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Posts by shopgirl  

Joined: 6 Apr 2007 / Female ♀ 		Last Post: 10 Jul 2011
Threads: Total: 6 / In This Archive: 6
Posts: Total: 928 / In This Archive: 767 		From: Memphis, TN USA
Speaks Polish?: Nie

Displayed posts: 773 / page 1 of 26
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shopgirl   
6 Apr 2007
Travel / Hikers from Poland [8]

Last weekend I was hiking down the South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon down to Cedar Ridge with my daughter. I have to go slowly for her, but also because the sand on the rock can be pretty slippery. So, if faster hikers are coming down, you must yeild the right-of-way. You also do this for up hill hikers out of respect.

So we were passed by these very tall young men and they were chatting casually, and seemed to me to have a Slavic accent. A bit later, 4 more passed us. Then another string of 6 hikers, and I could only catch a few words, but it sounded like Polish to me. Later, when we got to Cedar Ridge, I saw that this was a very large group, maybe 20 people or more getting ready to descend the trail into the inner gorge. I overheard some Americans talking nearby, saying that they were from Poland, and they had booked the two large group sites at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. I was very proud of myself to be able to tell where they were from, because one year ago I would not have had a clue!

If I can learn enough Polish and get the pronunciation down, maybe someday I will be brave enough to try it out on someone!

At the end of May, the company I work for expects some Polish students to arrive to work ( 3 month J1 VISAs) so I am hoping to find someone to help me pronounce things properly.
shopgirl   
7 Apr 2007
Travel / Hikers from Poland [8]

I find that I am learning lots of words. Just can't put them together, or say them. Sometimes, in Polish just as in English, a word sounds nothing like it looks!

Just curious, is you name pronounced "Pavo"?
shopgirl   
7 Apr 2007
Travel / Hikers from Poland [8]

Because where I work, we get lots of international students who come to work over the summer, and we usually get a fair amount of students from Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia). Sometimes you become really good friends with some of them, and they try to teach all of us their language. However, it looks as if more and more will stay to work and travel in other parts of Europe because it is cheaper than coming here.

Another reason: when I was in college, it was manadatory to take some foreign language elective. I had tried French and Spanish in high school and it was horrible-I could not pronounce it, spell it or REMEMBER it. So when I went to the university I tried German, mostly because I was afraid the Russain alphabet. The only other languages available were Japanese and Portuguese. German was much easier for me, I didn't have to struggle. Then when I started investigating Polish, I find that I can remember words! Sometimes even how to spell them! lol

So my theory is that perhaps I have ancestry from that part of the world, and maybe that it why it feels like "home", like it clicks with me.

And out of all the folks I have said goodbye to over the years (Marius, Anna M, Beata, Tomasz B, Anna W.) maybe someday I will have the chance to surprize them in their native language!

Another reason: I LOVE the way it sounds when spoken! Or sung!
shopgirl   
7 Apr 2007
Travel / Hikers from Poland [8]

FISZ, you are right about nothing to do at night! lol Because it is a National Park we aren't even allowed to have many street lights, and if there is no moon, you can't see your hand in front of your face, or find your way back to the dormitory. lol

As for the food, it is cafeterias mostly, and does not compare to food from home. I made a casserole for my friends (just potatoes, kielbasa, onion) and I think it made them homesick more. Then I also stuffed them with homemade cheesecake! :)
shopgirl   
9 Apr 2007
Life / Is English taught in schools in Poland? [14]

In the United States, Spanish is now frequently taught in schools beginning with the elementary grades. This is very different from when I was growing up-there was no foreign language until High School and University. So many of the people I meet from Poland are fluent in English. Is English taught all the way through school?
shopgirl   
9 Apr 2007
Life / Is English taught in schools in Poland? [14]

Well I suppose it is true that most of the people I have known are attending a university because that is connected to how they acquire the work visa to come here for the summer (through sponsor agencies like CCUSA). But I can't imagine anyone getting to the skill levels that that I have seen after only a few years of study. Unless those studies are rigorous and super intense!
shopgirl   
9 Apr 2007
Life / Is English taught in schools in Poland? [14]

the hardest part of english is all the slang terminology we use in the states.

