Language / Suggestions for Children learning Polish [25]

For Polish Radio:

Try this polskieradio.pl then go to the 'Słuchaj w Internecie' button on the left hand side and then go to 'Trojka' in the middle and choose one of the servers (serwer). Polskie radio (in red) is better for low bandwith users (dial up). This wont be a good learning tool, but will provide a good platform for getting used to how the language sounds. Most of the music played is the same stuff that we get here, so no harm done if its on in the background. This is what I do sometimes as my understanding of Polish is about the same as a 4 year old (if not younger!).

Language / Polish language problems (orthography) [47]

I am clearly not as advanced as some, in all truth not advanced at all. All I can gather is the biggest difference in sentance structure is, that in Polish, the structure goes back to the Latin (hense the same alphabet system etc (not withstanding the huge russian influence) E.g. In English: Person - action - object, the rest of the world it seems including Poland: Person - object - action. In easy English, the question "What is this?" actually translates out from polish to be "What this is?". For myself this made some of the grammer a lot easier to get to grips with, but I am still lost like a blind man in a very dark wood.

Language / I'm really interested in learning Polish [33]

As long as you go over and try your best, most people appreciate a little effort. skype has many benifits, but for those that don't know... alot of broadband companies now do free telephone calls if you take up the wireless package. I have the orange wireless package and they give free calls to 100 countries (Poland is one of them) You have to hang up after 2 hours I think and re-dial, but for free calls is no hassle I think. Unfortunately my Polish is not good enough for a good conversation! (YET?!?)

Off topic tip... For anyone with a wireless set up, if you experience your connection going slow or it completely freezes, do not phone technical support! They don't understand the problem and go through a complicated routine for about 30 mins. GO TO YOUR MAINS PLUG (the one where its plugged in) TURN IT OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. Problem solved. Don't ask me why, but it works. Alot of people have this problem and say the same. Hope this saves at least one person the hell of technical support!

Language / Suggestions for Children learning Polish [25]

During the day the radio station is main stream stuff, pretty much like radio 1 (UK) but with a few older songs thrown in. The evenings get in to more modern stuff.

Travel / Holidays in Sopot, Poland [22]

I must just say a big thank you for a good review of Sopot. This is the town that first got me interested in Poland (before I made some Polish friends) as it is the birth town of my Grandfather, and it is really reassuring that when I do visit I wont be dissappointed. Although I have no plans of yet. THANKS.

Life / Poland: The Things That Make Foreigners Lift a Brow [123]

From my limited experience Polish girls are a little bit too thin, BUT Polish women Mmmmmmm. I think this applies to most of the world though, just that I have a liking for the Polish ones. If I am much the worse for wear from Polands national drink I will sometimes kiss the hand of the lady that I have been looking at all night. It is also an old fashioned way in England, as is shaking hands. In England shaking hands is a formal thing (buisness meetings and that sort of thing or meeting someone for the first time). Its not unusual to see friends shaking hands.

On to the road signs... England is pretty well layed out... Poland is not too bad, but easier if your local... The criminals of Europe have to be the Germans. I will not be allowed to use the words that I want to about the German road signs... I will say to any Germans that may be out there STOP CHANGING THE ROAD NUMBERS (E.G. E40/ E34) to whatever you feel like just because you can. Thanks!

Also I love the melted roads that you get in poland (main roads used by lorries) very very amusing. Bad to drive on but the laughs out weigh that problem.

UK, Ireland / Living in Poland vs England from the Economical Point of View [13]

I am going to back up Muzyka on this point, said so much better than I could have put it.
I did have something I wanted to say to Achilles, what part of England are you basing this on? National averages? Because as I think the whole world agrees, this does not truly reflect the 'working man'. Many people are lucky if they earn £2200 (gross) per month. And if that Person is not fluent in English, it is very, very rare. Add to this the problem of supporting a family (if you have one) and the huge cost of housing, unless your happy in a slum, a 'grass is not always greener on the other side' approach should be taken. I'm not trying to put down the genuine problems that Poland as a nation faces, but simply put out there that, not everything is coated in Gold, here in England. However if you work hard and long, and treat money with respect, then there are more possibilities in England at this current time.

Travel / tips for travel through Poland [14]

I believe (but I may be wrong), that the cars being stolen problem, is only a serious threat the closer you get to the (old) Russian border. The town I visited last year, which was about 40 km from the Belarus border, treated this as a real concern. There were good cars about, but the owners were always cautious.

