Cultural roots
Galina
When I first started studying kinship I thought, “Just how complex can kinship be, what is it all about, and what my Kinship has to do with other cultures?” As I reflected on my family relationships I began to recognize what a big role kinship has played and is playing in my life. Not only is my life affected by kinship but my adoptive family’s life as well. Who I am today is the result of a unique set of values and mores, distinct but blended from my adoptive family and my biological family. All sides interact differently with totally different blood relationships, culture, family relationships and descents. In addition to studying kinship and relating it to my cultural background plus my adoptive American family heritage, it is clear to see two worlds, how they assimilate and the differences between my Russian family heritage and my adoptive family’s heritage.
Galina at the Russian Orphanage, waiting for her new parents.
GGG
It all began in Moscow Russia, in the 1900s during the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) Communism era. All of Russian life was controlled by and ruled by the government. As a result, this is the cultural background of my Russian family starting out with my Russian parents: mother: Valentine Petrovna Vitchikova, born on MAY 15, 1953. She lives in Moscow, Oblast: Naro Fominskly, District: Sovkhoz Pervomaisky, Moscow. As years went on, during Communist control, Valentine Vitchikova, met my father: Alexandre Vaslievich Vitchikov, born in 1949, he became an unsung soviet hero trying to free Russia from communist tyranny. Valentine gave birth to my sister Svetlana Vitchikova, in 1978. After my sister’s birth my mother and father married a year later in 1979. My mother, Valentine worked in the Gagarinskly fruit and vegetable store at the time of my birth in Russia. My father Alexander’s life long struggle against communism ended in imprisonment as a political prisoner and although his life was spent striving to make peace within the country, he died in 1989, before the end of communism and before I was born. After the death of my father I was born in a delivery house in Moscow were I was to see the light of the world and start my life in Russia. After my birth, I was sent to Chertanovskaya Street Moscow orphanage number 17, to initiate my own line of descent. My name became Galina Vitchikova.
During my time in Russia in the orphanage I was being cared for and was emersed in Russian culture. I learned to speak Russian; I ate Russian food, and enjoyed Russian entertainment. In the orphanage I developed a close bond to another orphan named: Alexandre Yurlevich Gavrilov who later became my bother, (Stephen Michael Rolf). We were baptized as Catholics before we were adopted. I was four years old and Stash (Alexandre) was two when we began a new life with the two of the most loving Americans to ever become parents, Joan Rolf and Micheal Rolf decided to adopt the both of us. In August 1993 our lives changed forever. I was introduced to the United States of America. All at once I was an American able to live life in freedom without the government being in control.
My adoptive family’s ethnicity is unique with totally different blood relationships, culture, family relationships and descents. In addition to studying kinship and relating it to my cultural background, researching my adoptive American family’s heritage, I took note of the two worlds and the differences between my Russian family heritage and my adoptive family heritage
From the fruit of my research I learned of my adoptive parent’s cultural background and I learned that my mother and father’s families came from different areas of the world; Germany and Norway. On my American mother’s side, Joan Martin Rolf‘s father was William George Martin. Who was my great father. Who I had the pleasure to get to know before. George N Martin was William Martin’s father, he was married to Agness Martin. Joan’s mother Adeline Hanson Martin married William George Martin. Her father was Hanson Martin her father’s father was Axel Hanson. Axel Hanson and was married to Minnie Redness Hanson both came from Norway. Joan Martin Rolf’s heritage and family roots are Norwegian.
My adoptive fathers side Michael M Rolf is of German decent. They immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati Ohio is the oldest German settlement in the United States. In the early 1800’s the settlement of Cincinnati had a German born leader, Erick Scherdt. Eric Scherdt met the German immigrants in New York’s Harbor and transported them to Cincinnati, Ohio. Michael Rolf’s father was Stanley Francis Rolf he was married to Margaret Hermine Donnermeyer. Margaret’s father was Frank Donnermeyer and her mother was Gertrude Scherdth. Stanley Francis Rolf’s father was John Rolf and his mother was Eizabeth Fishoct.
I found the ethnic backgrounds of my Norwegian mother, my German father and my Russian Mother and Father fascinating. Knowing where I have come from gives me insight into my personality and various ideocyracies. The hunt for pictures of my ancestors gave me a look into the past that will assist me in learning who I am and where I might be going. I was amazed at the diversity of my own family. While I was researching the past I also researched some of the newer music and dance from Russia. It was curiosity that drove me to research how Russian Young adults live. I have embedded a video that gives an example of current Russian culture.
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