Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]


Very true but I have the best office view out there :)


oh yeah, he's a little bit of a hero to most crew members, he probably did what most of us think about doing ... at least once a month or so. lol


Thank you and ditto if I remember correctly
-----


It can be but there's actually lots of monitoring and crossing the oceans we have back up plotting procedures, etc. So it keeps us busy ...and awake. :)

Some people fly because it's their job, others because it's their job but also their passion. I'm in the latter category and I always find things that keep me occupied. I started flying as a kid, gliders and hang-gliders and those memories keep me excited about my job even today... However I won't deny some days are less exciting than I'd hope for. If I could keep my current job, meet the woman of my dreams AND be able to take her with me to show her what I see I'd be the happiest man on earth ;)

Not my video but this is how it started... It was love from first sight ;)

youtube.com/watch?v=KFy22AzNTNQ

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]


Oops, sorry, missed your and strzyga's reply. I fly for a living. Part time national guard (weekend warrior) and full time major airline. I'd rather not discuss specifics as sometimes our online communication rules can get misconstrued. In a nutshell, most but not all of my trips are overseas. Great profession but tough for your loved ones. Incredible places you often visit ...alone. :|

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]


Yes, it's in the Swiętomazurkarpackowskolódzkodolnośloskie Voivodship.

...well, no not really, just shows you how I like to waste the few braincells I have sometimes. :)

PS. I'm still learning, or rather re-learning myself so welcome to the club.


Well, you're an American first and foremost. If your relatives came from Poland, then yes, you absolutely have Polish heritage; Polish of Jewish faith to be more exact. Your relatives were Poles of Jewish faith, just like you're now an American of Jewish faith.

There have been periods in Poland's history that were marked by waves of anti-Semitism but that applied to many nations in the region and often was an elaborate scheme used by the occupying powers to turn the occupied population's resentment toward something other than the occupying power. The Tsarist police for example but later also the communist NKVD/KGB excelled at creating hate amongst the worker bees. Sad but an effective technique to keep the masses preoccupied.

You're right, it's absolutely possible that your relatives lived in Poland for 100s of years. Jews were an important part of Poland from the early days of country's existence. For example, coins minted during Mieszko III reign had Latin but also Hebraic markings on them.

Here's a section from Wikipedia:

"...From the founding of the Kingdom of Poland in 1025 through to the early years of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created in 1569, Poland was one of the most tolerant countries in Europe.[2] Known as paradisus Iudaeorum (Latin for Jewish paradise) it became a unique shelter for persecuted and expelled European Jewish communities and a home to the world's largest Jewish community..."

Here's a good summary of the intertwined history of the Christian and the Jewish Poles.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Poland

As always, people on both sides like to focus on negatives sometimes yet I personally believe that the common history is something to be proud of. Warning - you'll probably find some very negative comments here from true anti-Semites but remember that you'll find them within each and every nationality.

Congrats to finding out you have Polish roots.

Tishmore

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]


Hawaii is wonderful but probably not for everyone. It's beautiful and peaceful but also too slow for some, and it's expensive. I am renting a house from a friend of mine and probably will move there permanently one day but don't take anything for granted. Heck, tomorrow I might meet the woman of my dreams and will be moving to Pszczyglądżuwiękłówszczew, Poland to be with her (ok, maybe I'm thinking about a different thread here ;)

To be honest, my move was probably a little premature. (hmm, aren't there pills for that? ;) I thought I'd gotten over my divorce, but I really haven't. It sucks to be in a new place by yourself without your old friends around you. So often I end up visiting my friends all over the US and stay with them days at a time. My working schedule is unique and it allows me to do that, yet the irony of it all is that so often the beautiful and not cheap place I'm renting is empty while I am hanging out with my friends in Saint Louis, MO, Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, etc, etc. One month I didn't come home one single time, thought about renting it out but I have a no renters clause and will honor that. My friend doesn't ever rent out his house, I'm the first one ever so I'll keep my part of the bargain.

This situation of course delays my attempts of getting to know more local people, to meet new friends in Hawaii but that's ok, I'll take the time I need to take.

