Genealogy / Looking for Graiper family [8]

Dotherightthing

That is so sad but so sweet of someone to take the effort to help family like this.

Let me see what I can find. familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJ7Z-ZDG

Idk if this is the same family. A Stanley Grapier born in Poland, child Joseph Grapier. Cook County, Chicago residence at the time. You need an ancestry.com membership to see the image, which might be worth it, but I don't have one. There are siblings listed. The wife's name doesn't match but transcripting to digital searching can be incorrect sometimes.

The dates don't match up on this one, but like I said, transcripting records to digital format, sometimes mistakes are made.

I'm going to keep searching for this as well because it's an interesting case, for sure.

Has the Polish consulate been asked about possibly helping with this? You never know unless you ask. I could ask, if you like, since I deal with some of their staff occasionally.

Do you have any way of finding out his birthdate?

Personally, I don't think his name was Graiper. It just doesn't fit. I can't find names like that anywhere from where I'm looking. Graiper, Griaper, Grapier, Greipr, etc. I'm thinking it's an abbreviation.

abmc.gov/search/detailw.php

I found this but it's not really helpful.

archives.gov/publications/prologue/1999/summer/gold-star-mothers-2.html

This link gives two places to check national archives for WWI soldier records. You have to fill out a form and list the information you have.

If the name is not "Graiper", as the dog tag doesn't match the tombstone 100%, it could be a different version.

For example, Graiber from Russia (Polish ethnicity), a woman, but could be related

There are 17 Ellis Island records for Greiper last name, mostly from Klumacz, Poland and Jewish. The only thing I can get about that is perhaps it's related to Targowice, in Lower Silesia.

I will keep looking and check with some other sources I might have.

News / Are Poles good enough for USA (to go there without a visa)? [288]

Yes, but AIPAC does it openly, whereas with the others, you have to know what to look for to see that they do as well. ;)

Food / Cooking Polish kiszka [99]

I've also never heard of eating it raw. I even just asked my Tato about this (who learned to cook from his mother, the best cook in the world). He said "Yuuuuck!" to translate from the Polish version (phew!). To each their own.

wedlinydomowe.com/sausage-recipes/kaszanka
I found this link in English explaining how Kaszanka is made.

Genealogy / My father from Lublin - Boris Cusazc [6]

Interesting, OP. Do you have dates of when your father left Lublin? I wonder if you can get access to the British Air Force records? Sounds like there is a lot more to this story.

Genealogy / Kaletnik suwalki question [4]

I believe that if records are 100 years or older, they are supposed to be in the National Archives in Warsaw, "the State Archives".

um.suwalki.pl/page_en.php?id=740

Try contacting someone at the town office.

You can also try here.

archiwa.gov.pl/en/state-archives/384-tasks-of-polish-archives.html

Or the National Archives in Warsaw.

All sites have the option to read in English, look for the British flag icon.

You will have to pay for the records, I don't know how much they are but they aren't expensive, really.

Good luck!

News / Are Poles good enough for USA (to go there without a visa)? [288]


Could you provide source? The sentence doesn't quite make sense. I do know that cooperating with the US in counterterrorism is supposed to be a requirement for being included in the VWP. Which Poland has been doing.


But ALL of US politics are based on the demands of lobbyist groups. I thought everyone knew that.

News / Are Poles good enough for USA (to go there without a visa)? [288]

Oh, I'm a legal US Citizen. But it's why at my wedding, I had only 2 family members on my side present. Everyone else would need visas & the stress of getting one, I just couldn't ask them to go through to go.

News / Are Poles good enough for USA (to go there without a visa)? [288]

I don't see the problem. They clarified the conditions of the VWP so that terrorists can't come into Britain, get temporary living there and then travel to the US visa free as if they are UK citizens. Protects the UK and the US. Still not the same, nor anywhere near as stressful or as indignant as the Visa Application Program.

News / Are Poles good enough for USA (to go there without a visa)? [288]


No Poland doesn't. You buy a ticket, use your passport, come on in and get up to 90 days to hang out in Poland without needing a visa. You just can't be a terrorist, murderer on the FBI wanted list, etc.


No, you don't. The UK is a member of the Visa Waiver Program. Poland is not and wants to become a member of that program.

state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/03/185355.htm

Press Release about the meeting between Sikorski & Clinton. All the flaming hoops Poland will be jumping through in the next couple of years. And a "No" to Visa Waivers.

Language / New Dialects in Western and Northern Poland [24]

I'm no expert on it, but one of my Cioci lives in Central Poland (she moved because she married) in a small village and some of the words used by the locals are completely different and their accent is different as well, compared to the Polish I've ever heard. Another Ciocia married a man and moved to SouthEast Poland and, same thing. One example that I recall was the word Bowl. I can't remember what word was used. Then again, I have no contact with that side of the family anymore and won't in the future.

