News / Polish people (and language) spreading all over the world? [25]

What are tam tams?

Language / How to say that you dont speak polish in polish? [23]

I don't speak Polish. = Nie mowie po polsku. - (nee-ah moo-vee-ah po polskoo)

History / Pope John Paul II tried to prevent that Polish politics batray Serbians?! [22]

I don't give a crap neither.

Life / Polish Shelf Toilets [32]

Speaking of disgusting toilets, check this out:

It's a Russian toilet, they have those in Turkey and many other Eastern countries.
Basically it's a hole in the floor and you squad over it. When you done you throw your used toilet paper in the basket next to it, because the pipes are so small over there toilet paper will clog them. I wonder what's that sign say?

Life / Polish Shelf Toilets [32]

OMG. That's waaay disgusting.

Life / Money - a taboo subject in Poland [25]

The money hang-up is a cultural thing with Poles. For instance you never want to tell'em how much you make, because if you make more then they do, they will hate you forever. That's why they don't like Westerners. They'll hate you because you may have something they want to have, but can't afford; a car, a house etc. Best way to go around it is to avoid those kinds of subjects in general.

Just look at this forum. Every time there is a story in the press that say the average income in Poland is $7000/year, (that's an example, I don't know the factual figure), there is dozens of Poles here screaming that's not true, because in Warsaw you can get a job for $3 or $5/hour etc etc. Like I said, best thing is to avoid those subjects altogether.

USA, Canada / General question - how to extend passport? [10]

that's one f-ed up rule. Why do you care about Polish Passport, just go for the US Citizenship instead.

Life / Home Brewed Beer - illegal in Poland? [7]

I homebrew in Michigan. I have blogged with some homebrewers in Poland and their legal status seems to be similar to ours - it is legal to brew beer or wine, but not to distill hard liquor. What I've noticed is that most of them tend to brew all-grain, mainly because it's cheaper. The most popular type of home brew is what I call the "Polish Pils Ale". It's an Ale version of a typical Polish Lager. So typical recipe is a 90-100% pilsner malt (maybe with some munich or vienna or cristal addition), heavily hopped with Polish Lublin. It's especially heavy on the bittering hops (2-3 oz), with maybe an ounce or two for flavoring. For yeast they use mainly dry Ale yeast pockets (again, it's cheaper then liquid yeast), such as Safale US-05 or S-04. What you get at the end is sort of a Polish version of Belgian Blond Ale.

I've decided to brew a batch of this beer myself just to see how it taste like. It's in my fermenter right now. The only difference is that I used liquid Kolsch Ale Yeast instead of dry Ale yeast. Also, I couldn't find any Polish Lublin hops, so I used Czech Saaz instead.


Also, many of them brew lagers (again, Polish type lagers) in their basements in the wintertime. Because of the Polish architecture (their basements are different then ours) and bitter Polish winters, they are often capable of reaching steady temp. of 35'-45', which is ideal for lagering.

Life / The Papaya (Urszula Dudziak) taking over Poland [15]

It would be even more awesome if it was a " Papaya Salsa " (salsa dance) as opposed to a "papaya line dance".

BTW, I can make a wicked papaya salsa sea bass (food) on my grill; actually, I think I'm going to put it on the menu for tomorrow night. How about a papaya salsa sea bass with couscous and some Pinot Noir wine. Sounds good to me :)

USA, Canada / Dual Citizenship: American and Polish? [53]

Wendy, this is precisely the reason why your boyfriend shouldn't get a Polish passport. Think, what would happened if some underpaid, overworked bureaucrat with an inferiority complex in Poland decides to give you guys hard time in Poland? You're going to call the US embassy for help, right? And what will they do, when you tell'em that you didn't use your US passport and you preferred the Polish one instead? I think they may say: "Well in this case, why don't you call your Polish Congressman and ask them for help?”

BTW, that crazy law where they (the Polish Government) consider you their citizen regardless if you want it or not, was a main reason for me not to even try my luck by going back to visit the Old Country for last 24 years... That and the fact that they had a mandatory army draft…

:)

UK, Ireland / Intercultural experiences of Polish migrants who work and live in the UK [26]


I would say "stuck in history" rather then "in touch with history", if you ask me. And no, you're not wrong. It's just a sort of a national sport, that's all. In US when two guys hang out, they can spend hours talking about the best way to refinish a deck or a proper way to cut the lawn. In Poland they talk about WWII, Walesa, Pilsudski etc.

