Switezianka
12 Nov 2008
Switezianka
10 Nov 2008
Travel / Typical Polish Weather In December [15]
Hard to say. It may be +5, it may be -15. The weather has become quite unpredictible during the last few years. Last year, there was practically no winter, but 2 or 3 years ago there was enormous snowfall, and later the were few days with temepratures like -18, -20. But December isn't that cold, I'd be surprised if the temperature fell below -5.
I hope for some true cold (for me: below -15). Trees covered with rime frost in the sun are so beautiful...
Hard to say. It may be +5, it may be -15. The weather has become quite unpredictible during the last few years. Last year, there was practically no winter, but 2 or 3 years ago there was enormous snowfall, and later the were few days with temepratures like -18, -20. But December isn't that cold, I'd be surprised if the temperature fell below -5.
I hope for some true cold (for me: below -15). Trees covered with rime frost in the sun are so beautiful...
Switezianka
10 Nov 2008
Food / Good Polish Wines [74]
So buy a Polish jabol - it tastes very similiar and it's much cheaper.
I really miss cider from back home,
So buy a Polish jabol - it tastes very similiar and it's much cheaper.
Switezianka
10 Nov 2008
Food / Good Polish Wines [74]
Komandos, Wino marki Wino, Lipa z Miodem, Czar Teściowej...
Tanie wino jest dobre, bo jest dobre i tanie...
Komandos, Wino marki Wino, Lipa z Miodem, Czar Teściowej...
Tanie wino jest dobre, bo jest dobre i tanie...
Switezianka
8 Nov 2008
Switezianka
8 Nov 2008
Life / American moving to Poland [34]
I wouldn't recommend moving to Poland before graduation. Native speaker teachers are usually required to have a higher education (doesn't matter what). In case of other jobs available with secondary education - I can't think of any in which speaking Polish is not necessary, that would be enough to survive.
As an English teacher, lecturer or a manager in a company, one may work in Poland without the knowledge of Polish. But without higher ed, only manual jobs are left - not a very good prospect, is it? The payment is not enough to rent a flat, and pay for food, so it makes one financially dependent on someone else.
I wouldn't recommend moving to Poland before graduation. Native speaker teachers are usually required to have a higher education (doesn't matter what). In case of other jobs available with secondary education - I can't think of any in which speaking Polish is not necessary, that would be enough to survive.
As an English teacher, lecturer or a manager in a company, one may work in Poland without the knowledge of Polish. But without higher ed, only manual jobs are left - not a very good prospect, is it? The payment is not enough to rent a flat, and pay for food, so it makes one financially dependent on someone else.
Switezianka
8 Nov 2008
Travel / ŁÓDZ..is it worth a visit? [25]
£ódź? Bombarded? Where?!
I think this city is most interesting on its 'dark side'. We've got great cemeteries, a lot of abandoned factories, post-industrial areas etc. In the Jewish cemetery (which is beautiful, anyway), you can even look at an old 'bed' that was used to wash the bodies before the burial. In the Old Cemetery, especially in the Protestant part, there's a lot of big, impressive graves and tombs (about 100 years old) and a great neo-Gothic chapel (it looks the best on a foggy night). In some small roads in the centre, you can admire interesting 19th century architecture but in most cases in a very bad condition. There are many hidden details which add some taste to this place: you enter a gateway to the yard of some old, derelict tenement house, and suddenly see some interesting sculpture on the wall, in the most unexpected place. Or you enter the annexe of such a house, look up, and on the ceiling, there is some wonderful, although crumbling, moulding.
Not long ago, an old drain pipe under the main square was opened for tourists and a museum was made there. It's a round tunnel with walls made of red brick, with some old photos and 19th cent. devices - a really cool place but not for the claustrophobic. And even that shopping centre is quite bearable because some of the original factory architecture was preserved.
For a conventional trip, £ódź is not the right place, but I can't say it's not interesting. All the 'touristic' spots, like Piotrkowska or Poznański Palace are boring, but off the track it's really got a charm.
. . . bombed heavily during the war, rebuilt afterwards in the 'urban sink' estate style,
£ódź? Bombarded? Where?!
I think this city is most interesting on its 'dark side'. We've got great cemeteries, a lot of abandoned factories, post-industrial areas etc. In the Jewish cemetery (which is beautiful, anyway), you can even look at an old 'bed' that was used to wash the bodies before the burial. In the Old Cemetery, especially in the Protestant part, there's a lot of big, impressive graves and tombs (about 100 years old) and a great neo-Gothic chapel (it looks the best on a foggy night). In some small roads in the centre, you can admire interesting 19th century architecture but in most cases in a very bad condition. There are many hidden details which add some taste to this place: you enter a gateway to the yard of some old, derelict tenement house, and suddenly see some interesting sculpture on the wall, in the most unexpected place. Or you enter the annexe of such a house, look up, and on the ceiling, there is some wonderful, although crumbling, moulding.
