I Can Has Heritage?

[rabid1st]

So, my mother was adopted and we never traced her birth mother, which means my family tree is a bit truncated. It sort of goes up to the place where there would be branches...and stops.

But my brother, not content to just look up at a branchless tree...decided to get his DNA profile done. This, for those of you who don't know, is where they look at your DNA and tell you what part of the world your relatives come from and then they compare you to other people on file and look for branches to your family.

We have some results back (Finally! It took months!) and it turns out we are Russian...on our Mother's side...with a leaning toward Finnish (the Baltac Seas region), which makes sense considering my very fair coloring and also...you know...me being such a good skier and Miss Wyoming. :grin: I'm a genuine Russian (or Finnish) Babe!

No, seriously, it is kind of cozy to suddenly have roots of some kind. I always said I didn't care about that...and I wasn't really aware of having any sort of longing to know. I told my brother it was silly to spend money on something that can't possibly matter to who you are. But now that I do know...I feel rather good about it. I feel like...HEY! Maybe I actually come from somewhere on this planet.

There were doubts...before this...

:grin:

Rae

Comments

[sideways.livejournal.com]

i've got russian leaning toward finland ties too! yay! ♥

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Cool...and the kissing of the phone icon.

Hey, you don't think they tell everyone that do you...?

:grin:

Rae

[sideways.livejournal.com]

isn't that icon fucking gorgeous?

i really hope not. i don't think they do. nah, they cant. heh. but i seriously know i'm from that region, thanks to grandparents and all. not to get all anthropological on you, but human origins (like the first upright humans) tend to extend from africa. ... i read national geographic.

Oh wow, I've always wanted to have my DNA profile done!

[frodolass.livejournal.com]

That sounds lovely. Good for you. I know it doesn't really compare with your experience, but I know I felt excited and a feeling of belonging to some place when years back I was given the assignment to investigate my family tree. I knew nothing of my mother's side of the family, which all resided Chile and had not spoken to her since she left years before I was born.

I was surprised to learn that our heritage goes back to Spain and Italy and England. Such far away places, and to discover you have some roots there... I think it makes you feel more connected, grounded. You aren't just some leaf floating on the breeze, with no idea of what tree you belonged to.

It was a good feeling, the knowing. So I'm very happy that now you know too.

[maypanic.livejournal.com]

That's very cool. My grandfather was orphaned, and with a very unusual family name. Very unusual... as in four other people in the entire country with that name, and we know for certain we aren't related to them. Just have stories passed on from nuns at the orphanage which may be rumor or conjecture - so I can imagine how the DNA profiling would be fascinating for you.

[webeh.livejournal.com]

That's cool. Now you can go visit the countries and learn more about your heritage. That would be fun. ;)

[gobi-rex.livejournal.com]

Very cool! And wow! We totally need a sekrit handshake. [glomps]

Ok, I'm not even 90% sure about my Baltic heritage but I'm pretty sure I've heard it mentioned. I should really investigate it one day because I have some crazy features that jumped generations (from my great grand dad). And I have this Viking-Tatar mix that's pretty weird once I begin to think about it (of course lots of Russians have diluted Tatar features, especially the eyes). My mother's family is from Southern Russia. I was born in Moscow.

[pandora-576.livejournal.com]

Very cool, and definitely something interesting to find out more about.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

This explains a lot. You need a snow field to thrive in, not a swamp.

*admires your sudden exotic eastern charisma*

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

I'd love to do this. My dad was adopted, so while I can directly trace my mom's side of the family all the way back to mid-17th England (we haven't been able to follow the records overseas, unfortunately, if there even are any), there's just a whole lot of nothing on my dad's side.

Neat!

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

If you have a brother they are getting quite good at tracing the male line. They used to do this by tracing the maternal line for both men and women but now they can isolate the Y and trace that more accurately...of course, you have to know that your brother is really your brother...because, so far, they aren't able to isolate enough for maternal DNA.

Rae

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

Neat. Yeah, I do have a younger brother (definitely my brother! lol). I have no idea if we'll ever do this, but it's neat to contemplate.

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

That's quite cool--even moreso after not having any idea for so long. :D

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Bunny, I am sure I might have mentioned this already...or hinted at it in some oblique way...but it is so very good to see you back in the LJ swing of things after so long. I, for one, have missed you very much.

And yes, indeedy...it feels quite interesting to have roots. I am rather surprised at myself for the way I feel about it. I never thought it was that important...but...maybe because it was such an unexpected surprise...I feel quite good about this news.

Rae
wishing only that I could have the more specific testing done that my brother had...drat those males and their Y chromesome making them so very special. ;->

[fidesangelus.livejournal.com]

That's pretty exciting to hear. Its not that you need to know where you're fore bearers are from to be content but it is nice knowledge to have if you can. :)

[ladyofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

Welllllllllll, at least you're not in the situation one of my best friends is in. She is "from" Roswell, NM. She was adopted. She has very LARGE green eyes...

We've had doubts about her for a loooooooooooooong time.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm...Roswell, hey? If we cut her does she not bleed? Wait...I think that would mean she was Jewish. :consults my Shakespeare:

I will be on AIM later tonight...about 10:00ish EST so if you want to chat...look me up.

Rae

[ladyofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

am on now

[joools.livejournal.com]

that is sooooo cool!

does it come with readi-made russian accent and furry hat? 'cause it should.

Also, I would like to friend you and make you orchid. May I?

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

You may definitely friend me...I feel as if I know you already. And are you trying to be funny by making me orchid? Because that is quite funny...for reasons you might not be aware of...reasons involving the Doctor's anatomy. Still, beyond that funny...orchid is a very nice color and I will wear it proudly...does it come with a red hat? Furry or otherwise?

Rae
who is trying to develop a cool accent even as I type this comment.

[joools.livejournal.com]

No, I am not trying to be funny.

Orchid was where you landed and Orchid is what you are. And if you want a hat, it's yours.

Also, i do not watch DW.

This may change your mind about letting me friend you.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

It might change YOUR mind...I don't care if you want to be bored to tears...so be it. :grin:

In my epic Doctor Who fan-novel...the Doctor's member is described as being like an orchid. This led to me being universally referenced as "That bint that wrote the flower-cock story."

Rae

[(Anonymous)]

at least they don't refer to you as that dumb bint.