USA, Canada / CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US) [210]

I live in the States and I would be shocked at your town as well. Yes, we have the 4 way stops. But if you didn’t lock your door in any place I’ve ever visited or lived in the States, you would get robbed. And if your horses sleep outside, in many places they would disappear or someone would really hurt them. We fence our yards in my town, it just makes sense to. And carpet in a church is strange to me as well… J

News / Victory in 'anti-Polish camps' campaign in US [170]

A victory! There was a petition done by the Kosciuszko Foundation for this and I am glad to see it worked...

Life / Please read this blog about our Poland and post your opinions [5]

It did not open correctly for me and was in french?

Travel / Poland Travel and Language Blogs [22]

I wanted to follow your blog but it's no good anymore?

McCoy, I feel sorry if all your trips to Poland are like that. Mine never are and I remember it all every time. :) Cheers

Love / Is this dress good for a Polish wedding? [15]

I am writing a blog from the perspective of a Pole living in America and one of my posts was about coming to a Polish wedding for the first time. Perhaps it will give you some perspective of what to expect....

polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/2010/12/once-upon-polish-wedding.html

Feedback / Polishforums on Facebook [60]

Sokrates, why the anger? I think it's a great idea. I just found this site recently by searching polish forums, but I didn't know before about it. Some people ask great questions or give great info, why not share? :)

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

z darius, that is a really interesting thought. I completely did not think about that, but your statement is completely true. My parents do not believe everything they hear and read and would always tell me that the news was propoganda, you know the old phrase "Believe none of what you read and half of what you see" (which I am not sure who originally said that in order to credit them), my parents would always tell me to take in information but to remember that you have to think about the goals of the person sharing it with you, what their personal goals may be may not be honest or to your benefit. Thank you!

delphiandomine, I posted my link instead of retyping the first of many observations I have made in regards to my personal experience, as it would take too long to retype it all, and because I just started that series so it will be an ongoing one, I would think it unfair & perhaps causing a bias if I first list all my observations. I am interested right now in hearing others rather than listing my own. :)

southern, may I ask if what you are saying indirectly that perhaps that family became more important (in the aspect of being "more human") and courtesy was much more a fact of social interaction? I am trying to fully understand your observation, could you clarify?

Thanks all!

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

My sincere apologies on it appearing as if I am trying to only promote my blog. I am genuinely interested in this subject, as I have always wondered how social & political systems affect a population, specifically one which I have been affected with as well. Please continue the discussion!

Feedback / Polishforums on Facebook [60]

zetigrek, I have to disagree. I've met many intelligent people, some of who were Polish, and I would love to have easier access to communication with people who share the same background as me.

Travel / Poland Travel and Language Blogs [22]

Interesting blog, !"£, I am following. My blog is polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com

USA, Canada / CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US) [210]

You all are funny, I have to ask where in the US is safe to live w doors unlocked? I've been to MD, VA, PA, DE, NY, IL, WI, IN, OH, KA, to name a few, and while in KA, OH, and WI some people foolishly leave their doors unlocked, you end up at some point hearing news of some heinous crime that occured BC of the doors being unlocked. Why would you trust your children's safety to an unlocked door? And horses I have heard of getting stolen just to get stolen, or worse, savagely killed just for sport. This is after all the day and age of world wide meth use, gangs situated quite comfortably in rural communities, etc. I mean, to each their own, but not locking your doors at night and leaving livestocks outside bc you don't feel like bringing them in is looked at as being rather behind-the-times by some. My point to my statement is that it has nothing to do with living in the US bc many Americans DON"T do that, nor does it have anything to do with coming over from Poland.

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

southern, that's a great point, and I thought that was what you meant, but I wasn't sure. That is true, people did help one another in order to survive. Do you feel that is something that no longer occurs in democratic Poland?

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

Seanus, do you think it is at least in part to do with a fear from that time of having interaction with someone and ending up being arrested or interrogated? Or perhaps (or along with that) the shock of seeing horrific events of WWII and following that the starvations, arrests, shootings, etc. of Communist times has them shut down from social interaction on that level? Bc many older folks in Poland still live today did live through WWII, many as children, and I cannot imagine the mental trauma that would have caused...

I was thinking along the lines of how it affected me. I buy way too many canned goods to store for just in case, even though I never personally experienced the food shortages. I triple think all purchases and try to pay cash, partly because I don't want my transactions tracked for the financial gain of some company. My parents taught me to speak only a short time on the telephone and not to discuss personal information on the telephone bc who-knows-who will use that info who-know-how. Etc...

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]


Interesting point, I expect my husband to do that for me and other women. Part of the reason why I married him was I saw him slam our car once into park while driving down a street near our house and rush over to help an elderly gentleman who had fallen and his elderly wife was trying unsuccessfully to help him up. That's what a man is supposed to do. I never thought of it as being polish or something else. To me, that's what makes my hubby hot.

