From Seattle to Bratislava: an American’s reverse migration story
- infoglobalslovakia
- Jun 20
- 4 min read
How a YouTube video led to discovering my Slovak roots and making the journey my great-grandparents made in reverse.
By Chandra Catron
Global Slovakia partners with The Slovak Spectator Read Full Article on The Slovak Spectator |
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Two years ago, a chance YouTube video changed the entire trajectory of my life. Someone mentioned citizenship by descent as a pathway to living abroad, and suddenly I found myself wondering about those family stories I’d heard growing up – tales of great-grandparents who had left small villages in eastern Slovakia for a better life in America.
My great-grandfather and great-grandmother immigrated to the United States in the 1920s from Paňovce and Nováčany, tiny villages in eastern Slovakia that I could barely pronounce. He found work with the railroad in Illinois, where he built a life that would sustain the family until his retirement. Like so many immigrants of that era, they carried their culture with them but rarely spoke of the homeland they'd left behind.
Growing up, my strongest connection to Slovakia came through my grandmother Margaret’s kitchen. She spent entire days cooking, especially Slovak meals, and I would stand beside her learning about ingredients and techniques. Her Sunday Soup – a hearty mixture of cabbage, potatoes, meat, and whatever vegetables she had on hand – became my favorite meal and my most tangible link to a heritage I barely understood.
For years, that kitchen connection was enough. But about a decade ago, I started traveling abroad, and from that first European trip, I knew I wanted to live there permanently. I was captivated by how accessible everything was on foot and by public transport, and drawn to what felt like a more collective culture rather than the individualistic society I knew in America. I researched various visas for different countries, never imagining that my own family history might hold the key.
That YouTube video sent me down a research rabbit hole that would consume the next two years of my life. I discovered that Slovak law had changed to allow citizenship by descent applications from great-grandparents – but I had virtually no documentation. None of my living family members had kept detailed records, and the stories had grown vague over generations.
What followed was an intensive genealogy project that became both frustrating and fascinating. I spent countless hours tracking down documents, learning about Slovak history, and piecing together my great-grandparents’ migration story. Global Slovakia classes and webinars helped me understand not just the bureaucratic process, but the history and culture of Slovakia – how people lived, how their diets changed with the seasons, and what daily life was like in those small eastern villages.
The breakthrough came when I was approved for the Slovak Living Abroad (SLA) certificate. That moment – picking up my card in New York this April – was monumental. It meant I could move to Slovakia immediately rather than waiting for my Citizenship by Descent application to be processed, which could take much longer.
My husband Evan and I made what many would consider a crazy decision: we would move to Bratislava without ever having visited. We sold our house in Seattle in April, and within two weeks we were picking up my SLA card in New York. Two weeks after that, we arrived in Bratislava with just four pieces of luggage between us. Everything we had built in the beautiful Pacific Northwest was behind us – all accomplished in the span of a single month.
We secured our apartment through Expat Experts, who conducted virtual viewings for us and helped us find a place within a week. Even Evan, who was understandably nervous about not knowing the language, supported this leap of faith. We both believed that Slovakia could offer us a better and safer life – the same hope that had driven my great-grandparents to make their journey, just in reverse.
The reality of our new life hit us immediately upon arrival. The culture shock was real as we tried to get our bearings and communicate with locals. We spoke very little Slovak, and many of the people we interacted with spoke limited English. But what struck us most was the kindness and grace of Slovak people. When we needed to get our public transport cards, the woman helping us spoke little English, but through Google Translate and hand signals, we managed. Her patience and warmth set the tone for how we’ve been received here.
We’ve just started attending language classes because we want to properly integrate into this wonderful society and understand how things work. We’ve also been fortunate to connect with other SLA holders living in Bratislava who have helped us navigate various aspects of city life.
Since we had never visited before moving here, we had no expectations about what Bratislava would offer. We’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover a city with excellent restaurants, outstanding public transport, lovely shopping areas, and a beautiful old town nestled along the river beneath the castle. As nature lovers coming from Seattle, we were thrilled to find so many parks and green spaces. Our favorite activity is simply walking around the city, often with a picnic lunch to enjoy in one of the many parks.
Throughout this process, I’ve been supported by Falath & Partners, particularly Michal Antala, who has attended appointments with me and helped calm my nerves through the entire residence permit and citizenship application processes. During my CBD appointment, I met another applicant, Tim Sanders from the UK, and we became fast friends through the shared experience.
Looking back, I’m struck by the poetry of this journey. My great-grandparents left Slovakia seeking better opportunities in America. Nearly a century later, their great-granddaughter has made the reverse journey, seeking the same thing – a better life – but finding it in the country they once left behind.
Slovakia has not disappointed. The combination of rich history, natural beauty, accessible urban living, and genuinely kind people has exceeded our hopes. While we’re still learning the language and navigating cultural differences, we feel we’ve found something here that was missing in our American life.
My great-grandmother’s Sunday Soup recipes now have new meaning as I explore Slovak markets and try to recreate those flavors in my Bratislava kitchen. The circle, in a way, is complete.
Team Global Slovakia
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