Grew up in a suburb with a relatively large Polish (among other Europeans) enclave. Most of the 3rd-generation folks moved out and about. When the Berlin Wall fell, there was a considerable influx of Eastern Europeans taking advantage of the opportunity to get out from under communism. Totally revitalized the area, especially with their work ethic and piety.
My mother’s parents were immigrants from East Prussia (Germany). They wouldn’t let the children learn or speak German. My mother and her 5 siblings all moved out in their generation. May paternal grandfather was also an immigrant from Wales. I never even was aware of being second generation until about age 25. I think an important part of my parent’s and their sibling’s mobility was speaking English from childhood.
My mother and her siblings eventually learned resonably competent German and visited relatives in Germany, but the only one who spoke really good German was my uncle who had scarlet fever at age 7 and was isolated for a number of weeks being cared for by my Great Aunt who had come over from Germany to help her sister care for 6 children. She and my mother would speak German when they didn’t want me to know what they were talking about. Instead I learned Spanish in school, which has been useful over the years, especially for finding good workers to do house renovation work.
The Eastern Europeans I know as friends are the most staunchest anti-commi/socialists I know. They hate Putin with a passion. He does not fool them as some champion of the people.