Posts by tjgrz11

tjgrz11

9 Oct 2008

Genealogy / how many know their own family histories? [139]

My Uncle has been working on a family tree for something like 10-15 years now. He has our name, Grzeskowiak, traced back to the village it originated in apparently. I've asked him about it before, but he has so much informatoin on it I never know where to begin. I'm hoping in the next 1-2 years to visit Poland for the first time and visit the area our name is from.

tjgrz11

13 Oct 2008

Travel / Finally starting to plan my trip to Poland!! [2]

I've been wanting to go to Poland for many years now. Things have constantly blocked me from this, but I'm finally starting to plan it. Any tips or advice you could toss my way would be great. I have a few places that I definitely need to visit while I'm there, but all other suggestions are most definitely welcome.

Right now I'm looking at the beginning of July 2009.

One of those places includes the area my name originated, which my uncle has traced in the family tree he's been working on, I'll post the area once I get a hold of him and find that out.

Another place I have to visit is Auschwitz. I'd like to take a good amount time there so maybe places to stay closer to there would be helpful. I don't want to be rushed when I'm there.

I'd also like to visit Krakow and Warsaw.

This planning is in the very beginning stages so anything you got for me would be great!!

-TJ

tjgrz11

8 Nov 2008

USA, Canada / Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival [4]

The Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival starts today. If you are in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area I suggest you come down and check it out.

annarborpolonia.org/filmfestival/home.htm

tjgrz11

8 Nov 2008

USA, Canada / Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival [4]

I went tonight for the first time. It was great! I wish I could go tomorrow too, but work is in the way. Lejdis is playing tomorrow so I did not get to see it. Tonight I saw:

-Twists of Fate (Korowod) by dir. Jerzy Stuhr
- A Woman and Circles (Kobieta i kola) by dir. Bruce Checefsky
- The First Day (Pierwszy dzien) by dir. Marcin Sauter
- Stone Silence (Kamienna cisza) by dir. Krzysztof Kopczynski
- Fur (Futro) by dir. Tomasz Drozdowicz

All were very good. Twists of Fate was a drama and I loved how the stories intertwined themselves through the film. Stone Silence was my favorite of the 3 documentaries. Excellent film from start to finish. Fur was absolutely hilarious. I haven't laughed that hard in a while.

I'm really glad I went. It was a great atmosphere and I had the ability to speak with director Krzysztof Kopczynski. I highly recommend this festival and look forward to attending every year as long as I'm in Ann Arbor.