UK, Ireland / Something to take to Poland from UK to sell... [47]

Yeah, he'd be fair game I reckon. Gotta at least float an idea, test the water and see which way the wind is blowing.

UK, Ireland / Something to take to Poland from UK to sell... [47]

How about ice cubes? Us Scots charge for them you know ;) ;)

UK, Ireland / Something to take to Poland from UK to sell... [47]

Then you spend your profit getting home again ;) ;)

History / Polish Anti-semitism - origins? [186]

Oh, I agree with that too sjam, very much so. It's a mistake on both sides. Look at the case of Ireland. They got swept up in the new-found wealth that being the Celtic Tiger entailed. They got used to living to a certain standard. Little did they know that many factors can alter your true wealth level and even swipe some of it. They paid the price when a downturn in fortunes hit them.

So, I'm not blindly lashing out at banks. The cashflow/money circulation issue has more players than that.

Love / I need advice - I just found out my Polish boyfriend in Ireland has a wife and children. [40]

Well, I should qualify what I said. I meant that when you have no ties and you got abroad and pick up sb, it's normal enough.

History / Polish Anti-semitism - origins? [186]

You anti-Semite you, LOL

Marek Konrad has just finished talking about free internet :)

UK, Ireland / Here comes the Anti-Immigration marches.... [114]

That's a fair point about languages, Mr Bubbles. Languages are important funnily enough. I only really speak one language fluently but know Polish to quite a high level and have also retained my French from school and also Japanese which I used a lot for 2 years.

Many Brits are complacent when it comes to language tho it is a fault of the system as much as anything else.

Love / I need advice - I just found out my Polish boyfriend in Ireland has a wife and children. [40]

That's the kind of thing you do when you are away from home. It is unfortunate that he feels the need to betray his wife, esp when they have kids together but this is not a new phenomenon.

I had the same in reverse. My first Japanese girlfriend was married and, even though I wasn't the one cheating, I felt that it was wrong. I'm not one of these conservative traditionalists but I'd like to think that I'd never ever cheat on my married partner. Marriage should be, as much as possible, for the long course. As much as I loved her, it had to stop.

Self gratification comes in many forms. Treat it for what it is worth. I've heard countless stories in the past on the same topic and the woman has ended up disappointed. His future should be with his wife and it is the right thing to do to let him go.

Just my version but I hope that it is sound advice.

UK, Ireland / Here comes the Anti-Immigration marches.... [114]

It'll descend into a farce. People everywhere are overreacting to this crisis and it is manifesting itself in ways like you said, ArcticPaul.

Many Brits have been tolerant for a long time. When foreigners start taking liberties, that's when the backlash will come. I always remind myself that I am a guest here and don't attempt to rip off any systems.

The reaction was understandable. People just have a different interpretation of crossing the line.

Travel / Where to go in Poland that has good nighlife but not "touristy"? [10]

Wrocław is a good bet with some nice spots to drink at. There is an Irish pub just off the market square, a little pricey but likely to keep the pissheads away.

I'm with Shelley on this one, plump for Wrocław.

History / Polish Anti-semitism - origins? [186]

Look at how the banks are being managed now. The point is, they aren't. Mismanagement abound.

Greed has ruined everything. What a catastrophic state of affairs.

History / The movie Defiance is a big lie (heroes that saved Poland suppored communism) [102]

Wrong again, Yehudi. Please quote me on that. What I said rather clearly was that killing innocent women and children is a war crime. Self defence and the proportionality of responses are 2 separate areas.

Yehudi, a different tack 4 ya. Why didn't you retaliate by just stinging them a bit first by firing the same rockets back at them? They'd get a taste of their own medicine. Why the destructive bombing campaign which will cost sb a heck of a lot of cash to repair?

The point I've been making all along is that civilian casualties are inevitable but I think that over 1000 dead and 4000 injured is de trop (too much), wouldn't you say?

UK, Ireland / TRUTH AND DELUSION ABOUT POLES IN UK [65]

Books can often lie. I entertain the possibility that it could have been the case but I heard very favourable things about the Poles in Glasgow. My grandad lived there in his youth. He would have been 14 when WWII started.

UK, Ireland / TRUTH AND DELUSION ABOUT POLES IN UK [65]

In one part of Scotland maybe, Trevek

Study / Looking for English Language schools in Katowice [48]

Well, I agree with a lot of it. Callan is McDonalds English.

Study / Looking for English Language schools in Katowice [48]

Thanks for your view, MrBubbles.

Love / Are Polish women "PRUDE"?!? [24]

I think the reason is that Gliwice is quite a conservative city when compared to Krakow. That makes all the difference. No need to go round for hours and hours, this is the point.

Love / Are Polish women "PRUDE"?!? [24]

I disagree, Cardno. There is very little PDA unless drink is involved. They tend to be more conservative and far less flamboyant than, say, Italians and Spaniards.

Many can be prudish. It stems from defensive behaviour. It just depends tho.

Language / Rok vs. Lat [30]

That's the simplified version, yes, but polam asked for sentences.

Language / Rok vs. Lat [30]

Very good question, polam.

For example, mieszkam w gliwicach od 4 lata means I have lived in Gliwice for 4 years.

