Romanians from Serbia in Denmark

sameness, away of demonstrating the Vlach community’s integration and
of signalling that they have now acquired a longertime horizon.
Although this suggests a change in saving strategies among the
‘integratedVlachs’, securing a decent façade and a modern interior in both
the village and the Danish houses remains crucialfor maintaining respect
within the Vlach community. The Danish houses are also the object of
meticulous attention. Most Serbian men are constantly engaged in
renovating the roof or enlarging the family residence. In this way, they
present themselves as the ideal image of the good neighbour and hardworking
migrant. For the women, who are traditionally in charge of the
garden and the interior, it is more difficult to gain such a reputation.
Because of their prolonged visits to the village during the summer, gardens
in Denmark have to bekept to a minimum. Most homes are kept spotlessly
clean inside, but are also almost devoid of any personalartefacts. Indeed the
similarities between different homes are striking. All are equipped with
more or less thesame type of corner sofa, a glass cabinet with artefacts and
figurines, and a large television set. Several Vlach women told how they
had stopped producing the traditional handicrafts and embroidery which
used to decorateSerbian homes. Since their daughters feel that these do not
fit the modern home, they are now hidden away incupboards and drawers,
as are the embroidered pictures of Tito which used to adorn many Serbian
homes. AsGrünenberg reports of Bosnian homes in Denmark (2006: 139),
the living rooms are almost devoid of artefacts which could convey a
connection with the homeland. This is probably due to a desire to downplay
the current politicalconflicts in the homeland and avoid an open display of
any political sympathies. Keeping the home as impersonal as possible
nonetheless limits the women in their efforts to act as the transmitters of the
homeland culture. The sterile interior decoration makes it difficult to
maintain the home as a moral place in which social andreligious ties to the
homeland are preserved. Furthermore, the busy lifestyles of working
couples act to make lives and identities more individualised, thus leaving
less time for daily interactions across the group. For the women, who
seldom participate in the day-to-day activities in the club, this tends to limit
their public involvement to the larger celebrations and gatherings. These
celebrations are increasingly organised by the malemembers and the food