Not long ago, an old drain pipe under the main square was opened for tourists and a museum was made there. It's a round tunnel with walls made of red brick, with some old photos and 19th cent. devices - a really cool place but not for the claustrophobic. And even that shopping centre is quite bearable because some of the original factory architecture was preserved.
For a conventional trip, £ódź is not the right place, but I can't say it's not interesting. All the 'touristic' spots, like Piotrkowska or Poznański Palace are boring, but off the track it's really got a charm.
Switezianka
2 Nov 2008
Life / Halloween in Poland? [77]
Last night I saw something that made me laugh:
In a cemetery, next to a big cross in the middle of the main alley, people put a lot of candles (as it always happens in Poland on 1st Oct.). But in front of all these candles, someone put ... a jack-o'-lantern!
Last night I saw something that made me laugh:
In a cemetery, next to a big cross in the middle of the main alley, people put a lot of candles (as it always happens in Poland on 1st Oct.). But in front of all these candles, someone put ... a jack-o'-lantern!
Switezianka
31 Oct 2008
Life / What to do on All Saint's Day (Nov. 1) in Krakow? [20]
Where are you going to play golf and tennis on a day, when everything is supposed to be closed?
First of all I'm playing golf, then cycling over for tennis, then a barbecue and barrels of beer.
Where are you going to play golf and tennis on a day, when everything is supposed to be closed?
Switezianka
31 Oct 2008
Life / 16 y.o. starting from Scratch. Moving from Canada to Poland, $11K in bank [9]
I wouldn't be sure if a person under 16 has a right to rent a flat.
I wouldn't be sure if a person under 16 has a right to rent a flat.
Switezianka
31 Oct 2008
Life / Halloween in Poland? [77]
Actually, there are Halloween club parties in Poland. But it's not a widespread tradition, it's just another excuse to make a party.
Actually, there are Halloween club parties in Poland. But it's not a widespread tradition, it's just another excuse to make a party.
Switezianka
31 Oct 2008
Travel / Szczecin -> Bydgoszcz by train....is it sensible and safe? [12]
Keep an eye on your stuff, and you will be safe. There's nothing scary about Polish trains.
Keep an eye on your stuff, and you will be safe. There's nothing scary about Polish trains.
Switezianka
31 Oct 2008
Study / University in Poland is too easy [68]
On which universities are theses estimated by the title, not the contents?
Well I have lectured and studied in both Polish and British Universities. How about you?
On which universities are theses estimated by the title, not the contents?
Switezianka
29 Oct 2008
Life / What to do on All Saint's Day (Nov. 1) in Krakow? [20]
My attempts to capture the mood of All Saints' Day:
My attempts to capture the mood of All Saints' Day:
Switezianka
29 Oct 2008
Life / What to do on All Saint's Day (Nov. 1) in Krakow? [20]
Go to some nice cemetery in the evening - that's the only interesting thing to do during All Saints Day.
Go to some nice cemetery in the evening - that's the only interesting thing to do during All Saints Day.
Switezianka
28 Oct 2008
Language / HOW DID BAKTERIA BECOME FEMININE? [23]
Funny, I looked up this word in a dictionary, and the source-words given are: Fr. bacterie, from Gr. bakteria. So, it seems Polish form is just the same as Greek.
Funny, I looked up this word in a dictionary, and the source-words given are: Fr. bacterie, from Gr. bakteria. So, it seems Polish form is just the same as Greek.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Life / PAYING TO TAKE A PISS IN POLAND, it's BIZARRE [77]
Places in Poland where you can just go in and use a free clean toilet:
-shopping centres
-McDonald's
-pubs and restaurants
-public libraries, culture centres, university buildings etc.
In a city you can always find a free toilet if you know where to look for it.
Places in Poland where you can just go in and use a free clean toilet:
-shopping centres
-McDonald's
-pubs and restaurants
-public libraries, culture centres, university buildings etc.
In a city you can always find a free toilet if you know where to look for it.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Love / POLISH GIRLS AND LOOSE JEANS [36]
frenchboy,
If all guys were like you, I'd certainly be a lesbian.
frenchboy,
are you lesbian?;)
If all guys were like you, I'd certainly be a lesbian.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Love / POLISH GIRLS AND LOOSE JEANS [36]
But it's better to watch them without jeans.
Hey I like girls butts ok? They are magnificent.
But it's better to watch them without jeans.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Life / Polish Childrens Songs [22]
How could I forget about it?
Some songs form 'Akademia Pana Kleksa'
How could I forget about it?