Law / "Texas style" steakhouse in Poznan. Worthy investment? [35]


I think your chances in succeeding with opening a stake house in Poland are ZERO. First of all, Polish people don't go out. It's just not a part of their culture. They eat at home, and that's it.

Another thing is, as you said, a stake is a foreign food to them. I bet you won't find one person in Poznan who knows the difference between a fillet mignon and a porterhouse. I bet you won’t find one person in Poznan who ever had a fillet mignon or a porterhouse. They wouldn’t know what to do with it.

Yet another thing is the price of beef in Poland. Did you read the second post here? Cali-in-Poznan said he saw a T-bone on the menu in Poland for 110zl (~$33) and that's in a country where they average $2-3/h. Sorry to say that, but I doubt a stake house in Poland has any chance of successes.

UK, Ireland / ARE YOUNG BRITS LESS INTELLIGENT THAN POLES? [56]

If you look at the Nobel Prize laureates by country, UK is second in the number of Nobel Prize laureates in the World, right after the US. That is a huge achievement for a rather small country like the UK. And it pretty much proves that the UK educational system is a superior system above all the others.

As far as the Polish educational system goes, IMO the number of Polish educated engineers, doctors and collage professors doing manual work for a minimum wage in the UK pretty much proves my point.

Is one nation "smarter" then the other? I don't think so, people are the same everywere.

But there must be some kind of a problem either with the Polish educational system, or maybe with the Polish culture, or possibly with both. The prove is in the pudding.

USA, Canada / US Polonians complain about petrol prices... [11]


What are polonians?


You mean the price of gas.


I know what's a hatchback - but what are saloons and estates? Are they some kind of Polish or European classification of cars?

***

IMO you drive what you enjoy and what you can afford. Some may like a $7,000 3-cylinder ISUSU, others may prefer a $35,000 Chevy Suburban. It's a free country, my friend.

USA, Canada / POLISH AMERICANS AND THE 2008 US ELECTION [79]

In a couple of hours, maybe even minutes, Obama will have the required amount of pledged delegates to seal the Democratic primary nomination. The question is now will Obama pick Hillary for VP? If he does, I hope his security will check and then double check every drink and food he eats for poison. Just in case, that's all.


You should be. We are coming for you, Crow.
LOL Just kidding.
But seriously, we're coming for you, Crow.

There we go. Hillary is conceding right now, check out your CNN. Or at least this is what Hillary's speech sounds like at the moment - you never know with Hillary :)


Seriously, we are coming for you, Crow.

Work / low pay in poland leads to academic brain drain [11]


then you're drunk and gassy?
lol

Life / Nasty polish guys in Bialystok [36]

z_darius, these guys in the video who slapped that girl in the face, they were Polish too, weren’t they? Wasn't this video made in Poland as a part of the "slap some girl in the face" movement? This is sort of one of their hobbies now. You see a girl walking by, just punch her in the face; I guess it makes them feel more mucho.

Good thing they had the **** beat out of them.

Travel / Polish visa - Nightmare! [40]


that's funny lol, to give foreign people 11 pages to fill up in... Polish lmao! (sorry Katie, I'm sure it doesn't look so funny from your perspective :)

Polonia / German nation - degradation or just deviation? Your opinions? [66]


Look who is talking lol Russians, who NEVER lived in freedom and democracy, even now, simply because they don't want to and they wouldn't know what to do with it!

On the other hand Germans and Austrians some of the most successful nations in the world, for sure in Europe. Those two nations have true democracy and freedom, as opposed to Russia, where journalists are getting murdered by secret police even today.

Speaking of which: do you think that Russia will ever change into a democratic and free nation or are they on the way back to the commie times?

Or maybe what they have now is simply it - the new and refined face of communism?

UK, Ireland / Poles returning to Poland from UK [21]

I hope when Poles return to their country they will not let the Polish Government make the same mistake the British Government has made. I hope they will not allow an unlimited amount of migrants from abroad to take jobs from Poles, elevating nationalistic and xenophobic feelings. Healthy diversity is one thing but flooding a country with millions of cheap foreign labor is another. It's simply not good for either side.

Life / What is Poland's favorite ciggarette? Which brands are the most popular? [46]

Oh yeah lesser, tell that to your kids when you dying with a trach in your throat. "Sorry kids, but I simply preferred the pleasure of inhaling smoke rather then to provide for you, see you grow up and meet my grandkids one day. I'm sure you understand, first things come first.” lol

Life / What is Poland's favorite ciggarette? Which brands are the most popular? [46]

Sure it's good. Surgeon General says that two drinks a day does good for your body.