To answer your questions, I love it but wish I could move each and everyone of my friends to Hawaii. :) I love the Hawaian culture, the locals and the laid back way of life. I dislike the, what I call, Californian attitude many people over there seem to have (lots of Calis live there), simply put some are selfish and exhibit the Paris Hilton syndrome of "I'm so much better than you are" - most of those people are Haoles (pronounced howlees) or "white mainlanders", often arrogant.

Ideally, I'd populate the islands with the Polynesian Hawaiians and all the Southerners I could get a hold of. Noticed I said Southerners and not red necks - a big difference. Yes, I love the South, I like their simplicity combined with their curiosity, the lack of sarcasm in their daily lives, their positive outlook on life, unconditional love for the country and yes, their faith. Obviously I'm generalizing and am being very simplistic here but sometimes it helps when making a point.

The job market is tough from what I've heard but I haven't been looking so I'm not totally sure. If I were to summarize it, Hawaii is awesome but can be lonely if you aren't ready to meet the local crowd. At the same token it's easy to make friends there so one day I'll be fine; I guess I'm still at the stage of hanging on to memories and my longterm friends. Not sure any of this makes sense but that's it in a nutshell.


True, my mom's grandfather (my "pradziadek matkowy"?? not sure what the term is) was born in Breslau area (Today's Wrocław). My mom said he was always pointing out that he was not a Pole, nor a German but a Ślązak. Not sure about the spelling here either.


Nah, seems like everyone is related to the Chosen One nowadays and I'm not sure I could take on that kind of responsibility. :)

Punch line intended ;)

Obama related to Pitt, Clinton to Jolie
msnbc.msn.com/id/23797072

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


There are several positive comments on this thread but you choose to focus on the negative posts because it proves your point - that we all suck. Well, he asked for honest opinions and I think we delivered. He got the good, the bad and the ugly, after all for a short period that was this forum's motto -> PolishForums - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]

See your point Pati (using Brazilian nickname for you, pronounced PaCi when written in Polish - that's a compliment, my friend's beautiful little girl is named Patricia or Pati, her mom is Brazilian :)

However, it would be discrimination if the black cat got a cheaper interest on his cat house loan because that cat's grand-, grand-, grand-, grandfather was mistreated by the mean white dog.

Therefore the mean white dog's grand-, grand-, grand-, granddaughter must now pay higher interest rates, have better cat-highschool grades to be admitted to the same college, have better cat-school grades to be hired at many government cat jobs, etc., etc.

Revenge and reverse discrimination. Wrong then, wrong now. Note, I'm not saying there isn't a problem, nor am I saying that I know the solution, instead I'm saying that fighting discrimination with a different, more subtle form of discrimination is simply wrong.

------


Yeah, it was your conversation with him, or rather his attacks on you that I was alluding to when I mistakenly replied to MediaWatch in post 58. Discussions are healthy, however when you see someone is blinded with hate, who sees fascism in everything he/she disagrees with, who uses simplistic punch lines to make a point just walk away, discussion is pointless after all and he/she is not worth your time. Just my grosz on the subject.

-----


No, actually I was born in Polska, raised in Sverige (Sweden) and have lived in the US for almost two decades.

I've lived in many different states, primarily in the South, but also East coast and Cali. Currently I call Oahu, HI my home.

My family lives in Sweden/Norway, that's where the confusion arose.

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


I agree with you except the part where we give Mexicans already here working visas.
1) they'd be rewarded for breaking the law,
2) after the 12 million or whatever the number is, 24 million more would arrive the next day.

The other part of your post I agree with but saw few solutions, remember it has to be politically correct (the other nations must be happy too) or it won't become a law, as simple as that. So how do we do it in your view?

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


I agree with everything you've said here. In the past I said here on PF that in my view the citizens from all the countries that have been our true allies, and Poland is certainly in that category, should be entitled to visa-free travel.

Yet you're leaving out Ted Kennedy's immigration reform of '65 from your critique. At the time, the majority of European immigrants arriving in the US came from the eastern block - once eligible to vote a large percentage of them voted for primarily Republican candidates. Kennedy, an ardent Democrat, revised the entire immigration policy in 1965 where from then on a much larger share of Africans, Asians and South Americans were allowed in (DV or diversity [green card] lottery was part of that process).

