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Posts by kioko  

Joined: 3 Jan 2008 / Female ♀ 		Last Post: 29 Apr 2009
Threads: -
Posts: Total: 84 / In This Archive: 74 		From: POLAND (Karwica, Ruciane-Nida, Olsztyn, Poznań)
Speaks Polish?: yes

Displayed posts: 74 / page 1 of 3
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kioko   
3 Jan 2008
Life / Damn proud of being (half) Polish [77]

I've finished the book some time ago. It gives a little different point of view at the topic. I've read a lot of memoirs of AK members that took part in the uprising. It is impossible to imagine how those young people felt and what they had gone thorough. I don't know if any of those books are in English, but if you know Polish you should read them. For example "Zośka". I always think how I would be acting in such times.
kioko   
4 Jan 2008
Travel / Suwalki tourism - info please [25]

I guess you will get bored after weekend in Suwałki, not mention 3 weeks. But as it is quite a rural part of Poland you can make many trips from there to Puszcza Białowieska for example, or go canoeing on Czarna Hańcza. By the way Suwalszczyzna region is most beautifull early autumn. And it is true, that Suwałki is one of the coldest town in Poland :)

Have a fun trip!
kioko   
4 Jan 2008
Language / Common mistakes made by foreigners in Polish [90]

Once I was booking a room for a German client (I worked in a Travel Information in Masurian Lakes area). I asked for his surname and he replied "Katsinskey" (more or less), so to confirm I asked "Kaczyński?". He got very confused, because he couldn't even say his name properly. And I got little bit stupid, because I guess I shouldn't have corrected him.

Other example: my English teacher (native) asked us once something about Lek Ualsa, it took us few minutes to understand he was asking about Lech Wałęsa.

So I guess pronounciation is the biggest problem, because even if someone says "bez szynka" instead of "bez szynki" I will understand what he wans to say. As long as he will say "szynka" not "shinkey" :)
kioko   
4 Jan 2008
Language / What's the difference (verbs question)? [14]

The difference is...
"czytałem" means you were reading the book but it is not said if you have finished it, whilst "przeczytalem" means you have finished reading the book. that is why you can't use it in present.

czytałem = I was reading
przeczytałem = I have read
kioko   
7 Jan 2008
Language / "sorry" instead of "przepraszam" [76]

No longer do they say warsztat sztuczny but now they say 'workshopy'!!

Excuse me, but... what is "warsztat sztuczny"???? I've naver heard that!
And I never say "workshop". I am on this forum for about a week and I have already noticed that Michal often writes what he thinks and what has nothing to do with the reality. How dare you say we have no respect to our culture and language! do you know all polish people?? stop generalizing everything! Do young english or americans don't change english words? Are there no neologisms or slang in english??

We use sometimes word "sorry" but only in conversation with friends, never in formal language. Is that a crime? Does that mean I have no respect to my culture?

I've read an article about poles in england, that they made some slang language, which make them easier to communicate, but that doesn't mean that polish language has changed in poland or that we are forgetting our own words. Don't make me laugh! Maybe you should go out and listen how english youth speaks, I am sure it is a Shakespare language, not changed for centuries, right?
kioko   
7 Jan 2008
History / Potoccy Magnate Family in Politics and History [23]

I have done research, and I am aware that we had many Hetmans to the Crown! Much meddling in Politics, and my Great+ Grandfather Count Stanislaus Szczesny Potocki trying to take over Poland in the last 1700s. Evidently, he helped to lead to the downfall of the Lithuania-Polish Commonwealth, though I do believe in his own heart, he just wanted to keep the country the way it was - just with him as the King, basically. It was the only way. He was such a tragic love character, he won his way into my heart (I've not had luck at love myself, so I empathize; I suppose finding someone who is honorable, caring, and stand by you is something eternally in my family we dream for). I feel like I have inherited his curse.

Well, yes, Potocki family had meny members who took part in Polish politisc ans such and they gave much of their fortune, blood and heart to the country, but... Stanisław Szczęsny was not one of them. He was a traitor loyal to Russians, under death penalty after 1793. He never tried to be a king and he was never granted with a Count title, he was using it himself. All his family members are ashamed to be related with him and that is why their dhildren and grandchildren (and so long) were doing everything to atone for his crimes.

