Do many non-Anglo Europeans feel a connection with European immigrants in the US, Canada, Australia etc.? (country, people)

[markovian process]

I am thinking about the threads in the world forum in which it was noted that Italian-Americans or Irish-Americans going to the "old country" are shocked to find they have nothing in common with them. That Europeans see them as no different than any other American, since their culture has long gone their separate ways.

How about similarly with other immigrants who originally came from Europe and moved to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or other Anglo nations. Or is the cultural gap so large that they pretty much do not relate any more to them than any other New Worlders?

[britinparis]

I think it comes down to language. If an Italian-American still speaks decent Italian and knows a bit about the culture, then sure. Otherwise the Italian will just see an American (i.e. foreigner) who happens to have an Italian-sounding last name.

Also I think a lot of non-Anglo Americans (particularly those of Italian or Irish descent) have the old country freezeframed in the 1920s - or whenever it was that nonna emigrated. Even if they speak a bit of the lingo still, they will be unlikely to be familiar with the current modern slang, sports, celebrities etc to which knowledge of is what makes and Italian Italian (or an Irishman Irish).

[french user]

I guess you are speaking about Americans with European origins rather than 'European immigrants'...

As long as those people are American, with an anglophone culture as their native culture, with no direct connexion with the Culture if their ancestors they will be seen as any other American, whatever if their ancestry is or is not from the british isles. In Europe, national belonging is a question of cultural belonging, not about 'ancestry'.

[Frihed89]

I feel a connection with all immigrants to Europe, as i am one, but i have it very, very easy compared to the boat people who land in Lampedusa.