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Posts by Frank  

Joined: 14 Aug 2006 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 22 Nov 2016
Threads: Total: 23 / In This Archive: 19
Posts: Total: 1,183 / In This Archive: 978 		From: Ireland
Interests: Travel, cars, gr8 food!

Displayed posts: 997 / page 5 of 34
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Frank   
22 Nov 2006
Travel / Why is Poland so Un-Sexy? [84]

Babylon....................really.........!!......I mean....you could at least extend the invite to the rest of the females on the board............lol
Frank   
22 Nov 2006
Travel / Why is Poland so Un-Sexy? [84]

Thats right Fisz......keep up for gods sake.............you're no man...just a pair of ski goggles....lol
Frank   
22 Nov 2006
UK, Ireland / Poland saves Irish way of life on island! [16]

Report on news tonight, the influx of East Europeans people to Inishmore off the west coast has effectively saved the island community, mostly Polish people. The Gaelic (Irish)speaking natives were slowly dwindling away but the population is now increasing and prospects are good!

Even to the extent that local Irish speaking children are learning Polish too!

Once again Poland saves the world!
Frank   
22 Nov 2006
Real Estate / Poland Property...should I be scared [127]

P19...hes just testing the waters...seeing what sorta reception he gets.....lol.......grass greener on the other side of the electronic fence......:)

Ireland joined the EU at the same time as UK....1973......nothing happened for a long.......long time........then it was a gradual rise ealry ninties, then they attracted more EU funds , then a new 10% max corporation tax, then USA factories...then low interest rates....now ....no one can afford to live there!

Portugal joined much later......and what has happened them....or Greece or even Spain.......need to ask more questions...the Irish scenario is probably unique...something to aspire to....but duplicate....may be difficult !!!!!
Frank   
23 Nov 2006
UK, Ireland / Poland saves Irish way of life on island! [16]

A certain flawed logic there....so canadians who only speak English are English...or French speaking Canadians are french....fraid not!

The Engliash speaking aspect are as the reuslt of historical events, not by choice but by political need....ie you did as you masters demanded!!

Then Polish history teaching isn't very good in the Irish/English relations department...esp as its 800 plus years long!

This has been discussed before, so many people have come to Ireland and haven't done any preparation..........but this sorta thing happens............

After all the Queen of England has a wholly Germanic heritage.....!!
Frank   
23 Nov 2006
UK, Ireland / Poland saves Irish way of life on island! [16]

Perhaps yes in that instance.........but aren't Austrians still Austrian even if they speak german..............Ireland was always a nation........just happened to be occupied by a then later world power..........Irish was largely spoken by all Irish until late 19th century...
Frank   
24 Nov 2006
UK, Ireland / Setting up shop, a N Ireland Polish migrant experience. [28]

Last night I attended a short film about the experiences of two families, from Poland and Lithuanian about arriving and living in our county.

It was filmed over a year in both Poland and Fermanagh, it started with a girl who had a marital problem and decided on a new start....where better than the new "Western Frontier", but N Ireland. She left by herself, initially, to work in the officer of a local factory on the shop floor, then graduated to the office, then she was a translator for the firm when they went to recruit Polish workers.

She then assisted the new workers in getting housing, NI numbers, bank accounts an actually set up a two week induction period for all the workers from EE. Now there are 150 Polish people working there. Earning 4-5 times what they earned back home.

Eventually, Ella, realised that she missed her son and brought him over a year later.......now hes a real Fermanagh man! Speaks English perfectly with a local accent and bright with it. So good at organising and getting things done and knowing how many Polish people were in the county; that Ella and new local partner, decided to open a Polish shop..this is now open since July this year and is always busy!

The transformation is almost complete, her sister has joined her in the shop, plus recently her parents all the way from Katowice ( mum is now working for a local shop doing clothing alterations)...and Ella estimates that between, family, friends cousins etc, there are over 100 people from her extended family/locality now working in our county!!

As a comparison, we saw where she had come from, accommodation, school, workplace of her father....so far removed and different from now in Fermanagh. Things looked very tough, and crampt...even though they laughed about it all.......we suspected she was glad to have a new opportunity. But she said she still loves Poland and hopes to return......one day.

Ella, also attended and over saw the film, and at the end, got a well deserved round of applause..........everyone wished her well and hope she and her son and family have many happy years in our community.
Frank   
24 Nov 2006
History / What does it mean to be Polish? [46]

In reality.....being Polish ( applies to other nationalites too)...is effectively a state of mind and inheritance........you evolve thoroughly immersed in its culture and life...on the knee of your mother, then friends as you grow up.

I honestly don't think anyone else can then FULLY understand or feel as fully part of the whole Polish experience unless you've moved through these areas and experiences.

Knowing the language is a start, but how long will it take to be fluent and more importantly, you will always have an accent..........so when you speak , the local, real Polish will treat you slightly differently...even though they may not want to...they will.....fact of life.

But and its a big but....if locals feel you are being true and honest, I think they'd make an extra effort to include you and make you feel as "Polish" as you possibly wanted to be....such is Polish culture and hospitality.
Frank   
25 Nov 2006
News / BRAIN DRAIN ON POLAND [101]

As regards other nations experiences; stats show ( up until the last 10 when the celtic tiger took over) that only 6% of all Irish emigants ever returned to Ireland.

However a colossal 56% of Italians returned to their home country after a lifetimes work in a foreign land. No doubt the Polish dispora will be somewhere in between.

The difference perhaps in the Polish experience is that, its almost entirely an economic migration...which gives lots of options; as opposed to others where it was stay and die or migrate and live......well to a degree!

Am sure there is a huge brain drain relative to the population...but also lots doing other jobs; the accumulation of wealth, knowledge and the "other side of the fence" experience will only benfit the aspiring nation that is modern Poland.

