Not including key informants, there were 115 interviews and 102 interviewees in total. Seventy-two first interviews (2007-08) and 10 repeat interviews (2009) were conducted in Poland. Thirty first interviews (2006-09) and three repeat interviews (2007, 2009) were conducted in the UK. Interviews in Poland took place in 2007 in Biedruszko, Brodnica (Wielkopolska), Gniezno, Książ Wielkopolski, Tarnowo Podgórne and Witkowo (one interview in each location), as well as Suwałki (3), Ełk (6), Kłodawa (3); in 2008 in Grajewo (33) and Sanok (21); and in 2009 in Grajewo (10). Interviews in England took place in Bath (17 interviews, 2006-09), Bristol (12 interviews, 2006-09), Frome (one interview, 2009) and Trowbridge (three interviews, 2007-09).

UK interviewees were 31 years old on average, Polish interviewees about 37. Twenty-three interviewees were under the age of 30 and 10 were over the age of 45.

The 30 UK interviewees had previously lived in almost every region of Poland. In total, the last Polish places of residence of UK interviewees included seven cities with populations of approximately 100,000 or more, seven towns of 40,000-70,000, eight towns under 40,000 and eight villages.

Most of the interviewees (73) were found by ‘gatekeepers’ – my personal contacts, or contacts of contacts. These gatekeepers were mostly teachers and kindergarten heads, as well as a nurse (the mother of a UK contact). Most of the gatekeepers have been thanked in the ‘Acknowledgements’ at the start of this book, but I have not mentioned by name those interviewees who, without reference to a gatekeeper, helped me directly to find other interviewees (the so-called ‘snowball’ method). In fact only 11 interviewees were contacted by the snowball method. I approached 23 interviewees (five in Poland and 18 in the UK) directly, persuading them to talk to me at English lessons or lunchtime breaks for cleaners at the University of Bath; at Saturday schools/toddler groups in the UK; at hotels in Poland; and through the social networking internet site Nasza Klasa. (In addition, one Nasza Klasa contact in Sanok, ‘Olga’, aged 24, did not want to be interviewed, but replied to questions by email.) I also requested all 13 repeat interviewees by contacting the interviewees directly.