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TATRA AREA RESEARCH GROUP
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© TARG All rights reserved.
Newsletter for February 2006
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Greetings to all our many TARG members! A lot has happened in this short
month we call February. One of many things that has kept me occupied is
working on parish record scans for Lapsze Nizne, Poland. Keeping the hackers
off the TARG postings page has been another. So far I'm winning on both
fronts.
Some TARG members have decided to take language classes to learn the
language of their ancestors. I have decided to join those ranks. I will be
taking Slovak instruction from a local Tutor starting within a month. For
those also interested in Slovak courses, translations or tutors, I've
included a whole list of online sources you will want to check out. Some of
these will also identify Polish resources.
I was extremely honored to be asked last week to submit a 4-5 page
article on the Goral to appear in the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society
International's renowned quarterly publication called "Nase rodina". The
Editor Paul Makousky wants to include this in their March 2007 issue which
will have the theme of "Ethnic Minorities of the Slovak Republic".
I've also been working on the new TARG website. Did you know a Goral
likeness once appeared on Polish money? Neither did I, but during the Nazi
occupation a likeness of a Tatra Highlander appeared on the 500 Zloty
banknote. I was fortunate enough to acquire one and you can see a scan of it
and learn more
by visiting the TARG website at: http://www.e-TARG.org. There have also been
numerous good posts by new TARG members. Please go have a look on the
website at these, too.
I have had so much mail and unfortunately cannot do them all justice
this issue. Will hopefully get to more of them in the March issue. Thank you
for all you share and for all of your kind wishes and expressions of thanks
for maintaining the website and E-Newsletter. It really keeps me going!
-- Paul K. Bingham
TARG Founder

WEBSITES____________
1. TARG's new website: http://www.e-TARG.org.
2. Lucjan's list of books about Jurgow, PL:
http://jurgow.pl/index.php?id=1,0,6,en
3. Free online Slovak Language Course:
http://simplyput.atspace.com/slovak/index.htm
4. Comenius University Course (Have intensive 4-week courses for ~$500):
http://www.uniba.sk/sucasti_uk/UJOP/programs.htm
5. Slovak Online Courses and Books:
http://www.heartofeurope.co.uk/dictionary.htm
6. Another Online guide: http://www.slovensko.com/about/is-slovak-difficult
7. Teach English Abroad Site: http://www.teachabroad.com/Slovakia.cfm
8. English in Slovakia Classes:
http://www.onestopenglish.com/Magazine/teacher_letters/teaching_english_slovakia.htm
9. Summer Slovak Course:
http://www.uj.edu.pl/pipermail/info/2004/000370.html
10. Your own pace courses:
www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~sever/SLOVAK_FAQ/other.html
11. 8-Month Slovak Course Abroad:
http://www.ujop.com/src/slovak_course_en.php
12. Online Courses: http://seelrc.org/webliography/slovak.ptml
13. CGSI Slovak Classes "near future": http://www.cgsi.org/research.asp?i=5
14. Consulate Course in PA: http://www.paslovakconsulate.org/wpsca_w.htm
15. Online Slovak Course: http://www.bohemica.com/slovak
16. Language Explorer finds language classes available in many countries.
Found 7 in US: http://language.school-explorer.com
17. Pittsburgh University Classes: http://www.pitt.edu/~slavic/ugslav.htm
18. School in Bratislava: http://www.ujop.com/src/faq_en.php
19. CD Rom Slovak Course: http://www.multilingualbooks.com/slovak.html
20. More Courses/Classes discussed: http://www.iarelative.com/asca.htm
21. Rating of Slovak books/tapes: http://www.akg.cwc.net/books1.htm
22. Slovak Spectator Newspaper:
http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok-11549.html
23. Cambridge Links:
http://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/langlinks.php?c=30
24. Youth Portal for Slovak:
http://europa.eu.int/youth/studying/language_learning/index_sk_en.html
25. Maryland School: http://www.czslha.org/
26. Slovak Tutors:
http://www.locallingo.com/tutors/czech/czech-tutors-usa.html
27. Slovak Tutors from another site:
http://www.languagetutors.org/search.php
28. Puts people of various languages in contact with one another:
http://www.zuiop.com/index.php?page_language_iso_2=en
29. Self-Instruction Site: http://nationalitiescouncil.org/nasilp.html
30. Helene B. Cincebeaux's Treasure Tours website: www.Our-Slovakia.com

