I’m a very happy person, I have to admit. Life has taught me to always find positives in every situation, every day! And I really try to! I don’t need a lot…I have wonderful family…A husband I never thought I will meet…Two beautiful, loving, amazing daughters, that are all my life. I have great friends….I have opportunity to make my daughter’s life amazing! Truly amazing.They have a lot of things I never had growing up. They have loving parents (kochających rodziców), beautiful home (śliczny dom), great friends (wspaniałych przyjaciół), loving family (kochającą rodzinę), opportunity to spend every day the way they want : swimming, skiing, painting, playing, relaxing…you name it! (możliwość spędzenia każdego dnia według własnego pomysłu: pływanie, jazda na nartach, malowanie, gry, relaks). I live in a beautiful place, with mountains, lakes, ocean, rivers close by…I would never trade it for a big city (although I enjoyed living in Warsaw when I was in college!). I never thought my life could be happier! You would think…it’s perfect (możesz pomyśleć, że jest doskonałe). Well…it is. But being so far away from the country I grew up in…from all my high school and college friends, from all my family…from all customs and way to live in Poland…it catches up to me sometimes.
I have to admit , that moving to USA was not my intention…and if I would not have met my future husband here…I would have probably live in Poland now. I had an amazing experience from my first two summers in USA…that’s why I decided to spent 3rd summer in NH after finishing college in Poland. And that was the summer I met Michael…the person who loves me the way I’m, who will be with me for the rest of my life (I know it, don’t try to tell me that true love does not exist! – Wiem o tym, nie próbuj mi powiedzieć, że prawdziwa miłość nie istnieje!).
Deciding to live in a foreign country is a big step…although sometimes you have to sacrifice some things…(choć czasem trzeba poświęcić pewne rzeczy…) What do I miss the most about my country? My loving family, my friends, the food (this one is sometimes easy to fix – I’m not the best cook, but I try), the way Polish families are ( meaning they will not let you stay at the hotel, but will redesign their own master bedroom, so you can stay with them comfortably, and not book the hotel), I miss Polish language (it feels so good to speak to someone in my native language, it does not happen often in North Conway, NH).
I miss the health system in Poland (because prices of it here in USA overwhelm me –bo ceny tutaj w USA przerastają mnie)!
I miss the school system in Poland as well – public colleges are free…and they are one of the best ones!
I miss holidays spent with my family. I miss Polish music, watching TV in Polish, Polish customs.
What else do I miss…?I miss people treating me equally…I know, I’m an immigrant from Europe. I chose to be one. In my mind…this was the best choice! What would I do in Poland now? I don’t know…I had a great carrier just starting after finishing college… But would I be as happy as I’m now? I don’t know…I went through trying to get different jobs here in USA…with some good and not so good results…All because of my accent. I know, that I will get what I want, because I’m really determined. I can prove to people, that I can do, what people think I can’t (Mogę udowodnić ludziom, że mogę zrobić, co ludzie myślą, że nie mogę). Life is like a box of chocolate…You never know what you’re gonna get.”
So, I’m not complaing. I’m just trying to show you the life from my perspective…I’m not trying to take anybody’s job…I’m just trying to be happy and live my life. You never know what’s going to happen…I pay taxes..I work hard! If I could do it in Poland – I would have….but I decided to do it here, in USA! So please, don’t think, that all immigrants come here for the money! Because they don’t! I could probably make more money living in Poland! But, I chose to live here! My daughters speak Polish…my husband would not mind moving to Poland…so sometimes it’s just a matter of choice!
Now, all Poles living here, in USA, or any immigrants anywhere in the world, will you please share with me what do you miss the most about your native country?
Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)
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My name is Kasia Scontsas. I grew near Lublin, Poland and moved to Warsaw to study International Business. I have passion for languages: any languages! Currently I live in New Hampshire. I enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking and paddle boarding. My husband speaks a little Polish, but our daughters are fluent in it! I wanted to make sure that they can communicate with their Polish relatives in our native language. Teaching them Polish since they were born was the best thing I could have given them!
I have been writing about learning Polish language and culture for Transparent Language’s Polish Blog since 2010.
Comments:
Meg Davis:
This was a very moving post, Kasia. My Australian daughter lives in Poland for the same reasons as you live in the USA: the husband! I’ve spent 8 months in Warsaw in the last two years, and the things I miss are the things you miss, even after such a short time there. I turned 70 the other day and my son-in-law’s parents sent me a huge bunch of flowers, to my Australian home. Their generosity has been amazing. Would I think of relocating? Almost. There’s also the incentive of 2 year-old twins.
Ashley Pezanowski:
Dzien Dobry!
Mam na imie Ashley, i nie jestem z polska, ale bylam tam na wymiana! Bardzo kocham polska, i bardzo bardzo tesknie polska, i polskiego. Ja tesknie moj rodzina, znajomi, szkola, stary miasto, jedzenia, wszystko.
