Love / A suitable birthday gift for a Polish lady? [26]

One gift idea that's a little different but quite good considering most polish wear slippers is Snug-Bugs leather slippers -

And yes... happy to declare I do have an interest in it as a business.

What is your relationship to her? Is it strictly a friendship or possibly more? 200zl is probably quite high for just a friend, even 100zl may be at the top end but depends on how close and the relationship.

Name day or birthday certainly affects what you write in a card.

1800zl (in the hand) is a little below a typical wage but not a lot. Probably around what I would expect for a high school teacher though.

Life / Where do you live in Poland? [19]

Been living in Wagrowiec... between Poznan and Bydgoszcz.

Originally from Australia (Brisbane) but coming up to 3 yrs here now (and 5 yrs previously in UK).

Genealogy / NESGOTA or NEZGOTA - Do I have this name correct? [3]

Just asked the other half, and she said it may be "Niezgoda" which she has heard of though it isn't common - which may actually be more helpful for you!

History / Why are we called Poles instead of Polans? [29]

Swedes and Kiwis (to throw some fruit and veg in the mix)

Law / Which business can one start in Poland ? [9]

Hi Roger

An incredibly open question and I can only answer it with...

Anything that you meet all legal requirements (eg. licensing).

Do you have any more info to go on? Some way of narrowing it down?

David

Love / Advice for meeting her Polish parents! [44]

i only just realised most of this thread is near 2 yrs old now!

It sprung up on Twitter and I just thought... interesting.

Love / Advice for meeting her Polish parents! [44]

Language can be a problem. Do you speak Polish, or do they speak English?

My Polish is rather poor, but better than when I arrived 2 1/2yrs ago. My other half's parents speak no English (just things like "Happy Birthday" at Christmas time etc).

It makes it difficult and added to that pressure of when we first met.

As other said be polite, dress neatly and also be respectful to them. As mentioned houses/flats may look like it's "been to hell and back", but look past the condition of walls and appreciate the home they've made. Not often large by some standards though I've some friends with places that are enormous and beautiful. My gf's family home is only a small flat and what people have or don't have should not at all form a part of your judgement.

It's always a well received gesture to take something such as flowers for the Mum and possibly a bottle of vodka - may depend if they do drink as some don't ("mine" do).

Just about everyone I've met here, from the gf's family to extended family... their extended family and friends are extremely welcoming and great hosts. Once the ice breaks, at least any discomfort in having just met especially if there are language barriers I think you should enjoy it.

Flowers and funerals... been to my fair share of funerals here this year and flowers are certainly big, bigger than back home (Australia). It's not only funerals at all so feel free to take flowers.

There isn't necessarily a hard 'n' fast rule on it. If you have something more interesting, different or shows your culture/background (trinkets, whiskey, wines/liqueurs etc) I'd think those would be fine instead of just flowers and vodka.

Those are my thoughts anyway.

Note. I'm also best friends with the dog.