YOUR LETTERS_________
---Hi Paul: I also researched the Tatra sheepdog quite a few years back. I
was seriously considering ownership so I did my homework. I spoke with
several of the club members, viewed tapes, even went to visit a dog show in
Chicago to talk to handlers, etc. While overseas the locals just shook their
head
indicating the dogs were mean. One in Jurgow, nearly tore the fence down
when I just went by the house to snap his picture. I am a dog lover and
believe ownership is a big responsibility. But, my conclusion on this breed
was these dogs are NOT for the average dog owner. They are working dogs.
They must have a job to do and require serious socialization. - Karen
***Hi Karen, You are absolutely right about the Owczarek Podhalanski (Tatra
sheepdog) being first and foremost a big guard dog on par probably with
German Shepherds, Rottweilers, etc. I hope if someone does consider
ownership that they also do their homework first as you did. I introduced
the dog only briefly, but the websites I included for further reading make
it clear that this dog
can be vicious to strangers, barks a lot, is easily bored if it has nothing
to do, is an
independent thinker, is always on patrol, and needs a big property to roam.
It is a beautiful dog, however, and oddly is almost metaphoric for the Goral
people who originated the breed. But your concerns are well taken. I'll pass
them along in our next E-Newsletter. - Paul
***Hello Lucjan, I was thinking of you this week. Here in San Diego it is
beautiful weather with all the plants in full bloom. I hope you are not
having too much snow and cold. Can you please tell me the name of the paving
company your father works for in Nowy Targ? I am corresponding with a man in
Canada named Tomasz Malicki. His wife is from Nowy Targ. It is surprising
how many people in North America have relatives from Orawa, Spisz and
Podhale! I was also searching on the internet and found a little book on
auction by Jozef Ciagwa. I won the bid and the book is now at my house. The
title is "Dzieje i Wspolczesnosc Jurgowa (Dejiny a Suczsnost Jurgova)
1546-1996" I believe I met this man in Jurgow in 1999. Does he not write for
Zivot magazine? I am trying to translate his book now. Thanks! - Paul
---Hello Paul, We are still having winter here in Podhale. During the last
few days the temperatures have dropped again near -20 C Degrees (-4 degrees
F). The name of company my father is working for is: "Podhalanskie
Przedsiebiorstwo Drogowe i Mostowe, S.A." (Podhale's Company for Roads and
Bridges (S.A.=stock company). But years ago the name was "Rejon Drog
Publicznych Nowym Targu" (District for Public Roads in Nowy Targ) and this
old name is still better recognized by people who left the area some time
ago. I also know this little book you mentioned and probably have a copy at
home. I think you have meet the author Jozef Ciagwa in Jurgow during one of
your visits. You are right, he writes articles for the magazine "Zivot". I
started some time ago to collect information about books related to Jurgow.
Here is a link to my list: http://jurgow.pl/index.php?id=1,0,6,en. - Lucjan

TATRA MOUNTAINS BOOK - PART 7__________
Chapter 3 "Take it Easy"continues:
"The robbers had left many treasures, hidden in their mountain haunts:
golden ducats and silver thalars, gems and arms - some real, some imaginary.
But at the time Zakopane was 'discovered' by Dr. Chalubinski in the second
half of the 1800s, and gradually came to be a mountain resort, there were
few robbers alive and they were ancients who neither could nor would wield
their hatchets for loot. Soon after they died out completely and nothing but
memory, songs, dances and quaint glass paintings of the 'good old times'
remained. And there were, of course, the treasures, concealed deep in the
grottos of the Tatras, under huge boulders or in old hollow trees. Where
there are treasures, there must also be secret codes and signs leading to
them, and treasure-hunters attempting to ferret them out, and the Tatras was
no exception to the rule. Some treasures had even actually been found, while
the search for others gave pleasant thrills and expectations to those who
felt so disposed."
"One of such treasures, a large one, was said to have been reposing for
a good hundred years beneath a huge stone on the summit of a smallish
mountain called "the Great Luban". There were marks in plenty and stories to
match which all served to show that that was the place. But the slopes of
the Great Luban were steep and the stone was very heavy. Some of the
heftiest lads from the surrounding villages - and the Gorals are a fine,
long-limbed, tall race - gathered on the summit on several occasions and
tried to heave the stone. Yet each time they failed. Finally they succeeded,
with much shouting and wiping off the sweat from their brows, in bringing up
to the very top a team of horses. Ropes were fixed round the stone and after
more shouting, pushing and pulling, the rock rolled over on to its side. No
treasure, however, was found underneath. Instead, on the reverse side of the
stone there stood scraped out in big, awkward letters the following
sentence: 'Thank you kindly for turning me over, for my side has gotten
numb.' It was a tremendous practical joke of amazing old vintage.
Generations or robbers must have laughed themselves hoarse with it, but they
had kept the secret."
(Chapter 4 "Local Colour" in next month's issue.)

GOOD READING__________
This is a new "column" for the new year. I will share printed sources
for information about subjects of interest to those researching their roots
in the Tatra Area. This month I will mention again a must-have book for
anyone with Goral roots. Its in English by Jan Gutt-Mostowy and is entitled
"Podhale: A Companion Guide to the Polish Highlands". It sells for about
$20, but I have found copies online for as little as $3. Hard cover and 309
pages. It's a gem.

CONTACTING TARG_____________________
To contact the TARG Editor, the new a-mail address is:
TatraAreaResearchGroupgmail. Our "snail" mailing address is still TARG, P.O. Box 3533, Escondido, CA 92033. use it for sending in orders or photos and anything else you want to share with the group. (If for some reason you are unable to contact us at the new address above, go ahead and use the old address targ_nethotmail by clicking here.)
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