Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

"This website has a lot of mature subjects and language, too much for 11 year old to come across. "

That's why I'm posting and he's sleeping because he has school in the morning. Yes, my son would be willing to tell what it is like in Indiana, USA too in exchange. He likes to play soccer so that's a good start when wanting to make friends with Europeans. :)

Genealogy / Poles/Ukrainians in Hamtramck, MI [14]

Many Polish settled in Michigan, not only in Hammtramck but Pozen and Bay City- Saginaw. The auto industry is why my grandparents came and once my grandfather became a foreman at General Motors he encouraged more families from back in Poland to come for the good union jobs he was hiring for. The lumbering era in Michigan also attracted many Poles.

Genealogy / U.S. Polish ethnic enclaves? [19]

"And I agree with Spot - Northern MI has a couple of communities that have a large Polish presence (Posan & Cheboygan). "

True and Bay City and Saginaw, MI also have large concentrations of Polish People. My cousin, a retired priest still does a mass in Polish at St. Stanislaw's parish in Bay City. Before the auto industry, the lumbering business in Michigan is what attracted Poles.

When in Bay City stop at Krzysiak's House Restaurant; 1605 Michigan Avenue
for great Polish food. There is also a store there to buy thing to take home.

For Genealogy Resources for Bay City, MI You can try this page

bay-journal.com/bay/1in/webgen.html

Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

Angelia,

I'm north of Ft. Wayne. Not many Polish people here like there were in Michigan and I get to hear the name of a Polish General slaughtered by these people almost every night on the local news because they can't pronounce Kosciuszko. Do you like it down in Indy? I've been in Indiana for 12 years now and it hasn't gotten any better.

Basically, all we need for the report is an email or two from someone in Poland telling us what it is like there to attach to the poster board along with his report and other things from this big list the teacher gave us. Doesn't have to be from a child but like Eurola said that would be nice. We have till the end of the month to finish the assignment so it's not something that needs to be done right now right at this moment.

I am a second generation Polish-American, my maiden name was Krawczak. My family doesn't have anyone left from Poland as we have lost them all over the years just some of the first generation Americans left and my generation. My son is of the third generation and I think it's good he is learning some of our past. He already loves Polish food which I still make with the old family recipes.

Julie & Daniel

Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

Krysia,

Thank you! That was wonderful and full of information that my son can use for his report. Your post will help educate a class of 5th Graders in Indiana about Poland. Gold Star for you today! You are very helpful and nice but I bet you knew that already?

-Julie & Daniel

I'll have the little guy post in the morning with any specific questions he might have. He's already read some books on Poland to prepare for the 14 page report he's going to have to write too.

I found that bit about the mushroom picking interesting as I did a lot of mushroom and berry picking with my grandparents and parents while growing up. I didn't know that was a Polish tradition, I always thought it was just a Michigan tradition. I'll have to take him mushroom picking and teach him which ones are the good ones like Morels and Stumpers. I have already taught him about berries from summer hikes and wintergreen berries in the fall.

In this part of Indiana, there are few trees and even fewer forests mostly farm fields here. My people were from the Zakopane region so we have a natural liking for trees. So I take him back home to Michigan to my beloved trees and huge Lake Huron. He's into the beaches, finding freshwater snail and clam shells and collects many pretty rocks that he must bring home with him. I've found a use for those to decorate the herb garden.

We are going to make Pączki as our Polish food to share as I got that family recipe from my Lithuanian aunt who grew up in a Polish neighborhood and is married to my 1st generation Polish-American uncle. I also got some decorated eggs from her that I'm going to copy the designs onto wooden eggs because I don't trust the kids handling the delicate originals. Her mother made these so I don't want them damaged. Those are going to be his display.

Thanks again!

Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

More good stuff Krysia!

I went to a Catholic school myself at a Polish parish in Michigan. We used to call the nuns "penguins" but never to their faces! They treated me like royalty because of my cousin was a priest in that diocese and the diocese next to us, the Monsignor was my great uncle. I think they actually kind of feared me especially after Sister Charlotte got removed from teaching at the insistance of the Monsignor. I told him some of the crazy things she was doing and he showed up on Grandparents day for me because Grandpa had died and that was it....she was reduced to a housekeeper at the convent after that. Sister Charlotte should have retired years ago. The replacement nun was wonderful! I'll always remember Sister Lynn Anne, a wonderful teacher. My Grandfather on the Irish side died quite young so his brother the Monsignor filled in that role for us. It was kind of funny being the only one with a Monsignor on Grandparents Day at school or like graduation where I had the Monsignor and my cousin the priest giving me my diploma and a big hug while the principal gave out the diplomas to the other students.

Fr. Richard gave the benediction at my public high school graduation and I got called into the office to ask if it was ok with me if I got my diploma from him because he requested to do so. The very next day I got called to the office again as the principal got a call from the Monsignor to say he would be attending and asked if he could give me my diploma as it was "family tradition". First he asked how it was possible for me to have a Monsignor as a Grandpa. "Aren't they suppose to be celibate?" So I explained that.

Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

Thanks! I'll tell you about Indiaina after school ok?

Dan

Well unlike most of the USA Indy uses sugar on EVERYTHING from ice tea [yuck] to chili. It ruins it! Houses range from mobile homes to big wooden framed houses from the 1800s. In Auburn, we have the Auburn-Cord-Dusenburg festival and the Kruse Car Auction which attracts people from all over. We also have many museums like War Birds Airplane museum, the World War II museum, Auburn-Cord-Dusenburg Museum and the Car and Truck museum so if you like cars especially old ones or are interested in World War II, my town is the place for you. This area was settled mostly by German people so not many Polish here except for my Mom. My Dad's family came from Prussia so they were neighbors of your ancestors at one time.

People who live in Indiana are called Hoosiers. They were called that because in Southern Indiana people have accents similar to those in Kentucky. When they answered the door they would say "Who's there?" but it sounded more like "Hoosier?" I don't understand why some people would be proud of that name but they are. Basketball is a big sport here even though I and many of the younger kids prefer to play soccer in the summer leagues.

Dan

More Questions On Poland

I need more info on houses like...are those cement houses big/small how many rooms are there usually? I do need to write about what the houses are like for my report. Also is there a nick name for Poles?

Dan

Life / Help my son with a school assignment on Poland [35]

Do you know when Poland was first settled?

Dan