Cancer Awareness Campaign

Last weekend I sat down with a dear friend and she told me all about her campaign to promote awareness in the migrant community about checking for the signs of cancer (especially in those intimate areas). Sadly, my friend’s campaign started through her own personal experiences. Her message was so positive and so clear; basically it's time to go public on cancer of those private places!

So, inspired by this beautiful young woman I urge you all to please take the time to get your underwear off and check check check! (and I know how that sounds!)

If you’re due a smear test, don’t put it off. For Cervical Cancer awareness:
http://www.jostrust.org.uk

Get savvy about Gynaecological Cancers:
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/women/index

And get your bra off to be Breast Cancer aware:
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk

And men, let's go public on the personal:
http://cancer.about.com/od/cancersaffectingmen/Mens_Cancers.htm

Polish-English Baby Care Words

After an interview I conducted with a lovely Polish mum a few weeks ago we were having a chat and she was trying to help me with a few words in Polish, when it occurred to her that Polish words for baby related items were becoming harder for her to recall. I found this really interesting, in that chapters of our lives spent aboard, in this case, becoming a mother in Britain, reflect in the language we know and use. English baby care vocabulary had become part of her everyday.

Language is a recurrent theme in my interviews, it seems to give people a gauge as to who they believe they are, how ‘integrated’ into British society they feel, and how marked the difference between themselves and their children might be or become. Language seems to be one of the biggest areas of frustration and anxiety for Polish parents in the North East, who often link their ability in English to job prospects and future prospects for their family.

Thanks to this interview I've been inspired to look up some Polish-English baby care vocabulary myself:

krem na odparzenia - nappy rash cream
nawilżana chusteczka pielęgnacyjna - wet wipes
mata do przewijania - changing mat
nocnik - potty
kąpiel - baby bath
torba z przyborami do przewijania - changing bag
pielucha - nappy

łóżeczko dziecinne - cot
karuzela - cot mobile
materac - mattress
ochraniacz - cot bumper
prześcieradło - cot sheet
koc - blanket
kosz do noszenia dziecka - moses basket

zabawka - toy
lalka - doll
pluszowa zabawka - cuddly toy
domek do zabawy - playhouse
miś - teddy bear
grzechotka - rattle
kosz na zabawki - toy basket
piłka - ball


zamknięcie zabezpieczające - child locks
elektroniczna niania - baby monitor
bramka na schodach - stair gate
wysokie krzesełko - high chair
wózek spacerowy - pushchair
wózek dziecięcy - pram
nosidełko-gondola - carrycot
nosidełko - baby sling

kubeczek - sippy cup
butelka - bottle
karmić piersią - to breastfeed

podkoszulek - vest
pajacyk - babygro
zatrzask - sleep suit poppers
rękawiczki - mittens
buciki - booties
śpioszki - sleepsuit
rampers - romper suit
kombinezon zimowy - snowsuit
śliniaczek - bib
majtki ceratowe - training pants
kapelusz od słońca - sunhat
ogrodniczki - dungarees ('little gardeners'?...these are so cute!)


And here's some useful language learning resources:

For Polish-English exercise sheets, and learning resources try:
http://www.collinslanguage.com/extras/resources/easy-learning/polish.aspx

A fantastic blog for Polish language learners (like me), with podcasts and songs:
http://bloggypolish.co.uk/index.html

Do zobaczenia wkrótce!

Polish-English children's book (III)

This is possibly the best present I’ve ever had! A British friend recently tracked down a copy of my favourite children’s book, The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, and worked her way through a Polish website to buy me the Polish edition of the book. I was so touched. What a great present!

W sierpniu dostałam najlepszy present, było Bardzo Głodna Gąsienica w języku polskim!

I especially love the fact that in the English (Canadian English) version of the book the caterpillar eats ‘a slice of Swiss cheese’, ‘a slice of salami’ and ‘a piece of cherry pie’, but in the Polish version the caterpillar (who’s female by the way) seems less fussy and eats non-specific cheese, sausage and cake. Rather than a cupcake she takes muffins (babeczkę) and she shows a specific interest in frankfurters - and then that evening her belly hurts (‘Ależ ją bolał wieczorem brzuch!’)

The Polish edition of this classic children’s book is published by Wydawnictwo Tatarak.
It makes me smile every time I read it. Każdym razem, gdy czytam tę książke, uśmiecham się do siebie.

Free activities for toddlers in and around Newcastle

From my own experience as a mum with a toddler, I would recommend the following:

The Toy Library
Sure Start North Moor Children's Centre in Kenton, has a free, relaxed and informal play session for under 5’s each Friday. All the toys can then be borrowed and taken home. The session is open 9:30am - 11am on Halewood Avenue, Kenton, (NE3 3RX).

