Life / TESCO SUPERMARKETS IN POLAND. Where are they? [15]

yum baked beans, i never saw any heinz products over there tbh =( ohh gosh yes, the Tesco near Tarnow (tuchow) is terrible, most aisles were empty and mainly polish stuuf that you could buy in any store like delikatesy (in fact those are better), i went there thinking i may find something diff and vegetarian stuff but the place i found the most variation was Real superstore.

Travel / Driving to Poland with new baby?? [6]

thanks all, im new to this so appreciate advice!! i have a lot to think about...!xx

Life / nice polish name for a girl [38]

i personally like natalia, anna (ania), danuta and matylda. . although i would like to know the diminutive form of this name as my hubby doesnt know and we both have it as a fave for if we have a daughter.

as for guys names, it gets harder, theres not too many i like at all, both polish and english...

Food / where does Wodka originate from ? Poland or Russia or somewhere else??? [17]

this wodka debate...talkk about opening a can of worms, my hubby gets quite passionate talking about this....so i will go with Poland over Russia from the pure passion of his argument!

Love / polish boyfriend has wrecked my english [48]

i would say you have to correct them, you are doing no favours allowing them to get comfortable with bad grammar.
For the first 2 years of our relationship i let it lie, but now another two years on i correct ALL of Piter's grammar and work hard to explain it (even though sometimes there is no great explanation).

In turn his English is now miles better and everyone notices.

I speak Polish with his family and they ALWAYS correct my grammar.
I think when children are coming into the situation you dont want your children growing up bilingual but with poor grammar in both languages!

Food / Asian food - is it easy to find in Poland (particularly Lublin)? [39]

I have never seen any Chinese restaurants before but i second whoever said that you can find excellent Chinese food in Berlin....the best i have ever had and i spent 6 weeks in Asia =)

Love / Polish Girlfriend gone missing [154]

this is horrible, i do wish you all the best and will be thinking of you as i will be going to my hubbys in two weeks which is a village 15km from tarnow...its beautiful country, most important thing is that she is ok and that you can at least find out whats going on ...

good luck

Life / 'The Pianist' - the movie. What's your opinion? Polanski [59]

i thought that the book publishers chnged the books name from 'death of a city' to 'the pianist'-- this info can be found in the foreward in the book....well its in my copy which is entitled 'the pianist' anyhow...

Life / 'The Pianist' - the movie. What's your opinion? Polanski [59]

I have to say i agree with Switeziana.
Has anyone bothered to read the book?- Szpilmans own account of those years, his story- which no matter how much the film did do it justice- needs to be read in order to sense his own confusion and sadness at making sense of what happened, not just to him but to Europe and its people.

Putting pen to paper was therapeutic for Szpilman just as it was for the survivor Miklos Nyiszli(hungarian author of 'I was Doctor Mengeles Assistant' Now theres a book which should be made into a film) Primo Levi- one of the all time greatest writers of the Holocaust (note i said writers not people dont want to start any more arguments!!)

The book also has a very interesting foreward written by Szpilmans son.

Having surviving family members on my side who remember (and my partners deceased grandparents who survived Auschwitz) its is safe to say we will never know even a fraction of the heroism and human courage --along with the evil and cowardice- that was committed over those years, as it was lost in the ashes with those who disappeared into history without a trace, and for me its is the stories that we will never know, the people whose names which were cancelled out-erased, which make it the most tragic.

UK, Ireland / UK bus company boss jailed for hiring an incompetent Pole [71]

hahaha. if you look-- you can find anything,
the fact is there are good and bad drivers from any country, same as there are good and bad/stupid and intelligent people from every place.

its a pity you (cherry)pick all your stories from the 'highly respected' mail all the time...

Life / How do you Poles feel about the fact that so many Poles work abroad? [145]

Ok, i hear you, once not so long ago, Ireland was recieving those 'scraps'-- no look at it, a new country, and no funding the less well off states.

I see what you mean as the UK is one of the richest states, but I can think of worse things that tax payers money could be spent on....and *is* actually spent on too...!!

Soo, how about the inevitable moment when Turkey joins...? do i need to ask your views on that ;)

Life / How do you Poles feel about the fact that so many Poles work abroad? [145]

noimmigration- you clearly have some strong views, which is fine, however some seem misguided to me, like your crude EU flag with a swastica plastered on it.

It is a little sad to me that many people have such a short and narrow view and understanding of history and politics perhaps you might understand that one of the inital reasons for forming a blueprint of what is now the EU was to prevent anything as horrendus as WW2 ever happening again in Europe.

In this simple sense, it has suceeded, our generation has been fortunate enough to see peaceful Europe, let us not forget that.

I understand your reasons for wanting out of the EU i really do, but I feel after much consideration that the benefits outweight the problems.

Let us not also forget that Britain has a wealth of its own social problems and issues with skills & employment which existed before Poland joined the EU.

