Polonia / What are social and cultural occupations of Poles in Germany ? [30]

Ah yes, the third one down looks just like me! LOL

There, now I feel better. Meanwhile back to occupations of Poles in Germany.....

Life / What do you like about Poland? [100]

I like the hospitality of the people. My Polish grandmother was a good example of what I'd always heard about Poles. When I went to Poland ten years ago for the first time, I found it to be very true. I had made a friend in Poland (due to my interest in genealogy) and stayed with his family. They told me, "Guest in House, God in House." As they drove me back to the airport in the rain, the father said, "All Poland is crying because you leave."

They did everything to welcome me. The family even made their traditional Easter food so I could enjoy a Polish holiday even though there was no holiday when I visited. And when I looked at anything in the stores where they sold souvenirs, they wanted to buy it. I had to say I did not want anything to avoid having them spend too much money. Yet on that last day of "Easter" celebration before I left for the USA, unknown to me they had all bought gifts of things I had looked at and really wanted, but was afraid they'd buy it.

And they were not wealthy people. I had brought gifts for them, too but in three weeks in Poland I only spent $50. That's how hospitable they were!

And this past summer when I was in Poland visiting all the villages and towns where my family had roots, I asked directions when I saw a man mowing his lawn. It was one of the few very hot days I had encountered and he asked if my companion and I would like some cold water. We attempted to say we were fine, but were invited in and the wife promptly put out coffee, water, bread, cold cuts, salad and cakes! What a surprise!

So, yes...I love the hospitality of the Polish people.

PS to fstop....I believe I'd be like you if I actually moved to another country.

Genealogy / Fabianowicz name [5]

Some Lithuanian names also had their endings changed to wicz. Have you looked at passenger ship records? Sometimes these give clues as to your roots.

Love / How should I approach this young Polish man that I like? [48]

It is very passe.....and in the intellect, it works out fine. But, for most men, they still have the biology that says they need to be the pursuer. Even if the mind says different. Many great relationships do begin that way. But, many more men only think they want it that way. Somehow, they later on wonder why they are not as attracted to the girl as they would like to be.

It takes a special man to recognize a good thing when put on a platter. Most like to believe they caught her. Wish there were more like you...enlightened....biology caught up with intellect.

Polonia / Life in Poland vs Norway - good for children, benefits, etc? [43]

Piotr123, you really have made me laugh! Actually, I do know another man who is a native from Norway, and the resemblance is uncanny!

Polonia / Life in Poland vs Norway - good for children, benefits, etc? [43]

Wow..well that bubble was certainly burst! LOL

I did read on another forum that a young man from the USA met a lady from Norway and he emigrated to her country and they seem happy. Hmmmm....maybe that smile is slightly demented like on the Shining....come to think of it....he has been typing a lot, too. ;-)

Polonia / Life in Poland vs Norway - good for children, benefits, etc? [43]

I heard that Norway was recently rated the happiest place to live.

Genealogy / TRACING THE HISTORY OF AN OLD HOUSE in POLAND [8]

More often, I've heard that the former owners families and the new owners families become friends. And as much as the old folks miss their old homes, they are too old to move and their kids are now happy somewhere else. They just want to see where their roots were.

I did the same thing. I sound like a broken record...sorry. I have both ethnic Polish and Germans roots. This past summer I found the farm that my grandmother grew up on and met the new owners. It was such a wonderful thing for me. I'll remember it always with a smile.

News / America's Tea Party like Poland's Solidarnosc? [59]

Yeah, it only takes into account payroll taxes, but the calculator got mine right on the button in SC. We have 7% sales tax on some things and I would have to factor that too, as well as property taxes.

All in all it is a good tool for a general comparison between countries. Perhaps one could google the sales taxes in other places if interested in a more complete comparison.

Food / Polish placki v latkes (potato pancakes) [22]

Wow....then this particular type of cuisine sure spread all over Europe. Interesting. I think the quiche form though developed in a way that emphasized cheese and egg as the base whereas the knish emphasizes the potato base along with possibly cheese, spinach, etc.