Life / What is Poland's favorite ciggarette? Which brands are the most popular? [46]


No, they don't. Most of them die of hart disease and lungs diseases before they get a chance to get cancer.
You have to be a freaking moron to smoke nowadays after all we know about dangers of smoking.

Real Estate / Why are homes in Poland more expensive than in the USA? [27]

IMO Lukasz you spend to much time on PF trying to defend your Country (a noble thing I may say) and prove to everybody that Poland is not as poor, backwards and racist country as YOU fear she's being viewed as. That would explain your thread titles: "Poland has Black foreign students", "Richest people in Eastern Europe" etc. You need to relax and get over it, Lukasz. For some reason you undervalue the very thing you are trying to defend so desperately. Poland is on her way to become a true Western country (although it may be in Eastern Europe lol); and to be truthful she doesn't need your help to get there. The day when there won't be any more Lukasz' feeling a need to prove to everybody that Poland is a true Western Country - She will become a true Western Country.


Oh, yeah, you right, that is a downside of a free market; it needs to be corrected every few years. And this correction is WAY overdue, so it's going to be worst then usual. That's because there was too many people earning 35K/year thinking they can afford $500K house. But even now the home ownership in the US is a staggering 70%.

Real Estate / Why are homes in Poland more expensive than in the USA? [27]

I don't think you understood what Franek is saying, Sfordham. He is saying that the prices of real estate in Poland and US are about equal, but the average income is much lower in Poland as opposed to US. It's easier to afford a $250,000 house if you earn $30/hour then when you get $3/hour.

Real Estate / Why are homes in Poland more expensive than in the USA? [27]

Ironically I see this situation as a great opportunity for Poland that could save her from upcoming global recession and slingshot her to the rich country status. How? Well, if the real estate is so much overpriced in comparison to the earnings, all it shows is a great demand and a limited supply. And that, after all is all capitalism is about; a balance between supply and demand.

Now if only Polish government could realize that too and drastically lower the real estate taxes and deregulate the building industry and the home loan part of the banking industry...

Think about it; let's say for the next 5-6 years the Government drops the real estate tax, the construction tax and fees, the red tape for zoning laws, building permits, contractor companies etc. My prediction is that so many Poles would rush back to Poland and start building; the government would get their money back (and more) just from the income tax of the construction workers and building engineers.

That would also safe Poland from the emerging global recession, which is just about the corner now (and it's a big one). While other developed countries will struggle with the recession, Poland could enjoy a flourishing economy and maybe able to catch up to them or even surpass some by having a real estate boom of a life-time.

The question is will the Polish Government be smart enough to cut the red tape and throw out the real estate and construction taxes?

Life / Cultural readjustment... returning to Poland from the West. [58]


Agree. It makes your day so much easier. Plus, that clerk's face is in the eyes of the customer the face of the company. No matter how many millions the company will spend on fancy office buildings, advertising - it all comes down to that one person behind the desk...


that's the one ;) I've had Scottish ales 60/-, 70/-, all the way to Strong Scotch Ale, yet the 60/- is my favorite. Just a nice balance, slightly creamy, not to heavy, relaxing, kick back and enjoy sort of a thing. LOVE IT. I've had the originals in a bar, but I also brewed it myself (my hobby) a few times already. It's a very pleasant winter beer I must say.

Life / Cultural readjustment... returning to Poland from the West. [58]

Many older Poles tend to be more gloomy, it's a thing we got from the Russians I think. Younger Poles are much more outgoing, friendly, smiling, with a positive outlook on life.


I don't know why, but every time I hear a person w/ a Scottish accent I can't help but think of Scottish Ale 60. Hmmmm beeer....

Life / My girlfriend wants to go back to Poland as she thinks lifes better there [36]

You see, I think there has to be a legitimate reason for 1 million Polish to leave their homes, families, often kids and spouses, careers (?), schools etc... To go to GB to do a job that is usually below their training and below the average pay in the UK. It can't be that the economy in Poland is so perfect right now.

Midgeure, you need to talk your girlfriend out of this move, this is not going to be very beneficial for you two.

Language / Things Polish people who speak English language say [180]

Z_Darius, the word "polonophobia" does not exist in English.
Try to find it in any legitimate English dictionary:

Marriam_Webster Online:

"Polonophobia":