(Przepraszam dla moj polskiego, nie jest najlepszy ale kocham)
Linda Ciulik Wisniewski:
Hi Kasia,
I loved reading this, and felt your homesickness. I married an American Polish guy, all our relatives are Polish but born here. Our grandparents came from Poland (when it was Austria, Prussia, etc. We visited Poland for two weeks in July 2010 and fell in love with the country. The music made me cry, for sentimental reasons. When we hear about immigrants, we don’t think about how hard it is for them to leave home, family and friends, and be unable to find a job that makes use of their education. You’ve said it well. Dziekuje bardzo!
Linda
p.s. Your daughters are so cute!
Brett:
Hi Kasia,
This may seem to be from left field (what’s this Aussie know about Poland?)
I moved to the US in 2000, and shortly after met and married a Polish born girl here in Chicago. I have visited Poland many times since and seen much of its beauty, looking forward to discovering much more. Much of what you mention here I miss too, especially the family aspect. The people are wonderful. I particularly love the Christmas times we have spent there. And Krakow.. beautiful Krakow.
I have learned the language studied the history and we have raised our 5 year old daughter to speak Polish and know her heritage.
Thank you for sharing this.
Cheers
Brett
Claudia:
Piekny artykul, sama mieszkam zagranica lecz zdecydowanie blizej, do domu mam zaledwie 900km wiec TEORETYCZNIE moglabym co miesiac byc w Polsce. Podziwiam ludzi, ktorzy potrafia mieszkac tak daleko od domu. Mysle, ze ja bym tego nie mogla. Bylam kiedys na miesiac w Stanach i czasem na sama mysl, ze jestem tak daleko od domu plakalam, mimo iz wiedzialam, ze niedlugo wroce. Ta odleglosc jest przerazajaca. Ale czapki z glow za uczenie dzieci Polskiego, mysle, ze jest to bardzo istotna rzecz i wazna. Polska jest cudownym krajem, lecz niestety, nie da sie w nim zyc lecz jedynie przezyc…
Sciskam was mocno i zycze duzo szczescia i pomyslnosci w zyciu!
Pozdrawiam z Niemiec! 🙂
Yola:
Hi Kasia
While born American, I am 100% Polish. I was lucky to grow up hearing Polish spoken in the household and able to attend Polish church. It was nice to have a Polish community to help reinforce traditions.
After high school graduation, I was able to spend a month in Poland and spent the time finally meeting cousins and family that I only knew through letters. I miss all of them so very much. I miss the local church where so many of my family were married. I miss the local bakery and how the smell of fresh bread was so enticing. I miss the history, culture and the landscapes when driving from one area to another.
I can understand having a deep appreciation for what you have here and what you had there. So easy to be torn between each one.
Thank you for the post.
Yola
JP:
Why do immigrants always come to the USA and whine about “equality” and constantly have to push their Euro Liberal crap like healthcare? Go home. It’s that easy.
Karolina:
Hej Kasiu,
Minęło troche czasu od publikacji tego posta, znalazłam go przypdkowo serfujac po różnych stronach, przeczytałam i poczułam sie jakbym to ja go napisała. Tez jestem z Lublina, przeprowadziłam sie tu dla mojego męża Amerykanina i mamy razem pięknego synka. Żyje sie mi tu dobrze, lubię moja prace (uczę w collegu), mamy fajnych znajomych i rodzine męża blisko. Ale jednak, wszystkie te rzeczy które wymieniłaś sa czymś czego mi okrutnie brakuje. Tej bliskości z ludźmi i bezinteresowności, mówienia po polsku, czasem dość mam krzywdzących stereotypów i głupich pytań w stylu ‘a macie to w Polsce? Cieszysz sie ze udało sie ci sie przeprowadzić do USA? (Rzadko sie pojawiają ale jak sa to denerwują) i wszystkich rzeczy o których wspomniałaś jak służba zdrowia (pójść do lekarza i nie martwić sie ze przyjdzie koperta z kilkoma zerami do zapłacenia) i inne rzeczy. Pozdrawiam cię cieplutko, mieszkamy w Maryland ale gdybyśmy było blisko New Hampshire byłabym pierwsza osoba która chciałaby sie spotkać 🙂
Kasia:
@Karolina Karolina, dziękuję bardzo za wspaniałą wiadomość! Bardzo mnie ucieszyła! Jeżeli tylko będziesz w New Hampshire, daj znać koniecznie:) Pozdrawiam gorąco!
Comments:
Meg Davis:
This was a very moving post, Kasia. My Australian daughter lives in Poland for the same reasons as you live in the USA: the husband! I’ve spent 8 months in Warsaw in the last two years, and the things I miss are the things you miss, even after such a short time there. I turned 70 the other day and my son-in-law’s parents sent me a huge bunch of flowers, to my Australian home. Their generosity has been amazing. Would I think of relocating? Almost. There’s also the incentive of 2 year-old twins.