Museums and Galleries

The Laing Art Gallery has an excellent under 5’s area where little ones can use the dress up box, play with blocks, work out simply puzzles, read books, press buttons. We’ve been using it regularly since my little one was 9 months old. It’s a lovely space, next to the café in the Laing, and free to everyone at anytime. http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing

I would also recommend the play space in the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. After watching the glass blowing display in wonderment, we then took our toddler around the free permanent exhibition in the National Glass Centre. He especially enjoyed the magic mirrors and again, a good under 5’s area with blocks, toy cars and chalkboards. http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/home.html

Monkwearmouth Museum has the best under 5’s area in my opinion. There’s a huge dress up box with transport related uniforms, a brightly coloured children’s train, trains sets and viewing deck where little ones can watch the metro passing by: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/monkwearmouth.

All of these activities are free!

Information for Parents in the North East

Something I’m learning from my research interviews with Polish parents is that it’s not always easy to find information about what’s on in this region. Nie zawsze łatwo znaleźć informacje na temat rodziny działań. Tutaj kilka pomysłow:


Where can I get information about what’s on for families in the North East?
Gdzie znaleźć informacja na temat rodziny działań w północno-wschodniej?

Netmums -
This is a great website for finding out about local classes / activities / children’s toys and clothes sales and for obtaining advice and making friends with local parents online. http://www.netmums.com/local//newcastle
Netmums- strona o lokalnych zajęcia dla rodziców / działalność rodzina / dzieci zabawki I ubrania sprzedaży i porady dla rodziców.

Get Your Tots Out -
This is a free guide for parents in the North East listing classes such as baby yoga and massage and good days out, such as Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth and Bill Quay Farm. It’s written by local parents and has some good advice for everyone about parenting in this region. The authors also tell you how accessible the venues are for prams and buggies.
http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/2407/Get_Your_Tots_Out.html
Get Your Tots Out- Bezpłatne broszury dla rodziców w północno-wschodniej, informacje na temat zajęć, takich jak joga i masażu dla niemowląt, i miejsc do odwiedzenia.

The Little Pages -
A free guide to parents which you can pick up in hardcopy at most local libraries. It lists support groups, arts and craft classes, childcare and toddler groups, music and dance groups and softplay venues in this area. This directory also includes a calendar of local one off family events in the North East such as fetes and festivals, exhibitions and picnics.
http://www.the-little-pages.co.uk/
The Little Pages - Bezpłatne broszury na temat grup wsparcia, sztuka i klasy rzemiosła, opieki nad dziećmi i grup dla małych dzieci, muzyki i tańca i miejsc ‘softplay’ w północno-wschodniej.

Sure Start Centres –
These centres are a government funded provision currently available to all parents in the UK which aims to provide health advice, parenting and family support, play sessions and information on local childcare options, and links to services and training support for parents and carers.

In this area Sure Start Centres can be found in the following areas: Ouseburn, South Heaton, Walkergate, Newcastle East, Gosforth and Parklands, North Moor, North Village, Newbiggin Hall, Westerhope, Denton, Newburn, Lemington, Cowgate and Blakelaw, Fenham, North Fenham, Woodlands, west Riverside, Armstrong and Westgate.

http://www.surestartnewcastlecc.org.uk/site
Sure Start Centres - Sure Start Centre oferuje informacje do wszystkich rodziców za darmo. Oferują informacji o lokalne grupy dzieci, porady zdowotne I wsparcie dla rodziców.

You'll also find information about local baby and toddler groups and support groups in your local free newspaper, on p.14 of The Chronicle Extra for example.

Można znaleźć informacje na temat lokalnych grup dla dzieci, i grupy wsparcia w lokalnej wolnej gazecie, na przykład The Chronicle Extra.

I love Polish Culture

As a fan of Polish culture and the arts, I've started putting together a listings page detailing UK based Polish cultural events and exhibitions which I find useful or interesting.

So far the page lists and provides links to:

•Polish Film Posters
•Polish-Anglo Radio Station
•Polish Artist - Artur Zmijewski
•Polish magazines and newspapers in the UK
•Polish Film screened in the UK
•The POSK Gallery
•Biały Orzeł - Polish Dance
•Polish Culture and Tradition Website
•'Smacznego' Photography Blog by Georgios Makkas
•Polish Artist - Miroslaw Balka
•Made in Poland Festival
•The Polish Cultural Institute

You can access the page here:
http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/listings-polish-culture-in-uk.html

Let me know if you hear of any Polish events going on in the North East, as I love taking part. I especially love it when I can experience a slice of Poland on my own doorstep.

