USA, Canada / Traveling to Poland to study. Polish passport question. [11]

joanna77

As a Polish citizen you are obliged to enter Poland only with your Polish documents . A Polish citizen can not get visa to visit Poland just needs to keep valid Polish passport or other ID document if travelling within Europe.

When you intend to travel with your Can. passport only, your 90 days starts when entering any of the Schengen country and it's your responsibility to have your passport stamped upon arrival.

From your travel advice website I can read that , you can enter on "both" or choosen passport but from what I know you could be turned back to Canada if you're Polish and you'd try to enter Poland as other citizen.

travel.gc.ca/destinations/poland

Dual nationality is not officially recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services.Dual citizens can choose to enter Poland with a Polish or a Canadian passport. Entering on a Polish passport gives all the prerogatives of Polish citizenship. However, a valid Canadian passport should be carried as proof of Canadian citizenship to re-enter Canada. If dual citizens choose to enter Poland with a Canadian passport, they will have to comply with regulations applied to foreigners.

I suggest you to contact Polish Embassy in Canada and get all the info regarding your situation (don't be fooled by the examples or stories told by others).

I my opinion you should travel with your existing (even if not valid) Polish passport together with your Canadian one.
It's not easy and not a quick process to get Polish passport while in Poland. You'll need to have a registered place of residence in Poland and you'll need to start the whole process by applying for the Polish "Dowód Osobisty" (kind of ID)first.

That's my friend's story, similar to yours.

When you enter as a Canadian citizen only you won't be able to stay longer than 90 days in the Europe-Schenger Area. If you overstay you'd be charged and deported. As a Canadian citizen(if you'll travel as the one)you need permission, 'student visa' for stay & study in Poland.

Real Estate / Taking loans in Poland underneath someone else [7]

Brnucci
If she owns any property in Poland, she can re-mortgage it for a loan.
Also, she can ask for a loan with you as her guarantor in case she won't be able to repay it- depends if the bank agrees to such conditions.

You'll be the subject to repayment if she doesn't keep the loan's repayment to date.

Love / Are expensive gifts offensive to polish guys? [30]


Not offensive but could be seen by many as you're trying to "buy" a man or that you don't have much to offer as a person.

You can drive the man away from you in case he is not able to give you back similarly expensive gift (as a custom -that's what should follow after receiving gift).

Of course , there are always others who would be more than happy to receive gift as often as possible but these men usually are womanisers and don't give a s....t about one specific woman.

Genealogy / Family Secret - Piaski, Lublin --- Help Needed. [16]


I don't think so!

My guess only:
your family changed their surname to avoid beeing tortured and jailed (somewhere in Siberia) by the Communist Polish Government wholy formed and controlled by the Soviet Russia (until 1989).

They were after anyone fighting in the Polish Army... formed abroad Poland - just to remind you the Soviet Russia attacked Poland in 1939 soon after the Germans.

Your grandfather was, as you mentioned in the 1st Polish Armoured Division formed in the West Europe.
Here is the history about the Polish Military Forces in the West , which were formed to fight Nazis and their allies.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Armed_Forces_in_the_West

Here is the story about your grandfather's Army:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Armoured_Division_%28Poland%29

There is a good movie (Polish) about one Polish officer returning after the war to Poland (from England) and how he was treated. The movie title is "Kuchnia Polska" (1993)

imdb.com/title/tt0343292
If your grandfather didn't protect himself (by changing the surname) I'm sure his life would become unbearable.


Want to add, that they were after any remaining relatives of these soldiers as well. If exposed as a relative they were treated as these soldiers - as a traitors to communism.

After the interrogation and torture they were usually sending the people to the Siberia region or other part of USSR-Russia for a long term inprisonment with hard labour.

That's why your relatives were so scared and didn't want to talk about it, especially to children.

