HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
I don't know what Allegro is!
I don't know what Allegro is!
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / Poznan. The most hated city in Poland? [21]
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!
Helena
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!
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / "Gdzie jest barszcz?" How do I get talking Polish with real Poles? [16]
Dear Jan
I know what you mean. I see Polish number-plated cars in my own street, for goodness' sake, as well as the car park at Lidl. I overhear Poles talking in the changing rooms of the swimming pool. But how to make friends with them. Despite my name, I don't have any Polish friends here.
Helena
Dear Jan
I know what you mean. I see Polish number-plated cars in my own street, for goodness' sake, as well as the car park at Lidl. I overhear Poles talking in the changing rooms of the swimming pool. But how to make friends with them. Despite my name, I don't have any Polish friends here.
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
Val I have red, pink, blue and yellow!
OK, so what about the MP3 players?
Val I have red, pink, blue and yellow!
OK, so what about the MP3 players?
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / Swimming certificate/bribing the bureaucrats in Poland [13]
Of course I never tried to bribe a policeman! These people were just minor officials who had it in their power to make life easy or difficult for me. They practically asked me for the money, and as soon as they caught hold of it they immediately "zalatwiached" everything for me!
Of course I never tried to bribe a policeman! These people were just minor officials who had it in their power to make life easy or difficult for me. They practically asked me for the money, and as soon as they caught hold of it they immediately "zalatwiached" everything for me!
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Language / How to say that you dont speak polish in polish? [23]
"Do you speak English? = Mowisz po angielsku?"
This is rather redundant, surely?
Because if the person addressed DOES speak English, they will understand when you say "Do you speak English"!
It would therefore be better to learn how to say
"Could you bring me someone who speaks English".
"Do you speak English? = Mowisz po angielsku?"
This is rather redundant, surely?
Because if the person addressed DOES speak English, they will understand when you say "Do you speak English"!
It would therefore be better to learn how to say
"Could you bring me someone who speaks English".
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / Swimming certificate/bribing the bureaucrats in Poland [13]
In my travels across communist Poland 20-30 years ago I discovered that any brick-wall the bureaucracy placed in my path would magically disappear when a dollar or pound was slipped into someone's hand. Suddenly, yes, there WAS a seat or a couchette for me on a train, or a table in a restaurant, that two seconds earlier was "full up".
Staying with close friends they told me that I would not be allowed to swim in a public pool, take out a kayak, etc without a passcard that proved I had passed a swimming test. As a foreigner, of course I didn't have such a thing but I got around it four times by slipping a couple of dollars or pounds to the person in charge (pool ticket clerk, lifeguard etc). In those days a US $ was worth 1,000 to 1,500zl.
Do you still have to have a swimming pass, and if so how can I get around the problem now? I don't know what/how/whether I need to bribe anymore, now that there is no Black Market currency market.
Your rather old-fashioned and out-of-touch Helena
In my travels across communist Poland 20-30 years ago I discovered that any brick-wall the bureaucracy placed in my path would magically disappear when a dollar or pound was slipped into someone's hand. Suddenly, yes, there WAS a seat or a couchette for me on a train, or a table in a restaurant, that two seconds earlier was "full up".
Staying with close friends they told me that I would not be allowed to swim in a public pool, take out a kayak, etc without a passcard that proved I had passed a swimming test. As a foreigner, of course I didn't have such a thing but I got around it four times by slipping a couple of dollars or pounds to the person in charge (pool ticket clerk, lifeguard etc). In those days a US $ was worth 1,000 to 1,500zl.
Do you still have to have a swimming pass, and if so how can I get around the problem now? I don't know what/how/whether I need to bribe anymore, now that there is no Black Market currency market.
