French, Yugoslav or Something Else?

Iako svakodnevni život udaljuje imigranta od njegove domovine, on joj se u svojoj svijesti neprestano vraća. Nesigurnost njegova ekonomskog položaja i nedefiniranost povratka različito se odrazuje na pripadnike prve i druge generacije Jugoslavena u Alsaceu i Lorraini. Dok prva generacija gleda nostalgično na Jugoslaviju, druga nespretno traži identitet i mjesto u francuskom društvu, nemajući pri tome čvrstog oslonca ni u francuskome ni u jugoslavenskom društvu. Identificirajući se kao jugoslavenska, ova se populacija tijekom svog razvoja udaljuje od onoga što čini osnovu za formiranje i čuvanje tog identiteta – poznavanje i prakticiranje običaja i obilježja porijekla.Although everyday life estranges the immigrant from his homeland, in his consciousness he continuously returns to it. The insecurity of their socio-economic position in the host country and undetermined plans for return have a different effect on first and second generation of Yugoslav migrants in Alsace and Lorraine. While the first generation looks back with nostalgia to Yugoslavia, the second continuously seeks its identity in French society, not finding true support for this either in French or Yugoslav society. Identifying itself as Yugoslav, as this population grows up it nevertheless becomes more remote from what is basic for maintaining such a national identity – i.e. from the knowledge and practice of the culture of origin