Citizens from countries that tended to overstay visas (Poland amongst others) were penalized by a more stringent visa requirement. This policy has been in effect for a long time now and frankly I don't see any signs of change.

Do I like the current policy? NO!! ...however, I'm not sure what the solution would be as everything has to be so politically correct nowadays. If they were to waive the visa requirement for Poland (even though a large percentage of Poles still overstay the visas) - then Nigeria, etc., would demand the same treatment. At the same time we have millions of Mexicans coming in with no paper work at all. Ironic and very sad but I'm not sure how they can resolve the problem and make everyone happy.

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


You are turning into the king of simplifications and a hero of populistic ponderers; here's a piece of advice - throw in some Jew hate and anti-Semitic drivel into your book, spice it up with some 911 conspiracy theories and expand on the failings of the rotten capitalist system and the true meaning of the "good" socialism and communism that "the Russians ruined" and there'll be numerous buyers here on PF.

PS. Include some pro-Serbian lines and you've made yourself a millionaire. Well, at least a Dinaric millionaire.

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]

It's all good, if you haven't noticed there are many threads here on Polish names being butchered overseas. To say it's a pet-peeve of most Poles is an understatement. ;)

I also hope that your book will make clear your experiences occurred during a very tumultuous time in Poland's history. You said that you've been back several times since then and I hope your perceptions have changed for the better. If so, I think you should reference that. At least that's my take on it.

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


Nope, not at all. If so, most of my dreams are vulgar... :)

PS. Bzibzioch is right, you should spell Kościuszko correctly! (Leave out the Polish letter if you must but spell it correctly!) What the heck is "Koscuisko"?

It's as if someone from Poland wrote an article about Dziordz £aszington. Du ju anderstend?

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]

Didn't like the end but I liked the dream :)

Good writing...

PS. Totally off the subject but important. If anyone wants to do something special for Christmas here's an offer to you all.

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]

Well, most Swedes are Lutherans, at least on paper that is. We always had fish but also Julskinka (Christmas ham) on our Christmas table. Barszcz but also Julgröt (Christmas rice pudding with an almond hidden inside). We looked at those traditions as our traditions, not just Polish or Swedish traditions.

As far as the census - I can't stand racism, sexism and/or discrimination whether it's legalized or not, that's all. Government affirmative action programs are a form of revenge and reverse discrimination, I'm against all discrimination.

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]

-->> MediaWatch - Disregard my comment below and my apologies, got screen names mixed up. You might agree with him or you might not but I got you confused with Marek11111. I'm leaving the comments below intact in case someone has already read them. Again, the person I thought I was replying to was Marek111111, not Mediawatch. <<--

Why do you have to destroy yet another thread? Why don't you create your own Fascist America thread? Amazing that a person seething with so much hate still manages to live here in the US. Poor you, right in the middle of Hell.

Your opinions are almost identical to my aunt's former neighbor. When she lived in Poland he'd come over and talk to her about America - this evil, fascist empire he loved to hate. Then there were the good Germans and the bad Germans (east and west) and America's Bastard child, aka United Kingdom, etc., etc. If you didn't agree with him you were uneducated, illogical, stupid, and a traitor. I just read your post on your other America Sucks thread and suddenly I felt this immense sense of déjà vu.

Her neighbor was a retired SB agent (although he was only in his 40s) and you probably used his books for your extensive studies of fascism. I think you'd feel so much better if you were to move away from the US. It's your choice of course but many of us would definitely love to wave a good-bye to you.

Genealogy / Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]

I do, I think it's an interesting subject. Besides, the census bureau lies and will turn most minorities into Latinoes - Acorn Magic.

- Born in Polska, raised in Sverige (Sweden) and have lived in the US for almost two decades.

The only family I'm in contact with lives in Sweden, Norway, and have some cousins who live in Sweden but work lengthy contracts (several years at a time) in Germany, Australia, etc.

- how many still talk with family in poland and have direct contact? -> None that I know of.

how many have mixture of polish with some other nationality. -> I have no kids but my entire family is a Swedish/Norwegian/Polish mix (the kids that is)

- what do you still know and still celebrate that was part of your familys traditions? -> Christmas, Easter although we have more Swedish than Polish traditions I think, or maybe they're so close that I can't tell the difference.