Love / Are Polish women too controlling? [106]

It depends on....some factors! We, the Polish women know/ and feel when to get things in our hands (that's why it seems we are controlling) to better our family life or our family future- excluding when we are mixed with muslims or with a very different (in compere to Polish) cultures - it's hard to predict, in such a situation, what can happen to the Polish women or her children, if she's, ie: abused -that's what usually happens.

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


I don't think it has anything to do with becoming rich.
Some people, while visiting, don't like ie: to sit around the dinner table without their shoes on or barefoot (if during summer) and it is a good manner to respect that.

When you expect your guests to take off their shoes you should be able to offer them some new or nearly new "domestic" clean shoes.

I personally don't like when my guests take off their shoes and it has many reasons ie: foot diseases or getting cold.

In some countries there is a custom not to wear shoes while entering the building - they have a good reasons for that too (most of the time people over there are sitting on the floors) and we need to respect their traditions.

Life / Swine flu vaccinations taking place in Poland? [52]


It's your choice krysia.

History / Polish symbolisms [12]

Pracowity jak mrówka/pszczółka - hardworker like an ant/ or bee
Gołąb (a pigeon) symbol of peace
Wolny jak ptak - free like a bird
Zwinny jak wiewiórka - nimble like a squirrel
Powolny jak żółw/ślimak - slow like a tortoise/or snail

Głupi jak baran - stupid/idiot like a ram
Uparty jak osioł - stubborn like a donkey

Life / Swine flu vaccinations taking place in Poland? [52]


I'd choose to get that "poison" than to be exposed to any untreatable diseases. No one is telling you "you must do it" it should be your free choice in case of vaccination against any flu viruses.

Every Naturopath-DoctorMike represents their view here- will tell you that vaccination doesn't work but what kind of treatment they (natural medicine) can offer people, when a virus changes into bacterial infection,that's what usually happens in many cases. What kind of natural medicine can you offer to fight ie: pneumonia; possible final result of viral/bacterial flu.

Vaccination is a protection against anypossible complication aroused from the infectious disease and it doesn't mean you won't get sick.
Eurola
I can see you are from USA. If the virus spreads like it happened in Australia (because of the winter season at the time) you'll see infected people everywhere around you - believe me.

Where would world be today without vaccination or medication (like antibiotics) to treat diseases.
I'm just a common healthy person not a specialist (I trust my family doctor recommendation) and if healthy people are dying from a certain diseases why not vaccinate, if it can help you?

Life / Swine flu vaccinations taking place in Poland? [52]


Are you Mike Adams? :

Ten Swine Flu Lies Told by the Mainstream Media
Friday, September 18, 2009 by: Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Key concepts: Swine flu, Vaccines and Swine flu vaccine
View on NaturalPedia: Swine flu, Vaccines and Swine flu vaccine.

Life / Swine flu vaccinations taking place in Poland? [52]


We (in Australia) are already past this year's winter season (it's now spring from 1 September) but the other parts of the world soon are going to have one and if you could see how badly swine flu is really affecting healthy people (people with health problem or pregnant are at much, much higher risk) then you would probably change your view about this specific virus. Seasonal flu normally affects (with complications) older and weak people - swine flu virus attacks everyone and especially people with any health problem (some people who died were: overweight people, people with diabetes....) .

Here, the swine flu was spreading in such a quick way that it couldn't be controlled. Some pregnant women lost their babies ( were still born), some healthy and usually young people lost their legs/or leg (poor circulation as a result of the virus).

No medicine worked to help people who contracted swine flu and were really sick ( at the begininng some drugs worked). The only method which worked to help these people to breathe (the lungs were collapsing) was to put them under a special machine, which normally is used during an operation-heart transplant. These machines are limited in number and cannot be obtained easily but hospitals were doing their best.

There were people who contracted swine flu and did not had a complication , except symptoms like with cold and others like with a seasonal viral flu...

but the virus is mutating and becomes stronger. The worst (as we are said) is going to be here next winter season; we'll see how the world will cope during their winter now.

