Life / Legally changing my Polish name to English one? [55]

I was actually surprised to read many of the above posts. I am also polish with a very difficult polish name for canadians to pronounce and for a while now i've been seriously considering changing it (legally) to my middle name, which i will spell the english way of course. Marcin is a better name in the sense that it can be anglicized quite easily but my name has no short forms or similar english versions.

I also hate having to tell people my name 5 times or meeting someone who will forget my name the next day or even 15min later (ie: like at social settings, bars, parties, sports etc..). I have no trouble learning/remembering foreign names, but canadians are completely incapable of learning different names (not trying to offend anyone, i love this country/people - just making a point). For those of you who are surprised at marcin's idea, you obviously have common names in your country and don't know what it feels like.

There's also discrimination in the workplace and in hiring. It's not very common but it does happen and can easily hamper your efforts in getting that job you really want. Yes you could do elsewhere for work, but why??

MARCIN: go to servicecanada.gc.ca to find info if you live in canada, i think it'll cost you around $175.


LOL! Nice names:) (i hope you're being sarcastic though)

News / The most useless things in Poland [140]


People are more likely to buy something that costs $99.99 than if the price tag said $115.00. Psychology at work.

But i don't like it either.

News / The most useless things in Poland [140]


I agree with you, it's not a big deal. I just don't understand why they don't build new homes/flats with them already installed. When i tell people/my family in Poland about these two issues they seem quite confused. Why suffer with mosquito bites or have to lay out towels in the bathroom when showering when there are cheap/simple solutions? Maybe i'm too practical. Meh, just my 2 cent contribution to this thread.

Work / ABOUT POLISH WORKERS [28]

Sounds like an older man, possibly someone who is more accustomed to working under communist times (ie: low productivity). Or maybe you treat him poorly or don't respect him? Do you ever talk to him? Say good morning to him when he comes into work? Thank him for his work? Ask about his wife? Family? From personal experience, i work better when my boss talks to be or at least shows me some respect. He could be just lazy though, i dunno.

News / The most useless things in Poland [140]

Shower curtains and mosquito/bug screens (for windows) in Poland.

My cousin recently moved into a newly constructed flat. The washroom only had a bath tub with a shower head but no curtain to prevent water from splashing all over the bathroom floor!! Apparently in Poland they don't make bathtub-showers with curtains. The result? One really wet bathroom after a shower!

Also, i've yet to see a window with a mosquito/bug screen. People in Poland open their windows during the summer for fresh air but fail to put screens in their windows to prevent mosquitos from getting in. The result? One hell of an itchy body in the morning!

Why doesn't anyone see this in Poland?

I just had to let this out. I feel better now:)

News / Polish people (and language) spreading all over the world? [25]

I doubt it, Curtis.

When Poles go abroad they continue speaking Polish, but their children don't always continue with polish customs/traditions. It appears to me (at least here in canada) that Poles do quite a good job in assimilating into the culture of their new homeland. I was born in Poland and still speak the language quite well, but my siblings (who were born here in canada) don't speak Polish; the same goes for many Poles here. Many others marry non-Poles and as a result the language dies out.

Besides, English in the universal language on our planet. Why learn Polish or other languages when you can just do business using english.

Life / Is drinking water in Poland good? [96]

Tap water in Poland is okay to drink ... if you live in Poland.

Water in different regions has different bacteria in it and your body may not accept some of these "foreign" bacteria. The locals can drink it without problems, but foreigners may not be so lucky as their bodies are not accustomed to it.

I always drink bottled/boiled water to be safe - so far it has worked for me:) Actually, beer is the safest choice:)

btw, here in canada studies have shown that bottled water is only 75% filtered, 25% tap water - maybe similar in poland. So you're probably always getting some tap water in you.

Life / Pensions for immigrants [11]


They do the same in canada. They also pack 3 generations of families into 1 house which allows them to buy nice, big houses.

News / A Pole to start the HIV AIDS epidemic? [52]


Hey Michal, did you get raped or sexually abused by a Polish man sometime in your pathetic life?

Seriously why such hatred against poles? Are you English? Or maybe an uneducated, unskilled polish wiesniak who blames poland for his failures? Not all poles are as useless as you, many of us are educated and contribute to society. I think you live a very sad life. I almost feel sorry for you.

Work / My Polish Teacher's attitude [19]

In Poland, Romanians are often labeled as being "cyganie" (gypsies/roma) and are usually associated as being thieves/robbers. This is probably why she is very negative towards your country.

You have to tell her in private to stop (be nice and gentle) and if that doesn't help do to the principal of the school.

Travel / Have you ever been in Poland? [111]

A few people on here have stated that they are moving to poland permanently or already live in poland. I'm just wondering, what do you do for a living? Teach? Internet business?

I was born in poland (live in canada) and would some day like to live there for maybe 1 or 2 years (to teach english). Other than this i dont see what else i could do there in terms of work...

News / Grumpy diplomacy hurts Poland [43]


Well i don't think it's fair that i didn't win the lottery last week! Life's not fair, kraut.

I've been quite busy lately and haven't really been following euro politics but, wow i'm surprised poland was given more votes, i didn't think europe would agree to this.

Although i don't know much about the euro constitution and voting and all the rest, i think it's good that poland is fighting for more power - better than doing nothing and getting pushed around. And if the krauts are not happy then they should fight back to stop all this.

UK, Ireland / The British workers denied jobs because they can't speak Polish [45]


I think krauts should start imagining this, especially if turkey (god forbid) joins the EU.