-> delphiandomine -I'd like to add two more questions -

- How many of you would consider moving to Poland for good? -> Probably not although my company has been talking about a European and an Asian base sometime in the future (probably Germany and China). If I were to get based in Germany I wouldn't mind buying a condo in Wrocław for example and then commute to/from Germany. If I ever get kids I'd definitely consider that as I'd want them to be at least tri-lingual (en, swe and pl) but ideally also learn a lot of Mandarin.). It's all dreams and ideas, who knows what the future will look like...

- If you have to choose, are you American or Polish?

I hate generalizations like that (see below) but if I had to rank it then I am:

1) a good man
2) an American by choice. I'm of European descent (Polish/Swedish to be precise)
------


I see your point and yes, from your perspective of genealogy research it is interesting indeed. As someone who's vehemently against the affirmative action and other reverse discrimination programs I wish the census never even asked the race question as I know that the government will use that information to expand the discriminatory practices. Don't want to turn this thread into left or right, black or white issues but felt I had to explain why I disagree with your wish.

Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]


A gentleman won't tell. :)


Oops... (blushing)

Although my mom says my Polish has greatly improved since I joined PF.


Well, I was merely going to grant her wish. After all, that is what she was asking for ;)

PS. Personally, I'd have preferred w rękę first but some women are very impatient. :)

Language / Polish slang phrases - most popular. [606]

Chętnie Zeti ale ja Ciebie tak dobże nie znam. Może najpierw weź mnie na kawę? lol

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]


I prefer titles that are "to-the-point".

It wasn't easy!
An American's perspective on Poland's tumultuous transition from communism to capitalism and democracy.

Life / My experience in Poland 15 years ago as an American trying to live and work there. [167]

I don't want to insult, no reason for it. Overall I like the day-by-day style of your recollections. When you advertise that you have a girlfriend but don't love her you sound pretty selfish, the idea of her falling apart if you were to leave her is probably an acknowledgment of your own insecurities. The part where you won't help an older woman who falls onto her face makes me want to knock out your teeth, but that's irrelevant.

Every now and then I'm not sure if you're quoting someone or if you're using your own words?

...I just had a meeting with an old woman in the human resources department in a bank in the Rynek Glowny, who said she thought I was a spy come from the USA to steal their banking secrets.

Is the part I highlighted a quote? If so, where are the quotation marks? I'm assuming it's a quote because of the confusing grammar (the lady's English skills?) and lack of punctuation.

This sentence somehow doesn't jive with me...
I have a feelng, recently, that I am going to become some kind of limbo guy caught in a time warp of underachievment.

Overall, I like your style, I'm sure things have changed since your Polish adventure.

PS. Next time you see an old woman slipping onto her face, help her out instead of laughing at her.

Language / Spelling "aunt" in Polish [142]


Female words usually end with an a so it wouldn't be Babusz, that sounds sort of like a man. Babusia was probably what y'all were using initially and it became Americanized into Boboosh.

Dziadzia is a baby version of the word dziadek, it's simply easier for babies to say that before they learn to talk.

Ciocia is the correct term for aunt.


Oh boy, here we go again, another busia - the American-Polish term no one in Poland seems to know... LOL

There's no "busia" - there's buzia which means kiss and there's babcia which means grandmother... There's also babusia another Slavic endearing term for grandmother.

This threads explains it in great lengths.

Slow download but the third word you hear is "ciocia" (aunt).

apronus.com/polishsounds/cma_lac_ciocia!s.mp3

Saw this on a different thread and copied it but forgot to copy the URL, if I find it I'll post it too.
A nice characteristic of Polish language is diversity of diminutives that may be created for almost any noun. "Babcia" is diminutive itself, the formal form, almost not used, being "babka". There are a few other diminutives for "babcia": "babunia", "babusia", and shortened forms: "bunia", "busia". Maybe the last one is "busha".

Language / WISŁA or VISTULA?? [46]


Obaraq for Chicago and Pelosistan for Kaalifornia ;)

News / What Polish diaspora need and expect from Poland, from Poles in Poland? [43]

What we need? Not sure I understand your question?

