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§ Facts and information about identity: Opinions and feelings about the previous
generations and their generation (similarities and differences), citizenship and
double- citizenship, transition to the Turkish citizenship, multiculturality, Polish
organizations/clubs and their role, perception of themselves, perception of others,
intercultural communication, marital- social status, perception of race/
ethnicity/gender/religion/language etc., celebration of Polish holidays, important
days/special occasions, persistence of Polish traditions.
§ Facts and information about place: History of village and its periodization,
migration, cultural and social dialogue with other communities living in the village,
Turkish villages nearby and Istanbul, opinions and feelings about Nature Park,
pension tourism as the dominant economic activity, recognition of place and identity
as a part of integration/isolation/ assimilation/ segregation processes.
In 13 June 2008, our research group participated in Traditional Polonezkoy Cherry
Festival through which we had the opportunity to carry out participant observation. This
experience gave us a chance to interact with the elements of local culture in Polonezkoy
such as traditional dance, music, food and the like in addition to observing the intra and
inter relations of different communities living together in the village.
Second interviews were held in 22 November 2008 and we accomplished three
conversations with a specific focus on Turkish “capital levy”
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and its implementation in
Polonezkoy. Through these conversations, enriched with historical documents provided
by the inhabitants of the village and recorded interviews, we obtained detailed
information about the experiences of Polish community during the II. World War and
specifically the “capital levy” period (1942-1943), the way they perceive the tax policy
and similarities / differences between the Polish community and other non-Muslim
Convention