Hitchhiking is crazy no matter what the gender, but worse for women.
The transport links are apparently very good by train, for main city destinations.

Yes... Why?

Work / feedback wanted on teaching job offer [33]

If you qualify... Sharpen your teeth and bite the arm... so to speak. Lucky bastard. Hope that quantifies your mind!

Love / Asian guy dating Polish girl [77]

Polish women that have only ever known poland do tend to take things very seriously, very quickly. It's not so much of a relationship, as a roller coaster ride, with out a safety harnessand & you're there shouting where is the f*?!*?g brake on this thing! Is there something wrong with slowly, slowly?

If she said that she would like to still go out with you... Keep trying? Somethings are worth a bit of effort.

UK, Ireland / Great Britain - which countries does it include? [95]

Lets not start on the general opinion, of the Uk's opinion on Cornwall. For those that don't know, its got something to do with inbreeding and people being born with six toes and all that sort of thing.

As you can pretty much guess from the rest of the posts here, United Kingdom means nothing of the sort. Which is nice!

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Was just trying to think how to word something for ola123, but I think the quote from miranda will be the nicest way. Much nicer than my words... I'm guessing that 123 is not her IQ unless it's 1 + 2 + 3?

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

News Flash... Its a cold day in Hell when property prices actually go down. ANYWHERE!

Before anyone argues back... yes they do drop sometimes but it is a rare occurence, when looking at the world picture of things, not just individual areas. The average house price in southern England has roughly doubled in the last 10 years if not more.

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Anyone else getting tired of someone whining about something which they appear to have no clue about?

Just wanted to throw that one out there!

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

I'm not going to get dragged down any further... Ola123 you have no clue or appreciation of society or indeed governmental structures in the rest of the world. It's a little too much of me, me, me. Your sentiments are felt throughout the world (some worse than others granted). Please stop your resentment of everything that doesn't come from Poland. There are many countries that have had to deal with a huge migration of non nationals, and to the most part have had little in the way of problems in dealing with it. House prices and job availability being two of the main points that those countries face.

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Thanks Clunkshift. The best formed reply so far I think. The thing that has angered me the most so far is the wealth of racism. Words cannot explain my anger towards this!

Poland is getting it's apparently first taste of this kind of problem of being allowed to move freely around other countries. So many Polish have taken this to its full advantage and the ones that are left in Poland and want to voice an opinion appear to be intollerant of multi culturalism. Accept it and grow up! Every other Country has, or has had to over come this problem, even though most of us are related in some way over the last 2000 years of free movement across europe and indeed the world. Border control is relatively a modern inconvienience!

I have Polish friends in England and in Poland. No (big) problem with racism or any such, the general view is that people are people, regardless of what language they speak. A little effort goes along way. Trying goes alot further than achieving.

"summery justice" from Hullo... Just like the KKK from the deep south of America?, how warming that your sentiments are not just for black people but anyone who doesn't speak Polish as their mother tongue. At least your consistent?!? I hope this doesn't offend too many people, and I will seriously pull back on my full use of the swear words available to me in English, Polish or French ... PRICK!

P.s Anyone think that Ola and hullo should meet up? What a party that would be! Or do I have too much blood in my vodka stream???

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Not sure if I am reading this correctly, but do the Polish in this forum feel that they are the only ones to suffer the strangle hold of the EU? I just wanted to throw in that the British have also had there up's and down's with the EU. Farming allowances and all that sort of stuff have had to be fought for, and not always won!

The following is just a personnal comment and not one of the general view of Britain... If the EU has still further to go with its policies towards all countries, a strong taint of the communist era will be felt in years to come. No independance is allowed. Everything is to become a general homogonised society.

The benefits are obvious, free border control, tax free movements... but with highly dubious 'allowances' (seperate rant needed for that one!), and most importantly for alot of people, the ability to move their entire family to a new country, with (almost) no effort. There are more, but these are the most important to the people that I know.

Language / Help! I really want to learn the Polish language. [15]

A real up hill task!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the basics get the Lonely Planet polish phrasebook os The Rough Guide phrasebook or something similar. It really does get you started on the very basics, but as anyone knows, you have to understand these to be able to move on to more complicated stuff!