Yes, because no American talks like a text book and the slang evolves and then disappears so quickly its hard to keep track. My eight year old came home one day excited about something that happened at school and she says "MOM, that was awesome....it was totally off the hook!" I'm like.....whaaat? :(:
shopgirl   
9 Apr 2007
Life / Is English taught in schools in Poland? [14]

But I also notice that their English is very British: they say "Mum" instead of "Mom". And they say "loads" instead of "lots". Sometime I feel like Harry Potter is with us in the room! :) Maybe we can go hang out at the pitch and enjoy a bag of crisps!
shopgirl   
11 Apr 2007
Life / Question regarding Polish women vs Jobs abroad [110]

get george out of office. i dont know about you, but I noticed the downhill stretch
since his inaugeration... hes not for the people of America. not in my belief.

No he's not for the people, he is for big oil and other large corporations. If he doesn't go soon, we will all be working as cleaning help! :(
shopgirl   
15 Apr 2007
Love / Why me? (made an idiot of myself at the club - the tall Polish man was married:) [90]

LS is right in the fact you shouldn't limit yourself...probably best not to "look" for someone

But don't you think it is good to know "what you want" so you are more likely to find it?

Anybody here seen the movie "The Sceret"? It is about applying the "law of attraction in your own life?
shopgirl   
15 Apr 2007
Love / Why me? (made an idiot of myself at the club - the tall Polish man was married:) [90]

LS, does that mean you've seen it? You know what I am talking about?

Because I can clearly see how I have sabatoged myself in the past. I think everyone believes to some degree that there is a "self fulfilling prophecy" at work with what they think and do. It is just that most of us are not truly aware of what we believe. We say what we "think we should" and convince ourselves that we really believe those ideals, when deep down, we don't. It's tricky stuff! :)
shopgirl   
15 Apr 2007
Love / Why me? (made an idiot of myself at the club - the tall Polish man was married:) [90]

but if you love the heart, and the LOVE in him/her....it will last forever.

I appreciate your idealism, but it doesn't always work that way. Here is my story...then tell me what you think!

I met a young man at work, 17 years ago, whom I was sure was gay. He denied this to the ends of the earth. He was NOT my type in any way. He was smart and funny, I was his boss at work. I promoted him, and we became friends. He had a terror of a girlfriend, and I had a non-committal, emotionally-absent boyfriend. We complained about our partners a lot, laughed, joked whatever.

Then I broke up with my guy, his girl went away to school, and he did not want to go with her. We spent more time together and got closer (was hard because of 9 year age difference). We started dating and he confided that he was actually bi-sexual. I had a really hard time with that, and broke things off. He persisted, saying that, even though he was "bi" he could only committ to one person, and wanted that to be me. We talked a lot and worked on this relationship for a long time (2 years as friends, 2 years as a couple) and then he asked me to marry him. I did. The marriage lasted for 11 years until he decided that he was gay. I was devasted, crushed, lost, confused, betrayed.....you name it. Still working through this, 3 years later :(

You never know what is in another person's heart...as these other ladies know. He lied to himself first, then me secondly.

So explain the "simple thing" to me again.
shopgirl   
15 Apr 2007
Love / Why me? (made an idiot of myself at the club - the tall Polish man was married:) [90]

My point is just this: If Lisa says to herself "why me" she is indicating a thought that is negative. If you operate with a "why me" attitude, you will draw more people and situations to yourself that will result in the thought "why me".

So that thinking has to be replaced with something better, like "I attract the best of single, Polish men, where ever I go". I would like to see what that brings her way! :)

Second.... promoting him (temptation ... never works)

I should note that we were not involved at any time at work, I transferred to a different unit, and so did he (promotion elsewhere) before we even spent time together outside of work.

I don't actually believe age difference is/was an issue...just took me time to overcome my own hang-up. I actually relate better to younger people than myself, I only have 2-3 firends my age.

We didn't break with our partners to be together....both relationships ended naturally.

expecting it to last.