Your rather old-fashioned and out-of-touch Helena
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
Life / What does a Ipod cost in Poland? [22]
I've just completed my 1,244th transaction on ebay. More than half of those were purchases. I buy everything on Ebay from clothes to electronics, my iPod, my computer, stationery, presents, jewellery, printer and cartridges, map of Poland (!), books etc etc i tak dalej ...
but Ive never used ebay, and I dont know who to trust on there
I've just completed my 1,244th transaction on ebay. More than half of those were purchases. I buy everything on Ebay from clothes to electronics, my iPod, my computer, stationery, presents, jewellery, printer and cartridges, map of Poland (!), books etc etc i tak dalej ...
HelenaWojtczak
9 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
8 Aug 2008
Love / My polish g/f can be a nightmare,is it always like this [262]
I totally agree with cjjc
"I promise you this in 5 years you will look back at this and think... What the hell was I doing to myself!"
The fact is, you are INCOMPATIBLE. If you were compatible, you would not be here asking what to do. She is trying to control you and your life will be a misery if you don't let go of her.
I totally agree with cjjc
"I promise you this in 5 years you will look back at this and think... What the hell was I doing to myself!"
The fact is, you are INCOMPATIBLE. If you were compatible, you would not be here asking what to do. She is trying to control you and your life will be a misery if you don't let go of her.
HelenaWojtczak
8 Aug 2008
Life / How well is English spoken in Poland? [27]
This utter nonsense is from the Eblag canal website:
zegluga.com.pl/en/page/17
This utter nonsense is from the Eblag canal website:
In case of additional orders Ż.O.E. organizes delivery and return of passangers for extra fee by minibuses or own touristic buses.
Directly after swimming up the ship to Elbląg about hour 19 exists the possibility of return our bus to Małdyty, Miłomłyn or to Ostróda. The cost of ride for one person amount: 10 zł to Małdyty, 15 zł to Miłomłyn or to Ostróda. Return lasts about 1 hour by bus and it was should order during reservation of tickets on cruise the ship.
Passengers who swim by the ship from Elbląg to Małdyty (swimming up about 2:30 p.m.) have the possibility of the return to Elbląg by the direct train. Departure of train to Elbląg from the station of PKP in Małdyty about 15:10 and 15:46 p.m. The arrival to Elbląg suitably about 16:00 and 16:30 p.m.
Passengers swimming by the ship from Elbląg to Miłomłyn who want return to Elbląg (after earlier obtainment of the information on the phone number 089/646 38 71 - the courses are not organized every day) have the possibility of the return to Elbląg by the put bus. The return lasts 50 minutes. The cost of the return carries out 15 zloty for the person and should be paid at the captain the ship during the cruise.
Directly after swimming up the ship to Elbląg about hour 19 exists the possibility of return our bus to Małdyty, Miłomłyn or to Ostróda. The cost of ride for one person amount: 10 zł to Małdyty, 15 zł to Miłomłyn or to Ostróda. Return lasts about 1 hour by bus and it was should order during reservation of tickets on cruise the ship.
Passengers who swim by the ship from Elbląg to Małdyty (swimming up about 2:30 p.m.) have the possibility of the return to Elbląg by the direct train. Departure of train to Elbląg from the station of PKP in Małdyty about 15:10 and 15:46 p.m. The arrival to Elbląg suitably about 16:00 and 16:30 p.m.
Passengers swimming by the ship from Elbląg to Miłomłyn who want return to Elbląg (after earlier obtainment of the information on the phone number 089/646 38 71 - the courses are not organized every day) have the possibility of the return to Elbląg by the put bus. The return lasts 50 minutes. The cost of the return carries out 15 zloty for the person and should be paid at the captain the ship during the cruise.
zegluga.com.pl/en/page/17
HelenaWojtczak
8 Aug 2008
Travel / Itinerary for trip to Poland - comments/tips? [27]
Thanks Scot and Logan.
The hostel is in an old railway building. I worked on the UK railways for 20 years and still feel a great love for it (three years ago I published a book about railway workers).
