Emigration often highlights our strength – both physical and mental. We begin to realise that we are masters at pushing our own boundaries – both at work and in silently enduring what we feel. For many, it's the quickest way to cope with longing, loss, and starting over. In an effort not to buckle under this weight, we often push away our Polish identity. It's a shame, because it's a love that can give us wings.
When running workshops for parents, I often ask why we want our children – born and raised in different corners of the world – to know Polish. At this point, an avalanche of scientific arguments confirming the benefits of bilingualism usually appears. However, we quickly get to the key issues – we want to pass on a broad understanding of Polishness to our children. We see it in hospitality, family values, fighting spirit, resourcefulness, community spirit, hard work and attachment to tradition. Interestingly, we intensely cultivate these traits within ourselves, contrasting them with the environment we find ourselves in. Perhaps some of us only then notice how much we possess? It is worth concluding that what we like so much about our origins is the path to our children's bilingual success.
There are many paths to learning a language. The road paved with textbooks, Saturdays spent in a Polish school, or constant reminders at home is not the only one. Of course, we can choose methods that prove helpful for many, but I am convinced that success in this area also – or perhaps: primarily – relates to…
