As a Macedonian how do you feel culturally?

[nushevski77]

post deleted

[Gocka]

Neither!

I feel Macedonian.

[Vangelovski]

Its an odd question to be honest, with equally odd responses.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

I don't think the responses properly relate to the question, which is very open-ended to begin with

[Rogi]

You're asking a question and mixing geography, lingustics and culture. That's why you get odd reactions.

Are the Danes to answer Northern European, or Germanic? Or Norse? Or Danish?

[sydney]

Nushevski, I admire your need to understand who we are. I understand your sense of confusion about your identity. But you need to spend more time reading and listening on this forum. Engage wisely. Perhaps you could have started this as a thread discussing whether Macedonia belongs to the Balkan or Aegean world, both in modern times and the past. Culturally speaking there is no debate - you’re Macedonian.

[vicsinad]

Ah, don't be so hard on the guy!

But I'm with Goce -- neither. Macedonian.

[vicsinad]

Originally Posted by nushevski77

Okay thanks for the responses everyone, I think the problem was that I hoped to find a answer to my own confusion whiteout directly stating what I am trying to understand with hopes that someone would answer it directly; I think this is issue lies greater to the fact that I struggle with the past of my family even though I know I am Macedonian, its hard when I grew up with greek people all my life who I thought were my friends & I've never really had other Macedonians in my life, when my dedo died the whole family stoped going to village picnics, dances, etc, as well my baba stoped getting invited so for 6 years throughout my high school and now start of university besides food I've been without my Macedonian heritage in my life which I am now trying to fill this void by learning, going to church, and just doing stuff but my family is weird and they still tell me that I should just be Canadian and stop with this macedonia stuff so idk anymore its something I deal with that idk if I should even be posting here as idk think you ppl want to here stuff we deal on a personal level, as well my last name is still hellenized in real life with a slight modification "nushevski" was the name before it was changed so its something that is with me all my life now and ive thought of changing it but I decided against it as it would further divide me from my family.

I understand how it can be. You're welcome to talk to me any time you want. Just send me a message, I'll make time to listen.

[Risto the Great]

Nushevski, one of my closest friends comes from a family of Grkomani. He changed his name much to the disappointment of his family. His relatives regarded him as a rebel and and tried to reduce their interaction with him.

20 years later, even the strongest of his Grkomani relatives are now asking him about Macedonia and are devastated at the erosion of "their" common identity.

I changed my Greek slave name at 18 years of age. My family followed soon thereafter. It was if I lifted a load off my shoulders and I claimed some dignity back.

You are at the beginning of your journey. You have an opportunity to light the path for your confused relatives. As they become older they will suffer from their own existential crises. The only thing they will ever be sure about is their commonality as Macedonians.

Change your name and unshackle yourself.

[YuriB]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

I changed my Greek slave name at 18 years of age. My family followed soon thereafter. It was if I lifted a load off my shoulders and I claimed some dignity back.

Risto, I'm so sorry we treated you and your family so bad.. I strongly believe that we would have been a much better place had we embraced our Macedonian compatriots.