Robiłem to przez pięć lat means I was doing it for 5 years.

Rok refers more to things like horoscopes (rocznik). It's hard, the more I think about it, the harder it gets. Urodziłem się w latach siedem dziesiątych, I was born in the 70's. Rocznikowo jest inaczej.

W którym roku urodziłes się? In which year were you born?

Rok is more about the concrete year, like what year you were born or what year of your studies you are in. Lat is more for counting time. Hmm....close enough. There are exceptions of course, being Polish ;) ;) For example, raz na rok means once a year. However, raz is the counter.

I hope I haven't confused you as I've certainly confused myself. Time for my 2nd beer to restore some clarity to proceedings :)

History / The movie Defiance is a big lie (heroes that saved Poland suppored communism) [102]

Which clowns would they be, yehudi? I've already told you that Israel has a right to exist.

History / Polish Anti-semitism - origins? [186]

Jews don't milk America? Really? So you guys would be richer in Israel without Hollywood and controlling much of the US media?

This is one thing that Wahldo and I agree on. In fact, the puts the case firmer.

UK, Ireland / TRUTH AND DELUSION ABOUT POLES IN UK [65]

Well, there was a film about Polish workers in the UK. I can't remember for the world of me what is was called. There was a crackdown by the UK government to stop illicit practices and sneaking under the radar.

You know, many people don't know that you are entitled to authentic copies of contracts in both Polish and English. Some Poles just signed too quickly, eager to get underway in their new work environment. They were caught out by smallprint. There was a thread about this last year.

No-contract jobs? That's ludicrous. With no written guarantees, what can you expect but rip-off merchants and schysters.

UK, Ireland / UK In Recession - It's Official [26]

It is being tentatively covered. I had a discussion this morning about contingency planning in the field of publishing.

I agree with WB, the Polish media has blown it out of all proportion. The truth is that only those firms with direct dealings with foreign companies have been affected in a meaningful/tangible way. Others are aware of an impending 'mini-crisis' but Poland hasn't been part of international trade networks like America has for so many decades.

It has been used as an excuse to lay off workers and streamline companies. It's just another pretext.

The UK is being harder hit. However, some lines of work remain relatively unaffected.

UK, Ireland / TRUTH AND DELUSION ABOUT POLES IN UK [65]

Too late to edit it. I gave it a read and I agree with SeanBM, there are a number of home truths there. I do feel that certain English media outlets have been detrimental and look for targets. The Scots are often lumped into that bracket and, whilst we shouldn't be exonerated from blame, we tend to be more civil in our stance.

UK, Ireland / 800K of Polish immigrants in UK don't pay taxes -what do the poles think [190]

Much depends on what is called in private international family law (PIFL), habitual residence, Mister H. It was one of my postgrad essays. If I remember correctly, the terminology was 'settled intention'. Dr Eric Clive is one of the main writers in this area. I disagreed with him on what constitutes habitual residence.

I think many Poles have a settled intention not to return to Poland. As such, PIFL is on their side.

However, I also feel that citizenship should be harder to get. Owing to the current lax immigration laws, floods of people flock in their droves and only need stay 5 years to be granted citizenship status. I agree with Mister H that we shouldn't grant it as a matter of convenience. As long as they make the distinction between British citizen and British national. I see the merits of multiculturalism but we can't afford to let all and sundry occupy our burdened, recession-hit little island.

Travel / An experience on the train in Warsaw [30]

Now, noimmi throws things rather forcefully but he may have a point regarding the plotting. Many students have told me that this is a problem here, that they sometimes have to be underhand just to get ahead. They have to scramble a lot.

Judging by discussions amongst Polish people, this seems to be particularly poignant abroad where cheating is more commonplace.

However, outdoing one another is very much a Western idea. The Scots in Aberdeen were terrible for this. It is an oil-rich city where the flashier, the better is the rule in certain quarters.

Some are spiteful, yes, like everywhere.

Study / Looking for English Language schools in Katowice [48]

I agree. Callan isn't for those who have been otherwise indoctrinated. I only had 2 years of experience under my belt prior to taking up the Callan assignment. I couldn't go back to teaching it now. I have been offered due to the success I had teaching it but pastures new have been cemented.

It's an excellent way to fast-track the learning of beginners. The beauty of the method in the first few stages is subject/verb agreement and matching auxiliaries. Can you? Yes, I can or No, I can't. It also automates the response, instilling it sharply. It shows the rhythm of the language too. Bloody exhausting on the teacher but it's fine when you get into the groove. Tagging the first 2 words of the answer is important to maintain the flow and focus of the lesson.

When you have familiarity with the book, you take the lesson in your stride. I found myself walking around the room not needing the book, even for the long questions. A bit sad really but there we go. When it became too robotic, I knew then that it was time to pack it in for sth else.

History / Polish Anti-semitism - origins? [186]

I don't read too much on this issue. There's so much distortion, I just gave up.

Work / Polish lessons, how much should I ask? [20]

Being enthusiastic is a major part of lessons. I taught well enough today but with little enthusiasm. I was spent void of energy.

If you can bring life to classes, Wyspi, this is half the battle.