Polish is the third most common language spoken in Chicago, behind English and Spanish, and it is said that there are more Polish people here than in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland.  I’m not sure about that last fact, as I couldn’t find verification of it, but it’s a commonly stated aphorism that I’ve heard since moving here.

One thing I find interesting is that I have met Polish-speaking people who speak no English, and who have lived here for many, many years.  There are enough Polish speakers that one can thrive here without ever needing to leave the Polish neighborhoods.

• Every October, the Polish Film Festival is celebrated.
• I talked about pizza earlier in the challenge; another food that’s practically religion here is the hot dog.  The first time I went with a local friend to a Chicago-style hot dog place, he boldly ordered “The Polish.”  “The Polish what?” I asked.  He looked puzzled.  “A Polish,” he finally answered.  If you, like me, prefer nouns with your meals, a “Polish” means a Polish sausage served like a hot dog.  Well, not like a hot dog.  Like a Polish.  …  I give up.  🙂
• There is a type of restaurant here called a “Polish buffet,” that I just had to try.  It’s enough of “a thing” that there are several entries for it:
  • Best Polish Buffet in Chicago
  • Chicago’s 10 Best Polish Spots
  • Polish Buffets in TimeOut Chicago
• Pulaski is a major street here, and all the school kids are taught about Casimir Pulaski.  The city celebrates Casimir Pulaski Day, the first Monday of every March.
• The Felician Sisters Convent, formerly the Provincialate, is only a mile or two from my house.  It was founded by a Polish nun.

There are many more tidbits of history about the Polish people here in Chicago.  I encourage you to check out the links if you’re curious.

Tomorrow, we try and find something to do with Q.  Hmm…

Thank you for joining us for the A-Z Blog Challenge.  If you’re blogging in the challenge, please leave us a link so I can come visit you too.  If you have a moment, please check out these other fine blogs:

The theme at Noony’s blog, Explore the Worlds of A. Catherine Noon, is The A To Z of the Zoo.  Join her as she explores Brookfield Zoo and finds animals, birds, and insects from A to Z.

Noony’s theme on Knoontime Knitting – One Writer’s Journey Into 3-D craft blog is Letterforms In Nature and the Built Environment.

The Nice Girls Writing Naughty have a new home, and we’re blogging in the challenge again this year.  Throughout the month you’ll be hearing from each of the Nice Girls, and during the RT Booklovers Convention from April 12^th to the 17^th, you’ll be getting live convention reports.  Join the conversation!

The Writer Zen Garden’s brand new website is up and running, and we’re bringing you posts from Noon & Wilder; the talented Darla M. Sands – a blogger in her own right, see below; as well as Grace Kahlo, Evey Brown, and author Tina Holland.  Check it out!

Our friends who are participating in the challenge (and if you’re not on this list, tell me and we’ll add you!):

• Darla M. Sands, Awakening Dreams and Conquering Nightmares with a Pen
• Kari Trenten, The Cauldron of Eternal Inspiration

Write on, and Happy Blogging!