News / FEMI-FASCISTS MARCH AGAIN IN POLAND [126]

The term feminist does not mean "Women are better, men are pathetic scum of the earth". It means that women are equal to men and that we should have equal rights and fair treatment. It's been hijacked by people who don't read and learn in order to actually know what they are talking about.

That being said, I'm a feminist, my entire family (on my side, not my in-laws) is 100% feminist and I know many men who are feminists. They want women to have equal pay for equal work, equal rights, fair treatment, equal representation in government, etc. in order for there to be real balance in the world.

If a woman spews hatred toward men, she is misguided and lacks eloquence. She is also more than likely to be frustrated with living in a patriarchal society which values her as a commodity for men. But instead of demanding equal rights and fair treatment, she spews hatred because she doesn't know better. It's inexcusable. It also trivializes and undermines what she and others want.

Genealogy / Being ashamed of Polish ancestry? [156]


NE as in the Vilno area or the Bialystok area? Please clarify. As the mapped boundaries shifted during 1945.

Delph, There were regions such as Lower Silesia, the Prussian lands, and the Kashubians, who identified themselves as being first from their region, then it depended on their family political history on whether they felt remotely Polish or not. But they would never have lasted as an independant country, I think that's fairly accepted in historical circles. I don't find it surprising, really, since the borders were shifted around so much with those regions. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the Silesians and Prussian areas were allowed to speak their own languages but not Polish under the partitions. The same with the Kashubians, if I recall correctly. That mentality was almost honed by the Three Black Eagles in an attempt to help eradicate Poland forever.

History / A little reminder for those Brits that ***** about Poles [143]


Do you sincerely believe that the biggest problem was finding fresh fruit? People couldn't get toilet paper, meat, flour, sugar, etc. depending on what the "Reds" were screwing up in the controlling of supplies. People were being killed for going to church, wearing a cross, complaining about the lines at the stores, etc. Or deported to Siberia. Granted, and thank God, it wasn't as bad as Czechoslovakia's situation, or the genocidal starvation of the Ukrainians, but it was still terrible. If it was just about some fresh fruit, I wouldn't be living in the USA now, would I?

Please, don't be so dismissive of other peoples' suffering.

Genealogy / Last Name Gieda [5]

Polonius3, thank you. I was thinking that as well. I'm looking in archives around the internet and it's extremely uncommon in the archives, as far as I can tell. That is, the Polish and Jewish archives. Belarus is another animal, entirely. Wish me luck with that!

USA, Canada / Would like to move back to Poland from New York after living in USA for 20 years. [155]

If I were you, I'd look into getting a job with a corporate firm in Poland for sure. Teaching English, or any language, isn't as easy as it seems. I've tutored English to a child who was born in Mexico and another child who was born and bred American. Not easy for sure and I don't think it's for everyone. Plus, it seems to me that you have other assets that you can use for a job other than teaching English.

Basically, if I were you and had a bit saved up, I would definitely try it for a year. Good luck!

Life / History of Dzień Kobiet (Women's Day) in Poland: [13]

user1234

All of them. Or do you not see them all as women in your life? And don't get carnations. Hope that helps! :)

History / Wrocław's Train Station: Not A Happy Place. [39]

Like I said, we could go back and forth about it forever. Dealing with the here and now right now. Personally, I think that if Polish German relationships continue the way they have been lately, that there will end up being a marker or something along those lines commemorating the women and children who died in the Festung evacuation. Possibly in 5-15 years. But it would also bring up the very sore subject of the border shifts and land lost in the East. So, there's the question. Is it worth it to open that can of worms? And what would come of it? What would it positively vs negatively accomplish? What would the long term effect of that reopened "can" be?

History / Wrocław's Train Station: Not A Happy Place. [39]

I wouldn't be ignoring it. Also, at one point long ago, those lands were Polish. We could discuss back and forth whether those lands are German or Polish. But today, they are Polish. My own Dziadek lived through the Festung. He was one of the Poles who were moved there to make room for the Jewish people who were moved East.

And you are right, Hussein was one man with a gang who backed him up. And others followed him as well. However, if I recall correctly, he perpetrated more horrors against his own people vs others than Hitler (proportionately to population, of course). I might be incorrect, idk. In the end, we have to be vigilant to not follow another madman again.

History / Wrocław's Train Station: Not A Happy Place. [39]

The children, I feel sorry for. Women, to some extent. The idea of whether the German people could stop Adolf Hitler will be debated forever in history. Myself? I think he could have been, simply because I hold people accountable and expect greatness and kindness from them. And they regularly disappoint me. And also? He was one man. Just one. He was only in power and followed because people followed him. Just like every other leader out there in the world.

History / Wrocław's Train Station: Not A Happy Place. [39]


Possibly (but don't assume I'm right, I'm just guessing) because the victims were Germans, many of whom were Nazi sympathizers? They knew for a while that Wroclaw was a Festung before the haphazard evacuation. I don't know. Being a Wroclawian myself, I would not want to see plaques commemorating those Germans, particularly those German Nazis. Regarding the hospital, it was a hospital for German Nazis, as far as I've ever known.

