British Children’s Television Programme Explores Polish Family Cuisine

Yesterday, Monday June 28^th 2010, on the CBeebies channel an episode of the educational children’s programme ‘Same Smile’ took a trip to a Polish shop in Glasgow and then home to make dumplings with the Polish mum!

Brytyjski telewizyjny program dla dzieci o tradycyjnej polskiej kuchni.

You’ll be able to watch this episode of Same Smile (available for ten days from now) entitled ‘My favourite food’ by downloading it on BBC iPlayer. Here’s the link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies/episode/b00srhh5/Same_Smile_My_Favourite_Food/k

(Photo above: 'Polish Taste' -a Polish shop and delicatessen in Glasgow)

Interviewing Polish Families in North East England

Cześć friends!

My interviews with Polish families in the North East are well underway.

Here are some of the questions I’m asking:

Moje rozmowy z polskich rodzin

Do you speak Polish at home? Do you cook Polish food? Do you watch Polish TV or listen to Polish radio? Do you run a Polish car? Do you have Polish furniture? What about your children- do they have Polish toys? Watch Polish films? How do you feel about this?

Czy Pan/ Pani mowi języka polskiego w domu? Czy Pan/Pani gotuje polskie jedzenie? Czy Pan/ Pani ogląda polskiej TV lub słucha polskiego radia? Czy Pan/ Pani ma polskich mebli? Czy Pan / Pani jeździ polskim samochodem? Co z dziećmi, czy mają polski zabawki? Oglądają polskich filmów? Jak Pan/ Pani się czuje na ten temat?

What’s it like being a mother / father in Britain compared to back in Poland? If money were no object would you do things the same way? Where would you live and why? Would you run your household differently?

Jak to jest być matką / ojcem w Wielkiej Brytanii w porównaniu do Polski?

Do you socialise with other Polish families? With British families? With families from other nationalities? Do you attend local playgroups/ schools? Sure start centres? How do you find the facilities for parents in the North East?

Czy Pan/Pani zna innymi polskich rodzin w UK? Czy Pan/ Pani udział lokalnych grup, na przykład centrum Sure Start, przedszkoli, szkół?

Jakiego rodzaju usług dla polskich rodziców tutaj w północno-wschodniej Anglii?

Why did you decide to live in the North East of England? How do you feel about living here now?

Dlaczego zdecydowali się żyć w północno-wschodniej Anglii? Jak Pan/ Pani się czuje o życiu tutaj, teraz?

What identities do you feel you have? Polish? British? English?European? Geordie? For example – And what about your children, how do they see themselves? And how do you feel about this?

Czy Pan/ Pani widzi siebie jako ‘polski’, ‘brytyjski’, ‘angielski’, ‘europejski’, ‘Geordie’, na przykład? A co z dziećmi, jak widzą siebie?

I’ve met some lovely families here, and I’m so grateful to everyone who’s taking part/ taken part in this research so far. Jestem bardzo wdzięczna.
It’s a real pleasure to talk with you, and to have the opportunity to learn about your lives, what brought you and your family to the North East and your ambitions for the future.
I’m finding your accounts of life in Newcastle / The North East very inspirational, and the descriptions of your hometowns back in Poland are having an influence on my holiday plans…! Moje rozmowy z polskich rodzin wpływ na moje plany na wakacje ...! ;-)

If you'd like to take part in my research please read this page:

http://www.polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/take-part-in-this-study.html

Polish-English Children's Book

‘Little Monkey was playing high up in the treetops.’

‘Mała Małpka bawila się wysoko w koranach drzew.’

I thought I’d let you know about this beautiful Polish/English children’s book I bought to read to my baby.

Myślałam, że poinformuję o tej pięknej Polskiej / Angielskiej książki dla dzieci.

It’s called Little Monkey’s One Safe Place (Bezpieczne miejsce Małej Małpki) and it’s written in Polish and English (w języku polskim i angielskim).

The author is Richard Edwards and the illustrations are by Susan Winter.

Książka napisana przez Richard Edwards i ilustracje są przez Susan Winter.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Monkeys-Language-Polish-English/dp/184507856X#noop

My little monkey loves it! Moja mała małpka kocha tego!


[ Reminder! Tomorrow (Thurs 10th June)- The Made in Poland Festival is at The Side Cinema for a screening of Rabbit a la Berlin (12), dir. Bartosz Konopka (2009), tickets are £4 and doors open at 7.30pm. http://madeinpolandfestival.co.uk/mip10-10june.html ]

Cancer Awareness Event for Women

Cancer Awareness Event for Women – 2nd June 2010
(as part of The Made in Poland Festival)

With special guest, Polish jazz singer, Anna Maria Jopek.
The event includes information stalls, presentations and a question and answer session with the Healthy Communities Collaborative, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK.

