“Gaja z gajówki” to już czterotomowa seria autorstwa Anny Włodarkiewicz o piegowatej, energicznej dziewczynce, która udowadnia, że życie z dala od ekranów – bez smartfona, gier komputerowych i telewizora – może być pełne pasji, przygód i prawdziwych odkryć. Książka napisana jest w formie pamiętnika, dzięki czemu czytelnicy z łatwością wchodzą w świat Gai – zaledwie kilkuletniej bohaterki, którą poznajemy tuż przed rozpoczęciem nauki w pierwszej klasie.
Recently, my son began a unit on dystopian literature at school and chose to read 1984 by George Orwell. When I mentioned that it is one of the most frequently banned and challenged books, his immediate reaction was: “Why?”
It was a great question—”Why was this book banned?”
But to answer that, we must first ask a broader question: “Why are books banned at all?”
Last week was an amazing day—summer-like, warm, and sunny. I went for a long walk with my family through the forest to the park, enjoying the sun’s golden beams. We were not alone. The park was full of people playing, walking, and biking, all appreciating the warmth granted by the sun.
I am currently reading Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, where the sun’s nourishment plays a significant role in the story. It made me reflect on how the sun is represented in language—how it is perceived and which of its characteristics have been used to express emotions and daily life experiences. To explore this, I turned to idioms and proverbs, which serve as linguistic fossils preserving the worldview of our ancestors.
Seattle narrowly avoided a tornado and 2-inch hail. If it had happened, we’d probably be using some strong language. That’s why in this issue; we’re tackling the controversial topic of swear words.
Personally, I don’t like swear words and rarely use them. Maybe only when I hit my finger with a hammer because it reduces pain – a scientifically proven fact.
However, when I travel to Poland or talk to my Polish friends, I hear swear words everywhere: in all sorts of conversations, on television, even in stand-up comedy shows. I always wonder why? Do they make our conversations better? Do they make us sound more confident?
The answers are in the short story below. Enjoy.
Go to the Seattle Polish Film Festival website and click on the button “Buy 2925 Early Bird Pass”.
First of all, I want to point out that vulgarisms are not words I am fond of. On the contrary, I dislike hearing and using them. They are intense and jarring. Swear words are not neutral; therefore, they cannot be used as meaningless sentence fillers or decorative additions to make speech sound more expressive. My professor, Jan Miodek, used to say that excessive swearing is a sign of linguistic poverty—language offers plenty of ways to express emotions without resorting to vulgarity. Swear words have their place, but they should remain silent until they are truly needed.
We all faced this decision once when we left Poland and settled in Seattle. For many, leaving home is a dramatic and seemingly impossible choice. We did it, so we know firsthand how hard it is. Yet, because we’ve done it once, and sometimes many times, it’s not frightening anymore. After a while in one place, we start thinking that maybe it’s time to move again.
Spring is almost here, and we wanted to dedicate this issue to the season. Our editor, Ania Kaminska, has written a wonderful article about an old Polish tradition of drowning a Marzanna. You’ll find it below.
Dziadek i niedźwiadek to niezwykła książka – ciepła, poruszająca i pełna historycznej prawdy, choć opowiedziana w przystępny, niemal bajkowy sposób. Opiera się na autentycznych wydarzeniach, wspomnieniach żołnierzy i materiałach archiwalnych, a jednocześnie zawiera wątki fabularyzowane, które pomagają młodemu czytelnikowi lepiej zrozumieć realia tamtych trudnych lat. Jak opowiedzieć dzieciom o wojnie
Moving abroad brings a lot of “new”: new landscapes, new language, new people, new jobs, new living space, new shops, new food, etc. It is good to look into the future and the bright sides of these changes. Yet, alongside the “new,” there are “lacks” that cannot be replaced. One of them is the traditions celebrated in our homelands. They used to be so common and natural that we often only notice their absence when we can no longer observe them.
Seattle has long been a melting pot of cultures, and for the Polish-American community, the Seattle Polish Foundation (SPF) is the heart that keeps its rich heritage alive. If you’ve ever bitten into a delicious pierogi at the bustling Pierogi Fest at the Polish Home or danced to the rhythm
I was prompted to write this article by two events, one last Saturday and one happening soon.
On Sunday, March 2, the Seattle Polish Film Festival organized a fundraiser for Ukraine and presented the movie “Erase the Nation” about the war in Ukraine. It was a sold-out event with lots of Poles, Ukrainians, and Americans in the audience.
Starting March 13, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival will present a Polish movie “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma).
Living abroad comes with many challenges, some predictable, others unexpected. When my husband and I decided to leave Poland, I was excited for the new adventure: to see new places, meet new people, and gain new experiences. I knew I would miss my people and my familiar places. I understood
The Polish Home Association is happy to announce the opening of an Art Gallery in the Polish Cultural Center. We are creating a forum for artists associated with the Polish community to present their art and to popularize and promote art in our community.
President – Magdalena WysockaVice President – Barbara AugustyniakSecretary – Mira PawluśkiewiczTreasure – Henryka Posłuszny Congratulations!! We would like to invite you all to the Spring Bazaar at the Polish Cultural Center on April 12th, 2025 Noon to 5pm For any questions please email: polishbazaar@polishhome.org
This year Seattle Polish Film Festival will be happening in October, but if there is a Polish film showing up in Seattle area in the meantime, we’ll let you know about it, and remind you at the same time that we continue working on our festival to bring to you the best Polish films available.
This time we are encouraging you to check the film “The Death of Zygielbojm” (Śmierć Zygielbojma), directed by Ryszard Brylski. It will be streaming March 13 – April 13 during the Seattle Jewish Film Festival. For tickets please check the SJFF website: Home | Seattle Jewish Film Festival
Dzisiejsza książka to dzieło zupełnie niezwykłe – album, komiks, encyklopedia i książka przygodowa w jednym. A wszystko to zamknięte w pięknie wydanej, bogato ilustrowanej i… całkiem pokaźnej objętościowo publikacji. Mimo to myślę, że warto, aby obciążyła nasz bagaż po wizycie w Polsce lub stała się wyjątkowym prezentem od odwiedzających nas
The Polish Community in Seattle responded to this question with an incredibly strong YES. Since 2020, we have donated over $240,000 to the Seattle Polish Foundation through personal donations from individuals like you and me. We can be proud of ourselves and our generosity. These donations support our community, the Polish Cultural Center, and events like the Polish Festival and the Seattle Polish Film Festival. By donating, you also help members of our community who have fallen into hard times.
If you are not familiar with the Seattle Polish Foundation, I encourage you to visit their website, learn about their mission, recent fundraisers, and meet the members of the board of directors.
This year, the biggest fundraiser event in Washington State, GiveBIG, starts in a month and concludes on May 6-7. Visit the Seattle Polish Foundation page hosted by GiveBIG to find out about this year’s causes and specific fundraisers.
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