How to take part in my study

I am looking for Polish mums and dads in Newcastle (and surrounding areas) to take part in interviews for a piece of research about Polish families living in the North East that I am conducting at Newcastle University.

I have had a good response to my request for participants so far, and would love to make the study more detailed by recruiting even more Polish parents.
I normally ask parents to meet me at Newcastle City Library Café at a time convenient for them. The interview lasts about an hour, sometimes longer if the participant has a lot they want to say, or sometimes shorter if the children are present (I know how it is, as I have a baby and I often bring him along to the interview too).
The interview is very informal, and all participants so far have seemed to enjoy the experience. I change participants names when I write up the research, and anything said in the interview remains confidential.

In the interview we will talk about your experiences of being a mum or a dad here in the North East of England.
Visit this page of my blog: http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/2010/06/interviewing-polish-families-in-north.html for details about the questions I like to ask.

Following the interview, some months later, I will give you a written copy of our discussion. You will also be given a £25 Eldon Square Voucher / Odeon Cinema Voucher to say 'thank you' for taking part in the interview. I am really grateful to all the Polish families who have helped me so far, and I really appreciate the fact that I could not formulate this research without you.

I speak a little bit of Polish (but you might have noticed from my blog that I'm a bit hopeless!). If you would prefer to be interviewed in Polish rather than English I will happily arrange for a translator to be present at the interview.

To take part in this study please email me: rachel.clements@newcastle.ac.uk


Teraz, po polsku....

Cześć polscy rodzice w Newcastle!

Nazywam się Rachel Clements i jestem doktorantką geografii na Uniwersytecie Newcastle. Jestem także młodą matką z małym dzieckiem.

Szukam Polaków mieszkających w Newcastle, którzy sami są rodzicami i którzy zechcieliby wziąć udział w moim badaniu.

Chciałabym przeprowadzić wywiad z polskimi rodzicami, którzy byliby skłonni opowiedzieć o tym jak wygląda ich życie na emigracji.

Jestem także zainteresowana tym jak postrzegana jest przez Polaków na emigracji sprawa tożsamości, na przykład, jak polscy rodzice w Newcastle identyfikują się z miastem, z regionem, z Wielką Brytanią albo z Polską.

Oprócz tego chciałabym poznać wasze doświadczenia z życia w Newcastle oraz dowiedzieć się, jakich ułatwień moglibyście potrzebować, aby wasze życie było lepsze w tym mieście.

Mam nadzieję, że moje badania będą używane do celów praktycznych i posłużą do ukształtowania kierunku lokalnej polityki i zabezpieczeń dla polskich rodziców w tym regionie.

Jeśli jesteście polskimi rodzicami w Newcastle, chciałabym otrzymać od Was wiadomość!
Powiedzieć 'dziękuję bardzo' - kupon £25 Eldon Square / Odeon Cinema.
Zapraszam do udziału w moim badaniu. Aby dowiedzieć się więcej o moim projekcie, proszę odwiedzić mój blog: http://www.polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com lub skontaktować się ze mną drogą mailową: rachel.clements@newcastle.ac.uk

Dziękuję bardzo!

Rachel

Polish Name Days

I’m so excited. I’ve been invited to a Polish Name Day party. Hurray, hurray! In preparation I’ve been reading up on some of the customs of Polish name days.

Here’s what I’ve learnt so far:
Poles over the age of 13 usually prefer to celebrate their name day ‘imieniny’ rather than their birthdays ‘urodziny’.

Name days reflect the past Polish tradition to name a child after the Saint that has a Feast Day (day on which they were canonized) close to the child’s birthday or baptism.
I checked the name day calendar and found that some names appear three times. To find out which name day is the name day a Pole celebrates select the name day closest to their birthday.

It’s tradition to give a small gift of flowers, chocolate or vodka on the person’s name day, and to wish them ‘Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji imienin’. I will also be expected to sing ‘sto lat’ a few times.

I consulted a Polish friend over what the celebration might include, and she said we’ll probably be invited to play a game which involves a shoe! I look forward to this highlight, hahaha!

Also, I looked up the Polish version of my name, which would be ‘Rachela’, and it seems to be celebrated on January 15th in France, April 30th in Ukraine and September 30th in Slovakia. Fantastic, I look forward to telling my partner that I require flowers on all of these occasions…hmmm…but wait a second, his name is David (Dawid) and this name seems to be celebrated hundreds of times too- so maybe that’s not a good idea! ;)

Jestem bardzo podekscytowana, że pójdę do moich przyjaciół Imienin. Czytałam o tradycji Imieniny aby można było przygotować się do obchodów. Myślę, że powiem moim partnerem o moim Imieniny, więc będzie kupić mi więcej kwiatów! ;)

Polish-English Children's Book (II)

Voytek the Soldier Bear

Thank you for your comments on my post about the Polish-English children’s book Little Monkey’s One Safe Place (Bezpieczne Miejsce Małej Małpki). I’ve found another book which might be of interest.