Ashley Pezanowski:
Dzien Dobry!
Mam na imie Ashley, i nie jestem z polska, ale bylam tam na wymiana! Bardzo kocham polska, i bardzo bardzo tesknie polska, i polskiego. Ja tesknie moj rodzina, znajomi, szkola, stary miasto, jedzenia, wszystko.
(Przepraszam dla moj polskiego, nie jest najlepszy ale kocham)
Linda Ciulik Wisniewski:
Hi Kasia,
I loved reading this, and felt your homesickness. I married an American Polish guy, all our relatives are Polish but born here. Our grandparents came from Poland (when it was Austria, Prussia, etc. We visited Poland for two weeks in July 2010 and fell in love with the country. The music made me cry, for sentimental reasons. When we hear about immigrants, we don’t think about how hard it is for them to leave home, family and friends, and be unable to find a job that makes use of their education. You’ve said it well. Dziekuje bardzo!
Linda
p.s. Your daughters are so cute!
Brett:
Hi Kasia,
This may seem to be from left field (what’s this Aussie know about Poland?)
I moved to the US in 2000, and shortly after met and married a Polish born girl here in Chicago. I have visited Poland many times since and seen much of its beauty, looking forward to discovering much more. Much of what you mention here I miss too, especially the family aspect. The people are wonderful. I particularly love the Christmas times we have spent there. And Krakow.. beautiful Krakow.
I have learned the language studied the history and we have raised our 5 year old daughter to speak Polish and know her heritage.
Thank you for sharing this.
Cheers
Brett
Claudia:
Piekny artykul, sama mieszkam zagranica lecz zdecydowanie blizej, do domu mam zaledwie 900km wiec TEORETYCZNIE moglabym co miesiac byc w Polsce. Podziwiam ludzi, ktorzy potrafia mieszkac tak daleko od domu. Mysle, ze ja bym tego nie mogla. Bylam kiedys na miesiac w Stanach i czasem na sama mysl, ze jestem tak daleko od domu plakalam, mimo iz wiedzialam, ze niedlugo wroce. Ta odleglosc jest przerazajaca. Ale czapki z glow za uczenie dzieci Polskiego, mysle, ze jest to bardzo istotna rzecz i wazna. Polska jest cudownym krajem, lecz niestety, nie da sie w nim zyc lecz jedynie przezyc…
Sciskam was mocno i zycze duzo szczescia i pomyslnosci w zyciu!
Pozdrawiam z Niemiec! 🙂
Yola:
Hi Kasia
While born American, I am 100% Polish. I was lucky to grow up hearing Polish spoken in the household and able to attend Polish church. It was nice to have a Polish community to help reinforce traditions.
After high school graduation, I was able to spend a month in Poland and spent the time finally meeting cousins and family that I only knew through letters. I miss all of them so very much. I miss the local church where so many of my family were married. I miss the local bakery and how the smell of fresh bread was so enticing. I miss the history, culture and the landscapes when driving from one area to another.
I can understand having a deep appreciation for what you have here and what you had there. So easy to be torn between each one.
Thank you for the post.
Yola
JP:
Why do immigrants always come to the USA and whine about “equality” and constantly have to push their Euro Liberal crap like healthcare? Go home. It’s that easy.
Karolina:
Hej Kasiu,
Minęło troche czasu od publikacji tego posta, znalazłam go przypdkowo serfujac po różnych stronach, przeczytałam i poczułam sie jakbym to ja go napisała. Tez jestem z Lublina, przeprowadziłam sie tu dla mojego męża Amerykanina i mamy razem pięknego synka. Żyje sie mi tu dobrze, lubię moja prace (uczę w collegu), mamy fajnych znajomych i rodzine męża blisko. Ale jednak, wszystkie te rzeczy które wymieniłaś sa czymś czego mi okrutnie brakuje. Tej bliskości z ludźmi i bezinteresowności, mówienia po polsku, czasem dość mam krzywdzących stereotypów i głupich pytań w stylu ‘a macie to w Polsce? Cieszysz sie ze udało sie ci sie przeprowadzić do USA? (Rzadko sie pojawiają ale jak sa to denerwują) i wszystkich rzeczy o których wspomniałaś jak służba zdrowia (pójść do lekarza i nie martwić sie ze przyjdzie koperta z kilkoma zerami do zapłacenia) i inne rzeczy. Pozdrawiam cię cieplutko, mieszkamy w Maryland ale gdybyśmy było blisko New Hampshire byłabym pierwsza osoba która chciałaby sie spotkać 🙂
Kasia:
@Karolina Karolina, dziękuję bardzo za wspaniałą wiadomość! Bardzo mnie ucieszyła! Jeżeli tylko będziesz w New Hampshire, daj znać koniecznie:) Pozdrawiam gorąco!