Life / Swine flu vaccinations taking place in Poland? [52]


It all depends what kind of vaccine you are going to get. Australian scientists developed their own vaccine which is called "Panvax.." and the vaccine does not contain live virus: healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/vaccine

How a vaccine works
Panvax® H1N1 Vaccine contains extracts of protein from the new flu strain. Once you get vaccinated, proteins prompt your body to produce antibodies to protect you from the virus.

Protection after vaccination varies from person to person, but people generally start producing the antibodies that provide protection two weeks after the vaccination. Protection is expected to last for at least one year.

This vaccine does not contain live virus and cannot give you influenza.

In Australia everyone is entitled to a free vaccine, and the vaccination process started just about a month ago.
Few other countries developed their own vaccine.

Love / Received an email from a young Polish woman - Is she too good to be true? [70]


Don't get involved it's a scam.

From time to time I'm receiving emails (on my yahoo account) from a young women (20+) named "Irina" ,or "Nadia" or "Elena" asking for friendship and bla, bla...

What they don't know... that I'm a woman but my personal details are not open to the public, also from my " email name" it's imposible to guess my sex.

They just starting with impressing anyone and afterwards they go with the flow, like with you - but be alerted. Some people ask for help-money others are professionals in stealing your ID.

What's funny, the letter you've received and posted here shows similarity in grammar errors to the letters I used to receive, for example:

It instead of he

Law / The new Law in acquisation of Polish citizenship in 2009 [15]


Yes . You're right!
What it actually means: when you are Polish citizen and additionaly hold any other country citizenship, you cannot and should not enter Poland as different citizen, other than Polish.

While crossing Poland's border and if they (the border security) find out that you are Polish and showing other country passport, you can be stopped and redirected back to where you came from.

It already happened to many people. Just have a look at Polish embassy/consular in your country and have a look & read all the details.

Some Polish are risking (some people know, some don't) their holiday and go to Poland holding passport of the country where they currently live.

That's how it works.
On the other hand, you cannot automatically loose your Polish citizenship unless you apply in person to a Polish President and he accepts your application with payment (it used to be 1000 zlotych few years ago).

To add: the above stated regulation is directed to all the people holding Polish citizenship - not Americans only!


In short, because you are the United Great Britain (or: Kingdom of Great Britain) citizen, that's why you're British and nationality depends from what "Great" area/ country you come from - in your case Scottland, in others it may be England etc.


I know what you mean, but on the other hand (because of the Kingdom) you have such a great opportunity to see the world, the other countries where the Queen is a head, without the hardship others have to get a visa & enter any Queen's other countries (like NZ, AU, CA...)

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


hej, here it means hello
sokoły , plural form of sokół and it's a bird, falcon/s

hey bystra woda = hello rapid (fast flowing) water

In general, Polish hej is similar to English hi

News / What needs to happen in the world so that Poland and Russia form alliance? [297]


If the Russians form proper and freely choosen by their own citizens a proven, reliable government, there is a chance for something to change between 2 countries. Not now, but maybe in the future.

The fact is, until now Russia is run by a circle of unpredictable and dangerous people who are brainwashing their own, poor people and why would anyone want to form an alliance with that kind of government, especially Poland, while recovering from russian's government abuse.

Language / Possibly, probably, definitely, certainly not. [6]


"nie wiem" it's more like "I don't know" or "I'm not sure"

"no probably not" I'd compare it to something like "nie, prawdopodobnie nie"

Love / In your opinion, are most Polish women 'Easy'? [243]

It's true some men treat women like "crap" and it can happen anywhere around the globe, not just in Poland.

I don't think your Polish friend's wife "had to" do certain things, it's not like you may think - it's our tradition to treat well invited guests and depends who's visiting (is it a man/or woman only or mixed group of people). In general Polish woman is hosting the party through offering some food, drinks while her partner's responsibility is to make sure guest is not bored - it's all about manners. We don't leave our guests at the table/ or just in the room alone, someone needs to serve and Polish women (in general) tend to think they are better at this.

