Barb Hughes - learning Swedish to unlock your family's history
Barb Hughes' grandparents came to Minnesota by the beginning of the last century. They were Swedish woodworkers and cabinet makers, seeking a life in the growing city of Minneapolis, and soon became part of the city's Swedish community.
But the ties to their homeland were never broken, leaving a trail of stories, letters, and tales that continued through the generations, and to unlock her past, Barb decided at an early age to learn Swedish. A decision that not only woke up her inner Swede but also started a chain reaction, opening the door to nursing school, connecting her and her family to their Swedish relatives - and meeting her husband.
I met Barb outside her house in Mankato, Minnesota, and was overwhelmed by both her hospitality and the way her eyes sparkled when we spoke Swedish.
- This episode seeks to highlight the importance of a language and how it can be used to go back in time.
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