HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / Dokonany/Niedokonany - Perfective/Imperfective [46]
So, in fact, "pije herbate" means I drink it habitually, I like it, and does not mean I am drinking it right now.
So, in fact, "pije herbate" means I drink it habitually, I like it, and does not mean I am drinking it right now.
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]
I think Nie rozumiem po angielsku would be better. You could pretend to speak only Welsh, that'll fox them!
Yeah, go on then. I don't see how anyone can learn any language if they are not permitted to learn the swear words and slang. It's just words, they don't offend me (and I am a professional writer!)
Quoting: andy bwhen I go into a shop/cafe/bar and ask for something in my passable Polish and I get the reply in English
Time for you to reply 'Nie rozumiem!' I think.
Time for you to reply 'Nie rozumiem!' I think.
I think Nie rozumiem po angielsku would be better. You could pretend to speak only Welsh, that'll fox them!
want to learn some more words like that? ;)
Yeah, go on then. I don't see how anyone can learn any language if they are not permitted to learn the swear words and slang. It's just words, they don't offend me (and I am a professional writer!)
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]
Well if someone is calling me a cipa I want to know, so I can respond with a few choice words from my own language!
Well if someone is calling me a cipa I want to know, so I can respond with a few choice words from my own language!
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]
What delightful words, McCoy! Thank you so much for that. None of them are in my Frankling Electronic Translator! But they SHOULD be, because let's say someone was calling you one of these names, you need to understand what they mean so you know you are being insulted, don't you think?
In the USA they use the expression: that's a load of hooey! I wonder if this is where it comes from?
Does suka mean bitch as in female dog, as well?
My father only lived in Poland for the first 17 years of his life. After the war he lived in England. To the day he died, aged 82, he never used "the" or "an" in the right places, not could he pronounce "the" properly, yet he lived in England, with almost no contact with any other Poles, for over 50 years.
What delightful words, McCoy! Thank you so much for that. None of them are in my Frankling Electronic Translator! But they SHOULD be, because let's say someone was calling you one of these names, you need to understand what they mean so you know you are being insulted, don't you think?
chuj - cock
suka - bitch
suka - bitch
In the USA they use the expression: that's a load of hooey! I wonder if this is where it comes from?
Does suka mean bitch as in female dog, as well?
As far as Polish speakers are concerned it's almost impossible to learn how to use "a" and "the" correctly.
My father only lived in Poland for the first 17 years of his life. After the war he lived in England. To the day he died, aged 82, he never used "the" or "an" in the right places, not could he pronounce "the" properly, yet he lived in England, with almost no contact with any other Poles, for over 50 years.
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / What is the most annoying thing about non-native Polish speakers? [90]
What do these words mean?
cheepa, hooy, koorva, sooka, etc..
What do these words mean?
HelenaWojtczak
11 Sep 2008
Language / Dokonany/Niedokonany - Perfective/Imperfective [46]
Benszymanski, as you are being so helpful, may I, too, prevail upon you?
In English we can say "I am drinking tea", meaning right now I am drinking tea, or we can say " I drink tea", meaning I habitually drink it, but we would not use it to say we were drinking a cup right now.
My question is, is it true that in Polish you don't have this distinction? You can only say pije herbata, and if you want to convey the meaning of habitually, you have to use extra words?
Benszymanski, as you are being so helpful, may I, too, prevail upon you?
In English we can say "I am drinking tea", meaning right now I am drinking tea, or we can say " I drink tea", meaning I habitually drink it, but we would not use it to say we were drinking a cup right now.
My question is, is it true that in Polish you don't have this distinction? You can only say pije herbata, and if you want to convey the meaning of habitually, you have to use extra words?
HelenaWojtczak
7 Sep 2008
Language / Female endings in surnames~ what should I think about this? [6]
A woman in Poland said to me some years ago that she wasn't going to take the female ending -ska when she married her boyfriend (his name was Zielinski). She said this to me in a way that implied she was being daring, rebellious or maybe avant-garde.
Not wanting to sound stupid, I didn't ask her to explain her reasons, but now I want to know, and I don't mind sounding stupid on here LOL.
So what point was she making, do you think? Was it an act of feminism, or anti-feminism? Was she trying to be modern and Western?
Does anyone know what it signifies? Have you ever heard of women keeping the masculine ending of their father's or husband's names? If so, why?
Looking forward to being enlightened!
Helena
A woman in Poland said to me some years ago that she wasn't going to take the female ending -ska when she married her boyfriend (his name was Zielinski). She said this to me in a way that implied she was being daring, rebellious or maybe avant-garde.
