USA, Canada / WHY SO MANY POLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE in Chicago? [11]

Randompal is right....in the mid to late 1800's, Poles came to the US. At Ellis Island NY for example, there were basically 'help wanted' posters up looking for able bodied people to come to cities to work. Chicago needed workers, and Poles fit that bill. One Pole went to Chicago, and friends and family followed thereafter. It happened in all major cities.

My great grandfather, an educated violinist, came to the US in 1911 with $40 in his pockets. He needed a job, heard about a coal mine in Wilkes Barre, PA and took the train there. Northeastern PA was and still is filed with German and Polish immigrants who worked in the factories and mines.

USA, Canada / Americans who call themselves Polish - how do you feel about that? [112]


I am of Polish ancestry and after learning about my ancestors, I am very proud to say that I am a Polish American. :)

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

I've gotten back to my great great grandparents from Galicia. I have documents from the early 1900's from marriages and deaths, plus Ellis Island ship records. It's a long process, costly and very time consuming....but I think it's important to know the road that was traveled to get to where we are. A quote I found years ago "To understand where we are going....you have to understand where we've been...". So true.

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


How far back have you gotten on your genealogy? And where in Ukraine are you searching? I have family who was from a town called Rohatyn in Eastern Galicia (now Ukraine).

Genealogy / Anyone Else 1/2 Polish??? [58]

Hey there....1/2 Polish, 1/4 English, 1/4 Irish..... I look more Polish than the others....

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


I have heard of Sokal. Rohatyn is SE of Lwow (or SW?) Good for you to have researched that far back....I'm only as far as the mid 1800's....... :(

How is the research in Ukraine? I haven't contacted the town churches yet. If I send a letter in English, are they likely to understand English?

Love / Advice (preferably from women!) on stressed, depressed boyfriend [42]

For what it's worth, I'll give my 2 cents. However, I think you need to consult with a professional about this. Looking for advice on chat rooms isn't the advice that you really need.

You met a married man. He has children, home, career, etc. Wrong move #1.

He has fun with you, does crazy stuff, realizes he's bored in his life. Thinks leaving his family will be easy. Wrong move #2.

Sure, his wife put him on a guilt trip. And if she didn't put him on a guilt trip, she'd pack his crap for him and take possession of every material and financial thing he owns. He'd be left with a backpack and a bicycle.

He had a tryst, enjoyed every moment, and then he was slapped back to reality by his wife.

Advice for you: Move on, talk to a professional, find a nice single guy to have fun with and consider this a chapter in your book.

Love / Advice (preferably from women!) on stressed, depressed boyfriend [42]

Jasper


Yours was the only post I've read and responded to regarding a relationship dilema. It's your case I'm offering advice on, as you asked for advice.

And yes, if other people are in the same situation, I believe counseling is a very positive thing, and would recommend anyone in an emotional situation to seek help. And no, I'm not a psychologist....just someone who has been in similar shoes to you and know the benefits of talking to an unbiased professional.

Love / Advice (preferably from women!) on stressed, depressed boyfriend [42]

Jasper9 - where are you located?

Love / Advice (preferably from women!) on stressed, depressed boyfriend [42]

You mentioned the wife taking 1/2 of the husbands earnings. That's the case in the US, particularly in the military, government employees and law enforcement. 1/2 of retirements are given to spouses who request it at the time of divorce. I didn't know if you were here in the US. Guess the UK is similar in earnings?

News / Third World War and the role of Poland [82]

My brother is a US Pilot. He was in Iraq for 1 year. He flew and hung out with Polish Pilots and soldiers. He said that they are the best he's ever seen. A funny story to share:

One of his guys was in a mole hole in the black of night, it was a rather large hole, but he thought he was alone. He was getting fired at and crouched down. He pulled out a cigarette and tried to light it with a matche. The match blew out. He lit another one and again in blew out. A moment later, in a thick Polish accent, he heard a woman's voice say "don't do that again". He was in the hole with a woman Polish sniper and her spotter. I can just imagine his shock when he realized he wasn't alone and that he was sharing he hole with a very, very good shooter.

Thought I'd share.