**Sorry guys for going slightly off topic, i know its frustrating but this is merely a response to a memeber who comes on here with a one track mind (spreading propaganda from intelligent, accurate and ^not at all biased^ sources as the 'daily mail' )regardless to the question being asked or discussed.***

Life / FAVOURITE POLISH POP/ROCK GROUPS? [18]

umm, Kombi, Karamba, and check Iza Lach on myspace-- shes unsigned but really beautiful voice

Life / How do you Poles feel about the fact that so many Poles work abroad? [145]

Firstly and foremostly, my time studying the third reich, main part of my History degree
secondly, i am half german .....my grandmother was a member of the hitler youth (PLEASE dont think i am bragging)
European history is a passion of mine.

to know the future, look to the past

One thing that humans continue to fail at- is to see that history repeats itself

Life / How do you Poles feel about the fact that so many Poles work abroad? [145]

wow what an interesting debate many interesting points and commment, many idiots too (not much changes in with people--from any place)

...i would however like to point out one detail about race, Poles in fact are a different race to English, as are English to Scottish etc. Us English are from Saxon descent (anglo saxon) and ^^Poles are a Slavic race^^^- along with Czechs, Slovaks and Russians.

Hitler hated Jews yes but he was also racist because he despised the Slavs(or Slaves as he sometimes reffered to them), firstly the Russian slavs but next the Poles.

You can find his racist rants on the Slavic RACE in a copy of Mein Kampf.

Love / Are you in a Polish-nonPolish relationship? [150]

hi, i think the generalisations are wearing a little thin these days, i mean, yes there are diferences....pl and uk girls have been brought up in diff culture but as far as i am aware good manner s treating each other as we wish to be treated is universal ---true not everyone is taught such values, but those that are are not limited to one culture!As for Pl women being more beautiful, i have seen equal number of attractive pl women to uk girls....same with fashion and dress.

I am English of Anglo-German descent and my Boyfriend is from very rural Poland (malopolskie), he has more strong opinions are about women than me.

He says problem is most PL guys are worried that English girls do not always see a r/ship as permantent and guys like him from a small village are reluctant to be involved in a serious of relationships that dont go anywhere, they are looking for one good girl, find her and keep her.

They worry that the culture here of kissing many frogs to find a prince or having many r/ships before settling down conflicts with his cultural norm-- ( and i guess some dont like this idea that their girl will have been with many guys before)

He mistakenly beleived before that no english girls could keep a house or cook very well...and swear / drinktoo much( and of course there are some girls like this!)...but of course he found me =) lol.

Now he says hes happy and in fact says that one thing he loves is how i am laid back and many polish girls are demanding, can be *hard work *want their own way, and get 'funny' or uptightabout cheeky things like a kiss and little grope(haha hope you know what i mean) he says he sees many pl couple where the guy will kiss his girl in public or give her bum a little squeeze only to be tut-tutted and slapped away or such like ( *****Not saying this is my opinion only what my love says ok!!!******

my best friend is actually pl girl and completely NOT like this but then my bf's brother pl girl is totoally like this so it just goes to show we are all different!!---which concludes my opinion!!

Life / Can you have guns in Poland? [25]

My bf is polish living in uk, he has a shotgun licence in the uk, but despite this and having pl nationality he still finding it hard to get pl permision tto have his gun!! so i would so...no chance! they are more strict than the uk in fact.

Love / English Girls according to Polish Guys....... [68]

exactly, thats my point, it works for me to because my family & upbringing is very traditional so its home for me, i am happy and he too.........perhaps it wouldnt have worked with a another british girl who knows.......

*by girly girl i meant not a 'ladette' type one who is traditional,feminine ...not kebab in one hand fag in the other, foul language etc....lol not wanting to get into a cultural debate on the bad stereotype of english women (of course ;) )*

Love / English Girls according to Polish Guys....... [68]

i have a profession, i went to university got a degree and now am doing a an extra year to be promoted and working............but i would never put it before family, its a way to earn money, i am talking about culture of some women who put career before husband and babies and many women now wait to have children so late...this is their choice but then many face fertility probs, i am lucky that i am maybe *old fashioned*- and a girls girl and will be happy to stay home when i have kids..not for everyone of course but to me a polish guy is perfect. correction MY pl guy is perfect...

Love / English Girls according to Polish Guys....... [68]

i am british nationality of german parent with polish boyfriend....sooo ...i had english, german and russian (oops) language when we met and piotrek had only a little english, so that was fun!! actually our first meetings and dates were very sweet, romantic and innocent, my family loved him from the start despite not much communication!! he was very endearing and well mannered whcih is rare.

annyway the question, my man beleives you get good and bad in any nationality, polish girls are not perfection, of course many are beautiful but many english women too are beautiful, its just different roots...anglo-saxon descent or slavic.

piotrek says he felt an energy around me when he first saw me, he was drawn to me and couldn't take his eyes off me, for weeks and weeks he was terrified to talk to me and later a friend introduced us, we shared a drink and now we a re engaged 3 yrs later!!

he says after that moment it was immaterial what nationality i was, he knew i would be his ...bless him!