This time there’s an added local interest factor as the book’s author, Garry Paulin, is from Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
The book is called Voytek the Soldier Bear (Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek) and recounts the true life story of the wild Iranian bear which became the mascot for the Polish Army in World War II. Voytek reportedly carried ammunition for the soldiers at the Battle of Monte Cassino (Italy) and then arrived with the Polish troops at Winfield Camp in Berwickshire in October 1946. He spent the rest of his days in Edinburgh Zoo and many local people still remember going to visit Voytek.

The book is written in Polish and English and is beautifully illustrated by former Glasgow Arts School student, Sophie Stubbs.

To find out more about 'Voytek the Soldier Bear' and buy a copy of the book (rrp.£5.99) go to: http://www.voytekbear.com/
To learn more about the Polish troops who knew Voytek (including Dymitri Szawlugo, Marian Blazejewicz and Mieczyslaw Gladysz Gryff) go to: www.voytekbear/com/polish-people-stories-history.html
There’s lots of good YouTube clips about Voytek. One of the best is linked here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynz2QBeb5Ok


Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek

Dziękuję za komentarze na temat mojego postu o książki polsko-angielski dla dzieci –Bezpieczne Miejsce Małej Małpki. Teraz znalazłam inną książkę, która może być interesująca.

Tym razem autora książki jest lokalnym człowiekiem- Garry Paulin, jest od Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

Książka nazywa się Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek’ i opowiada prawdziwą historię o życiu niedźwiedzia z Iranu. Niedźwiedź stał się maskotką dla Wojska Polskiego w Wojnie Światowej II.
Wojtek lubił nanieść amunicji dla żołnierzy w bitwie pod Monte Cassino (Włochy). Następnie przybył z polskich żołnierzy w Camp Winfield w Berwickshire w październiku 1946 roku.
Wojtek umarł w grudniu 1963 r. w Edinburgh Zoo. W Berwick wiele lokalnych osób jeszcze mogą pamiętać odwiedzi Wojtek.

Książka jest w języku polskim i angielskim i to pięknie zilustrowane przez Sophie Stubbs.

Dowiedzieć się więcej o Wojteki lub kupić książki (£5.99) - http://www.voytekbear.com/
Dowiedzieć się więcej o polskich żołnierzy, którzy znali Wojtka - www.voytekbear/pl/polsko-ludzie-stories-history.html
Zobaczyć film o niedźwiedzia- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynz2QBeb5Ok

Polish boys are welcome to join Gateshead football team

Cześć! I’ve been asked to inform you about a football team in Gateshead looking to recruit new members. They want to let you know that all Polish lads are very welcome to join! Sorry about my poor Polish. Rachel ;)

Gateshead Sapipa FC powita Polskich chłopców

Gateshead Sapipa Football Club chce nowych graczy (-lat 13) dla bardzo przyjaznego zespółu.
Sapipa ma strony internetowa: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/gatesheadsapipafc/107049

Gateshead Sapipa to bardzo udany - Russell Forster League zespół, ale ubawi się też.
‘Trening’ w poniedziałek wieczorem 7pm- 8pm na Cardinal Hume School w Gateshead
Mecze są rozgrywane w niedzielę rano w Gateshead (naprzeciwko Gateshead Stadium).

E-mail: sapipa@hotmail.co.uk lub telefon Jamie na 07906627882 dla więcej informacji.

Polish boys welcome to join Gateshead football team

Gateshead Sapipa Football Club want new players for their very friendly under 13's team. They’re particularly looking for school year 7 going into year 8 lads for next September’s team, but all enquiries for players of different ages are welcome. Their website is: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/gatesheadsapipafc/107049

Gateshead Sapipa is a very successful Russell Forster League team. Having recently received promotion the team is going from strength to strength. The emphasis of the team is on enjoyment, but coaches do require 100% effort from all team players.
Any local Polish boys looking to join a football team next season are urged to consider trying out for Gateshead Sapipa FC.

Training sessions are normally held at Cardinal Hume School in Gateshead on a Monday night 7pm - 8pm.

Home matches are played on a Sunday morning at Bede School in Gateshead (opposite Gateshead Stadium).

Email: sapipa@hotmail.co.uk or phone Jamie on 07906627882 for more information.