Not wanting to sound stupid, I didn't ask her to explain her reasons, but now I want to know, and I don't mind sounding stupid on here LOL.
So what point was she making, do you think? Was it an act of feminism, or anti-feminism? Was she trying to be modern and Western?
Does anyone know what it signifies? Have you ever heard of women keeping the masculine ending of their father's or husband's names? If so, why?
Looking forward to being enlightened!
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
7 Sep 2008
HelenaWojtczak
1 Sep 2008
Travel / Itinerary for trip to Poland - comments/tips? [27]
Hi Dunkles
I've had my fill of concentration camps on previous visits, thanks!
I grew up not ever meeting anyone with my surname (except my parents, or course). THen I saw the roll of names at Auscwitz and there were loads of Wojtczaks. I took a photo of it.
Helena
Oh well the first part of the itinerary is down the drain: no Eurostar! Have to go Dover-Calais-Lille-Brussels! A spot of bad luck, there.
Hi Dunkles
I've had my fill of concentration camps on previous visits, thanks!
I grew up not ever meeting anyone with my surname (except my parents, or course). THen I saw the roll of names at Auscwitz and there were loads of Wojtczaks. I took a photo of it.
Helena
Oh well the first part of the itinerary is down the drain: no Eurostar! Have to go Dover-Calais-Lille-Brussels! A spot of bad luck, there.
HelenaWojtczak
1 Sep 2008
Travel / Is it safe to take a train in Poland? [35]
Lori I am glad to read your message. I hope people will help me get my case on and off the trains, which I find difficult at times.
UK trains flush turds onto the track, too. I left one near London Victoria on Friday night. LOL.
Lori I am glad to read your message. I hope people will help me get my case on and off the trains, which I find difficult at times.
UK trains flush turds onto the track, too. I left one near London Victoria on Friday night. LOL.
HelenaWojtczak
23 Aug 2008
Love / TO GO OR NOT TO GO (to visit my Polish boy-friend in Poland) [30]
I agree with Jones.
So many disasters begin with this scenario.
I agree with Jones.
So many disasters begin with this scenario.
HelenaWojtczak
23 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
20 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
He he I think Pani Doktor can get all the drugs she wants!
He he I think Pani Doktor can get all the drugs she wants!
HelenaWojtczak
18 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
UKPOLSKA: Hastings Rock. Their mother is a doctor and I would be ashamed to bring something made to break and rot teeth! Went to Drusillas Zoo yesterday and bought a sports bottle that has animals all round it in rubbery relief and DRUSILLAS ZOO, ALFRISTON UK on it, that is for the 5 year old. The 13 yr old I have bought an England football (baseball-type) cap with ENGLAND written across it plus a Nike tee shirt. I will get a second small pressie for the little 'un.
For the adults, I like the idea of tea as it's so lightweight to carry. Remember I am on my own with about 7 changes of train before I get to Gizycko! Gone are the days of porters to carry one's suitcases!
Thanks everyone for suggestions!
Helena
UKPOLSKA: Hastings Rock. Their mother is a doctor and I would be ashamed to bring something made to break and rot teeth! Went to Drusillas Zoo yesterday and bought a sports bottle that has animals all round it in rubbery relief and DRUSILLAS ZOO, ALFRISTON UK on it, that is for the 5 year old. The 13 yr old I have bought an England football (baseball-type) cap with ENGLAND written across it plus a Nike tee shirt. I will get a second small pressie for the little 'un.
For the adults, I like the idea of tea as it's so lightweight to carry. Remember I am on my own with about 7 changes of train before I get to Gizycko! Gone are the days of porters to carry one's suitcases!
Thanks everyone for suggestions!
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
18 Aug 2008
Language / Polish language MP3s [24]
I have all of the files now thanks Hal, and the texts are online, well most of them!
And thanks for pitt.edu, though I think I've already plundered everything they have.
I have enough Polish mp3s now to last me a lifetime!
I have all of the files now thanks Hal, and the texts are online, well most of them!
And thanks for pitt.edu, though I think I've already plundered everything they have.
I have enough Polish mp3s now to last me a lifetime!
HelenaWojtczak
18 Aug 2008
Travel / Touring Poland by Car & stay B&B: Pre-book or "wing-it"? [9]
No it was the one about the taxi driver.
My father and I arrived in Poznan off the train from London one day in 1986 and we had nowhere to stay. We got in a taxi and asked the driver to take us to a hotel, any hotel. But when we arrived there were no rooms, and the taxi driver heard this because he was bringing our luggage into reception, so he took everything back to the taxi and we drove from one hotel to another, all full up. Turned out there was a trade fair in town. By this time it was about 6pm and the taxi driver took us to his flat. He left us outside while he went in and asked his wife if we could stay. We sat in the kitchen while they rearranged all their rooms to provide my father and I with a whole room each. At their request we paid them two pounds a night bed and breakfast and stayed there a week.