Some women don't like their husband near the kitchen. That's how it is. Does it really happen only in Polish family? I don't think so.

In Polish family it's more common these days, that both partners are involved in preparation of the party/or dinner and you can't see the man's work. It's understandable why - it's because when you arrive he's making sure you are comfortable at his home by staying with you.

I understand there are Polish men who are doing nothing around the house and believe me it's not only their fault, they were helped to behave like that.

Genealogy / An L at the end of surname Stachowski, does anyone know why that would be? [6]



Yes, you may be right (that's why I added "the other way around") . I didn't look at the surname origin just concentrated at the question.


If they (your relatives) were Polish and used to live in (what's is called now) Ukraine or in any other parts of Russia, their surname was changed into Ukrainian/Russian version which ends with "wskij".

Genealogy / An L at the end of surname Stachowski, does anyone know why that would be? [6]


Just have a better look, doesn't it look like letter "j/J"?
"Stachowskij" it can be an Ukrainian surname with Polish version "Stachowski" (or the other way around).
Most of Russian/Ukrainian/Bielarusian surnames finishing with "-wskij" were polonized with "-wski" ending.

Love / Polish People on Cheating? [39]


It's not a cultural thing. If both care about each other they will try hard to work out their relationship problem. If both are willing to forgive each other a very strong relationship can develop.

On the other hand some couples are staying together for the sake of their children and are tolerant towards each other until children are grown up or maybe even afterwards because of housing shortages in Poland. It's like an agreement between them and their marriage is an "open" marriage - if you know what I mean.

Australia / Can Polish Citizens work / travel in Australia? [9]


What I can tell ,earnings between 10-12 $AUD per hour is absolutely too low for an adult.

Normally High School students less then 17 years old are starting their first casual job with $10-12 per/h.
There is an internet site where you can get some important info about travel & work in Australia, ....australink.pl . The best way to obtain details is from people who are already staying here temporarily on working visa.

Good luck

Language / verbal nouns in -nie [7]


Both are incorrect, don't use "zajmuje się", should be:

1 and 2 version)
On martwi się.

Also you can say:
On jest zmartwiony.

History / Why communism failed in Poland? [275]


If you lived in one of the occupied by communist Russians, Eastern European country you would see how it really was and how the system worked.


Most of the people had no comparison of how their life would look like if they lived in a free, unoccupied country, that's why they couldn't see the difference and told you what they learn at school, or work, or at home (if parents were commies).

The truth is Eastern European countries were occupied for tens of years by commie Russians and no-one tried to stop that. People were brainwashed.
Today, I often think ,where were the human rights organisations in those times.

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]

Just teasing you - of course you are right, sometimes it's also a sing of illness but as I said it's not uncommon in Poland, mainly because of

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]


Why don't you like it! Isn't it a sign your girl is madly in love with you? :)

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]


Jelousy, possessiveness - that's what she shows, but it's not uncommon behaviour in Polish culture.


It's very important to communicate well in a relationship,with language barrier it's twice difficult to build something but often people realise it too late (when already children are involved).

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]


She probably doesn't even realise she's hurting him. This relationship shows bad communication because of language barrier and difference in culture as well (like going to a pub - his girl assumes he's drinking or flirting with others).

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]


Actually it's very rude to say it in such circumstances.

Better if you say "nasz zwiazek nie ma sensu" or "zrywam z Toba" or "koniec z nami" ect. You can explain why or not, it's your choice.

Love / Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Especially In Another Language! [46]


Get a life - frd, stop cruising after me on this forum.

Just put the whole letter in you own Polish words and stop all that crap about showing off how good you are, because you're not.

I don't want to point out your big mistakes in your translated version - it's no point.