stayed.
> >
> > Rosina
> >
> >
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