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Post by Walendowski on Feb 28, 2008 1:01:32 GMT -7
Hello
I am English, but have some Polish roots of which I am very proud: my grandfather was a Polish fighter pilot during the war, which is when he met my Scottish grandmother.
They returned to Poland, had three children, and then came back to England when my mother was a teenager.
My Mum says she tried to teach me Polish when I was little, but that I was not interested, and this shames me to this day. I have picked up a smattering from Polish colleagues and fellow students (once upon a time), but I cannot hold a conversation.
I have joined this board to learn more about Polish culture (I love cooking the few Polish recipes that I have) as I never got the chance to meet my grandfather, and my mother has never forgiven me for my lack of interest in my youth.
I'm quite busy with work and a new family, but will take some time to browse these threads and see what I can learn from you.
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Post by justjohn on Feb 28, 2008 3:17:46 GMT -7
Welcome Wolendowski,
I'm sure you will enjoy the group here.
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Post by rdywenur on Feb 28, 2008 5:08:25 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum Walendowski. Don't be too rough on yourself for not wishing to learn Polish when you were younger for that is all so common with many young people. Then as we grow older we kick ourselves in the pants for it is very easy to learn younger but not older. When your a kid you don't think of things like that . It is just common nature.
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Post by hollister on Feb 28, 2008 5:21:42 GMT -7
Another welcome and hello here Walendowski! Glad you joined in with our merry band.
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Post by hollister on Feb 28, 2008 6:00:26 GMT -7
Walendowski, You mentioned that your grandfather was a pilot during WWII. Have you read, "For Your Freedom and Ours: The Kosciuszko Squadron - Forgotten Heroes of World War I" by Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud? If not, I recommend the book to you. (To make things clear, this book was published in the US as "A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron: Forgotten Heroes of World War II. "
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Post by Walendowski on Feb 28, 2008 6:32:27 GMT -7
I've got it at home - I also have a copy of "The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in World War II" by Adam Zamoyski.
In my study there is a montage of old black and white photographs assembled by my uncle showing my grandfather in his uniform, with his plane and with his squadron. It inspires and motivates me.
My grandmother died last year and left some memoirs behind - her husband is currently editing it, but I look forward to reading about her life in Poland: it was never talked about much beyond references to how tough things were.
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Post by Jaga on Feb 28, 2008 7:39:42 GMT -7
Hello Walendowski,
welcome to the forum. Nice to hear that you want to participate in our discussions. Can you share some olf family pictures with us?
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Post by Walendowski on Feb 28, 2008 7:51:06 GMT -7
Sure - It may take a little time to get them scanned in, but will post them when I get chance.
Thank you (all) for your welcome.
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Post by jimpres on Feb 28, 2008 11:19:25 GMT -7
Welcome Walendowski, you will enjoy the forum. Hope to see you often.
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Post by hollister on Feb 28, 2008 12:21:05 GMT -7
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Post by leslie on Feb 28, 2008 13:26:05 GMT -7
Czesc Walendowski Good to see that there is another Anglik in our merry band. I too live in England - NE Derbyshire - and I too have Polish roots, but much further back than you - my great, great, great grandfather came over from Poland to Scotland (Don't ask me why Scotland!). His Polish surname was Rej and when he arrived in Scotland everybody assumed it was Rae, so he changed his name to avoid what were often lengthy explanations! These past 8 years I have spent quite an amount of time in Poland - Warszawa and Krakow mainly - working for week-long periods several times per year. I love Poland and the biggest hate for me at the moment is my own body which has one serious thing wrong with it and I may learn the week after next there is a second! So I haven't been to Poland for about 16 months - and hating it! This is an interesting forum with quite a few different characters in it - don't take offence if you receive what seems to be an 'insult' - some of the members have unusual senses of humour! I have tried learning Polish but I'm afraid I've left it too late and I find it very difficult. This has been made even more so when I have been working in Poland- I have always been supplied with an interpreter ( I speak at Conferences, and run training courses), so I was never forced to really learn it, except for a few useful words like 'Piwo' and 'Wodka'! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the forum - don't be shy about expressing your views. Hope the earthquake the other night did not harm you. Pozdrawiam bardzo Leslie
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Post by uncltim on Feb 28, 2008 16:41:49 GMT -7
Welcome! Your story reminds me a lot of my own. It would seem that we have gotten off of our dupas and begun to embrace the polish. This is a really diverse forum, Lots of colorful characters, Lots of age ranges, and lots of posts that are obscure yet relevant and interesting.
My own posts are like drinking milk that you arent quite sure if its bad or not....
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Post by katesmom on Feb 29, 2008 9:52:58 GMT -7
I'm new here. My mother and her family was Polish. I'm trying to do research on them. They were from Brooklyn and My mother's mother died when she was about 7 and her father couldn't take care of her so he put her in St. Joseph's orphanage and Asylum for girls. My grandfather was John Pasiak and my grandmother was Nellie Pasiak.From what I remember my mother telling me her father was a basket maker. I don't know if this was his main occupation. So i happened on to this forum in hopes that maybe someone could help me.As far as I know my mother was born in Brooklyn NY. I was born in Elizabeth NJ but for the last 44 years have lived in Kentucky.
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