Law / Old Polish money banknotes - what's their value today? [415]

You're welcome. Save it and your grand-, grand-, grand-, grand-, grand-, grandkids will get a kick out of this thing they used to call paper money... ;)

Law / Old Polish money banknotes - what's their value today? [415]

It's simple. Cut out the last 4 zeroes and look up any current złoty to dollar exchange rate on yahoo, etc.

In a nutshell, if it was communist money (post 1945) then it's pretty much worthless.

So enjoy your 1,000 communist złoty = that's right - 0.1 new Złoty or 3 US pennies = $.03.
Your 500 communist Złoty bill equals .05 democratic Złoty which is about 0.016 pennies. (not even 2 pennies).

In other words, the lighter fluid in your grill costs more than the money you're holding. :) Look up Polish history, it'd do more sense to you then.

Love / WILDROVERS FIVE YEARS IN POLAND....come to an end...! [132]


As ironside pointed out I probably needed to chill out. :)

Well, actually I do most of my military and my civilian flying out of here. Part time mil flyer (air national guard) and full time civilian flyer. That's it in a nutshell.

Sad news from this part of the world, 4 brothers and good fellow aviators perished in a crash just a day ago. :(

May strong tailwinds bring them to their final destination. :(

C-17 Crashes
No survivors of Elmendorf C-17 crash

Posted 7/29/2010 Updated 7/29/2010

af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123215501

7/29/2010 - ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) -- Four Airmen were killed when a C-17 Globemaster III crashed here July 28. Three were members of the Alaska Air National Guard and the other was an active duty servicemember here.

"Our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of those Airmen killed in this crash," said Col. John McMullen, the 3rd Wing commander. "Yesterday, we lost four members of our Arctic Warrior family, and it's a loss felt across our entire joint installation. Right now, our immediate focus is on providing all possible support to the loved ones of our fallen aviators. We are also engaged in a deliberate investigative process."

The names of the Airmen are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

More information will be released as it becomes available.

Love / WILDROVERS FIVE YEARS IN POLAND....come to an end...! [132]

Wow, what a well-written story that was. I'm in Alaska right now, just came back from Shanghai and I know you'll have a hard time believing it but you or your screen name came to my mind a few times while in Shanghai.

The reason of course is the numerous Russian ladies in China. Most of them are running textile companies, many are working as secretaries, office managers, etc.

Anyways, I kept looking at and conversing with several of the Russian ladies and thought, well, no wonder Wildrover fell for a Russian lady, I mean, how can you not??

It's the gentleness and kindness in their voices and the soultry Slavic accents, the intricate curiosity combined with the immense sadness in their eyes. Really precious and as a man you feel like well, here's my chance to be the knight in the shining armor saving her.

It is sooo nice to read a story about two adults finding eachother, two adults finding a bond they share, a lifeline of their togetherness; I hope you stay on this forum, but most of all I hope the two of you find a bond no one can ever break, a bond strong enough for cultural and personal differences.

I hope the two of you will be eachother's dream tellers and dream makers; a couple who's learned from your combined past to make a better future. I'm sorry if I'm rambling, yes, I'm buzzing just a tad.

In a nutshell, I'm wishing and hoping for the very best for you two and am hoping for frequent updates for the rest of us who desperately need some kind of hope for a better future.

Życzę Wam wszystkiego najlepszego...

Я желаю вам все самое лучшее

Or,

I wish you both the very best.

... and then some...

Sincerely,

SSM

Language / Harmless old-fashioned Polish swear words/phrases [159]

Psia krew? "dog's blood" ~ damn it!
Not sure about the last word?

Never mind, just saw the first post explaining it...

Life / Do you collect mushrooms in your country? Poles in Poland do. [79]

We used to pick blueberries back home in Sweden, usually the whole family attended. The wild blueberries I've picked in North Carolina, Tennessee and Alaska were exactly like the blueberries in Sweden, maybe a tad larger due to the higher humidity levels.

As far as mushrooms, I hear growing your own shrooms is gaining in popularity, probably not a family event though ;)

Law / Old Polish money banknotes - what's their value today? [415]


I'd say at least 1 new złoty... LOL
...or £0.199 according to the Yahoo currency converter. :)

History / Gdańsk, Danzig: Was prince Mieszko the first to land there? [32]


The first to land there? I'd say neither the Germans nor the Poles were there first.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oksywie_culture
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wielbark_culture