Here's a funny thing: their 20-year-old blonde student daughter spoke fluent English, but there was something really strange about her accent: she sounded like an African, not a Pole. I puzzled over this for a few days, until she introduced me to her boyfriend ~ a big, black African student! He was a secret from her parents, who hated black people. But it explained her strange accent!
Anyway, she and I became firm girlfriends and she took me out with her to meet her friends etc while my Dad went about with her parents. Once, we all five went to one of those amazing museums of farm and rural life. While there we met women killing and plucking chickens, and bought one!
It was far more interesting to stay with an ordinary Polish family than at a hotel. I could see how they lived, and speaking with Anna found out so much more about Poles and their way of life than I otherwise would have.
We remained penfriends for a couple of years afterwards, which was very pleasant.
None of this would have happened if we had just booked a hotel before we left London!
Once my Dad and I turned up at Sandomierz with no reservations and we found this lovely little pension that would not have been listed with any international tourist offices. Again, a wonderful, true-Polish experience.
Go for it!
Helena
in the UK
No it was the one about the taxi driver.
My father and I arrived in Poznan off the train from London one day in 1986 and we had nowhere to stay. We got in a taxi and asked the driver to take us to a hotel, any hotel. But when we arrived there were no rooms, and the taxi driver heard this because he was bringing our luggage into reception, so he took everything back to the taxi and we drove from one hotel to another, all full up. Turned out there was a trade fair in town. By this time it was about 6pm and the taxi driver took us to his flat. He left us outside while he went in and asked his wife if we could stay. We sat in the kitchen while they rearranged all their rooms to provide my father and I with a whole room each. At their request we paid them two pounds a night bed and breakfast and stayed there a week.
Here's a funny thing: their 20-year-old blonde student daughter spoke fluent English, but there was something really strange about her accent: she sounded like an African, not a Pole. I puzzled over this for a few days, until she introduced me to her boyfriend ~ a big, black African student! He was a secret from her parents, who hated black people. But it explained her strange accent!
Anyway, she and I became firm girlfriends and she took me out with her to meet her friends etc while my Dad went about with her parents. Once, we all five went to one of those amazing museums of farm and rural life. While there we met women killing and plucking chickens, and bought one!
It was far more interesting to stay with an ordinary Polish family than at a hotel. I could see how they lived, and speaking with Anna found out so much more about Poles and their way of life than I otherwise would have.
We remained penfriends for a couple of years afterwards, which was very pleasant.
None of this would have happened if we had just booked a hotel before we left London!
Once my Dad and I turned up at Sandomierz with no reservations and we found this lovely little pension that would not have been listed with any international tourist offices. Again, a wonderful, true-Polish experience.
Go for it!
Helena
in the UK
HelenaWojtczak
18 Aug 2008
Travel / train tracks in Gdansk [6]
Just wondered if they are still in use. I am very interested in industry and especially in industrial archaeology.
Just wondered if they are still in use. I am very interested in industry and especially in industrial archaeology.
HelenaWojtczak
17 Aug 2008
Travel / Touring Poland by Car & stay B&B: Pre-book or "wing-it"? [9]
I do agree with spiritus on this one, but at the same time I do not think you need to book any accommodation before you travel, esp in April, before the tourist season.
It can be much more fun and exciting to just go somewhere and see what you find. I've done this in Poland myself, and without a car, which makes it much more a case of "winging it" because, if I didn't find anywhere, I didn't have a car to take me someplace else or to sleep in!
See my story of arriving in Poznan off the train from London.
Helena
You might choose to stay at one location over another and miss out on something wonderful that might only have been a 10 min drive from where you're staying.
I do agree with spiritus on this one, but at the same time I do not think you need to book any accommodation before you travel, esp in April, before the tourist season.
It can be much more fun and exciting to just go somewhere and see what you find. I've done this in Poland myself, and without a car, which makes it much more a case of "winging it" because, if I didn't find anywhere, I didn't have a car to take me someplace else or to sleep in!
See my story of arriving in Poznan off the train from London.
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
16 Aug 2008
Travel / train tracks in Gdansk [6]
Wow! A reply.
Yes, but not only przerobka, but in a one kilometre radius around it. I've never seen so many train tracks and sidings in my whole life. Who would know about this? I'm really interested to know.
Wow! A reply.
Yes, but not only przerobka, but in a one kilometre radius around it. I've never seen so many train tracks and sidings in my whole life. Who would know about this? I'm really interested to know.