The biggest fly in the ointment, is the government...can they rise to the occasion?
Frank   
25 Nov 2006
News / BRAIN DRAIN ON POLAND [101]

Well.....lots of the local hospitals have Polish anaesthetists, plus other specialist doctors, in UK generally, hundreds of doctors come over to do weekend shifts....there is no doubt a limited supply of this type of worker.....whereas anyone can do factory work, waiter etc

There are lots of people from Poland with degrees etc doing more manual work in Ireland/UK....so their specialsit skills/qualifications are being lost to Poland...cant be replaced in 1 -2 yrs.....doctors in 5-6 yrs.
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
Life / Well-educated Polish modern slaves abroad [35]

Maati...can you give us a flavour of this book, why she decided to do it, what being a "slave" meant, who was her owner...or was it just a work of fiction?

Democracy is not perfect.......................but its better than any other sort of government!

If you buy into it, its expensive to maintain, expensive from a moral perspective, and a heavy responsibility on those who put themselves froward as candidates.
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
News / BRAIN DRAIN ON POLAND [101]

In Ireland....minumum wage for agricultural work is set at E8.12 an hour, though of course there are employers who will try and NOT pay this, both to locals and migrant workers!

So whilst in local terms this is deemed to be low pay, in relative terms its a lot higher than Polish people can get back home, plus lots have 2nd and sometimes 3rd jobs....ok, come the end of the week they are wrecked...but they still have had the opportunity to earn this money which is denied in Poland.

So in real terms they become "high" income workers!!
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
News / BRAIN DRAIN ON POLAND [101]

Not really.........a lot of the people I see here in our town....work hard and play little, never see them out, they wear the same clothes day in day out, they walk everywhere, they save and send it home.....these people are not here for fun, but to get a foothold in life back home by taking back or sending back 5-15k a year for a year or two and get a start in life.

One of the girls who featured in the film I spoke about a few days ago, was shown sitting on the several hectare area of land she'd bought outside of Katowice, on which she intends to build a house in two years time, she was very proud of her efforts and the end result - she said if she stayed in Poland she would have grown old before she'd had the chance to do the same in Poland.

But she was prepared to sacrifice 2-4 yrs of life now so she'd be better off in the medium.
run.

She doesn't appear to have any formal qualifications, its always down to hard work, committement and having a vision of where you want to go.

She is just one of many Polish people who have that.
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
News / BRAIN DRAIN ON POLAND [101]

about 80% of all Polish immigrants earn 6 pounds an hour or less

Yes, this is largely true...but as I have noted above....lots of them hold two jobs.....so they go all out to maximise there earnings whilst here...they know it won't last for ever, and indeed have a limited time here too.

But people on the board say that min wages back home are 80-95 pence an hour back home....well.....you can survive for a 1 or two years on just half this......in Ireland....£3 an hour.....be on your second job.......for another 20-30 hrs a week.......ergo......spending £160 a week to live...and save £250 plus week!!...or thereabouts!!
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
Life / Retire in Poland - Good or Bad Idea? [74]

People like new pastures, a change is as good as a rest...and all those other cliches!

UK, has lots of down sides, sacrificed on the altar of money!

Poland has lots of downsides.......mainly as the result of 60 years of communism/WW II, plus a latent talent for beating itself up, being self critical, navel gazing, its only natural!

Give it 20 yrs or thereabouts............:)

From every chrysalis emerges a beautiful butterfly................effectively the real Poland has yet to re-emerge!

Long live Polska!
Frank   
26 Nov 2006
Love / Feminism effects both sexes in a different way - opinions? [115]

This is a can of worms topic............!!

Men/women have different "value" systems....do the females on the board feel that their worth is now to be measured solely by a male originated system....ie money?

Or that by working hard, you can earn more or get ahead the in the same way?

What posters mean that they want to be treated in the same way in the work place.........

Thats fine...but what about in life in general?

I have always remarked to female colleagues that their REAL work only begins when they get home, ie that they have a family that need nurtured, raised, loved, protected, spoilt if need be......

Anyone can earn money, but only mothers can do the really difficult bit.........ask any Polish mother, who are held in such high esteem in their culture.

Each sex has different strengths and weaknesses, nature intended this way, why should we try to second guess mother nature???!!
Frank   
27 Nov 2006
Love / Feminism effects both sexes in a different way - opinions? [115]

Money does not equal self-worth. It might equal power and influence in the eyes of others, but not self-worth.

These are areas that sometimes define maleness...the pack/harem effect...who a man can persuade to be part of his group........alpha male.....most listened too, sought after. other males ergo females acknowledge as being the ONE!

Well...its a can of worms in the sense that people will disagree just because they can!!

Mainly because here are all sorts of conflicting theories out there as to whether its nuture or nature determines how a person "turns out"......either a criminal or psychopath or responsible,mature doing the right thing.

There are recognisable differences, some one mentioned physical strength etc - there is mental toughness, resilience...a lot of generalisations too as regards those areas.

So its ok to congratulate a person on their intelligence but not their physical attributes?

Simply put where did the intelligence come from...the drive...the ability...pretty much from genetic inheritance.........mixed in with application and hard work...again......perhaps built in?

The compliment depends on the circumstances..who pays it and when...and was he a guy/girl that you fancy in the first place?!

More thoughts......?

Remember....there is only one thing in life worse than being looked over.......................................and that is being overlooked!
Frank   
28 Nov 2006
Love / Feminism effects both sexes in a different way - opinions? [115]

Firstly, who is this pack you keep talking about........Wolfie said what he said to provoke a reaction.......and it did...but no more........not being punished is he?.............ask wolfie if he feels punished!!!?