Work / Canadian boy in love wants to move to Poland... I can do paintings etc. [14]

I agree with witek.

It's not love buddy, it's lust. She's probably your first love experience/girlfriend. Forget marriage if you're under 30, damn dude, enjoy your life!

How old are you anyway?

A chick with baggage?? Haha, she doesn't love you. She loves what's in your pocket (and i'm not refering to your pecker).

She's a ..................GOLD DIGGER!!!!!!!!
Run!

News / GERMAN NEWSPAPER DEFENDS POLAND, KACZYNSKIS - BRAVO GERMANS! [99]

Posener?

Posener > Posen > Poznan ?

He's a Pole disguised as a kraut! lol:)

Work / Culinary-Art's degree, thinking about Moving back to Poland from the US [10]

I saw a program on the Food Network here in Canada about a Czech born american who went back to the Czech rep. after 25 years in the USA. He opened up his own restaurant (he was a chef in usa) in Prague and it appeared to me that he is doing quite well.

If you have money saved up you could think about doing something similar, although this czech did this in the mid to late 90's. It may be more difficult today...

Or just teach english, but the money is not that great. Although, it would probably be a good experience for a year or 2.

News / Some Poles burning American flag [299]

I don't have a picture of the burning of the flag, but here is a pic of the aftermath:

Life / Beach fashion. Are Polish youth into baggy or tighter clothing? [48]

boykini LOL
I would also never wear speedos - can't understand why euros still wear underwear at the beach.

As for fashion, i'd say it's similar to north america. Though i think guys in PL tend to dress in "clubbing" attire more often (like young people of italian decent dress here). Also when they wear shorts they tend to pull their socks all the way up like baseball/soccer players - lol i think it looks funny. I guess they don't sell ankle socks in PL.

I hate to repeat myself but dresiarze are also quite popular - you might want to buy some track suits to help "fit in." :)

The ladies dress very sexy... :)

Life / How come Poles have 2 cars, mobile phones - but make so little money? [23]


True, but in Poland everyone is trying to "out materialize" their neighbour, friend, etc... everyone! Poles are very individualistic and compete with one another.

Last summer i was amazed by this behaviour as everyone tells their friends (and basically everyone they know) about their extravagent vacations to exotic places, what they buy, how much they make.... Things that I would never brag about with my peers/family nor would most here in canada.

Life / Clothing for kids in Poland, popular stores - some questions [18]

What about "dresiarze" (track suit) attire? LOL
I just find this style funny.

Life / How come Poles have 2 cars, mobile phones - but make so little money? [23]

One word: kombinowanie!

People live these "higher" life styles artificially. Rich or well off parents buy their kids everything they want. They also set them up with well paid jobs. In many cases these parents buy everything "na kredyt" and can't go a single minute away from work because that would put them in financial trouble. They do this mostly na pokaz (for show). Not everyone, but most.

Polak potrafi.

History / What has Poland contributed to the Western civilisation? [69]

In this oil crazed world we live in, how could anyone forget Ignacy Lukasiewicz...?

More Polish contributors: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Poles

UK, Ireland / The Problem i have with Culture Differences (UK + Polish) [32]

When one of my cousins visited me in canada for the first time several years ago, he was surprised by the positive/happy nature of canadians. For example, everywhere he went he heared people asking "how are you" and responding with " good" or "great, how are you." He told me that this is uncommon in PL and when someone does ask "how are you?" the response is usually something negative like "chujowo" ("sh_tty").

This is probably why your girl views the english society (which i'm assuming is similar to canadian) as being fake. It's not fake though! LOL

News / Tinky Winky from tellytubbies outed in Poland [145]

Doesn't the Polish government have anything better to work on? Like maybe the economy, unemployment, jobs, building those f@%#ing highways, corruption, improving the standard of living, health care etc....

Polish government = wiesniaki

It's these idiots who provide fuel to the fire for Polish jokes.

Life / WHY IS POLAND SO DIRTY ???? [44]

I think Poland is fairly clean. The only thing IMO that makes Poland seem dirty is the roads/sidewalks/buildings in desperate need of repair/restoration. This is especially striking when going from the clean/new rynek (wroclaw) to some of the surrounding residential neighbourhoods where the streets look like WW2 ended yesterday.

News / Is the mayor of warsaw's husband German? [13]

This is not very uncommon. Some poles have german last names, some germans have polish lastnames. A german football player comes to mind: Tim borowski - i believe he's german (obviously with a PL surname). In WW2 there were many german soldiers with polish surnames, doesn;t mean their polish. I'm sure if you look up their family trees you would trace their roots to poland. The polish-german border changed many times and populations moved around.

History / Soviet war monuments in Poland - what to do about them? [133]

huh? How so?
Germans were trying to exterminate poles/jews. If i remember correctly, poles were to be worked to death by 1975. Russians were just suppressing poles/jews, they did not have an extermination policy. Therefore they were "less evil."

edit: oops, unless you are talking about latvia...

News / but where do they all come from...? [17]

Eastern Poland has lost the most people IMO. I spent much of my time in PL in krakow, czestochowa, and wroclaw (family). I also went to eastern PL (NE of bialystock) to our family's cottage where i noticed that all the young people in the area went to the UK. In the past there were hundreds that gathered at a diskoteka in the village in the evenings - last year it was closed:(

History / Polish Jews - they changed their Jewish surnames to Polish [532]

So what? Jews all over europe changed their names! They had to! Anti-semitism was very common throughout european history.


Intolerance/racism exists all over europe. Jews in PL, "Pakis" in the UK. Poland, UK, it's all the same.