The immigrant story of my life comes from two directions in Europe. My Father’s side came from Lithuania and my Mother’s from Italy. There is an opposition between both sides in their development and information.  According to my father, there is no information about my family past my great grandparents. This was due to a bombing of a church that held all their information. My Grandfather immigrated from Lithuania in 1948 on his 30th Birthday. He enters through NYC and not much was shared about his life in NYC. Eventually he met my grandmother, who was born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen. The neighborhood that I currently reside. After marrying they moved to Shelton, Connecticut and purchased over 10 acres of land to start a farm. The same work from which they came in Lithuania. My Father has been in Shelton ever since.  As I get older, I find that these background affects my views and who I am. I find that learning more about my family and where I came, I have better tools to explore the world. The differences between these two sides of the family relate to how I express myself in the world. I try to be present and cultivating of a current space. While also, exploring and finding higher levels of education. 

– Robert Marcinauskis

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant