Genealogy / Szalomski - Anyone with this surname out there? [7]

Could be of jewish origins.

w w w. publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Default.aspx
points Dolnośląskie (Wroclaw region) with 4 occurences per million.

Not very common surname as you can see.

Food / Triple smoked bacon [10]

That could be any "rolada boczkowa":

images.google.pl/images?q=rolada%20boczkowa

Genealogy / Wiktoria Wachtor born in 1922- Poland ? anyone Knew? [7]

Wachtor seems to be more popular in US than in PL
up to 3 FPM in Illinois
compared to 1 FPM in Wielkopolska

publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Default.aspx

On the other hand WachtEr is very popular in german speaking countries.
She could be of german origins settled in Wielkopolska, Poland.

Genealogy / Im looking for info on this surname Burkieciak [6]

publicprofiler.org/worldnames/Default.aspx

Burkieciak have the highest number of occurences in Zachodniopomorskie (Szczecin Region). It is possible they were moved from Ukraine there just after the II WW.

And another map for you: moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/burkieciak.html

Genealogy / Wiktoria Wachtor born in 1922- Poland ? anyone Knew? [7]

it is all possible. reason I mentioned about german origins is that polish surnames and polish nation do have mixed origins. Getting back even to medieval era the region now known as Poland was settled by Germans, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, Ukrainian, Russian, even Turkish.

As Wachtor doesn't sound as typical as polish you make an exercise to find any similarities in german/russian names. Wachter comes from german language and is giving you even deeper origins of Wachtor. Their Great-great-great german grandparents could settle on polish grounds years before and as time went by they could slightly change the name to WACHTOR...

That change could also happen on passenger list. e and o are similar in shape.

Language / Does "hej" mean hello? [13]

but still "Hej, sokoły" or "hej, bystra woda" does not mean "bye, falcons/water" or "hi, falcons/water".

It's just "Hey!" with no meaning.
Just for the sake of sounding.

Listen to the proper way of singing that song and you'll realise that without "Hej!" it is a completely different song :)

Language / Does "hej" mean hello? [13]


Good point! Well done.

And what about that "bystra woda"? is it still "oi"? :)

History / Who are Kaszubians? [6]

Still is in Kaszuby Region.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashubia

Law / What name would sound appropriate for a company in Poland ? [13]


"Computer Architecture" I imagine, thus "kom-ark".

There is a trend to pronounce anything not polish the english way.
Most of Polish would say "H and M" instead of proper german "H und M". (H&M clothing stores)

Don't ask me where does it come from - even me catched myself pronouncing "TVN Style" english way not polish as I should more likely;)

Name+Consulting should do.
Especially when your surname sounds foreign.

Jan Kowalski Consulting sounds funny for me.
But... Bruno Schultz Consulting seems to be right :)

News / Polish Poland vs westernized Poland [6]

Poland is much more than Kraków.
And as for kebabs - you could find them even before.
As for english/irish bars I had my first guinness in irish bar in Poznań in 1999.

What was Poland like in 2002?
Were there only polish "szynk" serving cold vodka?
Were there only polish folk music everywhere?
Was pierogi and bigos only what was served at restaurants?
Do not exaggerate.

You will find more tourists, you will hear more languages as Kraków is no.1 must see.

Travel / Going to Poland - Szczecin, Katowice, Bytom, any suggestions [17]


if 450km is near for you...
Ireland must be a tiny little island, then.
Less than "near" parallelwise
And twice "near" longitudewise :)

Poznań, Gdańsk-Gdynia, £ódź, Wrocław, Kraków...

News / The Poles working abroad are raking it in [35]


And I second that.
And the only reason is to show off.

Life / WHY POLISH PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR NATIVE FIRST NAME WHEN ABROAD? [136]


Agree.
I was asked if Jeremi [Yeremee] may be called Jeremy. Well, why not? It's still the same name.

But then was asked for english equivalent of Kajetan [Kayetan]- could only tell there's no english equivalent, there's french, spanish... but no english. And there were the problem started... that name is so exotic... so different... it tells so nothing... cannot really remember that...

In the work situation you would prefer to be remembered by your (nick)name than as "lazy bastard with that K-name" :)

A chap from Germany, being there for almost 30 years, is no longer Janusz - it was more convenient for him to become Johann.

Work colleague, born in UK from Vietnamese parents, asks everyone to be called Vanessa instead of Van-Duc-Tran-sth-else-don't-remember. And I second that.
She's work colleague of mine and noting her full Vietnamese name was a bit too much for myself.

