USA, Canada / Cleveland couple and expired visa [15]


That is true of course. Perhaps they thought it would be okay because they pay taxes and things, who knows. While the laws say they should be deported, there was also a case for them not to be. The children should perhaps have been considered.

Anyway, as you say, they should have filed the paperwork themselves and saved all this trouble.

Why did they choose not to file the paper work? Laziness? Or is there some kind of "benefit" in not doing this?

USA, Canada / Cleveland couple and expired visa [15]


Absolutely this is true. In a few months they may feel that it's the best move they ever had to make. Who knows?

I do agree with Patrycja though, it makes no sense that a government would uproot a family who appear to be good community members and have good lives and contribute. (It happens here in the UK too). It's almost like the government feels like they must be seen as taking a tough stance on illegals but they pick the wrong people.


I think if the story had been about a Polish guy who was illegal and was robbing stores and old people no one would complain about his deportation, it's more the fact that it was a young family.

USA, Canada / Cleveland couple and expired visa [15]

I found this Kucinich Fights To Save Parents From Deportation but it's from less than a month after your article. I can't find anything since. It's an interesting story. Sad too. Many would say that they have committed something illegal, which is true, but surely there are others who should be deported before them.

UK, Ireland / Why so many British can't spell ? [83]

Here you go, try this

bbc.co.uk/testthenation/english - English Language Test

UK, Ireland / Many British have inferiority complex [131]


Being British and generally proud of my country these ones you talk about really let the country down. They talk about British pride but they don't believe in it (or they don't truly know what it is).

Not to defend "trolls" (how could I? :) but the UK is a tiny country that's seen a massive influx of people (not just Polish) over the last two or so years. Some people embrace new cultures and see it as a chance to learn, to meet new people, others choose to take the opportunity to blame everything that is wrong in their lives on these "foreigners". So these are the Brits with inferiority complexes really, the ones who try to say Polish people are below them are really feeling that they are below the Polish people.

Travel / Donkey visits Poland [76]

Donkey Visits Poland volume 2

Travel / Donkey visits Poland [76]

Another good read Osiol :)


If you go to WH Smith you'll get it for half price ;)

Life / Local Poles taking advantage of foreigners living in Poland [235]


Mostly because that is where they are, I would guess. Probably also it helps the reader figure out where the opinion is coming from...and I have seen, and have used, "here in the UK" and seen "here in Poland".

UK, Ireland / What's it really like being a Polish worker in the UK? [25]


It's surreal how much he talks actually. When you talk to him he's listening but you can tell he's just itching to start talking again. I know the thread you mean about talking and I've just re-read it (well the original article).

He knows plenty of spoken English, it's his written English that lets him down and he knows it. It's part of the reason he won't go to college yet.

UK, Ireland / What's it really like being a Polish worker in the UK? [25]


Yes. I think I might have implied that he was being ignored. That's not the case. I meant that he sees an effort being made to make sure he's not ignored but at the end of the day, the British guys tend to group back together and chat and joke. That's natural I suppose and he's not the only Polish guy in his workplace.

This is just one guys experience though.


It should. At first I thought he just like to chat a lot in English to improve his English. Then I realised he talked just as much in Polish...

UK, Ireland / What's it really like being a Polish worker in the UK? [25]


Hmm, so is it the girl at work who YOU fancy? :)


His new place is smaller. I kind of feel he sees the other males being all "blokey" and he's not a part of that. I think it's more that than being ignored. You can't ignore him, he'll talk to you anyway...

UK, Ireland / What's it really like being a Polish worker in the UK? [25]

I kind of took Osiol's approach here and "asked a friend" earlier on about these questions.

So here goes...


Currently life is not better and not worse than Poland just different but of course here, there is no family. Apparently this was first seen as a good thing (freedom) but now family is missed, especially a young nephew. However, new friends have been made, mostly within the Polish community though.

Originally the move to UK was seen as temporary with a view to just making some money and heading home to Poland to start again. Now though, there is thoughts of remaining here. This will depend on how the next year goes (apparently). So probably "dunno" would have done here as well...


My friend felt that he was overall NOT treated the same at work as British colleagues but that only one or two actually went out of their way to involve him in worktime chit-chat or after work socialising. That was one job though and he's since left. In his new job he feels more integrated but still notices the difference in the way British staff are treated.

His skills and qualifications are not recognised by his employer. (Unless you count his people skills - he'll talk to anyone :)

All in all, he reckons his experience of working in the UK is not what he thought it was going to be, it's been hard working two jobs but he understands that's what he must do to make money.


Then the Brits will mass migrate to Poland :)

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


lol no. "Slagging off". So saying that waiting times and cancellations are a problem means dissing the NHS, so be it! I know much about the NHS, seeing as every day I work within it and with it. Actually, I work with a group that tries to forward the NHS (and also what needs forwarded in the private sector). My group highlights what works and what doesn't. So any suggestions are greatly taken...

I should add that my group works within one specific area but nonetheless...

Also a fact is, the Poles have nothing to do with a declining NHS.

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


Gorgeous as Grimsby?

