Life / Polish people with learning difficulties? [42]

I fully agree noimmigration, there's no place 4 it.

Now PF members, he has said sth that the majority of 'apparently' decent folk haven't, that laughing at these people is plainly wrong and he's right

UK, Ireland / Poles in UK turn to fast food [29]

It depends where in the UK KingS. It's pretty fresh in Torry, Aberdeen, being on the coast and freshly caught by trawlers. U can almost taste the freshness if that makes any sense. A rare treat

Life / Foxes in urban Poland [12]

WOW, no comment about Polish chicks being foxes, I'm shocked

The vixen comments are surely just around the corner

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]

Jeff Lynne of ELO, right? He's cool. I can't believe bit** was edited from the random abuse thread but kurwa wasn't. Bit** is not that strong thrown with standard intonation. Kurwa is going out of fashion a bit in Poland as it is less cool to swear. Not only I have noticed that

So, Brummies?

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]

I know a bit about Birmingham as I worked with a guy for a couple of years, whose family is from there.

McLeish now at the helm, not doing a great job, but also not getting the rub of the green.

It'd be good to hear a few positives about Birmingham, as all we hear is London this and London that. No offence LondonChick.

Life / What do Poles do for fun? [49]

Aha, my friend, who works in Gliwice, is tho. Hartlepool, monkey hangers.

Food / Is there McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut etc in Poland? Food survey. [222]

McD's has spread its wings everywhere, even in smaller cities. In Tychy, there are 2 or even 3. I worked in a city of 88,000 in Japan and there was one there too.

HP Sauce above, advertised by Frank Bruno back in the day. Poor Frank, he went off the rails. Lee&Perrins is from Birmingham too, Heinz make a good Worcestershire sauce.

Pizza Hut relies on its name. I liked eating there but there are so many good pizzerias in Poland. Here in Gliwice, there is Da Grasso, Telepizza, Bombola, Fantastico and Dominium to name but a few. Many small locally-owned businesses have popped up too and they are well worth scoping out.

For anyone who says that the quality of pizza in Poland is poor, they are being overly critical. A big pizza represents great value

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

Super thread quite frankly!! Well thought up and full of substance. I hope it continues to run as it could unravel what I saw as a mystery. No conspiracy theories now, LOL

Love / Is it possible to be friends with girls in Poland? [59]

Given that so many marriages end in divorce Wyspi, I don't think it is such a stupid question. Too many people think that their partner loves them and, bang, it's all over, how wrong they were. So, u'd just jump into marriage Wyspi, without considering the factors and why u r doing it? I'm not the first person to ask about true love btw, lol

Love / Is it possible to be friends with girls in Poland? [59]

Aha, u mean they value money as a catch, I c Wyspi. Let me ask u this then Wyspi, how do u know if sb TRULY loves u? What'd make u sure about tying the knot? (getting married)

Love / Is it possible to be friends with girls in Poland? [59]

I'm not doubting u Wyspi but why do u think many Polish girls see a rich foreigner as a prize? It may seem like a stupid question but it would be nice to know what u think. Body language, język ciało is about luring/enticing a guy, as well as other things.

Love / Is it possible to be friends with girls in Poland? [59]

Jestes wspaniała Arien, Wyspi is a woman (ona)

History / Where do Polands non Jewish victims go? [64]

They go to Biedronka

Love / Is it possible to be friends with girls in Poland? [59]

Very good comment Wyspi, being Polish urself gives it even more credibility. I'm glad that I can get them going in class but isn't always so rosy on the streets. As Osioł would say, there are lovely girls and not so lovely girls in every country

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

That's cuz I've NEVER asked the Irish to provide me with employment icypole, plain and simple. I'm here bcoz of my girlfriend largely, I could have the pick of jobs back in the UK if I so desired. I could get much more money back home but I've decided against that option for the time being.

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

Poles don't have a right to live like Westerners? Are they insignificant people who somehow deserve less than us?

UK, Ireland / Poles in UK turn to fast food [29]

Never heard of adding the final touch? LOL

Life / What Do the Poles Think about the Abolition of the Death Penalty? [48]

I'll be sure to sniper yo ass pre-emptively then when I hunt u down

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

It's not to far-fetched as u equate skills with good jobs, is that so weird? What's ur job then?

Life / What do Poles do for fun? [49]

I've seen a few people swinging from the branches, not quite sure what that was all about. Is this usual behaviour here?

News / Should we change the rules to let Poles join the British Army? [119]

It depends on what level u c it. Poles, as taxpayers in the UK, and now part of the fabric of Britain's society, have a right to defend the country and their newly-found homes against attacks from abroad and to serve as representatives for Britain against terrorists who threaten to undermine global stability and whose ideology we deplore.

On a different level, it would give Poles a chance to use the experience picked up from their WKU here in Poland and give them additional employment opportunities. The army is a diverse institution these days, they could do many things.