Didn't you just contradict yourself?
shopgirl   
16 Apr 2007
USA, Canada / Shootings in America; over 30 people shot [52]

And it seems to be happening more and more in schools. We never had to think of such things when I was in school, the worst thing then was getting caught smoking on campus!
shopgirl   
16 Apr 2007
USA, Canada / Shootings in America; over 30 people shot [52]

Well, you gotta understand too, that we've got some paranoids (republicans of course)in this country that act as if the "right to bear arms" is the most important part of the constitution, and maybe when the country was founded that was a real need. This makes it hard to get anywhere with gun-control legislation! But things have changed, you aren't so likely to face a bear outside your house when you go out in the morning! Who really needs a gun, now? Hunters, maybe? I can tell you from growing up on a farm with a father who hunted, that handguns do not fall into that category!

Plus there is a social aspect here involving the young people: not as much mentoring, supervision, support, communication as genration or two ago. Parents often do not know what is going on inside their kids heads, or what they are into.

The is a problem with multiple causation, and will need a similiar approach to address the problem!
shopgirl   
16 Apr 2007
USA, Canada / Shootings in America; over 30 people shot [52]

There is a reason not to have it, because once you dont have a means for the people to defend themselves we will have anarchy..

This sounds like rampant paranoia to me!!!!!!!!! Who exactly are you afraid of???
shopgirl   
17 Apr 2007
Language / "Whatever" used as slang - Polish equivalent? [29]

I have a Navajo friend who says something like "YAH da lah"! and it is like "whatever!" and everytime she says that it makes me laugh :) (usually spoken after some yahoo does something less-than-brilliant) So, it made me wonder, is there such a comment in Polish to be made when exasperated?
shopgirl   
17 Apr 2007
Language / Polish equivalent of "bon Appetit"? [4]

I love how Polish sounds. Sometimes a word gets stuck in my head and I say it over and over, just because I like the pronunciation (yeah, I know that's wierd....and I'm OK with it!) I love "zadzwonic" (to call). :) Smacznego sounds like another good one. :)
shopgirl   
17 Apr 2007
USA, Canada / Shootings in America; over 30 people shot [52]

The big question that usually arises from a school shooting is "where did the assailant get the gun". Usually it is from home, or a friend/relative. Doesn't anyone lock these up!

March 98 Jonesboro, Arkansas
11 and 13 year old cousins lure students outside w/false fire alarm and open fire, after one of the boys was jilted by a girlfriend. 27 shots fired, 4 girls and a teacher killed.

May 1998 Oregon
15 year old kills 2 classmates and his parents. Says voices in his head instructed him.

April 1999 Littleton, CO
Klebold and Harris kill 12 other students, a teacher, and then themselves in a detailed, carefully planned assault.

April 1999 Taber, Alberta
14 year old shoots 2 students with a 22 rifle, killing one and wounding the other.

May 1999 Conyers, Georgia
15 year old opened fire at school with a 22 rifle, shooting 6 people. Boy was taking medication for bi-polar disorder.

November 1999 Deming, New Mexico
13 year old boy shoots 13 year old girl in back of head in a school lobby. Girl was hospitalized and later was taken off life support.

March 2000 Mt. Morris, Michigan
6 year old boy kills 6 year old girl after a playground scuffle. Boy found gun at home, with 3 bullets inside.

None of these incidents should have ever happened. There are many reasons why they did. Availability of guns, lack of supervision (parents have the responsiblity to pry into their kids business!), ignoring warning signs, violence on television-video games-movies, lack of education so teachers know what to watch for in potential assailants, lack of ample school security, and the list just goes on.....
shopgirl   
17 Apr 2007
Love / Why me? (made an idiot of myself at the club - the tall Polish man was married:) [90]

Quoting: shopgirl
"The Sceret

there is no such law... trust me.

"The principle which gives the thought the dynamic power to correlate with its object, and therefore to master every adverse human experience, is the Law of Attraction, which is another name for love. This is an external and fundamental principle inherent in all things, in every system of Philosophy, in every Religion, and in every Science. There is no getting away from the law of love. It is feeling that imparts vitality to thought. Feeling is desire and desire is love. Thought impregnated with love becomes invincible."

-Charles Haanel

LS....you don't have to believe in gravity either, but it still exerts its influence! :)