Would love to be sleeping within earshot of the trains. But sleeping in a boat sounds good too. Hmmm....
Well if you are around on 21st it would still be nice to have someone to meet up with even if just for an hour.
Helena
Thanks Scot and Logan.
The hostel is in an old railway building. I worked on the UK railways for 20 years and still feel a great love for it (three years ago I published a book about railway workers).
Would love to be sleeping within earshot of the trains. But sleeping in a boat sounds good too. Hmmm....
Well if you are around on 21st it would still be nice to have someone to meet up with even if just for an hour.
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Language / Polish language MP3s [24]
I know what you mean. It so hard learning as an adult. I curse my Polish father for not teaching me as a child. Just look at the trouble he has brought upon me.
I know what you mean. It so hard learning as an adult. I curse my Polish father for not teaching me as a child. Just look at the trouble he has brought upon me.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Language / Polish language MP3s [24]
What I did was started from No 1 in PDF and read it out to myself in Polish, sentence by sentence, followed by an English translation, again out loud. Can you do that? Try it and see how far you get before reaching for a dictionary.
What I did was started from No 1 in PDF and read it out to myself in Polish, sentence by sentence, followed by an English translation, again out loud. Can you do that? Try it and see how far you get before reaching for a dictionary.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Work / Moving to Krakow to teach English, need more tips on life in Krakow [27]
Is it possible to be employed as an English teacher in Poland without speaking any Polish? How would you communicate with the children in order to explain things, with your colleagues in the staff room, how would you understand any forms you had to fill in, tenancy agreements, tax, medical things, the list is endless...
Is it possible to be employed as an English teacher in Poland without speaking any Polish? How would you communicate with the children in order to explain things, with your colleagues in the staff room, how would you understand any forms you had to fill in, tenancy agreements, tax, medical things, the list is endless...
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Work / british working in Poland with no language [43]
True. But not Mom.
Nail on head, Kielbasa!
Unless they are from the north-east and then it might be mam
True. But not Mom.
They might do if they watch too much Jerry Springer..
Nail on head, Kielbasa!
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Work / british working in Poland with no language [43]
I don't know anything about the history of Blingin but I do have one thing to say: reading this thread, her standard of written English is very poor (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalisation) and she would, therefore, be most unsuitable as an English teacher.
Also, is she even English? English people don't say Mom, but Mum.
I don't know anything about the history of Blingin but I do have one thing to say: reading this thread, her standard of written English is very poor (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalisation) and she would, therefore, be most unsuitable as an English teacher.
Also, is she even English? English people don't say Mom, but Mum.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Travel / train tracks in Gdansk [6]
Looking at a Google map of central Gdansk I am struck by the enormous number of train tracks, branches and sidings particularly in the area all around Ostrów. To the right is an extraordinary number. ZNTK,
My question is, are these all still in use for goods/freight, or are they closed lines?
Can I bump this in case someone who knows the answer missed the question?
Looking at a Google map of central Gdansk I am struck by the enormous number of train tracks, branches and sidings particularly in the area all around Ostrów. To the right is an extraordinary number. ZNTK,
My question is, are these all still in use for goods/freight, or are they closed lines?
Can I bump this in case someone who knows the answer missed the question?
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
Braz ~ that's a good idea. Pictures of Britain, English tea and a box of Hastings fudge! They can have a holiday in England, in their flat in Poland!
OK please can anyone in Poland give me their opinion on this? I am planning to take the couple and their two children pairs of Crocs, because I do not think you can buy them in Poland. Please let me know if I have got this wrong. I don't want to take them all the way to Gizycko only to find every shop awash with them! I wear these Crocs every single day (I have four pairs). So, what do you think?
Follow this link
shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/footidol
Also, I looked on ebay.pl and could not see any little Mp3 players. I thought maybe the parents and the older child would like me to bring them ones. Again, is this something that is hard to get or expensive in Poland?