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Life / Polish Childrens Songs [22]
Natalka Kukulska: chomikuj.pl/Chomik.aspx?id=wiolaa&sid=5
Majka Jeżowska: chomikuj.pl/Chomik.aspx?id=wiolaa&sid=8
At least that was in when I was in kindergarten.
Natalka Kukulska: chomikuj.pl/Chomik.aspx?id=wiolaa&sid=5
Majka Jeżowska: chomikuj.pl/Chomik.aspx?id=wiolaa&sid=8
At least that was in when I was in kindergarten.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Language / HOW DID BAKTERIA BECOME FEMININE? [23]
A good question. I can't see anything stupid about it.
My hypothesis:
Bacteria usually occur in big colonies, so people rarely talk about one bacterium. Only the plural form was in frequent use and speakers unaware of its singular form started confusing the plural form with the singular one (Polish speakers often use Latin words and expressions incorrectly, so there's nothing surprizig about it). Such usage has become very widespread, so bacteria has become the singular form through the usage, and because it ends with "a", it is feminine.
Just a hypothesis but it seems very probable to me.
A good question. I can't see anything stupid about it.
My hypothesis:
Bacteria usually occur in big colonies, so people rarely talk about one bacterium. Only the plural form was in frequent use and speakers unaware of its singular form started confusing the plural form with the singular one (Polish speakers often use Latin words and expressions incorrectly, so there's nothing surprizig about it). Such usage has become very widespread, so bacteria has become the singular form through the usage, and because it ends with "a", it is feminine.
Just a hypothesis but it seems very probable to me.
Switezianka
26 Oct 2008
Study / Graduate school in Krakow - what to expect? [6]
You won't find many Kaczyński supporters at the uni ;-)
As polishgirltx said, go for it!
But I don't love Lech or Jaroslaw Kaczynski =(
You won't find many Kaczyński supporters at the uni ;-)
As polishgirltx said, go for it!
Switezianka
25 Oct 2008
Love / POLISH GIRLS AND LOOSE JEANS [36]
Whose art?
Anyway, when you display a work of art, you get profits from it. When you display a shapely body, you get neanderthals whistling after you in the street.
Whose art?
Anyway, when you display a work of art, you get profits from it. When you display a shapely body, you get neanderthals whistling after you in the street.
Switezianka
25 Oct 2008
Love / POLISH GIRLS AND LOOSE JEANS [36]
Or "My shapely ass is not an exhibit and I don't care if you are interested in it."
Baggy clothes give out the message "Underneath this tent-like covering of loose garments, I'm actually quite unshapely".
Or "My shapely ass is not an exhibit and I don't care if you are interested in it."
Switezianka
25 Oct 2008
Switezianka
25 Oct 2008
Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]
I think that is the criteria that poloniści use. What a pity...
Another definition of the distinction between language and dialect is that a language has its own army.
I think that is the criteria that poloniści use. What a pity...
Switezianka
24 Oct 2008
Life / Feminism in Poland:Pro and against [14]
bluebird,
get your ass to a library and stop writing bull$hit.
bluebird,
get your ass to a library and stop writing bull$hit.
Switezianka
24 Oct 2008
Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]
I think the only linguists who have any doubts whether Kashubian is a separate language, are the Polish ones. It's got different vocabulary, different spelling and even different alphabet.
One of the criteria used to decide if something is a dialect or a language is mutual intelligibilty: if two native speakers use two different dialects of their language, they understand each other. If the level of understanding Kashubian by an average Pole is enough to say that Kashubian is intelligible to him/her, then Slovakian is a dialect of Polish, too...
According to my knowledge Kashubian officially don't have a status of a seperated language but practically It definately is a different language.
I think the only linguists who have any doubts whether Kashubian is a separate language, are the Polish ones. It's got different vocabulary, different spelling and even different alphabet.
One of the criteria used to decide if something is a dialect or a language is mutual intelligibilty: if two native speakers use two different dialects of their language, they understand each other. If the level of understanding Kashubian by an average Pole is enough to say that Kashubian is intelligible to him/her, then Slovakian is a dialect of Polish, too...
Switezianka
22 Oct 2008
Love / Plastic boobs in Poland [44]
gdt, I agree with you.
'Fixing' one's appearance is understandable if it's painless, takes a little time and doesn't cost a lot. Like a hair dye, doing make-up etc. But sacrificing so much just to look sexy - that's sick.
Back to the topic: people in Poland are to poor for plastic surgery to be widespread.
gdt, I agree with you.
'Fixing' one's appearance is understandable if it's painless, takes a little time and doesn't cost a lot. Like a hair dye, doing make-up etc. But sacrificing so much just to look sexy - that's sick.
Back to the topic: people in Poland are to poor for plastic surgery to be widespread.