Not exactly what Bush said:

ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-10-17T183310Z_01_N17329743_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAN-BUSH-COL.XML

Genealogy / Looking for Piotrowski relatives. [14]

Hello Noski - Your Piotrowski line, did anyone immigrate to the US? I have a John Piotrowski who married my great grandmother in the early 20's-30's in Wilkes Barre, PA.

Life / How much do you HATE POLISH PEOPLE and POLAND [1260]


Immigrants taking unskilled jobs has been going on for years with every ethnic group for hundreds of years. Speaking of US history....the Brits came to the US, brought over lower class Brits to work for them, then they brought over Poles, Germans, Italians, etc. (all unskilled) to build homes, work on the farms, tailors, etc. This is evolution.

In the US in the 1800's, there were immigrants who were on the bottom of the barrel; Italians were considered pond scum, they were replaced by Germans (which brought the Italians up a notch), Germans were replaced by Poles (which brought the Germans up a notch), Portuguese, Asians, etc.

Right now in the US, the Mexican workers (I'll only speak of the legal ones now, not the 12 million illegals), they are doing grunt jobs (unskilled jobs). These unskilled jobs are the same unskilled jobs that our forefathers did 100 years ago.

Britain, Ireland, Scotland, etc. need to get over this discrimination against a whole culture of people. They've never had to face immigration. Welcome to the real world English speaking countries........After 10 years of immigration issues, they can't handle themselves....the US has been dealing with multi-cultural immigration since 1610!

Life / How much do you HATE POLISH PEOPLE and POLAND [1260]

Why'd you edit it Miranda....I had a response....

Your question was along the lines of "and how well does that work for you?"

We deal with it. With over 301 million Americans (not counting the 12 million illegals who are here), we deal with it very well. We coexist with every nationality on the globe. Our neighbors are from anther land, our coworkers are from another land. We exist together. Our nation is built on a variety of nationalities.

We don't know our neighbors religion, ethnic background. We know they are decent people and we live beside them.

Sure there are the occasional news stories of race issues, but with over 301 million people, a handful is not bad.

We do just fine as a melting pot of every culture, race, religion, etc. The only ones I fear are the radical Muslims.

Life / How much do you HATE POLISH PEOPLE and POLAND [1260]

Never been to London. Is Brick Lane filled with immigrants dating back hundreds of years?

Genealogy / Looking for Piotrowski relatives. [14]

The only Piotrowski I know of was a John Piotrowski who came to the US in the 1915 era and worked as a coal miner. He married my widowed great grandmother sometime in the 20's, after my grandfather was killed in a mine explosion in 1919.

Wish you luck in your search. There are a ton of Piotrowski's in the US, along with Petroski.

Life / How much do you HATE POLISH PEOPLE and POLAND [1260]

Szarlotka, I can understand how immigration would hinder the healthcare, etc. But it's the countries responsibility to keep up with the demand. If these workers are 'invited' by these countries to come and work there legally, then it's the governments responsibility to provide.

My concern on the issue is the hating of a race of people, who are in these countries legally, working, earning a living. Obviously there is a need for the unskilled laborers, or the Poles wouldn't be there. Am I wrong?

Genealogy / Has anyone taken Genealogy DNA tests? [87]

Hi! I had my brother do the Paternal DNA test and I have done the Maternal DNA test. Still waiting on my results. The Paternal test (my father's family was from Poland) proved that....my father's family was from Eastern Europe, had traits of Eastern Europeans and what the DNA type is; Paternal Haplogroup I1b. I have paid $200 for both tests and I think I might have had a moment of stupidity when I paid. The results have told me nothing.... I could have given someone $200 on the streets to have them tell me my heritage that I already knew the basics of..... :(

Genealogy / Petrosky - my last name [6]

I have a step great grandfather with the name of John Petroski. His actual name, before being Americanized was Pietrowski.

Genealogy / My grandpa was from Poland - Gresom Jopfa [44]

paulajuvaw:


I have a great grandmother, Kataryna (whom I was named after) Barowitz. She was a devout Catholic, but definitely has a Jewish last name. Her children and husband were devout Catholics. She lived in a heavily populated Jewish area, Rohatyn, southeast of L'viv. I don't know how it happens either, but we are all Catholics....with a Jewish name thrown into the pot.....