History / Bielski Brothers - does anyone know the story? [38]

Ray mears did a survival programme on this very group , showing how they used their knowledge of the forest to hide and survive the war without being detected....[/quote]

After WW2 the oldest of the Brothers was offered a very senior position within the newly formed Nation of Israel. It was as a General in the Army (something like that).

He declined the offer and spent the rest of his life as a cabbie in New York.

I thought that made a wonderful ending to the story of one mans amazing life.

On another note....
I mentioned the Bielski's to a Polish academic I know and she told me that they murdered Poles in cold blood????
Does anyone know a less saintly story concerning this group?

History / Poland Betrayed in WW2 [243]


I HATE THIS KIND OF STATEMENT.
and the thread that my enquiry was merged with is full of such statements.
Very little information about the actual events, promises, treaty's.....

I really want to hear opinions without the thread being accusations and insults.

Afterall it's a few generations ago that these events took place so no one under 80yrs old can be held responsible.

History / Poland Betrayed in WW2 [243]


I want to read the opinions of fellow forum members

My Great Uncle was POW of the Japanese in Singapore and one thing that was certain to cause anger were news stories concerning the modern Japanese whitewash of their historic war crimes.

The idea that most Japs under 40 knew nothing about their countries inhuman treatment of others in WW2, that Jap schools were ordered NOT to teach about it always struck me as disgusting.

Now I discover a similar thing has been happening in my education.
Land of hope and glory defending the underdogs, moral high-ground... only nation to stand up to Hitler from '39 to '42 etc....

I want to hear views, opinions and suggestions.
And if someone suggests I do some research I expect something a little more specific than the location of most PC's search facility.

And if you've already read topics that have been covered before you can simply refrain from reading them agaun.
Unless, of course, this forum is being run for you and only you?

History / Poland Betrayed in WW2 [243]

Thread attached on merging:
WW2 How did the West betray Poland?

I was educated to believe that Britain entered WW2 to try to protect Poland from Germany.
I was never taught anything about promises being broken. Unholy alliances with Stalin leaving half of Europe in the grip of a man who was, arguably, as bad as Hitler.

I WAS JUST TAUGHT THAT BRITAIN FOUGHT THE MIGHT OF NAZI GERMANY BECAUSE IT WAS THE NOBLE THING TO DO. HELPING POLAND WAS THE DECENT THING.

Educate me.

Language / To sa truskawki , To jest chleb. Difference between the two? [22]

What?

Language / TYPICAL MISTAKES OF POLISH LEARNERS OF ENGLISH? [23]


Now, now. Touchy!
Most contributions stressed the endearing quality of the mistakes that native Poles made with their English. No malice or even sarcasm.

I find it wonderful when one of the women I work with makes these errors.
Jola, a few days ago:
"Paul, what is 'easy peasy lemon squeazy?'".

Now how do you answer that?
Wonderful

Language / To sa truskawki , To jest chleb. Difference between the two? [22]

Merged: To/Jest Mianownik/Narzednik

'Lech' to polskie piwo.

'Lech' jest polskim piwem.

Are both the above correct?
And do they both mean 'Lech is Polish beer'.?

Language / TYPICAL MISTAKES OF POLISH LEARNERS OF ENGLISH? [23]

'I will be waiting' or 'I will wait'.
Never
'I will be wait'

Little errors like the above are common....but very cute!

Travel / Nice place to holiday in the North of Poland? [26]

Isn't AUGUSTOW in the South-East, Near LUBLIN?
It's along way from the Baltic coast.

Mt workmate had a week in Masuria last september and returned with a tan like he'd been to Barbados! He's been real lucky with the weather and caught a proper 'indian summer'!

If you spend an hour browsing through either LONELY PLANET or ROUGH GUIDE to POLAND I'm positive you'll find a place that fits your wishlist perfectly.

UK, Ireland / No Irish Need Apply - Polish Builders get their own back [42]


When I did a two week Polish language course in Krakow, last October, one of the students was an Irish construction worker/investor who had moved from Ireland to UK to Poland.

He seemed to believe that the investment of money plus time, sweat and know-how would yeild healthier returns in Poland than he was now expecting in UK or Ireland.

He was a great guy but he really struggled to make progress with the Polish. Stayed the entire length of the course and just kept trying. Tenacity.

UK, Ireland / No Irish Need Apply - Polish Builders get their own back [42]

Blazing Saddles
"We'll take the niggers and the chinks but we don't want the Irish!"