People tend to make easy in work situation. That's why they pick a nickname.
But if you're making friends - you should start with learning the proper first name.
Thinking of marriage? Learn how to pronounce polish surnames :)

Life / WHY POLISH PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR NATIVE FIRST NAME WHEN ABROAD? [136]


Was your name butchered a lot?

Catriona
Katharina
Katchina
Katarina
Kat... anyone whose name starts with Kat?
Kathazhina

and after few years you react on whatever starts with "Kat".

Wouldn't it be better to teach them you are "Kate" or "Kasha"?
And react on that single name only?

I was really pi$$ed when they couldn't spell my polish name correctly. That was long time ago, at the beginning of my journey, and that time I was forcing them to use polish version only.

Since then I grew up - and noticed that not every english speaking chap is capable of making "sz", "rz", "r" sounds properly. So I eased a bit - call me whatever you like.

If you want to try your chances - use polish version. But do it correctly.
If you can't or don't want - use english substitute. It has the same meaning for myself.

Thanks to that when I make a business phone call they will be able to remember my "english name" not bothering about my polish surname.


yeah! I can imagine "Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz" integration...

How would you remember him after hearing his name the first time, say after 3 pints?
"gre-shchshchshch-ski"?

He's "Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz" but call him: "Greg" - simple.

Life / WHY POLISH PEOPLE DON'T USE THEIR NATIVE FIRST NAME WHEN ABROAD? [136]


They even test themselves in a kindergarten :)

Work / Do I Need To Speak Polish To Get Around for 5 Weeks in Krakow [23]

How can we help you then?

Genealogy / Name Identification from an old passport [17]

Katarzyna Stolarza?
Not really sure on that.

Genealogy / Name Identification from an old passport [17]

By that time it might be used as a mean of ID. But that wasn't a passport.
It was an official document issued to young employees on training (apprenticeship).
You couldn't start your employment without.

It tells that Wawrzyniec Stolarz (the father) was one to allow Józef Stolarz start the apprenticeship.

Love / Proposing to my Polish girlfriend [33]


Oh! please! What world are you living in?

wec.com.pl/Bizuteria-z-brylantami/Pierscionek-z-brylantem-CP-4002B-0-02-ct-J-Si-p1008.html
With bigger stone it worked out around 350 euro (enough is enough).

Love / Proposing to my Polish girlfriend [33]


Having many of them in your collection?
3-month salary worth just in case he dumps you... and you collect quite a cash in a pawn shop? Not with me, luv.

Yeah, if that was for cash she would dump me then... nice test though.
Goose, good man, you went for Polish girl. Being courteous means even more for them than having your valet packed up with kings.

I can guarantee you 95% of Polish never heard of "minimal value of engagement ring stated at...".
That's some materialistic 81tches 8ullsh1te.

Love / Proposing to my Polish girlfriend [33]


On the page I gave you a link to you may find that the range of engagement rings falls between 400 PLN to 3900 PLN. (E100 - E950)

And that's the money people tend to spend on the ring in PL.
Why spend more?


Was that the reason? If I may ask.

Love / Proposing to my Polish girlfriend [33]


Do you have any friends among her girlfriends?
Is any of them engaged already?
Let your lady try her girlfriend's ring - at least you will know should it be smaller or larger.

No. 13 was alright for my wifey slender fingers.

WEC is very flexible as to any alterations.

Love / Proposing to my Polish girlfriend [33]


Managed to find one should suit you :)

Travel / Question about Wizz air flights to Katowice/Kraków... [20]


have a look at that:
- Paris-Beauvais (89,4 km)
- Milan (Bergamo) (55 km)
- Basel-Mulhouse (32,1 km)
- Beziers-Agde (29 km)
- Brussels (Charleroi) (59,7 km)
- Dusseldorf (Weeze) (81,7 km)
- Girona (Barcelona) (102 km)
- Glasgow (Prestwick) (42 km)
- Hamburg-Lubeck (66 km)
- Pisa (Florence) (101 km)
- Reus (Barcelona) (107 km)

UK, Ireland / Petrol costs, Ford Transit travelling Poznan to Wales and then returning [26]

Average: 13L/100km petrol

Distance: 1718km one way

0.13*1718*2= 446.68

Around 500-550L total.

UK, Ireland / Petrol costs, Ford Transit travelling Poznan to Wales and then returning [26]

There is a chap making Poland <-> Ireland routes twice monthly. He must be passing Wales. He's charging 2e/kg gross weight.

As soon as I find his details -> pm them 2 you

Language / Jennifer - will people be able to pronounce it properly? [11]

If a word sounds weird in Polish people tend to pronounce it English.

Thus no probs with Jessicas, Jeniffers...