Language / Cases, Genders, Nominative, Instrumental...WHY? [40]


The second phonetically would be caad meel falthay.

The first word of the first phrase is pronounced Slanj.

I used to do it a bit in primary school but was never into languages when i was younger.

But yeah, it's a dead hard language, just so ancient and untampered with, they have no new words so say the english for things like internet and stuff. Quite fascinating all the same. It's the cases and genders and sheer complexity that attracted me to polish.

Language / tips for a westerner learning polish? [5]

I am in a similar boat bernj. I feel terribly guilty working with a lot of polish people who are having to speak english and, being scottish, I naturally speak very fast (even when speaking what i think is slow) so I am hard to understand. Because of this I have decided to try and learn some polish. So far I am learning a word a day from each of the 5 staff and getting grammar tips from the girlfriend (who, worryingly, speaks better english than i do). That's all really helpful but then I have become fascinated by it all and want to learn more. So cheers for the link :)

Language / Basic words to say to a Polish girl? [40]

I agree with the comments on just being patient and communicate using lots of hand gestures and speaking slowly and clearly (which as a primary teacher you probably do anyway). When I was at primary school in Dubai we had a boy, Bartosz, that started with no english knowledge whatsoever and within a few months he was communicating easily enough and was one of the first people in the class to be reading. I do believe recently he completed his BA in English at a uni in Liverpool.

As has been mentioned...young childred pick up other languages much faster than adults.

News / Poland's Future Includes Fewer Poles, More Foreigners [324]

I think the main argument is flawed on on principle. People are now able to afford flights easier, people always can see the problems in their home and people like to travel. The UK has many immigrant workers. In this small town in Scotland I know Polish people, Slovakians, Australians, French Canadians, Kiwis, Scots, Sassenachs and the list goes on. I think the people that complain about these things are just being small minded. The world is getting smaller and more accessible. Last summer I went to New Zealand to work on a whim. Didn't think more than about 5 minutes about it.

I don't think it's a problem in the slightest, infact, if you ignore the bigots, it enhances our society in the world as a whole.

That's just my tuppence.

News / Poland's Future Includes Fewer Poles, More Foreigners [324]

I do admit mine is a slight knee jerk reaction to the tabloids here which is a constant flood of "Oh No, More Immigrants!"

I probably should have been more clear. I feel happy to welcome in people of all nationalities that are over to work, travel and enhance their lives and our countries. However obviously this is not everyone and I should really have clarified that.

I know personally I have lived all over the world either with my parents as a child and, as an adult I just generally dissapear off to countries as soon as I have saved enough for flights and visas. I feel the majority of immigration is a good thing. However a minority of people that don't want to work and think they can come to another country and not embrace their culture or contribute in any way to society ruin it for the majority because it creates the stories that tabloid's love and breeds racism and unacceptance.

That's what I think anyway.

Real Estate / Renting in Krakow, any good site? [6]

I spent a good few hours on gumtree last night with my beloved...but didn't find anything. I will check out the sticky though. Cheers :)

Love / What is wrong with many polish girls? [47]


A very sensible comment. Saying that a certain nationality acts in a certain way with dating habits is the same as saying...well anything else based on a stereotype. I am Scottish but don't have ginger hair, amn't tight with my money and don't play the bagpipes. The fact that my girlfriend is Polish is no different to her being Scottish, English, American, South African, Australian, French, German, etc. We get on well, share similar interests and she's really hot...which is what i look for not a specific nationality.

Love / What is wrong with many polish girls? [47]


No no no, but battered and fried pizza on the other hand...

Life / I AM BLACK. SHOULD I MOVE TO POLAND? [107]


Actually we have much worse knife crime than gun crime but the gun crime is on the rise. If you wander about certain parts of the east end of Glasgow it can be really a very depressing and poverty ridden place. It makes the news from time to time but people have just grown accustomed to it and so the papers don't print it so much. Sad but true.

As for the racism issue, it's everywhere, it's a blight on us all. When I lived in Indonesia I was constantly being stared at and referred to as Buleh (white pig) and the locals saw all of you as collonialists and disliked you for that. That doesn't mean all Indonesians are like that. Just like I know a fair few people in Glasgow that are Sectarian and will not associate with Catholics...but they are in a minority in most places in the world. If you are different then it will attract attention, sometimes bad but mostly good.

So what I am saying really is, if you want to move to Poland with your fiancé then do it. Don't seek the approval of others. If you want a good true answer to this then ask her if she wants you to come with her...and go with that one, not a bunch of strangers.