In my own experience I have found the Irish to be far less prejudiced than the Brits. But I've never been to Ireland so maybe I;ve only known the better types.

Language / Plural nouns in the accusative? [30]

I can't believe I asked that!
Of course ACCUSATIVE NEUTER/MALE INANIMATE REMAINS NOMINATIVE

Thread attached on merging:
Accusative case

Example
To jest pani Maria. Czy znasz panią Marię

To jest Robert Kowalski (Kowalski is treated as an adjective so is it)
Czy znasz Robertego Kowalskiego ???

Other names:
Agnieszka Nowak.
Jan Nowak.

Agnieszką

What names equal nouns?
Which equal adjectives?

UK, Ireland / 10,000 Poles in UK for free abortions [58]

UK, Ireland / 10,000 Poles in UK for free abortions [58]


I know because every woman who has a child, after first considering an abortion, loves the child and is thankful they decided against termination.

How many mothers wish they had had an abortion after living with their child for a time? Virtually none.

Why are you going out of your way to be as disagreeable and obnoxious as possible?
Hell of a coincidence that the very similar posts of gtd stopped around the time yours started. knbohead

UK, Ireland / 10,000 Poles in UK for free abortions [58]


Most of these 'unwanted' babies would be totally loved by their mothers once they had been carried to full term and born.

But I do agree with a womens right to chose.
The alternative is frightened and desperate girls paying dishonest and untrained CRIMINALS' to terminate the pregnancy in god knows where for an operating room.

Watch 'THE CIDER HOUSE RULES'.

It always seems to be MEN that have fanatically rigid views against abortion.

Love / How can I conquer a Polish woman? [84]

At a whorehouse in Krakow it cost 180 zl per hour for a Ukrainian.

Or so I'm reliably informed.

Life / Indian moved to Poland [532]


....and each dish has its very own parasite that is certain to cause chronic diarrhoea and vomiting.

I spent nearly 4 months in India (Delhi, Goa, Mumbai) and I had food poisoning twice (out of a total of 3, in my life).
And I didn't find the food very good.

The quality of the basic ingredients was terrible.
The hygiene was a joke (a very unfunny joke).

Thailand had better tasting, better prepared, better cooked and better served versions of everything available in India.....plus hundreds more types of dish to try.

UK, Ireland / 33% of Poles in Ireland to return to Poland in 2009 [30]

It's like the spud famine all over again!

Language / Jechac or Jezdzic? [35]

Michał.
I'm attempting to learn Polish, not Russian.
I don't care about Russian.
Why do you insist on injecting RUSSIAN into every thread you join in?

Language / Jechac or Jezdzic? [35]


OK
Lets try again.

Love / Why are Polish girls so emotional [16]


We had a similar upbringing!

Language / Czesc, Jak sie masz. (Book for learning Polish). [7]

There is an EMPIK in Krakow.
It cost nearly £5 for a Times newspaper that was 2 days old..... and it wasn't even the Sat or Sun edition with all the supplements!

Language / free polish -english dictionary online [52]

Are you a Polish speaker wanting to learn English?
Or an English speaker wanting to learn Polish?

If your an English speaker I can make many suggestions.
If your a Polish speaker you are absolutely spoilt for choice.

Language / Verb patterns 'BYC' [29]


No apology necessary.
Excellent explanation.

Rozumieć and Mieć are 'To understand' and 'To have'.
To include them in a list of verbs relating to 'To see' is a major stretch.

Thread attached on merging:
Polish verbs of motion

I am finding the amount of verbs of motion confusing.

Some you use if it's a specific journey, others for transport, some for walking......

Is there a way to remember when to use jeżdżę and when to use jadę?

When to use chodzę, idę, pójdę.???

If anyone could help explain which to use when (and why) I would be eternally grapefruit.

Language / Verb patterns 'BYC' [29]

Thread attached on merging:
Verbs relating to 'TO SEE'.

Oglącać
Patrzeć
Zwiedzać
Widzieć

Can someone please explain the correct usage for each of these verbs?

Examples would be appreciated.

UK, Ireland / Dating polish guys in London [35]

I would be pissed off if a woman showed interest in me because I was English.

It is a really shallow reason.

Never mind looks, personality or interests,,,, what is your nationality?

UK, Ireland / Where can I buy DVDs in Polish language near Glasgow? [11]

If you have any Polish friends they will be able to download you a selection.