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Posts by rick54  

Joined: 26 Feb 2007 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 14 Mar 2007
Threads: Total: 4 / In This Archive: 4
Posts: Total: 9 / In This Archive: 7 		From: Rockford, MI

Displayed posts: 11
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rick54   
14 Mar 2007
Language / Pimsleur language learning system, is it any good? [33]

Daffy,
Thank you for your comments. I would hope that the Pimsleur system was aimed towards all slow folks, American or otherwise. I must confess I don't have a photographic memory, so learning Polish is a slow process for me. AND I am American, which must make me an exception and not the rule!

Then again, maybe I missed something on this American thing?
The part of the format I did appreciate was the forward and backward pronunciation in a slow and clear manner. This is unlike the IVONA human speech synthesizer, which gives a much faster word pronunciation and was the subject of a previous post of mine.

Did you proceed beyond lesson 1 with your studies? Did you find the additional lessons as good as the first?
The reason for my asking this is that the Pimsleur website does offer a free lesson 1, which is a good sales tactic to get you to buy the whole set. Did you find that the additional lessons were as good as the first, or were they lacking in any way? Thanks
rick54   
14 Mar 2007
Language / Pimsleur language learning system, is it any good? [33]

A search on Pimsleur gave little results, so I'd like to ask if anyone has used the Pimsleur language learning system in their Polish language studies. How did it work for you, and if you'd recommend it's use to others. It can be rather costly beyond the first 8 lessons, so an honest opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
rick54   
8 Mar 2007
News / Made in Poland products? [66]

FISZ, you mean take a trip to PL to buy a set of plates as a cost savings measure?
Ouch, I was thinking more on the line of dialing 1-800-Polish-Plate and having them delivered to my door here in Michigan!
When my wife drags me along shopping, I always insist on "touch and release".
I would never go to PL with her shopping! We'd never get back!
rick54   
8 Mar 2007
News / Made in Poland products? [66]

The wife and I were recently in Chicago for the opera, and as you woman all know so very well, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! So it was off to N. Milwaukee St. to visit the Polish meat markets and shops. My wife has been wanting for some time now, a set of the Polish dinner plates. From what I understand, they're very colorful and decorative. Nevertheless, we were able to get some great sausages, etc, but nothing to serve it on!
rick54   
5 Mar 2007
Feedback / What rule have I offended with this translation request? [21]

Okay, I'll consider my hands as having been slapped! New kid on the block, I should have expected it sooner or later! Sorry.
I will try in the future to be more polite, humble, and exact in my requests!
Perhaps, I'll try again in a couple of months after I've re-read the rules several times and get up enough courage!
And should I ever see you in my local watering hole, you'll have a shot and snit on me!
rick54   
5 Mar 2007
Feedback / What rule have I offended with this translation request? [21]

How would I say, "please, take my chair" to either a man or woman.
Thank you!

I had posted this request under the English to Polish Translation and I see it was sent to the trash can. The reason being?
rick54   
27 Feb 2007
Food / Sausage Maker needed for recipe [12]

Hello,
As a part time home sausage maker, I'm looking for a recipe for Krakowska. I know it's stuffed in a 4 inch casing, making it great for sliced lunch meat, it's made with fresh lean ham, and has a good amount of garlic. I also believe it is then smoked. If by chance we have a butcher/sausage maker in the audience who'd be willing to part with a recipe, I'd be very appreciative!

Thank you.
rick54   
26 Feb 2007
USA, Canada / Chicago - N. Milwaukee experience [2]

My wife and I along with a friend spent this past weekend in Chicago for the opera. Since we all have Polish heritage in our backgrounds (grand mother's), we decided to kill some time before getting the train back to Grand Rapids, Michigan Sunday by paying a visit to N. Milwaukee!

This is a trip I'll never forget! We started at Kurowski's Meat Market about noon on Sunday. Since I was in haste last week to learn a few lines in Polish, it was enough to get us in the door and into the thick of things! The place was packed and everyone seemed in a hurry. We were able to get a nice supply of sausage to take back with us, using the help of a nice lady standing next to me who was kind enough to give me some language assistance.

After leaving Kurowski's, we spotted Endy's down the block on the other side of the street. A quick stop there found the store empty of people and a more relaxed atmosphere for me to apologize to the young lady for such poor Polish and beg for assistance in English! We then added to our sausage treasure some more.

Then there was the bakery right across the street from Endy's. Wow, I purchased a poppy seed filled bread loaf and decided to leave before I lost all control! Those cakes are surely something to die for!

Well our walk back towards Kurowski's took us past the Staropolska restaurant & bar.
What a great place for a dinner and a good Polish beer or two! The gal bartending did speak some fair amount of English, to my relief!

This is one trip I'd love to repeat, but first I need to get some questions answered.
Here at home we have Kiszka, Krakowska (Krah-KUSS-kah) and Kielbasa, both fresh and smoked.
I did all right at Kurowski's with the Kiszka, but it seems there's a variety of Krakowska and the word "fresh" in front of Kielbasa caused me some trouble! So I'd like to inquire to the correct Polish names for these sausages. The same question for liver sausage?

Sunday isn't a day to decide to get a sausage and Polish lesson all in one at Kurowski's either!

I asked the young lady at Staropolska's about Czernina (duck blood soup) and she hadn't a clue as to what I was talking about. Is there a proper Polish name for this soup?

I know that all the rage now is learning Spanish! Okay, taco and burrito, that's enough for me!
I've now decided that before I go back to N. Milwaukee, I'm going to learn some more Polish. I think the folks there appreciated it that I at least gave it a try, speaking to them in their own language.

Grand Rapids is not a big Polish area so I doubt lessons can be had here, and like any thing else, if you don't use it, you're going to lose it!

I do like the audio pronunciation help. So if anyone has any ideas as to something I might be able to get on-line that would offer beginning Polish 101 for dummies, with an audio aid (CD). That would really be great!

Dziekuje!
Rick