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

The golden rule is, like any contract, research ur position thoroughly so as not to be caught out. I couldn't imagine doing my tax returns without the help of a specialist. If native Poles find it hard, where does that place me?

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

ZUS is a pain, but not in the first 2 years of your firm where u can expect to pay c290zł a month. Otherwise, it's c800zł. I think the tax system is fair in a sense BUT is disproportionate to earnings. Not everyone knows about the 'koszty' where u can get deductions on 'boots' for travelling and other things. When I worked in Japan, I paid 6% income tax, not 19%. Granted, u pay a 5% federal tax on everything u buy, but that still is manageable. The take home pay was greater and it was up 2 u what u bought. It was a disincentive to buy too much in Japan as it is MUCH more expensive than here.

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

Na lewo? W lewice? Poles claim back a lot of stuff on VAT and purchases. I've just been told by my financial advisor that I should be doing the same to reduce overheads. I don't have the lower tax rate option, ryczałt I think u call it. I have my own teaching firm. Being Scottish (nie skąpy, bardziej oszczędny), it's easier for me to balance the books, LOL. No movements to the left, well, not many ;)

Travel / Poland is becoming too expensive to visit. It is a nice country, but [46]

Well, now that depends Harry. It takes 2hrs 20mins to get from Aberdeen to Inverness, a trip I have made several times by train. It costs 37.70 return (4hrs 40 mins of travel), 190zł in kantor terms. In real terms, more like 120zł. The cheapest PKP train is not as comfortable as the First Scotrail offering. Last Oct, I got tickets for, I think, 20 quid return, maybe even less. There are various promotions that u can take advantage of, not only student status. Another difference is that more people have to use the Warsaw-Kraków route than the Aberdeen-Inverness one for business purposes. So, I wouldn't say 'super deal' necessarily.

Buses are much cheaper and are fine here.

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

Lapówki i korupcja, hehehe, it is changing tho. It crippled Piast Gliwice as they were docked 10 points. This season, bez lapówek, is much better, clear in division 2 by 5 points.

It is interesting that you are a Pole and think that Poles overspend, maybe u r basing ur view on people too much on a specific region or social group? I think most Poles would disagree with u.

Another point is belief, numbers and prices fly around like leaves in a gale-force wind, u never know what to believe. Sb told me it was a 'Polish secret' how Poles get by (przeciętny Polak mi chodzi o). Whatever that means

Travel / Poland is becoming too expensive to visit. It is a nice country, but [46]

I believe that communism was largely responsible for entrenching this 'we are poor' or 'once poor, always poor attitude'. It is a resigned approach which is thankfully changing. I hope Poles follow the American approach of carving out new possibilities. There was an interesting book written about creating new jobs but, sometimes, it is easier said than done.

When I hear stories of Poles considering what car their neighbour has and competing with them, my first temptation is to say, what does it matter? However, at second glance, it is a good thing as it shows that Poles are beginning to adopt the capitalist mentality needed to survive (in the loose sense) in the Western world. Almost 20 years after the collapse of communism, it is a positive step forward.

Life / HOW CAN POLISH PEOPLE AFFORD IT?? They are said to earn very little..? [43]

There is some truth in what u r saying TripTic but, a word of advice, be careful (well, 2 words, LOL). Poles are sensitive on such matters. Yes, it is true that many here read commercials in magazines and splash out on designer stuff but they are just being who they are. Yeah, it would be nice if everybody could live within their means but reality shows us otherwise.

I came to the same conclusion as u after doing basic arithmetic and incurred the wrath of my girlfriend. She made the point that Poles, based on their skills, have the same right to live in the same way as 'Westerners'. I see her point, there are many workers here who earn peanuts for their efforts. Intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, fine, but they need more money.

This thread has the potential to be lively and volatile.

Travel / Poland is becoming too expensive to visit. It is a nice country, but [46]

Good points by finT. I've said it b4, Poland received EU grants in 2005 SPECIFICALLY TARGETTED at improving road standards. It was a generous donation too. It was punted over the wall to be spent on God knows what, certainly not roads.

As for the people are rude comment, it's the bigger city mentality, esp Warsaw and Kraków. There are job types here in Silesia that require more cooperation, e.g mining, so it is less visible (tho it still exists).

Inflation is kicking in for sure. More and more people will have to shop at Lumpex for their clothes as it is calculated by weight. I do that sometimes and feel no shame whatsoever. I've bought good designer stuff for a snip of the RRP there.

There is a shop here in Gliwice called Piast and, boy, it's expensive. Anyone that does a big shop in there needs their head examined, or has cash to blow.

Property is the killer. Prices here have soared exponentially. Wrocław was the booming property market last year but rent is being raised across the board. I'm glad to only pay 750zł all in (bills, internet etc). I'm quite central. Thankfully, we are out of winter so don't feel the pinch so acutely.

The key thing is just to move with the times and roll with the punches. Keep afloat!!

Love / Questions for a Polish girl - translation [33]

But pieszczoty was on ur mind tho, go on, admit it, LOL