A child friendly event, so please feel free to bring children along!

Tego spotkania nie możesz przegapić! Świadoma kobieta to jedyna okazja, aby zobaczyć z bliska słynną piosenkarkę Annę Marię Jopek oraz porozmawiać o swoim zdrowia i kobiecych nowotworach z lokalnymi organizacjami. Na spotkamiu będą obecne polskie lekarki pracujące a Anglii oraz tłumaczki, które w razie potrzeby pomogą w rozmowie z angielskimi pracownikami spotkamie jest przeznaczone tylko dla kobiet, abyś w bezpiecznej i komfortowej atmosferze mogła zapytać o swoje zdrowie!
W trakcie spotkanie zostaną wylosowane darmowe bilety na concert Anny Marii Jopek w The Sage Gateshead.
Spotkanie przyjazne dzieciom.

The Lit and Phil,
23, Westgate Road,
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
12pm-3pm, Entrance- Free

Made in Poland Festival May-June 2010

Ladies and Gentleman, the annual North East Made in Poland Festival is now upon us!

Made in Poland Festival

29th May 2010 – 27th June 2010
music / film / art exhibitions / theatre
With the aim of promoting Polish or Polish-inspired art, film and music, as well as educational and sport events, this annual festival, now in its third year, has a very diverse and exciting programme of events. You don't need to be Polish to enjoy a taste of Poland here in the North East! Everyone welcome! Please go to: http://www.madeinpolandfestival.co.uk to find out more.

The festival kicks off with the

International Children's Day Celebration

on Saturday 29th May, 12.30pm, at the Polish Club (2 Maple Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SF -next to Newcastle College). Admission is free. Once again, all welcome!

http://www.madeinpolandfestival.co.uk/mip10-29may.html

The Made in Poland Festival features in this month's Netmums 'What's On?' listings:

http://www.netmums.com/listings/WHATSON//105/May//

Back to the blog!

Witaj!

After two weeks away from the project following a nightmare house move, and a long weekend away, I'm back and feeling full of inspiration since attending the 'Children, Families and the Migration Experience: Opportunities and Challenges' conference at Middlesex University on 21st May 2010.

For more information about the conference and the ESRC project leading into the conference please go to:
http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/Minisites/polishpupils

It seems to me that the research field on Polish migrant families in the UK is vast growing, and I'm sure all my colleagues and friends in this field will support me in saying that I hope policy provisions /revisions coming out of this research will soon begin to have a positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of Poles in the UK.

I was particularly taken by the work being conducted by Paulina Pustulka from Jagiellonian University, Cracow, who looks at Polish mothers in Belfast. I also enjoyed and very much respected the presentation by Alexandra Kaczmarek-Day from the University of Cardiff, who is looking at the aspirations and fears of Polish parents in Wales.

Time, I think, to really press on with finding out about Polish families here in the North East so that there's a good representation in the research from this region too. So if you haven't already signed up to take part in my study, please do so now! visit: http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/take-part-in-this-study.html.

On that note I leave you with a very region specific image taken of the Tyne River from the air (or more precisely on a recent Northumbria helicopter ride (you can buy rides at: http://www.northumbria-helicopters.co.uk, and they're amazing!).

Thanks Readers, Rachel

10th April 2010

I am so sorry to hear about the sad news that has befallen Poland, and my thoughts are with all those in the Polish community at home and aboard.

Przykro mi usłyszeć o smutnie wiadomoście że, się stało w Polskie. Moje myśli są z społecznością polską w kraju i za granicą.

Łódź ya know?

Drodzy przyjaciele

Dzięki Wam za czekacie cierpliwie na mój post.
Życie było zajęte kiedy moje dziecko było źle z ‘norovirus’.
Teraz wiem, jak to jest być niepokój rodziców. Martwiałam się o niego- po raz pierwszy został właściwie złego.
Teraz dziecko wraca do normy i więc wspina się na mojej nogawki lub na kanapie!


Dear readers,

Thank you for waiting patiently for me to update my blog.
Life has been very hectic recently as my baby has been unwell with a norovirus. Now I know how it feels to be an anxious parent. I was so worried about him as it’s the first time he’s been properly ill. He’s back to normal now though, finally, and trying to swing off my trouser leg or climb the sofa!

Then last week I worked hard helping to translate 2B into English, not just the English summary this month, but the whole edition of 2B will be in English. People in North East are very interested in what their Polish community has to say, so by translating 2B we hope to offer some insight. If you would like to read my English summaries of 2B, please go to: http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/english-summaries-for-2b.html

And watch this space for our next edition: http://www.2b.nepco.org.uk/

My research is going well. I’m really enjoying it. I’m starting my interviews this month, so if you would like to take part, please do contact me:
http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/take-part-in-this-study.html

I put an advertisement on PolNews yesterday about my photostream and Polish group, and today I have had lots of welcome emails and comments about my work, so thank you for these and please keep them coming!

