Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [554]

I have Polish ancestors on my mother's side of the family, Irish on my dad's. I live in the US and have visited Poland twice with a tour group of Polish Americans. It's a beautiful country with a lot of history.

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

I wonder if the busia/babcia difference depended upon WHEN one's family left Poland and from WHERE in Poland they came. I live in the midwestern United States, not in Pennsylvania or Chicago. The Polish immigrants who settled here in the early 1900s were primarily poor farmers from the Tarnow area in Poland, and they all called their grandmothers "busia," so we continued to do so.

I never heard "babcia" until I visited Poland several years ago and our young tour guide said that it was the correct term, not "busia". He was a 20-something guy from Warsaw,

It got me to thinking whether babcia was used in the big city of Warsaw or if it simply may be a more modern term than busia. Could this be one possible reason for the differences?

Life / Funeral Traditions in Poland [67]

Is there a specific phrase that I should use in extending funeral condolences to someone in an email? Is that too impersonal?

Face-to-face with a friend, I would probably say something like, "I'm sorry for the loss of your uncle," or "please accept my sympathy on your loss". Is that appropriate in an email to a Polish friend, and if so, could someone please provide a translation? My Polish isn't the best, nor is his English, and this may be a sensitive subject.

Dziękuję bardzo.

News / Polish President Lech Kaczynski and gov officials die in a plane crash in Russia [686]

Deepest condolences from Polish-Americans in the heartland of the USA. We mourn with all of Poland as we remember those whose lives were lost.

Genealogy / KOSIBA in Frysztak and PLAZA in Korczyna [16]

kmillergrant, I have a Kosiba in my family line, also. My great-grandmother, Zofia Kosiba, married Jozef Kawa in the mid-1880s. They made their home in Lekawica near Tarnow. Some of their children immigrated from Poland through Ellis Island and settled in Nebraska. I am searching for information about Zofia's parents and siblings; is it possible that your Katarzyna and my Zofia may be kin?

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

I am a proud American citizen. I am equally proud of my poor Polish peasant ancestors who were brave enough to make an overseas journey to start a new life in the early 1900s, as well as my poor Irish ancestors who left Ireland during the potato famine in the 1840's. I'm sure it never occurred to either my Polish or Irish family that several generations later, their descendants would be able to finish high school, go to bed with food in our stomachs and worship in the way we wish. Simple things for which I am grateful.

Genealogy / KOSIBA in Frysztak and PLAZA in Korczyna [16]

jcdPoland--where did your Kosiba ancestor settle in the US? There were several Kosibas living in Nebraska in the early 1900s. Perhaps there is a connection with your Kosiba family?

UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]

My father's family immigrated to the US from Ireland and my mother's family from Poland. Both families came from poor peasant stock, very simple folks with similar philosophies--God first, family second, work hard and (maybe) you'll get ahead. I miss them all so much.

I feel fortunate to possess the best of both cultures, regardless of whether there is a proven geographic or historical connection.

Genealogy / KOSIBA in Frysztak and PLAZA in Korczyna [16]

It doesn't sound like the same individuals, but my Kosiba family is from near Tarnow, as well.