Real Estate / Letting agencies Krakow [11]

This would be handy to know for me as well actually as I presume these agencies would be quite hany in finding me somewhere to stay.

News / Poland's Future Includes Fewer Poles, More Foreigners [324]

The racism on this board is really quite terrible. However I can see where it might come from. My pregnant friend was told in her office that, as of the first of this month she can't eat at her office desk as it may offend the two muslim employees that are adhering to Ramadan. Now I can see why this would breed resentment towards the muslim chaps. But she approached them on the subject and they didn't mind, infact they were appalled that a pregnant woman was told she wasn't allowed to eat when she wanted because of them. Turns out it was the PC brigade in the office (all white british folk) that made this rule without consulting the muslim faction in work.

I have no problem with Muslims, Blacks, Whites, Asians, Bhuddists, etc. It's the groups of middle class white people with too much time on their hands telling everyone what's offending every minority that I hate. For god's sake we had 2 muslim guys working in our RESTAURANT during ramadan!

Language / A good learning book for Polish [44]

Thread attached on merging:
Polish Phrase Book

I am learning polish by asking how to say things and listening to conversations. However a few basic things would be handy to know. So is there any particular phrase books any of you folks would reccommend?

News / Poland's Future Includes Fewer Poles, More Foreigners [324]


This is just a theory but I think:
The Polish people headed to the UK when it joined the EU to find higher paid work. When they did, then their friends would have come over to visit and often found themselves in work as well.

Now, obviously mingling with the polulation means many of them entered into relationships and had friendships with people from the UK. So when they wanted to go home they went with girlfriends/boyfriends/spouses and such back to Poland. Also people getting bored with the UK might have friends in Poland and so move there to work.

Well, it's kinda the short and sweet version...but I think that's the reason.

Language / How do you say "give me a kiss" in Polish [53]


Any phonetic advice there?

Real Estate / Renting in Krakow, any good site? [6]

Thread attached on merging:
Double Rooms In Krakow

Right, we are still trying to find the right flat. Can anyone reccommend a good place in krakow that is quite cheap to get a double room for a few nights? Preferably with internet.

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

We decided that for the main washes we came down to the one I had heard of. Supposedly there is another one, but we couldn't find it. My towel (it's new and orange, not a good idea to wash with other things) and some small items we hand washed though.

Hand washing is handy enough for underwear and small things I do take that point. But for a full laundry load it's not ideal.

This isn't too long a trip on the tram though so it's all good.

Love / POLISH GIRLS AND LOOSE JEANS [36]

I have found the same in Kraków, ass tight everywhere you look...wonderful.

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

Yeah, why do socks get lost one at a time? It just doesn't make sense...even if i match them and clip them together they still get lost.

Hand washing is a pain in the hole, moving into a new place on Thursday that has a washing machine though...all good in da hood!

I am slowly getting sick of the trams, that constant bell that goes off because people are too lazy to get on the tram before the door shuts.

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

I am in it right now mate, just using the internet. It's just round the corner from work so it's all good.

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

They are really good and it's not too expensive. Proper industrial washing machines. I normally do 2 loads, use the internet and have a few coffees and it only costs about 40zl. It's normally quite quiet, most people are just in and out. I have never had to wait more than 3 minutes to get my laundry in.

[edit: just checked the board, a small load is 12pln, large is 16pln and drying is 1zl per 10 mins, but free for 40 mins if you are a student]

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

I work in Mazana behind the bar on ul Miodowa. Just round the corner from here, but the internet is well fast in here so it's a bonus. It's a nice bar, quiet though, still relatively new.

Law / Transferring Money To Poland - how easy/complicated is it? [17]

I might just ask her to Western Union the cash, I know that costs more, but couldbe easier and quicker. Plus I know the guy in the Western Union on Florianśka

Law / Transferring Money To Poland - how easy/complicated is it? [17]

I have sent my mum the link to the moneygram site. It seems prety good. Plus only being 9.99 means it's cheaper than just doing a bank transfer as last time we did that it was almost 30 quid.

Cheers

Law / Transferring Money To Poland - how easy/complicated is it? [17]

Did it last night, total success...really really easy. Nice bonus considering the hassle I've had with certain other things.

Work / NIP number - can I get this before I am employed? [13]

I will be going in to get one tomorrow morning. Is the form pretty straightforward or will I need a Polish friend to help me fill it out?

Work / NIP number - can I get this before I am employed? [13]

Well kinda so that I can get paid and pay them their tax...you would think they would make it easy. After all, do governments not want our money?