Life / Share your Christmas Spirit in Polish/English [6]


Not yet to be honest. There may be snow, and I just decorated my flat tonight, but I am just not in the spirit yet. I think because I still have 3 days of work left I am not into the holiday mood.

I was shocked when I read that RATM had got the UK Christmas number 1...not because of the song, but because I had forgotten it was that close to Christmas!

USA, Canada / Teeth bracelet, (dental brace) the Polish way to gain success in USA? [11]


I honestly think it could be both. The British do have a very sweet tooth and love their fizzy, sugary drinks. Plus with NHS dentists, the onus was on making sure the teeth were fit for eating, not beautiful. So I think it's a bit of both really. Dental health is vastly improving in the UK though.

Another thing was importance of the dentist in the UK. I heard numerous tales about it being too much hassle to get little timmy or jemima to go to the dentist because they hated it and so parents wouldn't bother making them go. My cousin is a classic example and her teeth are a disgrace. I personally like my smile, few wee chips that I should get fixed but I never have the time to fix and there is still that little gap, but it's hardly noticable.

News / British ambassador to Poland accused of "ignorance" for supporting gay rights [70]

He gave a Polish Gay Rights Leader a leaflet on LGBT Rights? Is that it? Seriously?

Is it really that big a deal?

USA, Canada / Teeth bracelet, (dental brace) the Polish way to gain success in USA? [11]


No need, don't let it take away from the question that was asked. It is an interesting one.

USA, Canada / Teeth bracelet, (dental brace) the Polish way to gain success in USA? [11]

To be honest, from the thread title I thought you meant something along the lines of this:

The thing you mean is braces. I am not sure if it is just a Polish thing or to do with marriage. I think that the whole US dental system is almost obsessed with people having straight, white teeth. When I used to go to an American dentist he was always obsessing over a small gap in my front two teeth which no British dentist has touched.

So I think it is less to do with blue collar poles wanting their daughters married off, and more just wanting them to fit in with the rest of the US youth.

UK, Ireland / Poland vs. UK - how the manners differ [48]


Not in my house! My mum would have battered us if we burped or farted at the table...or at all for that matter!

Life / Duży Lotek (Polish Lottery) - How to Claim a Prize? [11]


If I could read that do you think I would have posted the question on here?

Life / Duży Lotek (Polish Lottery) - How to Claim a Prize? [11]


Lottery winnings are taxed? That's news to me. So you don't need to be a citizen then? That's good news. I mean it isn't too much hassle to get a friend to claim it and have them transfer the money to you (after a handling fee of course).


Sadly no, but I always play the lottery and then it struck me one day: "What if I do win, will I even be able to claim it?". So this is more for future reference.


Interesting to know. What is the maximum amount they can pay in a shop? I know in the UK it is a maximum of 100 pound (subject to the shop having enough cash).

Life / Where can I buy very soft Toilet Paper in Poland? [47]

I can when it is required...however, when I am sitting down to do my morning business with the papers (no pun intended) it should be a time of relaxation and pleasure, not torture. There is some places that a man deserves his luxury!

Life / Where can I buy very soft Toilet Paper in Poland? [47]

Just to update, I have recently discovered Alouette in Rossmans, very strong and soft...plus the Christmas stuff smells of vanilla!

Result!

Life / Any tips for a first-time Expat? [13]

Seriously though, there is not so much to say. When I first moved here, the big things were making sure you get yourself about and meet people (that helps with loneliness, as well as finding jobs and help with services). If you have a job sorted then get your paperwork sorted as soon as possible, if not then don't be disheartened if you don't find something really quickly. Also it is important that you get yourself sorted with your surroundings: doctors, shops for specialist things, etc.

It can be a nightmare trying to find certain things when you really need them. The mild panic set about by being very ill, or without certain essentials can really get you down and affect your ability to find stuff. As I found when I had an acute asthma attack one night and tried to find a doctor the next day, running about trying to find the right place that will also take an EHIC while you can hardly breathe is surprisingly difficult.

But other than that, embrace it all and enjoy yourself!

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]


That is fine for the West, but what about countries where women don't wear skirts? How do the locals there tell the difference?

I always liked the places that had a guy's face and a girls...that is pretty universal.

