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(Not Really) The Only Polish Girl in Texas


So I guess since this blog is titled “The Only Polish Girl in Texas” I should probably give some back story on that.  I don’t ever remember a time during the holidays when I was young that my Grandma didn’t come to stay with us.  We would always make pierogi, although at that time I was only in charge of using the fork to close them.  I didn’t eat them when I was a kid, but I was extremely picky and missed out on years and years of the buttery deliciousness.  Kolacky would always be a part of the Christmas cookies we made, and it wasn’t Easter without Polish sausage from Misch Bros.  I can remember my Grandma being on the phone with my Great Aunt talking in Polish, and the more excited or upset she would become the louder and faster she talked.  Almost until she was out of breath.  When I was in maybe 6th grade, I had a “boyfriend” (things were different back then) and one of the first things I was asked was what’s his last name.  I was told that he was ok to marry, because it ended in –ski.  It was normal to have friends whose names were 10-12 letters long and no one had a hard time pronouncing them.  But then again, Chicago has a larger Polish population than Warsaw.
My shrine to the pierogi at work

 Fast forward to living in Texas.  I guess what’s strange to me is that there doesn’t seem to be as much cultural diversity here.  I mean, within a 3 mile radius of my house there are probably a dozen Mexican restaurants, but after that it’s mostly chains you’ll find in any other town.  Those who I worked with, or am friends with from back home I can tell you who is Croatian, Italian, Serbian, and what percentages make up what.  Here, it’s not something anyone really talks about.  I don’t see the traditions here that everyone followed while I was growing up.  And a part of it may be religion.  The majority of people I grew up with were Catholic, which I believe is a very traditional religion.  Here, there is one Catholic church that I know of, and countless non-denominational or Baptist. (Religion is not something I want to get into, however I think it does play a part in the differences.)

I suppose there’s nothing wrong with the way things are here, but at the same time it’s nice to have traditions you can partake in each year that remind you of your heritage.  I wouldn’t change any of it, and can hopefully continue to most of them with my little family.
The picture I sent my brother when I got my hat

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