Language / Polish Language Pronunciation - Example Words and Phrases [220]

Jeden (Yeden)
Dwa (Dva)
Trzy (Tshi)
Cztery (Shteri)
Piec (Pyench)
Szesc (Sheshch)
siedem (shedem)
osiem (o shem)
dziewiec (dje vyench)
dziesiec (dje shench)

sz sounds like a short version of Ssssh (ie soft h, not hard like in 'Sh'e) and dz is like the j in jam.

Love / Polish Womens bodies [126]

All I can throw in to this is that when people loose alot of weight the skin often goes the way you describe. 20 Lbs is not enough for this to happen though. So no help on your example.

I however, I don't like skinny women, it's not right or natural (unless they are one of those people that can eat and eat and never gain a lb... freaks!?!), and nor is obesity right or natural.

I think a full bodied woman is the best sight a full blooded man can behold.

Love / Polish Womens bodies [126]

Oh yeah, christ what is going on with the moles... I thought it was just me noticing... It's not a big issue or anything, everyone has something going on with their own body, so I don't hold it against them. It's just natures way. But why????

And just so peeps know, my name is not a self appointed big me up, just a nick name that I aquired. Just remember... if you strap a sausage to a hamster it looks impressive, but strap it to a tiger and it looks plain stupid!

And to follow, shewolf yes this does apply to men. Absolutely and definately, no intimate experience, but alot of polish men during the summer have no issues with a shirts of policy. And why not, when they are young, most of them are built like racing dogs and only beef up in their mid to late 20's! But I think I know what most of the ladies like.

Love / Polish Womens bodies [126]

He he he. Well done sapphire. Cellulite it is. Don't recall having a problem with it myself!:) :)

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

From what I hear that is very very true. BUT, not for ever I hope. I am one single man, wanting at some point in the future to have a little home, somewhere in Poland.

Am I hated for that, after accepting more than 30,000 Polish, mostly welcomed into my LOCAL community? Am i to expect the opposite from our EU cousins? My Grandfather was born in Sopot (Zopot), do I have to explain this every time I want to be respected as a human being in Poland?

Love / Polish Womens bodies [126]

Lib Dem to the end?????

Polonia / anyone been to St Petersburg? [51]

Personnaly no, but have had warnings from POLISH friends on the eastern border.

If you are a white female on your own... your a prostitute.
If you are a white male that looks like you may not be russian... well, watch your wallet and that knife in your back!

Very dark skin... ... ... worry.

This is not my opinion, just the opinion of people that have experience of the country. Sorry it's not a pretty picture, but I think Putin has made it worse.

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Another racist... great!!! Does every where in Poland end in racism?

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Thanks for the agreement! I do believe that my Grandfather was of German decent, but do not concider myself of German decent. This is mainly through a lack of knowledge and a deep belief that all people of a 'Northern European' decent are related in some way. Some racists may not agree.

My point is that, yes I do have a German name. I do not take pride in it, in any way shape or form, and I am of the belief, but not absolutely sure, that my grandfathers sister moved to Warsaw after WW2 and may have raised a family there. There are Polish derivitives of the German to Polish names, but will not go into them for the racists.

I am English and love the Polish way of life, it reminds me of the England that i used to know. It may seem strange to an outsider. I love so many things that the Polish take for granted and want to protect. It is nice and familiar.

Polonia / anyone been to St Petersburg? [51]

Very true, I did say from Polish friends!

All advice is still well taken from both parties. Caution, but enjoy. Essentially, as with travelling abroad in any country, COMMON SENSE! OK?

Love / Are all Polish girls skinny? [85]

Second that excellent call, and keep on saying it myself. Girls are skinny, but a WOMAN should have curves. :)

Real Estate / Foreigners: Please don't buy Polish Land! [823]

Oh dear GOD how I hate to be drawn back into this debate... but here goes...

Uk Guy... Will I F>*K give an apology to a racist bigot. Please see the comments from Giles. Couldn't agree more.
Big up yourself Giles. Sorry to sound homie ish, but it fits! (and thank you to Lee-England) I know that I am not the only one to hold 'my' views, but there are so few of us to express the wide felt open arms approach. I also get the feeling that the opposite is true, there are very few that welcome with open arms in Poland!

For everyone... capatalism or communism... to round off A LOT of rough stones, that is the way the world works. Love it or hate it. It doesn't matter, its true. (This is purely my experience...Communism is fine in principal, but is corrupt by capatalism and Capatalism is all well and good in a fair state... but is run by people that have a communist ideal)