Anyway, Szczęsny was noone special as a person. His actions were one of the reasons that Poland was not existing on a map of Europe for over 120 years. So, I think it is nothing to be proud of.

Julie, I think you should read more about other Potocki family members, the one who made the family name fame for doing good, not bad. For example Anna z Działyńskich Potocka and her husband Stanisław, or Klaudyna Potocka, also called "Promienna". There are book about them and many others.

Take care!
kioko   
10 Jan 2008
Travel / Traveling to Torun [19]

Old town, one of the most beautifull in Poland. It is also quite close to Malbork, so you could take a one day trip to there.
kioko   
14 Jan 2008
Life / Do Poles celebrate ''the old new year''? [4]

No, since Poland is a Catholic country, not Orthodox (I mean in general). I guess all the Orthodox Church believers in Poland celebrate New Year on 14th of January.
kioko   
1 Feb 2008
Life / Animosity between Poland vrs. Polonia? [98]

I think that if someone seels Polish, than he is Polish. I admire people whe search for their roots. But being Polish doesn't meen you know how it is to live here. even if you visit Polans every fer years. Last elections showed the difference between Polish people who emigrated to work in last few years and Poles who were born abroad or emigrated long time ago. UK Polonia voted on PO because they realised the situation ander PiS rule. USA Polonia voted on PiS, and that made me shocked!

I think that making general opinions in such toppic is not good. I don't know all Polonia in the world, and Polonia doesn't know all Poles living in Poland.
kioko   
1 Feb 2008
Life / Animosity between Poland vrs. Polonia? [98]

Recently they had even better voting record than PO

That is the funniest thing I've heard for a very long time!! !! They didn't even get to the Parliament!
kioko   
7 Feb 2008
History / Potoccy Magnate Family in Politics and History [23]

I am not belittling all family, only Szczęsny. Maybe if you will read some books or biographies about other GREAT family members, you will know, what they were thinking about, what Szczęsny did, and maybe you will change your mind. I really wish you that, maybe we will talk then. Until then I have nothing to say. But I must say, that non of Potockis I know is so presuming. Take care, hope you'll find those books in English.
kioko   
8 Feb 2008
History / Potoccy Magnate Family in Politics and History [23]

I will share my knowlegde with you Julie, if you want to know more about our family, but in private, ok? Give me some time... There is lot to write about. And as for Szczesny - we will have to agree that we have a totally different points of view.
kioko   
14 Feb 2008
Life / Banks in Poland - Any good recommendations [30]

I use Inteligo (part of PKO BP) for about 4 years and I've never been to a bank during that time. I have no problems with my account doing everything through internet. I recomend it.
kioko   
19 Feb 2008
Life / Poles in Poland: How did you learn your English? [60]

I started when I was about 5 or 6 through tv, but I really started learning at high school. In primary school I was learning Russian, so I wouldn't say that only older generation used to lern that language. It was probably because I lived in Eastern Poland. We also learnt German as it is Mazury, lot of Germans come there.

As for older generations, my mother used to learn French and English, but she says they did not believed that they will ever use English language so she did not learn it hard. And French at that times was still more popular than English.
kioko   
28 Mar 2008
Life / Must See Movies in Polish? [65]

I personally don't like Polish movies, especially the kind of "Psy" or "Sara" where is not one sentence without some swearing.

But there are some good movies not mentioned before:
- Dług (true story)
- Bandyta (with wonderful soundtrack by Michał Lorenc)
- Podwójne życie Weroniki (by Kieślowski)
- Wrota do Europy
and quite good comedy "Nigdy w życiu".
I've also heard many good stuff about "Testosteron" and "Rezerwat".
kioko   
18 Apr 2008
Life / My girlfriend wants to go back to Poland as she thinks lifes better there [36]

many of my friends use any kind of excuses just to go back to PL

Do you think that people need an excuse to live in their own country?
If they can have the same standard of living in Poland there is no need to stay abroad, isn't it? Accountant is probably one of the best job these days in Poland.

I understand your girlfriend, midgeure, very well.