[Cz-L] Personal Intro from Vye Carlile

Dear Friends:

I am forwarding this message from Vye Carlile as her personal
introduction to the list. She tells me that her connection to the
list is via her Jewish great grandmother. Bukovina was truly a
multi-cultural melting pot, and Vye's story is but another example of
how the mixing of cultures in Czernowitz continues to affect lives
today.

Best always,

Bruce

From: "S.Carlile" <s.carlile_at_comcast.net>
To: "Bruce Reisch" <bir1_at_nysaes.cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: membership in Cz-L
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:37:13 -0700

Vye's Personal History

I was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1948, the daughter of a American
GI and a Bukovinian immigrant. Her family fled Romania (Dorohoi),
with the advent of the communist troops in 1940.

I have my doctorate from The University of Texas in Austin in
education and am an adjunct professor of education at several Oregon
universities. I also teach fulltime in the public schools. I have
three grown sons and my husband is a self-employed attorney, a native
of Oregon.

My mother's name is Maria Helene Bojescu (Sieren-Kreis). Her father
was Johann Bojescu and her mother was Otilia Matilde Laufersweiler
(Bojescu).

I was baptized in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Salzburg, Austria as
Viola Lena Sieren (Carlile). We arrived at Ellis Island in the
United States by boat in 1951.

My mother remembers my father standing proudly on the hull of the
ship, pointing to the Statue of Liberty, saying ever so proudly,
"This is MY country!" Mother never forgot those words. She is a
true American.

In 2003 I took 16 students to New York to show them Ellis Island and
many other sites. It was a memorably poignant moment for me.

For the longest time Mother did not want to talk about the land of
her childhood. Her family left in 1940 and endured much hardship
even though Opa was already studying to be a professor. Oma taught
school. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1955 and are buried in San
Antonio, Texas. They returned only once to Europe. They remained
"permanent aliens" until their death.

I enjoy celebrating Easter as my Oma used to, with all the
accrutements Christians use at this biggest Christian holiday, but,
at the same time, I ponder Passover and have a small, yet firm
understanding for what occurred during the terrible holocaust.

I feel that my one way to help the world eradicate hate is to teach
my students in such a way that they know the truth and are emboldened
by it to create more love and peace throughout the world.

Feel free to edit this piece - I didn't know what to really write.
Peace, friends,
Vye Carlile
Received on 2006-07-13 11:06:04