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ConnectionsintheWorkplaceasaWayofAccumulatingSocialCapital…
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borhoodinthecity(Choldin1973,171).TesocialnetworksofPolishimmigrants
comprisetwotypes.Terstconsistsofthecontactsformedintheirmotherland,
broughtwiththemtotheUSAthesearefamilyties(primarygrouplevel)andthe
wholemigrationnetwork.Tesecondisthenetworkofcontactsbuiltduringtheirstay
intheUSA(avoluntaryassociationandneighborhoodlevel,aswellastheleveloutside
theneighborhoodinthecity);connectionsintheworkplacefallwithinthisgroup.
Temostimportantcriteriaforaccumulatingsocialcapitalbytheimmigrants
arethelengthofstay,andreasonsforcomingtotheUSA.Apointofdeparturefor
theanalysisofsocialcapitalisthelengthofstayintheUSA.Terespondentshave
livedintheUSAfromaminimumofsevenyearstoamaximumoftwenty-two
years.Tosewhohavelivedtherethelongest(16–22years)admitthattheymaintain
contactnotonlywiththeirfamilyinPoland(likethemajorityofthosewhohave
stayedupto10years)butalsowiththeir“newfriends”metintheUSA:“Idon,thave
myfamilyhere,butI,masociableandoutgoingperson,soImaintaincontactwith
manypeople.TeyarebothfriendsImet20yearsagoandpeopleImetrelatively
recently”(P).
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Timeworkstotheadvantageofsocialcapital:thelongerthestay,
themoreexpandedthenetworkofsocialcontacts.Second,thereasonsforcoming
totheUSAmayalsoleadtoconclusionsaboutmigrants,socialcapital.Tosewho
migratedforfamilyreasons(4people)alreadyhadimpressivesocialcapitalawaiting
themintheUSA;similarly,theso-called“peoplepeople,”becauseoftheirdisposition,
alsostoodagreatchanceofaccumulatingtheirsocialcapitalfast,andthesepeople
constitutedalmosthalfoftheresearchedgroup(8).TeycametoAmericafor:pure
adventure,curiosity,andthedesiretolearnaboutthecountryknownfrommovies,
TV
,andwordofmouth(8).7
WhatarePolishcontactsintheUSA?Tobeginwith,outoffourpossibleanswers
suggestedinthesurvey(“family,”“closefriends,”“neighbors,”and“friends”)eleven
peoplechosemorethanoneoption,whichmeansthattheymaintaincontactsandthat
theyvary.Tenumberonepositionissharedevenlyamong“family,”“closefriends,”
and“friends”thirteenpeopleindicatedtheirsocialcontacts;onlythreepeoplemen-
tioned“neighbors.”However,itisnoteworthythattherelationswereofen,inaway,
“brought”fromPolandandweremainlychildhoodplaymates,closefriendsfromPolish
highschool,andPolishfamilyinPolandandtheUSA.Fortheresearchedgroup,social
capitalwasasourceofhelpandsupport.TesefindingsareinlinewithCholdin,s(1973)
andWhiteandRyan,s(2008)remarks,whichpointtofamilyandclosefriendsassources
ofhelpinthemigrationprocess.Tehelpcomprisesmaterialassistance(receptionin
thecity,ndingemployment,nancialsupport),intermediaryhelp(“activitieswhich
aidthemigrantinovercominghisignoranceofcustoms,geography,andotherfacts
aboutthenewcommunity”),andhelpinmakingnewsocialconnections(“activities
whichaidthemigrantinmeetingnewfriendsandjoiningorganizations”)(Choldin
6Capitalletterstandsforaspecificrespondent.
7Otherreasonswere:winningthegreencardlottery(6peopleincluding2kids),lackofperspectivesin
Poland,“Icouldn,tndajob,”“myfactorywascloseddown”(2),kids,withtheirparents(4);education
(3);toraisestandardsofliving,toworkandearnmoney(4).