Major
Biology
Advisor
Miriam Reumann
Advisor Department
History
Date
5-2025
Keywords
immigration, policy, mobility, culture
Abstract
This project maps the Ziko family's journey from post-Communist Albania to 1990s Boston and beyond, examining how they integrated the two different places based on experiences. All migrants make complex decisions about cultural heritage, weighing and choosing what values to retain to pass along to further generations. Whether it involves navigation of the political realities of visa systems or honoring traditional foodways and arts, immigrants like the Zikos are constantly redefining their place– retaining elements of the past while adapting to the demands and opportunities of their new home in the United States.