I feel we are straying wayyy off topic...there has to be a reason behind the shapes...now does anyone know what that might be?

Life / Any tips for a first-time Expat? [13]

Just remember, male toilets are triangles and female ones are cirlces ;)

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]

Yes indeed, and I would say that all of those...for a tourist on a first trip...would be clear which is male/female/unisex bathrooms. I actually had to look in both the first time i was confronted with this signage to check which one had urinals (which has since become confusing as, on busy nights, you will see women coming out of there and vice versa). The exception on your list could be the WO-MEN sign, but the colour coding helps.

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]


That's what I was thinking, I would have thought a triangle was not very phallic at all.

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]


Bizarre, I was sure I had seen it in Germany as well.


Awesome haha, totally believed you as well!

So right, anyone have any idea why it's a triangle and a circle?

Life / Toilet Signs in Poland and Continental Europe [18]

Oh right, cheers, I've been wondering about that for ages!

Law / D-type visa (long stay) in Poland - I cannot leave Poland? [10]

Or you could risk it and hope that no-one checks on your trip. I don't know, but I wouldn't imagine that moving between Poland and Czech Republic is strictly monitored...I have heard of loads of people driving to Czech to buy beer and come back without anyone saying anything.

UK, Ireland / English tossers give Brits a bad name in Poland [139]


And you're still with us?? Lucky man!!

UK, Ireland / English tossers give Brits a bad name in Poland [139]


Very true, some behave worse than others. But can anyone here truly say that they have never been embarrassed by their fellow countrymen/women when on holiday abroad? I know I have, I remember a trip to Greece where I almost felt like learning a different language so as not to be associated with some of the people there (and half of them were the people I went with!).

Food / Lamb in Krakow [11]

Cheers, I'll take a wander round during the week when I get me some cash for my birthday...Birthday roast lamb methinks! Then sort out some offal for haggis :)

UK, Ireland / English tossers give Brits a bad name in Poland [139]


Yes, the Old Firm is Rangers and Celtic. I can't see why anyone who was not a Rangers fan would have been in Manchester.


I haven't called the English any names here, I was purely stating that the vast majority of people in Manchester were Rangers fans, who are only a portion of Scottish football fans. As Seanus has mentioned, these people are bigots and Unionists and I welcome them in football as much as I would welcome a serial child rapist to Sunday dinner.

UK, Ireland / English tossers give Brits a bad name in Poland [139]


Don't tar us all with the old firm brush. A bunch of bigots travelling down South are far removed from normal Scottish fans, those were old firm fans you had rioting in Manchester. Branded Scotland's Shame by most of the papers and public up here. But the country are proud to have been voted best behaved fans in the world on numerous occaisions (it's the only thing we ever do win!).

On another note, I am still not sure what these yobs actually did? I get that they were tossing pigeons, but can pigeons not fly? I am confused as to how they hurt the pigeons. Can someone shed some light on this for me?

Life / Why Poles don't use Facebook? [43]


Fair enough his wife being pissed off and divorcing him. But since when was it against office policy to go out with your co-workers?

Seems like very harsh behaviour from the company.

Food / Lamb in Krakow [11]


Thanks for that, my sharp shooting friend.


I will have a look about and see if I can find it :)


I am sure if that is the case then they will have some in the Kraków branch too. I fancy making it as it will be a good bit of fun, but this is a good idea as a last resort.

Food / Lamb in Krakow [11]

Which guy is it in Nowy Kleparz? I went round the butchers there once and no-one had any lamb.

Food / Tatar - a raw meat dish [28]


Your first mistake was surely eating food from a train anywhere. I have never even had a decent sandwich on a train so I wouldn't dare eat raw meat!

As for Tatar, I love it, raw onions, raw egg and some capers...yummy.

Life / Need to get registered for Nip number. [14]


I have that and have used it. However it was a hassle and I just presumed it would be easier all round to get a PESEL number as well as that because it obviously suits their paperwork better.


That's true, I have just always found the contract phones work out cheaper than pay-as-you-go and I find the bills easier to manage when I know roughly what I am going to be paying a month. But I guess I will have to do my 5 years first!


I am aware of that, but, like in the UK, I can imagine it makes many aspects of your life much easier.

So now I need to go off and get this residency card.