Meanwhile, back to potato pancakes.....

Food / Polish placki v latkes (potato pancakes) [22]

Now you have me wondering what about the origin of the word Knish. They are sold all around NYC. First information I found is that it is a Yiddish word taken from the Ukrainian word, knysh.

From the pictures online of Poznanian knysze, I'd say they look very similar. The knish I know is mainly potato, but it can be stuffed with anything, really.

Culinary definition: whatscookingamerica.net/Glossary/K.htm

knish - The knish is a pastry of Jewish origin consisting of a piece of dough that encloses a filling of seasoned mashed potatoes. Basically they are a mashed potato pie. When sold by the street corner vendors in New York City, they are fried and square shaped. The baked ones are usually round shaped, and are usually made at home and some knish bakeries.

History: Eastern European Jews developed the knish. During the early 1900s, when hundreds of thousands of Eastern European Jews Emigrated to America and settled in New York City, they brought with them their family recipes for knishes. Knishes were made at home until Yonah Schimmel, a rabbi from Romania, began to sell them at Coney Island in New York City, and also from a pushcart on the Lower East Side. In 1910, he opened his original knish bakery located on East Houston Street.

So there you have, the rest of the story. :-)

Food / Polish placki v latkes (potato pancakes) [22]

My mother always made potato pancakes very thin, and we sprinkled a light dusting of sugar and had them with apple sauce on the side, or sour cream. I would also love them with mushroom sauce.

When I lived in NYC, I sometimes ate a Jewish potato dish that was called Knish. It was very different than a potato pancake.

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

Good health, to you, too! *raises mug*

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

Yeah, Tyskie is a great! :-)

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

Thanks Seanus. I thought it was pretty good, too. The youtube commercial for the beer reminded me of the rye fields all around the area. I have good memories sitting outside my hotel in the rynek cafe at sunset drinking a cold one. For a souvenir, the waiter gave me a Kasztelan glass to take home. :-)

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

Anyone ever hear of Kasztelan Piwo? It is a regional beer made in Sierpc. I like that it comes from near where my family once lived.

youtube.com/watch?v=zuBCq-l7FG4

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]

When I was in Poland in June/July, every hotel asked for our passports and I assume made a copy. Maybe they just copied the passport information by hand. I did not pay attention. I have no idea what law it was, but whether it was in Rypin, Lipno, or Włocławek, we had to give the clerk our passports. I did not use my credit card, my room was paid for by the group using another person's card. Hopefully, nothing has or will happen.

USA, Canada / A Polish-American Paper's Final Edition [10]

Newspapers in general are all struggling. Not many read them anymore. At the hotel where I work we have what we call "snow birds" who come down to get away from the harsh winters. They subscribe, but most people get their news on the TV, radio or internet.

USA, Canada / Poles in Virginia / DC area USA [15]

Welcome to the forum, wish I lived nearer to you! Not much Polish food in my area except during the holidays.

From a related post:

Polish ANYTHING in Hampton/Newport News Virginia (esp. polish school)


Visit Polonia Hamton Roads on Face Book and you should have all the information you need.

Language / Some Ideas for a band name using the Polish language? [94]

Thanks strzyga! I am now proud of my "plastic" ear! As long as no one tells me I have a "tin" ear....(an idiom for no sense of music). :-)

Language / Some Ideas for a band name using the Polish language? [94]

strzyga. Thanks for the grammatical help! I also like your suggestions! Great names. You may be right about Teffle's preference for hard consonants. I favor them, too.

Teffle. Glad you like my suggestion. We're all excited about being part of the creative process! :-)

Language / Some Ideas for a band name using the Polish language? [94]

Thanks, guesswho, I am playing a bit. :-)

And attempting to come up with a name that sounds cool to Teffle and meets his criteria of no special Polish characters, or combinations of letters that would be difficult for an English speaker.