Something that's good about the UK? Humour, how we can take the crap out of ourselves... :)

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


That says it all really. 23 years and never even left Glasgow. Maybe if you left and saw a bit more of the world (or even Britain) you'd have a less secluded attitude.


har de har :)

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


So was I, but it's not there now :( it's moved out of town to Little France

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


Good point. The NHS has been in downfall for at least a decade (probably more) cancelled operations and waiting times (for example) have been a problem for a long time and nothing to do with Polish people. It's an old story.

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]

So what might the message be inside a Name Day Card?

And if anyone does know where to buy them in Scotland, please pass that information on :)

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]

Ah vinyl, sometimes just as good :)


Interesting question. Can you actually buy Name Day Cards?

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


Just England then? Funny that, I thought I'd bumped into a few Poles in Scotland...must have been mistaken...

The point (of this thread) is, what do foreigners see in the UK? I know that I sometimes wonder what anyone thinks is so wonderful about the UK (especially when I see the tax deducted on my wage slip). It would be interesting to find out...

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]


At your party? Lucky you... :p


21 is a key birthday here usually celebrated with a big party. 30 didn't used to be but is now.


Thanks Eurola :)

Generally age doesn't bother me, I joke about it. :)

Language / "sorry" instead of "przepraszam" [76]


Yes you will have. I asked a friend of mine about English words moving into the Polish language. She said that it was true. Words like "sorry" are creeping into the language. However, languages often do cross, especially where cultures cross. :)

Life / Polish art pictures [55]


Excellent! Thanks PGT, I'll take a look :)

I'm glad I asked about Yerka now! So many great pictures and I haven't even looked at them all yet :)

Life / Polish art pictures [55]

Hey :)

These two pictures have the name "Yerka" with them. Can anyone tell me if this is a Polish artist or not? The two descriptions are the titles that are with the pictures. I like this style of art so I was looking for more about the artist.

Thanks PD :)

• 
  New Age Manhatten
  
• 
  It's Calm in the Block
  

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]


Interesting that 30 doesn't come into this. I'm not sure when it became such a "big" birthday here either.

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]


Yes me to, which is why I worry if I don't make a decision whether I'm doing something, they'll organise something anyway and it'll be a "surprise" which I wouldn't want. Plus, I'd rather my celebrations had my own these, as detailed above.


I have thought briefly about asking a few friends if they'd go to Poland with me for my birthday but it's just before Christmas and a lot to ask...

Life / Polish Birthday Traditions [42]

Yeah pretty much everyone is younger than me :| hehe

It's part of the reason I actually started this thread. My friends are bugging me (already) about having a party. I "can't not have one" apparently. The thing is, I'm not keen on a big party but would maybe go for a gathering and I had wondered if there was some particular Polish tradition about ages that I could have blended into my celebrations...not that I truly want to think about them for a while ;)

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]


I did ;)

I agree with you that some of the Polish people I know are better off financially. They do work hard for it though. Some of my non-Polish friends would faint at the thought of a second job ;)


Easier as a couple both earning to get a mortgage so Polish couples (any couples really) will be able to do this easier than single people.

UK, Ireland / What's So Great About The UK? [416]

This is a subject that my Polish friends and I talk about now and then.



Some of my Polish friends say that they came here for a better life too. They generally work in jobs with a higher level of pay than minimum wage and they are mostly happy with the lives they have here. They say that it's also an opportunity to visit another country and to explore it. Mostly it's because they want a better life.

As for missing parents and other family members, they do but as Starchild says, they are away from them so there is a sense of freedom. Being in the UK, Poland is only a couple of hours away, flights are cheap so holidays can be spent in Poland.

Most of my Polish friends currently feel that things are good enough at the moment they would most likely remain here rather than move back to Poland and are looking at buying properties in the next couple of years.


Generally by working two jobs, many hours in each. As the saying goes "needs must" and I don't hear my Polish friends complain too much about working lots. It was their decision to come and they know this. At the end of the day hopefully it will all pay off. (As we all hope).

Feedback / Why are some requests for translation shoved into the random chat thread? [42]

Why are some requests for translation shoved into the random chat thread?

For Moderators it's frustrating to arrive here and find maybe 3 or 4 requests for translations that have titles like "urgent translation" or "sms to Polish". This doesn't happen once in a while, it happens every day. So then time has to be spent on re-naming these threads (this is fine as it's part of the job but you can imagine how it becomes frustrating). Then after that move on to other Moderating jobs, plus try to participate in PF of course ;)

These titles are not often all the doing of new members either.

To not moderate these would leave a list of thread titles in the translation section that are of no use to anyone. It's also worthy to remember that the people who translate all the requests and help with grammar and pronunciation do so out of the goodness of their hearts.


It's worth noting that the user who posted this message wrote this "If you cant text well in english then text in polish instead.". So the user was welcoming someone to text them in Polish but didn't seem to know how to speak Polish or write Polish. So how were they going to understand those texts when they started arriving?

PF is moderated by humans, not robots so it can't be perfect all the time.


Then it must be worth it to spend some time looking around the forum before making that first post. Personally I was hovering for days before I joined ;)