My family likes to think it keeps very close tabs on its heritage. About a decade ago, I learned that was kind of a reaction formation, because it turns out my great grandfather (I learned after a lot of spelunking and some linguistic research) was a #
Tatar. No one knew that we came patrilineally from Tatars; the man hid his identity, changed his name, possibly converted religions, did everything he could to get away from it when he eloped with his wife and left Poland. (So, good luck doxxing me with this, cuz I'm the only one that knows lol.)
I've been terminally online since 1999, but I've never, as far as I know, met a Tatar. I would love to, one day, meet one from that area, just to talk and maybe learn first-hand about the culture that my family was so insistent to leave behind.
