TETKA'S HOUSE, a "ponasomu" language fun page

	TETKA'S HOUSE the "Ponasomu" Place Vitajte! Welcome to Tetka's House! Podte dnu posidity za cas! Come in and visit awhile!
	Have a virtual cup of steaming coffee and a slice of poppyseed or nut roll along with some fun and nostalgia. Pick a topic and join the fun!

Slovinky Auntie Pronunciation Helps
About Tetka's House
A Letter from Tetka Hanja
From our friends
Tetka's Archive Page

Pronounciation Helps--brief and few: A=almost uh; E=as in "get"; y or i=i as in "hit"; O=as in "old" not as in "owe"; J=y as in yes; CH=h, almost kh; C=ts or ch; never as k or s. S=s or sh; Z=z or zh. All letters are pronounced, for example, "pod-te." Regular diacritical marks have been omitted.

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The recipe for nut and poppyseed rolls, Easter Hrudka and many other beloved foods can be found in the popular Bencko-Maras family cookbook, now in its 6th printing,
Slovenske Jedlo and Pennsylvania Slovak Soul Food
by Juliana Romanova and Pavel Bencko-Maras.

For details about the book and how to obtain one, go to Cookbook info.

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What is Tetka's House all about?
First of all, the word "Tetka" translates as "aunt" but is used informally as a courtesy title when addressing older women whether or not they are relatives. Some dialects use the word, "Chotka."

This is a fun page for those of us who still remember the language learned from our immigrant parents or grandparents-- and those who don't but would like to learn a little more about our East Central European culture in the old country, as well as what the immigrants practiced in the early years here.

Any "Ponasomu" material authored by me will be written mostly in the Slovinky dialect learned from my parents who emigrated from Slovinky around 1905. There will be some Slovak words used, also. I can communicate in this dialect with my cousin, a generation younger, who lives in Slovinky now, where of course, the main language is Slovak. She called the dialect the old "po Rusnakovy" and says that some of my words have already passed out of use, and others were totally unfamiliar to her. That makes me want to share them while I can still remember them. As an ex-schoolteacher, it is in my blood to pass this on to the young people.
What is the point of it?
The point of this page is to offer a place to meet very informally and share the stories, pictures, songs, recipes, jokes, and etc., that we love so well--those things that relate to our East Central European Slavic heritage, mainly Slovak, Ukranian, Polish and Rusyn at this time. You know how much fun it is to get together with siblings or relatives and laugh over the memories that can be shared only with others who know the language. Many people I chat with at craft shows say they have nobody to share with any more. That is sad. This is a place to share your half English half "ponasomu" jokes and stories. This is not the place for political talk since that is often very divisive.
Help keep our pride in our heritage alive and encourage our children. Let me hear from you.

ARTICLE GUIDLINES: Please do share your stories with us--anything that sheds some light on the ways of our people in the old country or here in their new country. Even favorite jokes or recipes or tell about your Baba or Dzedo, Tetka or Ulko, or as in my case, Mamo i Tato.
We reserve the right to edit for clarity and possibly space, and to decide on the suitablility for publication.
DISCLAIMER: We will assume that your express permission has been given to publish any material or comment that you send to us, along with your proper name, on this page or any other and in any medium, with full credit given to you, unless you specifically forbid such use.
Everything posted on this site is Copyright © 2000-2007 by M.G. Rusynyk Studios unless otherwise noted.

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Pronounciation Helps--brief and few: A=almost uh; E=as in "get"; y=i as in "hit"; O=as in "old" not as in "owe"; J=y as in yes; CH=h, almost kh; C=ts or ch; never as k or s. S=s or sh; Z=z or zh. All letters are pronounced, for example, "pod-te." Regular diacritical marks have been omitted.

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Letter No.5

Mila Tetka Margita,

Today we had a velki snow storm,oj vej! I don't like it, I was surprised, moj stari said, radio vedder man said, much snow coming, I no copaytenshun to vedder man, just go shopping, maybe snow stop coming, ja taka bula surprised when I fell on the street,now I have a big bazula on my head, I will listen to vedder man every den.

Next week we go to a very big pardi , ja taka hepi, musim buy a fenci dress, ale have to wait for sosokruti check tomorrow, will also buy Ben Gay for my sore nohi from dancing so much,long time no dance much, ja musim be ready with limenent for my sore legs.
ohjo! starost ne radost

Ostante zdravi z' Bohom

Tetka Hanja pisala

Send email to Tetka Hanja at mgrstudios@rusynyk.com with the subject "to Tetka Hanja."

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LETTERS FROM OUR FRIENDS

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Zlata Tetka Margita!

I LOVE YOUR WEB SITE!!! I laughed so hard at the letter from Tetka Hanja and had to read it to my sister-in-law over the phone. I remember the old timers talking just like that. In fact, when my sons were in college I sent them long letters like that. They loved them so much they would read them to their friends.

My mother-in-law was born in Palin, Slovakia. When we came over with the three boys she would comment, "Hows you feet?!" That meant she didn't want them to track dirt into the house. They still use the phrase.

Chuck and Steve are as big as dinasaurs and I should have named them Gulliver and Goliath. When they are at the table one will tell the other, "Finish your mesko!" As though one of them would leave a crumb on the plate.

What a delight seeing the coffee cup and the nut and poppy seed rolls. Can't wait for the next holiday. This JUNO server does not allow you to do things you can do with other Internet providers. Started out using JUNO and their free e-mail then I got Com Net for the Internet. That was too confusing as JUNO (e-mail only) would not allow you to receive attachments. Finally was able to get to your web page. It made my day.

Thanks for the message. You know I will have a story or two to send. What a joy to have others who understand and appreciate our precious heritage. You can used any of the stuff I sent you earlier if you still have it. Isn't this Internet a technical marvel? Just another thing for me to get addicted to.

Again, you did a marvelous job on your web page. I will check it out frequently. I feel like I know the other Tetki already.

You are making a lot of people happy and preserving and sharing our culture. You and I were lucky because our families took the trouble to do the cooking and kept the traditions going. They also must not have been ashamed of their ethnicity. Maybe because my parents were born in America it didn't bother me.With grandma living with us she reinforced all the old habits and methods. Many others were not that fortunate. People tell me that it is just too much trouble. So what are they going to do with the time they save? They are bored. You only get out of life what you put into it.

Talk to you soon. Don't want to bend your ear off. Pozdrav i Julku!
z Bohom,---- Dobru noc, idzem spots,

Elainka

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Dobre! Dobre! Elainka, I knew you would come through with verve and enthusiasm! It's good to hear from you!
Tetka Margita.
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