Here is an example of the type I would take:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190242794711
Please help by letting me know if I'd be making a big mistake.
Thanks
Helena
Braz ~ that's a good idea. Pictures of Britain, English tea and a box of Hastings fudge! They can have a holiday in England, in their flat in Poland!
OK please can anyone in Poland give me their opinion on this? I am planning to take the couple and their two children pairs of Crocs, because I do not think you can buy them in Poland. Please let me know if I have got this wrong. I don't want to take them all the way to Gizycko only to find every shop awash with them! I wear these Crocs every single day (I have four pairs). So, what do you think?
Follow this link
shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/footidol
Also, I looked on ebay.pl and could not see any little Mp3 players. I thought maybe the parents and the older child would like me to bring them ones. Again, is this something that is hard to get or expensive in Poland?
Here is an example of the type I would take:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190242794711
Please help by letting me know if I'd be making a big mistake.
Thanks
Helena
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Travel / I miss Kraków... What do You miss...? [95]
Being in Lublin with my Dad, who was born there in 1922.
Being in Lublin with my Dad, who was born there in 1922.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
UK, Ireland / Phoning home & Skype from Poland to the UK? [19]
Thanks UKPOLSKA I have an 8GB pen drive, plus a 2GB one.
With regards to budki, I'm assuming there are still some on the streets of Poland? Here in the UK they are becoming very rare. Even the one at Hastings's Summerfields Sports Centre has been removed, on the grounds that "everyone" has a mobile.
If I use a budka, any idea roughly how much it costs to phone the UK?
Is there are card system in Poland like here in England everyone uses a pre-paid card to phone abroad.
Thanks UKPOLSKA I have an 8GB pen drive, plus a 2GB one.
With regards to budki, I'm assuming there are still some on the streets of Poland? Here in the UK they are becoming very rare. Even the one at Hastings's Summerfields Sports Centre has been removed, on the grounds that "everyone" has a mobile.
If I use a budka, any idea roughly how much it costs to phone the UK?
Is there are card system in Poland like here in England everyone uses a pre-paid card to phone abroad.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Travel / Itinerary for trip to Poland - comments/tips? [27]
Hey Scottie! Thanks for your offer to pick your brains about Gdansk. I'm hoping to stay at the hostel by the station. It looks great. I'd rather stay there than at the Holiday Inn, even if it cost the same. As I'm arriving by train I want to dump my suitcase ASAP and get myself off to Hel. Those ferries look wonderful to me ~ I'll definitely go one way by ferry and one way by train. I love all forms of transport and as I cannot walk very far it's an ideal way for me to sightsee. I'll no doubt be using trams and naturally want to see the Old Town. If there's any place that I should not miss do let me know. My pleasures are simple: architecture, music, meeting people, just looking at scenery/landscape/towns in general.
I'd happily treat you to lunch if you're free on Sept 21 or 22 and you can tell me about life for the Brits in Polska.
Hey Scottie! Thanks for your offer to pick your brains about Gdansk. I'm hoping to stay at the hostel by the station. It looks great. I'd rather stay there than at the Holiday Inn, even if it cost the same. As I'm arriving by train I want to dump my suitcase ASAP and get myself off to Hel. Those ferries look wonderful to me ~ I'll definitely go one way by ferry and one way by train. I love all forms of transport and as I cannot walk very far it's an ideal way for me to sightsee. I'll no doubt be using trams and naturally want to see the Old Town. If there's any place that I should not miss do let me know. My pleasures are simple: architecture, music, meeting people, just looking at scenery/landscape/towns in general.
I'd happily treat you to lunch if you're free on Sept 21 or 22 and you can tell me about life for the Brits in Polska.
HelenaWojtczak
7 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
"I am quite amazed. Surely you read newspapers and watch the news on TV, don't you? and yet, you seems to know very little about todays life in Poland."
(1) No I don't read newspapers. Every few days if I have time I go briefly to the BBC England news page and spend 5 minutes on it. This tells me nothing about life in Poland or what the average Pole would like as a present from the UK.
