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Would I be accepted as a Pole (being half-Greek, half-Polish)?



George8600Threads: 20
Posts: 1,114
Joined: Feb 19, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 01:03 /  #
Apparently I am half Greek and half Polish, but a sketchy online family tree I did shows I'm half Greek, and 25% French, and 25% Polish. I know the language. But I am doing a study abroad program at the University of Warsaw this summer. Truth is, would I be accepted as a Pole or recognized as one, or would I be some foreigner fellow to them?

I mean I have seen many Poles, however I have a tad bit hair on the arms and legs, black hair, brown eyes, and my skin is on the bright palish side, however it can ger dark quickly when in the sun.
beckskiThreads: 19
Posts: 2,148
Joined: May 15, 07  Gold Member MEMBER  Pictures: 3 		  Jun 8, 09, 02:32 /  #
George8600:
I have seen many Poles, however I have a tad bit hair on the arms and legs, black hair, brown eyes,

Many other Poles seem to have the same darker features, including a few of my ancestors.

A sincere thanks PF, for putting up with me FIVE terrific years, muah!
southernThreads: 116
Posts: 10,955
Joined: May 17, 07 		  Jun 8, 09, 02:36 /  #
I think it depends on the amount of vodka you can consume.This will be the ultimate test.
ZIMMYThreads: 10
Posts: 2,353
Joined: Feb 21, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 02:44 /  #
Speaking the language is (the) key.

That seems to be true in the states and I'm guessing that it's true in Poland. In my case, even though I'm an American of Polish descent, I am quickly accepted by foreign born Poles when I speak Polish.
tomekcatkinsThreads: 13
Posts: 173
Joined: Oct 9, 07 		  Jun 8, 09, 03:13 /  #
Somehow I must think of this song:



;-)
plk123Threads: 30
Posts: 6,412
Joined: Aug 29, 07  Pictures: 2 		  Jun 8, 09, 05:56 /  #
if you don't speak perfect polish then probably not but good luck anyway.
PlasticPoleThreads: 10
Posts: 5,429
Joined: May 28, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 06:14 /  #
plk123:
if you don't speak perfect polish then probably not but good luck anyway.

If you make a good effort even if you aren't perfect I am sure you'll make friends.
plk123Threads: 30
Posts: 6,412
Joined: Aug 29, 07  Pictures: 2 		  Jun 8, 09, 06:24 /  #
you can make friends w/o any polish but you will be looked upon as an outsider.
PlasticPoleThreads: 10
Posts: 5,429
Joined: May 28, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 06:26 /  #
plk123:
an outsider.

Well, he'll prolly be an outsider kinda anyway because he's not in his native land. He won't feel quite so isolated with a few friends so he might have fun if he can manage enough Polish to do that.
BevKThreads: 18
Posts: 281
Joined: Mar 20, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 10:11 /  #
Surely the important thing is to be accepted as a person first and foremost?
George8600Threads: 20
Posts: 1,114
Joined: Feb 19, 09 		  Jun 8, 09, 23:42 /  #
PlasticPole:
plk123:
an outsider.
Well, he'll prolly be an outsider kinda anyway because he's not in his native land. He won't feel quite so isolated with a few friends so he might have fun if he can manage enough Polish to do that.

I admit, that this is the first time I am actually going to Poland to stay for a long period of time unlike those short vacations in the past. But I embrace my European culture, I'm not one of thos "americanized" fellows. I speak Polish from my mother, it was taught to me as a first language along with Greek and then I mastered English when I began going to school as a youngster. My Polish is good, but for a commoner, not for an educated Pole that would be able to tell complex words and rich language in Polish. This is because I have done all of my advanced education in English, and only speak Polish with the family and some Polish friends in the neighborhood and school. I'm in Chicago btw.
freebirdThreads: 3
Posts: 638
Joined: Jun 8, 07 		  Jun 9, 09, 00:05 /  #
southern:
I think it depends on the amount of vodka you can consume.This will be the ultimate test.

I'm glad you said that Southern, it's most likely vodka that makes the difference :-)
optsThreads: 12
Posts: 333
Joined: Jul 29, 06 		  Jun 9, 09, 05:18 /  #
Trying being yourself.
polishcanuckThreads: 10
Posts: 583
Joined: Feb 11, 07 		  Jun 10, 09, 05:50 /  #
Hard to say. I was born in poland to polish parents but grew up in canada. Poles as well as my family in poland see me as a canadian.
Mr GrunwaldThreads: 34
Posts: 2,358
Joined: Dec 16, 08 		  Jun 10, 09, 09:16 /  #
Well when I am in the public nobody asks me are from a foreign country or what so ever, I may even have less then 10% blood in me o_O mostly German Lithuanian bllod and Norwegian. But my family has allways lived in Poland and feel themself Polish, and speak Polish. So it's really wierd for me but online and in pubpic im accepted as a Pole. In my family I am seen as very Polish becaouse of my sense for Polish history + I speak Polish :D
SwitekThreads: 1
Posts: 66
Joined: May 28, 09 		  Jun 10, 09, 09:44 /  #
George8600:
Truth is, would I be accepted as a Pole or recognized as one, or would I be some foreigner fellow to them?

You can name yourself as a Pole and with no doubt be accepted as one of us.... There are plenty of descendants of 1949 Greek refuges living in Poznań and it neighborhood.

Eleni Tzoka, a famous Polish singer is one of them.
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