HelenaWojtczak
15 Aug 2008
UK, Ireland / Postage from Poland to England - is it expensive for a Brit? [6]
Oh, has it? I'm taking some paperwork with me, maybe 200 sheets of paper. Once I've done the paperwork, I am thinking of posting it home, so I don't have to lug it around for another ten days.
Oh, has it? I'm taking some paperwork with me, maybe 200 sheets of paper. Once I've done the paperwork, I am thinking of posting it home, so I don't have to lug it around for another ten days.
HelenaWojtczak
15 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
15 Aug 2008
Feedback / Mods: why is my request removed each time? [36]
It's a real pity. But I am meeting some fantastically helpful people on here who are PM'ing me and I have a whole list of people who want to translate for me.
It's a real pity. But I am meeting some fantastically helpful people on here who are PM'ing me and I have a whole list of people who want to translate for me.
HelenaWojtczak
15 Aug 2008
Feedback / Mods: why is my request removed each time? [36]
It's terribly confusing for a newbie like me.
I thought this was a Polish Forum not a Whinge About Your Partner Forum LOL
It's terribly confusing for a newbie like me.
I believe those who post in the Relationship section may claim the same about translation messages.
I thought this was a Polish Forum not a Whinge About Your Partner Forum LOL
HelenaWojtczak
15 Aug 2008
History / Norman Davies on the Warsaw uprising [50]
Why/how do all these intellectual, political discussions always end with "Who's got the biggest dick"?
I think you mean whipping boy, sweetheart.
Why/how do all these intellectual, political discussions always end with "Who's got the biggest dick"?
s a British guy you can use me as a whipping post.
I think you mean whipping boy, sweetheart.
HelenaWojtczak
14 Aug 2008
UK, Ireland / Postage from Poland to England - is it expensive for a Brit? [6]
It's all in the title!
Can someone who sends parcels home to the UK let me know if it is v. expensive to post parcels home to the UK?
It's all in the title!
Can someone who sends parcels home to the UK let me know if it is v. expensive to post parcels home to the UK?
HelenaWojtczak
14 Aug 2008
Feedback / Mods: why is my request removed each time? [36]
Me, Hueg, Benszymanski, UKpolska ...
I can't believe we've got a thread of 26 messages instead of my thread which would have been one message asking and one message replying.
Someone's translated it now. I won't be asking again!
Me, Hueg, Benszymanski, UKpolska ...
I can't believe we've got a thread of 26 messages instead of my thread which would have been one message asking and one message replying.
Someone's translated it now. I won't be asking again!
HelenaWojtczak
14 Aug 2008
Feedback / Mods: why is my request removed each time? [36]
I'd like to give a really big thank you to Hueg.
You my darling have said everything I wanted to say but I didn't want it to look like I was ranting.
Thanks sweetie for sticking up for me.
What they did to me really was unfair, especially considering, as bohobabe says, there are some really nauseatingly racist threads, plus an awful lot of totally irrelevant threads trying to mend the relationships of people we have never met!
My email was at least on-topic, genuine and needed.
Thanks Miranda I will PM my couple of sentences. I cannot believe that asking this simple question has caused so much trouble and so many people getting involved with arguing about it.
I just want to ask my old pal a question, hoping to see her dear old Polish mother again!
So shoot me!
I'd like to give a really big thank you to Hueg.
You my darling have said everything I wanted to say but I didn't want it to look like I was ranting.
Thanks sweetie for sticking up for me.
What they did to me really was unfair, especially considering, as bohobabe says, there are some really nauseatingly racist threads, plus an awful lot of totally irrelevant threads trying to mend the relationships of people we have never met!
My email was at least on-topic, genuine and needed.
Thanks Miranda I will PM my couple of sentences. I cannot believe that asking this simple question has caused so much trouble and so many people getting involved with arguing about it.
I just want to ask my old pal a question, hoping to see her dear old Polish mother again!
So shoot me!
HelenaWojtczak
14 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
14 Aug 2008
Language / Polish language MP3s [24]
Nope, it won't work for me. But no matter, for i have an awful lot of stuff to be getting on with, and it is going to be an uphill struggle. I've just spent 4 hours with a dictionary translating (badly) a half a page of text. Yuk. Such slow going.
I've been onto Amazon and bought a hand-held electronic translator. Hope I like it!
HW
Nope, it won't work for me. But no matter, for i have an awful lot of stuff to be getting on with, and it is going to be an uphill struggle. I've just spent 4 hours with a dictionary translating (badly) a half a page of text. Yuk. Such slow going.
I've been onto Amazon and bought a hand-held electronic translator. Hope I like it!
HW