Here's where I am at with the research:
- See above post with specific sources cited...as was submitted for my PDS (project design statement) for LIBR284 on September 30th
- define "nationality" and "ethnic background"
- find/record/compare 1980 1990 2000 and 2010 ethnicity statistics on US Census records
- why is it considered "haute couture" to claim a connection to Ireland/being Irish?
- St Patrick's Day - significance of March 17th (US only or significant to Ireland also?)
- Phoenix Park - Ireland's president and US Ambassador reside (confirm)
- find article: Farley, Reynolds. (1991). The new census question about Ancestry: What did it tell us?, Demography, 28(1), 411-429.
- find article: Blessing, Patrick. (1985). Irish immigrants to America, Irish Studies, 4(1), 11-38.
- research Ireland
- literacy rates
- education/ higher education rates
- education to salary rates
- research Dept of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, 2008 1,547 per year equates to 12,379 (2000-???)
- Maine figures for same period and average annually
- trends since 1980 (brain drain?)
- trends especially between 1995-2003 when Ireland became one of most globalized countries on the planet
- trends since 2007 (economic disaster)
- exact figures for both 2000-2008 compared against 1930-1939 (just under 50,000)
- intermarriage lends to multiple ethnicity responses (on Census)
- more likely to marry based upon religious match than ethnicity
- "ethnicity affects politics, neighborhoods, and social circle"
- social increase of being Irish ethnicity far outweighs natural increases (4.5 million immigrants can't possibly equate to 40 million Irish Americans)
- "nine-fold increase in Irish population in US stems from combination of favorable outcomes: been here long time, religiously diverse, highly educated, dispered across the US"
- states with at least 15% concentration of Irish ancestry populations include: DE, MA, NH, ME, VT, PA, RI, NJ & CT (while national average is only 10.8%)
- individuals can now identify with any number of ethnicities, borrowing aspects of one mixed with others to create their own "identity" (US is multicultural, hence "multi" census self identifying/choosing which to belong
- "Irish migration as involuntary exile" lends to rooting for connecting with the 'underdog' downtrodden to help them overcome obstacles
- prior to Ireland becoming globalized, were considered binational - dealing almost exclusively with the United States
- connection to Irish music lends to feeling more Irish (even when ancestry doesn't support it)
- "ethnicity is not a fixed category, but a process"
- Tell me about yourself including your full name and birth year
- Be sure to obtain town and county in Ireland where he was born
- How do you introduce or describe yourself to others?
- Tell me about your education
- Did you ever participate in a student exchange program at any time during your youth?
- Could you share some of the places you've traveled to or places you've lived besides Ireland?
- What career opportunities have you had? What was your occupation while in Ireland?
- What role did the economy have in your emigrating from Ireland?
- What other influences might have been factors in your relocating?
- As one emigrating from Ireland, with the entire world to choose from - why Portland, Maine?
- Do you have family already living in the United States? If so, where?
- What was the process you undertook in securing a position before leaving Ireland for Maine?
- Is it part of the tradition of those leaving ______ County to give preference to the Maine or New England regions first?
- What sort of community activities have you participated in while in Ireland?
- What does the term "community" mean to you?
- Which communities do you consider yourself a member?
- I understand your sister emigrated two years ago...what role did she play in preparing you for making the same journey?
- How did you come to hear about the Maine Irish Heritage Center?
- What role did Maine Irish Heritage Center play in your transition?
- What suggestions do you have so they can support other new immigrants moving to the Portland area?
- What has it been like to be 'adopted' into this new country and new way of life?
- How many family members do you still have in Ireland?
- How have you stayed connected to them and friends?
- Do you expect any other family members to emigrate to the United States? Maine?
- Will you be joining in the celebrations for St. Patrick's Day in Portland this coming March?
- What are some of the benefits of being in Maine?
- What are some of the challenges you've had to adapt to?
- Throughout much of your childhood (1995 to 2003), Ireland experienced a rapid economic expansion and was ranked as one of the most globalized societies in the world. So while Ireland's citizens were able to benefit from a new worldly perspective: their sense of home actually grew much stronger. Do you have any insights to share?
- Ireland's 10th president: Michael Higgins resides in Phoenix Park in Dublin, in a building modeled after the White House of the United States. How are the similarity and connection looked upon by Irish citizens?
- In 2007, I spent 23 days using public transportation to criss-cross the country and it seemed I was in constant conversation about politics (never once did I bring it up) and that if they could, every one would vote for Barack Obama. Why was it so important to so many that they initiated these conversations? How has his presidency impacted Ireland? If I were return to Ireland now, would I again be prompted to vote for him?
- The term 'emigrate' is defined as leaving one's country to permanently move to another country. Do you consider this a permanent move?
No comments:
Post a Comment