(2) No, I never watch the news on TV, but I suspect that, if I did, it would tell me nothing about life in Poland or what the average Pole would like as a present from the UK.
(3) Why should that amaze you? If we could get all our knowledge about life in Poland from the newspapers and TV what is the point of having this forum and inviting people to ask questions about life in Poland?
"I am quite amazed. Surely you read newspapers and watch the news on TV, don't you? and yet, you seems to know very little about todays life in Poland."
(1) No I don't read newspapers. Every few days if I have time I go briefly to the BBC England news page and spend 5 minutes on it. This tells me nothing about life in Poland or what the average Pole would like as a present from the UK.
(2) No, I never watch the news on TV, but I suspect that, if I did, it would tell me nothing about life in Poland or what the average Pole would like as a present from the UK.
(3) Why should that amaze you? If we could get all our knowledge about life in Poland from the newspapers and TV what is the point of having this forum and inviting people to ask questions about life in Poland?
HelenaWojtczak
6 Aug 2008
Life / Present for Polish friends ~ is anything hard to get any more? [57]
I fear the Creme Eggs and Fudge would end up in my stomach en route across Europe by train.
Books ~ my friends do not speak English. I write and publish books for a living (google my name), but I won't even take my own books as they won't be able to read them. Well, maybe one of my own just as an ornament LOL.
Ornaments: I don't know their taste at all, nor their children's clothes sizes. Gardening ~ they live in a flat.
Both children are boys, maybe some kind of educational toy that you cannot buy in Poland? But then, it HAS to be in Polish, not English, unless it needs no instructions.
In my town they sell fudge with a photo of my town on it!
This is quite difficult.
I fear the Creme Eggs and Fudge would end up in my stomach en route across Europe by train.
Books ~ my friends do not speak English. I write and publish books for a living (google my name), but I won't even take my own books as they won't be able to read them. Well, maybe one of my own just as an ornament LOL.
Ornaments: I don't know their taste at all, nor their children's clothes sizes. Gardening ~ they live in a flat.
Both children are boys, maybe some kind of educational toy that you cannot buy in Poland? But then, it HAS to be in Polish, not English, unless it needs no instructions.
In my town they sell fudge with a photo of my town on it!
This is quite difficult.
HelenaWojtczak
6 Aug 2008
HelenaWojtczak
6 Aug 2008
Travel / Itinerary for trip to Poland - comments/tips? [27]
Thanks! A wonderful film of Gizycko. I'm not spending any time in Warsaw.
By the way, there's no Cherry's bar and no Marina Road here.
Thanks! A wonderful film of Gizycko. I'm not spending any time in Warsaw.
By the way, there's no Cherry's bar and no Marina Road here.
HelenaWojtczak
6 Aug 2008
Travel / Itinerary for trip to Poland - comments/tips? [27]
The ferry seems to take a very long time. It looks such a short distance on the map.
Am I right in thinking you can see plenty of interesting things from the ferry, like liner-ships, sail-boats, shipyards, buildings, etc?
Hey, I just found this!
youtube.com/watch?v=ixS00ufRpMQ
The ferry seems to take a very long time. It looks such a short distance on the map.
Am I right in thinking you can see plenty of interesting things from the ferry, like liner-ships, sail-boats, shipyards, buildings, etc?
Hey, I just found this!
youtube.com/watch?v=ixS00ufRpMQ
HelenaWojtczak
6 Aug 2008
UK, Ireland / Phoning home & Skype from Poland to the UK? [19]
I believe you need a headset to speak, so just installing it to an internet cafe PC isn't enough.
I think I will just email home and use a budka telefoniczna to phone ~ less complicated!
I believe you need a headset to speak, so just installing it to an internet cafe PC isn't enough.
I think I will just email home and use a budka telefoniczna to phone ~ less complicated!