News / POLES STILL NEED VISAS TO THE U.S.A!! [84]

I don't think the policy really has to do with people staying beyond their visas. I think the government wants to limit the amount of skilled/professional workers in order to prevent competiton among highly paid positions. Those in power with money and influence want to keep it. The gap between the rich and poor has grown profoundly over the years. The United States does not do much to curb illegal immigration from the south of our border because it is cheap labort that does not threaten to drive exorbitant salaries down. But that's just my opinion.

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

It seems like I am the only one who is interested in knowing the family history. I have no family tree to work with or any documents. I do have a few scattered facts and photos though. I am the decendent of Irish, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Austrian and Slovakian ancestors. What is sad is that no one has ever stayed in contact with family in the original countries. I did not grow up with any of the family, language or culture from any of those backrounds.

However, I continue with my research and try to educate myself in history as best I can. I recently found out that I have cousins in Poland, Nowy Swietow, and if I can find them I would love to visit and get to know them.

Genealogy / Mogila and Czyzyny towns in Poland [10]

Hello everyone,

I just found out that I have cousins in Nowy Świętów in the Opolskie Province. Unfortunately I cannot communicate at all in Polish...yet. I am hoping that someone might be able to find out the name of the church in that area and let me know. I figured that if I could find the church for that area I could later have someone a letter in Polish for me to see if my cousins still attend there. I guess this sounds a little nutty, but I have been working so hard to try and find my relatives...if I could just find one person I would be happy. Anyway, thanks in advance to anyone who thinks they might be able to help :) I tried the phone book and she and her children are not in there (I only know the maiden name Brogowska).

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

I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but maybe some of what I will say rings true for others as well.

I live in the United States. I grew up with my mother and one brother. My mother worked 16 hours 6 days a week so we didn't see her much and the rest of our family lived too far away. After my grandfather died, we didn't even get together for the holidays anymore.

My point is that the traditional family does not exist the way it used to. People are not having the same large families they did before. Also, it seems rare that whole families live together. Relatives live farther apart and don't visit for Sunday dinner anymore, for some even the major holidays. It seems like many families don't pass on their history from one generation to the next. Everyone is "too busy" doing whatever and the family is weakening.

I got into genealogy because I wanted dual citizenship. Then I continued on because I found it facinating, to be able to understand my family and the history of the time period each lived in. I love to travel and meet new people, why not meet my own family?

As far as the "identity crisis" someone mentioned earlier I can only pose additional questions. What is American culture, or Polish culture? Are people trying to define themselves or the society's values they live in? I say this with an open mind and am really interested to hear what others think.