I’ve been concentrating on the city centre of Newcastle recently. I’ve found some brilliant references to the Polish community, including Gospoda’s kitsch advertising in Princess Square, which really brightens up and enriches that side of Newcastle, and in Heaton it was great to find a Polish car novelty; it made my Easter seeing the Polska shirt hanging from a windscreen!

Speaking of Easter, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. I know that many of you return to Poland to see family over Easter. I am very jealous; two years ago I spent my Easter in Gdansk- I love this part of Poland. Currently I am in the process of booking my summer holiday to Poland. This year I think I will go to Łódź, as I hear it has exciting modernist architecture.

Yeah! Go Łódź for the 2016 European Capital of Culture! You can read more about the Łódź campaign here: http://www.lodz2016.com/. I really hope Łódź gets the title.

If you would like to read about my travels to Poland, please go to this page:

http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/angielka-w-polsce.html


As always, sorry about my mistakes in Polish.

I will update soon with more news.

Rachel


Link to Polnews announcement here:
http://www.polnews.co.uk/forum/zdjec-o-polskiej-spolecznosci-vt15605.htm
View my Gumtree advertisement here:
http://newcastle.gumtree.com/newcastle/90/56474190.html
Join the Polish Newcastle Flickr group here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/polishnewcastle

Dzień Matki!

This year I am excited, as it's my first year being a mother on Mothering Sunday.

W tym roku jestem podekscytowana, bo to mój pierwszy rok jestem matką na Mothering Sunday!


I hear from Polish friends that in Poland you don't give cards on Mother's day, and you celebrate Dzień Matki on 26th May, not the fourth Sunday of Lent, as in the UK and Ireland.

Słyszę od polskich przyjaciół, że w Polska nie daje karty na Dzień Matki i Dzień Matki obchodzi się 26 maja, a nie w czwartą niedzielę Wielkiego jak w Wielkiej Brytanii i Irlandii.


Nevertheless I would like to wish all fellow mothers a very happy Mother's Day!

Jednak chciałabym życzyć wszystkim kolegom matki zadowolny Mother’s Day!


Thank you also to all those people reading my blog and emailing me to take part in my study. I am getting a good response, thanks to all your help!

Dziękuję bardzo do wszystkich osób, czytania mojego bloga i email. Dostaję dobre odpowiedzi, dziękuję wszystkim za pomoc!

(This is a photo of baby clothes hanging to dry in my yard. How my world has changed!)

(To jest zdjęcie odzieży dla dzieci na moim podwórku. Jak zmienił się mój świat!)

If you would like to take part in my research please go to this page:

http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/take-part-in-this-study

Jeżeli Pan / Pani chce wziąć udział w moich badań, przejdź na stronę:

http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/take-part-in-this-study

Or at the moment I have a posting on PolNews:

http://www.polnews.co.uk/forum/chcialabym-przeprowadzic-wywiad-z-polskimi-rodzicami-vt15092

Lub, w momencie przejdź na post:

http://www.polnews.co.uk/forum/chcialabym-przeprowadzic-wywiad-z-polskimi-rodzicami-vt15092

Research Findings - Polish Newcastle

Research Findings -

Polish Newcastle

Saturday 6th February 2010 (2.30pm-5pm)
Benwell

International phone cards on sale/ money exchange Western Union signs/ Immigration Legal Representation and English Language teaching advertised; nothing specifically 'Polish'.

Friday 12th February 2010 (2.30pm-4.30pm)
Walker, St Anthony's, St Peter's Basin and Walkergate
No specific references to Polish culture or presence.

Friday 19th February 2010 (2.30-4.30pm)
Wallsend
Passed woman on phone speaking in Polish.
Wallsend library has a sign 'mamy ksiazki po polsku' (We have books in Polish).

Saturday 27th February 2010 (2.30-5pm)
Byker
Polish betting slips advertised in the Betfred window.
A large shelf of Polish food in Morrisons supermarket.
A stack of 2B (Polish) magazine available in Byker library.
A shelf of Polish books in Byker library.

Friday 5th March 2010 (10am-1pm)
Newcastle City Centre
Polish books on the shelves of Newcastle City library

(including a good selection of children's books).
Gospoda Polish restaurant advertisement adjacent to library exit.
Princess Square Polish restaurant advertising and Gospoda Restaurant.
Groszek Polish shop on Clayton Street.
Newgate Centre Polish advertising and closed down Polish café and bakery.
Malgosia Polish shop in the Newgate Centre.
Polish food shelves in Tesco, Eldon Square (as shown in photo).

To see more photos about identity here in Newcastle, please visit my photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle

Or join the Polish Newcastle group at:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/polishnewcastle