I know there are those who could do better, but I love the idea of helping an aspiring musician!

Language / Some Ideas for a band name using the Polish language? [94]

Hi Teffle!

You mentioned you liked Centrum, and later you also liked the word Fabryka.

I am a "plastic pole", but got the bright idea if you like both words, how about Centrum Fabryki? (Factory Center).

Would it be grammatically correct to also say Centrum Fabryka? I think that has a better sound. Or would that be a woman's factory center?

P.S. If McCoy were around, I have a feeling he would have some cool words for you, especially since he is very up on Polish and most other music.

Love / Filipina married a Polish man, need more advice [90]

Point is that she did not know he was married when she fell in love with this man. So, she is not guilty of doing what you, Meagan say she has done. She became involved with him and then found out he was married with a family. Now he says he divorced and wants to marry her. It seems she wants to believe him, but knows it may not work out the way he says, or they way she hopes.

She wanted some advice to see if anyone had something encouraging or some warning. Posters who have advised her that he is stringing her along are probably correct. Time will tell...but OP seems like a sweet person, so I hope people stop being so mean spirited to her. Just my two cents.

History / Life in Partitioned Poland (Specifically in the Prussian Partition) [118]

Yes, MartAnthony, and with so many children born to families back then dividing up farms became increasingly impossible. It would be great to have that opportunity of new land.

History / Life in Partitioned Poland (Specifically in the Prussian Partition) [118]

My Polish great-grandparents who were married in Gniezno (Prussian-Poland) in 1880, emigrated to America a few months after their marriage. Upon learning about the Germanization of Poles in Prussia, I tended to assume it played a major role in their departure. However, I have no knowledge of exactly why they left.

A few years later, my great-grandmother's father came to live with them. He was a retired blacksmith. The wedding took place in a cathedral built in the middle ages and indicated to me that they were possibly fairly well off. Yet, I also know that many Poles who emigrated to the USA in this time period left because they were poor, and wanted to do better in America.

Like most Poles of that time period, my great-grandfather became a skilled worker. He was a machinist. His wife cleaned houses along with my grandmother, and they put my grandmother's brother through college.

And surprisingly, my Polish grandmother with Prussian roots, married an ethnic German from Russian-Poland!

News / DSZ in Poland: Desperate German attempt to improve their genepool. [20]

Wait for BB to hear this! :-D

History / German cemeteries in Wroclaw [17]

Thanks BB....I visited many cemeteries in central Poland this past June/July. My guides were two young Polish people who have contributed countless hours of time and labor. Anna and Tomasz. There will be a link posted below to tell you more about them.

If you saw the cemeteries beforehand, you would hardly know anything was there. All brush, trees, and broken stones. Anna just graduated from university and will teach the history of ethnic Germans in the Toruń area. Tomasz is still in high school. Mr. Arak Fiszer is in the midst of restoring the Michałki cemetery (near Rypin), where many of his and my ancestors are buried.

I visited the rural cemetery in Kleszczyn which is still overgrown, but now has a memorial by the old entrance to mark the spot. We parted the brush and trees and explored and I did a grave etching of one of my ancestors. I feel such gratitude for what these young people have already done and continue to do. After the graves are restored, a high school adopts the cemetery to keep it maintained. All over Poland I saw more and more people wanting to leave the past behind and be friends. As I've said before, being half Polish and half German this means a lot to me. I love Poland. And am so proud of how she has survived and what the future will bring. Anyway, here's the link. The website is in both German and English. Chose either:

upstreamvistula.org/Cemeteries/Cemeteries_Others.htm

History / Dutchmen in Polish history ! [17]


holland.org.pl/art.php?kat=art&dzial=maz&lang=en&id=pref

History / Dutchmen in Polish history ! [17]

Many Dutchmen came to the Gdańsk delta area to help control the waters as they did in their homeland. They established by invitation of Polish nobles, Oleander villages.

holland.org.pl/art.php?kat=art&dzial=polska&id=5&lang=en