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Politics and Activism

30 Signs You Grew Up Polish

Everyone mispronounces your last name (and sometimes your first name too).

Alexandra Tarnowski

May 24, 2016

Butler University

3905

My parents and their families moved to the states in their late teens from Poland. Growing up, I had a very strong sense of the Polish culture in my life that many other Americans aren't as lucky to have. Some of these customs, if you can identify with them, weren't always that great. If you can relate to these 30 things, you know you grew up Polish.

1. You spoke Polish before you spoke English.

2. Your parents have an abundance of vodka in the house.

3. You could never get out of going to church every Sunday morning.

4. You probably studied out of one of these.

5. You knew Saturday mornings meant your mom was cleaning every surface of the house.

6. If you were indoors, you were forced to wear slippers, or you would catch some ridiculous disease.

7. Your only summer plans were to go to Poland.

8. Everyone mispronounces your last name (and sometimes your first name).

9. All your relatives are still salty about World War II.

10. You watched "Bolek i Lolek" and "Smurfs."

11. Your friends think it's crazy that you put butter on all your sandwiches.

12. You had pierogi at least once a week for dinner.

13. You know not one family get together will be calm and quiet.

14. You drink hot tea year round.

15. You owe your posture to constantly hearing "nie garb się" from your parents.

16. Pope John Paul was a hero.

17. All your friends loved running around screaming "kurwa."

18. You're used to having dinner around 3 or 4 and supper at 7.

19. Christmas Eve was a much bigger deal than Christmas Day.

Breaking the opłatek, looking out for the first star, all the amazing fish dishes, and opening presents a whole day before all your other friends!

20. The bond between cousins can never be broken.

21. Your school lunch sandwiches were always on rye bread.

22. All your parents' Polish friends are your ciocias and wujeks.

23. No matter what you're wearing, you're always naked to babcia.

24. You wonder if your parents are they way they are because of the Soviets.

25. Your friends are kinda grossed out by some of the food you serve.

26. You've heard absolutely every Polish joke out there and still get mad about them.

27. No one can remember how to say your parents' names.

28. You always have Polish snacks out for guests.

29. Hearing your friends try say Polish words is hysterical.

30. People always ask you if you're Russian….which is really not okay.

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30 Signs You Grew Up Polish

Everyone mispronounces your last name (and sometimes your first name too).

1. You spoke Polish before you spoke English.

2. Your parents have an abundance of vodka in the house.

3. You could never get out of going to church every Sunday morning.

4. You probably studied out of one of these.

5. You knew Saturday mornings meant your mom was cleaning every surface of the house.

6. If you were indoors, you were forced to wear slippers, or you would catch some ridiculous disease.

7. Your only summer plans were to go to Poland.

8. Everyone mispronounces your last name (and sometimes your first name).

9. All your relatives are still salty about World War II.

10. You watched "Bolek i Lolek" and "Smurfs."

11. Your friends think it's crazy that you put butter on all your sandwiches.

12. You had pierogi at least once a week for dinner.

13. You know not one family get together will be calm and quiet.

14. You drink hot tea year round.

15. You owe your posture to constantly hearing "nie garb się" from your parents.

16. Pope John Paul was a hero.

17. All your friends loved running around screaming "kurwa."

18. You're used to having dinner around 3 or 4 and supper at 7.

19. Christmas Eve was a much bigger deal than Christmas Day.

20. The bond between cousins can never be broken.

21. Your school lunch sandwiches were always on rye bread.

22. All your parents' Polish friends are your ciocias and wujeks.

23. No matter what you're wearing, you're always naked to babcia.

24. You wonder if your parents are they way they are because of the Soviets.

25. Your friends are kinda grossed out by some of the food you serve.

26. You've heard absolutely every Polish joke out there and still get mad about them.

27. No one can remember how to say your parents' names.

28. You always have Polish snacks out for guests.

29. Hearing your friends try say Polish words is hysterical.

30. People always ask you if you're Russian….which is really not okay.

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1. Me after every class

2. If you really care about your grades

3. When you get a new homework assignment

4. When people ask what you're going to do after college

5. When you see people who don't study and get good grades

6. We're all broke here

7. FREE FOOD IS FREE FOOD!

8. When it seems like everyone in class is smart - EXCEPT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP PROJECT!!

Other than knowledge and all those important things

How to take stairs.

Caffeine is your friend.

How to study.

Finding free food.

How to take a nap anywhere.

How to appreciate sleep.

How to procrastinate productively.

Surprise: This is not on the syllabus

1. As a freshman, one does get to be called “freshman” by upperclassmen when they walk to parties in a mob of people.

2. Some of the best stories happen after 2 a.m.

3. Upperclassmen live for meal swipes from freshman because they are poor and need free food.

4. People are struggling just as much as you are so you're not alone.

5. You will never take privacy or personal space for granted ever again.

6. You are not the only one who has slept on the community bathroom floor after a night out.

7. Skipping class for Netflix is a valid excuse.

8. It’s totally acceptable to bring a pot of coffee, a sleeping bag and a pillow to the library.

9. Having class with a friend is the best because you can trade off days on who goes to class.

10. When you are a senior, you take the easiest classes to boost your GPA.

11. How to pull an all-nighter.

12. How to handle drunk people.

13. The drunk you does not look out for sober you about 90 percent of the time.

14. How to deal with a hangover.

15. How to interact with people very different from you.

16. The perfect amount to procrastinate on every assignment.

17. How to pass a class without paying for the textbook that was "required."

18. How to calculate your grades to see what you need on every test in order to maintain a passing grade.

19. How to hook-up with someone without getting emotions involved (but we all know that doesn’t happen).

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