Genealogy / Searching for info on my Grandfather, Kolata [17]

If you are positive on the town, here is some more information to consider. Do you know for sure what his religion was? Orthodox, Jewish, Catholic, Presbyterian, etc.? Once you know that, contact the Zembrzyce church and the local office of vital records to get his records. At this point, you will have to pay for it. Simply because you are asking people to go and look for the records and send you authenticated copies. Just like if you were in the US. Since it sounds like you don't speak Polish, it wouldn't hurt to think about hiring a geneologist who specializes in Polish ancestry to help you, since you will be paying for records anyway. Good luck.

Here are some links for you.

lemko.org/genealogy/galiciapl.html
polishroots.org/Research/tabid/58/Default.aspx

Love / Indian wife wants divorce from her Polish husband just after two months. [52]


I'm confused. Why can't you have both? And what exactly is "living married life"? Do you mean you are a housewife now? Or that you went to work instead of completing only one more year of college to get paid much better for your work?


Could you please clarify what he is doing that you are ready to throw in the towel after only a couple of months? Wanting you to pay all the bills and cook isn't exactly equal, I'm not saying that. But it's an extremely short time to just give up instead of sitting down and having a (difficult and complicated) adult conversation between the two of you spelling out how each of you feels, what you each expect, where things need to change, etc. These conversations and the willingness to have them are what make a marriage last and work. Now, if your husband is like mine, it will end up with you being wrong no matter what, nothing changing and you being made to be an idiot (insert racist slur here) and everything else. But I didn't marry a Polish man. So, it's not a cultural thing.

News / About fifty injured after two trains collide in Poland [73]

Wow, there really is some thinly masked hostility on this thread. I'm going to pray that the victims rest in peace and that this is resolved so that it doesn't happen again.

Life / If a Pole says something it must be wrong - a prejudice? [25]


Because, don't you know, Poles are secretly Nazis and Communists and there is always a conspiracy they are doing. *roll my eyes* Hope you caught my sarcasm. I understand what you mean, believe me.

Regarding


, I would be troubled by that but I realized something a long time ago. It doesn't matter what country you are speaking about. Example: USA. In some countries and cultures, what an American says is dismissed. Why? Foreign policy, what they see on tv of how America portrays herself on the daily, etc. Preconceived notions. Applies to every country in some manner to some extent. On one hand, it's wrong and the people who do this might have a low iq (sometimes they don't though). On the other, some of the preconceived notions might be accurate and particularly, are if the culture of the country in question is thoroughly understood, which sometimes is or isn't. In the end, go on with your day and ignore people who bother you, if you can. :)

Re Delph, yeah, he's mean. But he does have some good points. And seriously, he gets as irritated as I do at the word "Busia" lol He reminds me of some Poles I know, and of some Jewish friends of mine, as well as a few other people of various nationalities. Idk what his nationality is, doesn't really matter. I understand him. Don't always agree but meh. Oh well...

Language / Need Advice On Polish-English language barrier (my Polish boyfriend and his family) [59]

Put on Polish tv (on internet, if need be), play Polish music (try memorizing a song in Polish and learning what it means), play polish language cd in car, immerse yourself basically.

Language / Need Advice On Polish-English language barrier (my Polish boyfriend and his family) [59]

teflcat, my trips used to be one to two months long (until my husband started showing his true colors) and never at tourist traps. The vast majority of my family still lives in Poland and I am going to be moving back in a bit myself.

No, it doesn't happen as often as it did before but it still happens. But I always give a nod and smile and, yes, there is a hand gesture I use with that. It's right palm up, hand the $, and then wave hand palm up from me toward the person a bit. That's what I do anyway and what my family ever does.

But without the gestures et all, there is no assumption as much anymore. Unless, you might be in a tourist trap and have a foreign accent and do these motions without realizing it. I went once with an American friend to a tourist-ey restaurant in Warsaw and she was surprised that they didn't bring back the change until I explained to her and she didn't realize she had done any of that. I do agree, it seems pretty rude to outright say "Keep the change" or something equivalent to someone. Just my opinion and experiences.

Language / Need Advice On Polish-English language barrier (my Polish boyfriend and his family) [59]


Actually yes. Are you assuming I never eat at Polish restaurants or that I am never in Poland? And yes, there is a tone and gesture involved.

Language / Need Advice On Polish-English language barrier (my Polish boyfriend and his family) [59]


It's true.

Love / How can I meet a Polish lady for a serious relationship ? [45]

Why are so many males commenting on PF that they want to find a "nice Polish girl" and take her with them back to their country? I mean, really? I don't see it happening. Or it being for an honest purpose on the behalf of the husband. And please, I am not criticizing your English as a foreign speaker, keyvan, but it's not good enough to teach someone English.