Of course, I also don't touch the trash, that's his job as man, so is the grass. I, on the other hand, do the laundry. And because he works while I don't, I cook and clean. Man role vs. woman role clearly defined. I wonder if that is a European influence?


That I do not count on in US. In Poland, I felt safer at night but still not completely so. I don't think there is anywhere in this world like that anymore, sadly.

Genealogy / Drzyzga name: family information in Poland [20]


Perhaps it's Zembrzyce

Genealogy / Drzyzga name: family information in Poland [20]

Zembrzyce is a village in the very southern part of Poland. I just did a google search of fambrzyce, then tried substituting the F with an S, since those two can be confused with handwriting sometimes, and google came up with Zembrzyce.


I had no idea what you meant by that...

Good luck...

Genealogy / Drzyzga name: family information in Poland [20]

Thought so, wasn't sure though and didn't know if I misunderstood so that I could help better.

Food / Let's Play a Game-Name a Polish Food (and if you like it or hate it) [12]

Ooos, sorry, I just clicked New Thread... :) Anyway, we love Bigos in my house. My American husband jokingly calls it "The Big Stuff" bc we make a HUGE pot of it when we do make it. Yummmm... And with some good polish bread with real butter? Eyes rolling good...

Food / Let's Play a Game-Name a Polish Food (and if you like it or hate it) [12]


I don't recall eating that one, except the version with mushrooms in the sauce, which was oh my goodness good.

Kaszanka (or Kiszka as it's called in the states) is so good in the morning, my little ones always loved it even as babies... To each their own... :)

USA, Canada / CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US) [210]

What's all that green stuff? lol I think it's FUTBAL (soccer to Americans)!!!! Gooooooal! Sorry, love me some Futbal...

Anyhoo.

USA, Canada / CULTURE SHOCK! (of my Polish finance who visited the US) [210]


As well as, skateboarding, skiing, cross country skiing, tennis, etc.

USA, Canada / American man with a Polish wife. Will children be dual citizens? [20]

US Citizenship is based on where you are born, not the background of your parents. So if they are born in the US, they become US citizens automatically at birth. That I don't believe affects your wife's citizenship one way or another. What I mean about affecting her citizenship was regarding her US Citizenship. In other words, her having American kids I don't believe gives her American citizenship.

Polish citizenship is based on blood. In other words, wherever they are born, they are automatically Polish citizens if she is one. However, they will still have to apply for the paperwork for it from the Polish Consulate. If their children later want it, they also can apply for Polish citizenship, and so on down the line.

I recommend you discuss this further with a lawyer familiar with these laws.

Btw, her Polish citizenship, irregardless of whether you get married to her or father her children, does not automatically give you Polish citizenship. You would have to apply for it the same way a person from another country would have to apply for US citizenship.

We've gone through this in my house, as I was born in Poland (although we left Poland when I was young) and thus have dual citizenship. My American husband is only an American. My children are dual citizens technically, once our paperwork is approved.

Good luck!

USA, Canada / American man with a Polish wife. Will children be dual citizens? [20]


Yeah, it's not like they are born and poof, here is their citizenship paperwork for being Polish citizen. Now, the US citizenship, the day they are born, their birth certificate stating they were born in the USA is automatic proof of their citizenship. So, you have to show proof of their Polish citizenship. Again, contact the consulate for clarification. There IS paperwork and fees involved. Good luck! And glad you love Poland, my husband does as well and we hope to one day retire there...

Love / Why do Polish girls think they are fat all the time? [42]


Basically...


Only until they come to the US, then they stop saying that.

USA, Canada / Can you BE Polish without SPEAKING Polish in the US? [256]


THIS! THIS THIS THIS!

Seriously, I could teach my children not one lick of Polish and, guess what, their Polish passports (born in the US) say they are Polish. So does their pride. And the shape of their eyes. And how they stop and sing along to the Koledy I play at Christmas time.

I suggest the OP tell his wife that she better make it a point to stay alive forever so that she can teach her great grandchildren Polish. Because otherwise, they won't be by her definition. And when your own family denies your heritage on something so petty, your family will forget you when you pass away. Like you were nobody.

It's what your heart says. My children are Polish American. End of story. And it doesn't matter what anyone else says, it's what their hearts tell them.

USA, Canada / Can you BE Polish without SPEAKING Polish in the US? [256]


You can have both US and Polish passport. -.-

Btw, my kids do speak Polish, my point was that they don't have to in order to identify themselves as Polish Americans. Polish Americans bc their father is an American. And bc they have dual citizenship.

In the end, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it's what someone's heart tells them they are.

Study / Shocking! Test standards in Polish schools. [165]

oecd.org/dataoecd/54/12/46643496.pdf

fwiw, PISA scores for 2009.

Love / What are Polish Women like? Just started to date one. [256]


I have. Yes, there are some differences. Polish women are more about health and outdoors and exercise. Idk how English women are about cleaning or family relationships. But Polish grammar in regards to politeness is very different than English. Also, Polish women don't drink as much as English women. And Catholicism is ingrained in our many holidays...