I think some polish men maybe worry about english women looking for diff things from a relationship, being career focused and waiting till after 30 to have kids, not wanting to cook for her man & generally fuss over him as polish women generally do....and wanting to still go out and live it up with just her friends which many polaks dont like (better do things as a couple). i love cooking and am houseproud as well as being busy with work so this figures well but iam not afraid to ask him to do washing up once in a while....any way i have probably gone on a bit buut, good lcuk with your polish guy.............he could be a real gem!! x

sooo,

UK, Ireland / TRUTH AND DELUSION ABOUT POLES IN UK [65]

my finacee is polish and 3 years ago when i met him he had 2 jobs (both on the books) working 85 hours per week as they were each poorly paid, but people were more positive back then and welcoming, over the years i have experienced more negativity mainly in the building trade, he has a better job now but is a qualified carpenter and cannot find a fairly paid job in this field.

we live in a small village in the west country and despite him lving a quiet life here with me and my family (my family has always lived here) there have been rumors spread in the village that he is a violent man and hits me (?sourced from thin air, it would seem??), he has also had his car keyed all the way around.

i am proud to be english but i have to say ashamed of the people where i live and was born, its so small minded and while i feel that we do indeed have immigration problems in the uk the poles are not the source of these.....oh i could go on and on, but i cannot wait till we can move to poland !!

Food / The methods of slaughtering farm animals in Poland [13]

a fellow vegetarian krysia? good to see, i actually dont find it so bad finding good options in poland and still enjoy lots of the flavours and ways of cooking. no im eating barscz & krokiety :p

i also recommend greens to anyone in a big city in poland who wants to try veggie versions of all the classic pl dishes ...yum!!

Love / Discussion about Polish Men's Tempers [103]

These are post by people with absolutely no knowledge of the amount of manipulation, power, control and lso love which exists in relationships where domestic violence occurs.

Usually the victim (yes this word does exist look in the dictionary, def not the same as volunteer) has been made to feel very loved valued and most of all needed by her partner before the manipulation and power struggles begin creeping into the r/ship.

True, there are often warning signs at this point before any physical occurs where a woman could find the strength to leave, there will be increasing jealousy, possessiveness, and also increased affection which confuses and disarms the victim.

I have frst hand experience of the heart wrenching impact of domestic violence and advise people to think carefully about how much they know- or more importantly have experince of this horrendus abuse, before they made ridiculous comments such as the ones posted above.

I only hope to God you never experience the ultimate betyrayal of being, emotionally absued, ridliculed, spat at, sexually assaulted, force fed, burnedand of course physically beaten by soemeone you have loved, trusted and repeatedly tells you they love you, you are meant to be toether, crys when you say they are leaving, someone who has been accepted into your family and you to theirs, who you have built your dreams around.

The women who manage to escape alive (many are eventually killed) should be commnded for their heart and bravery and offered nothing but kindness and respect.

UK, Ireland / Polish Nights in the UK [29]

there are a few in the south west, we havea huge pl community here.
there are also pl owned bars and a club in bristol

Life / Who's thinking of moving to Poland? [67]

me and my partner plan to move after we are married and have started a family, he has inhereited land and we want to build a family home. house prices in england are ridiculous and there are a lot of social problems which i know you find everywhere but lets put it like this, we would rather bring up children in poland, we will be moving to a very rural area which has strong values and is very friendly =)

Love / My Polish guy - loves me he loves me not [73]

one thing i have learned about polish guys (correct me if im wrong here) is that they dont play games, or play it cool... when it comes to a girl they are interested in.

if he likes you he will let you know, you have taken a risk here, its obvious that you are interested ....dont chase the guy, poles are a little more traditional than (english and german) guys at least.

of course he could just be shy....but even so...you have madea move for him...

my man finds the whole dating thing here so ridiculous and awful, he cant beleive the stress people put themselves through, for him its simple, no games. he saw me, he took me out, we stayed together, now we are engaged, one day will be married.simple.

trust me hes like breath of fresh air after growing up in the uk =)

good luck love x

Language / How long to get fluent in Polish? [41]

hi, i have been learning for two years now but have not put too much effort into study recently, actually i have improved most quickly when my boyfriend took some time where he only speaks to me in polish, then i encounter similar struggles to him when we first met (he could barely speak a word of english he has learned mostly from me).

i also have a good tip to watch cartoons in polish, childrens films etc and read childrens books, this has helped me immensely, as for speaking...dont be scared to sound silly!

i was but you must talk talk talk to build your confidence and pronounciation, Piter says i have a really good accent now so im getting better....

good luck, and dont lose heart.....last tip, in social situations a vodka can do wonders for your polish language (just the one or else you will make up your own language!)

Love / IDEAL POLISH GUY [25]

my pl fiance is tall dark and handsome, he has the most gorgeous huge brown eyes...he is a total gentleman, protects me, is affectionate and wants to pay all the time....we are plaaning a family after we marry and he adores his nieces and nephews...for me he is ideall...