Life / Level of English among the Poles? [64]

My English isn't perfect, it is actually far from good. But as long as people understand me, I'm fine with it. And I really like speaking English. It has started when my teacher in school was changed and we were learning less grammar but we had more conversations. After that my teachers were always native speakers and I loved it. Now I am not scared of speaking English, even if I make mistakes. But I know lot of people who were taught that if they don't speak grammaticly correct they should not speak at all. In my opinion Polish teachers care only about grammar. So, GodandBrown, I know I should like your lessons :) Keep it that way! :)

Oh, and I think Callan Methon gave me a lot, I mean the grammar part.

Language / Numbers in Polish - two different ways? [44]

Or maybe it was "siedmiorgiem". I can't explain grammar in English so I give you an example:
Rodzice z siedmiorgiem dzieci.
Parents with 7 children.

Study / I am going to Wroclaw University. How to reserve a dormitory? [4]

Is'n it a little too late?
You should call as soon as possible, but I would be surprised if there were any free.

Travel / Dzialdowo train station at night [5]

The train is at 19.38, not 19.10, so I guess half hour more is enough.
Taxi should not be very expensive.
I used to stay at night at few small stations, it's ok, though not the most comfortable situation.

Travel / Good Place near Gdansk for weekend get-a-way? [8]

I absolutely love this place.
It's right by the Śniardwy lake, and it's very quiet.
But it is not luxury, it is for someone who likes sitting by the fireplace with no tv.
It definitely has a vibe. (not sure if it's a right word) :P

mazury.com.pl/domki/niedzw/

Also people from Gdańsk go for weekends to Bory Tucholskie.
I hope you will find something interesting.

Travel / Good Place near Gdansk for weekend get-a-way? [8]

I don't agree. People from small towns, especially from regions where people live from tourism, care about tourist, even more for foreigners, as they are much more polite than for example people from Wawa. I usued to work in tourist information in Mazurian district and we always treated our customers the same, that means the best we could. There always will be an exception, but does it mean that people in Mazury are all mean? I was treaten badly in Germany and Austria just because I'm Polish, but I don't blame all Germans and Austrians. Uhhh, I've got angry!

Travel / Dzialdowo train station at night [5]

uuups, the time of departures are different in September. Sorry.. :)

Language / Female endings in surnames~ what should I think about this? [6]

I've never heard of any case like this, and actually I don't think it's even possible. In Polish law names must predetermine the gender, that is why all female names finish with -a. I think it is the same with surnames ending with -ski/-ska.

Life / How important is it to have a car in Poland? [37]

Where exactly are you going to live?
I lived in Olsztyn for seven years (mostly Jaroty) so at night it took 1 hour of walk to get there from the city center. But if you will live somewhere furthere there are only two night buses in Olsztyn and they don't get everywhere. But the taxis should not be very expensive. During day time public transport is quite good, but still depending on the quarter, as in some there might be only one bus running every half hour. If you give me the exact place of staying I could tell you more details of the public transport in this quarter. btw I envy you :( I want to go back to Olsztyn!

Life / How important is it to have a car in Poland? [37]

If you will be in Jaroty than I don't think you nead a car. You will have few busses running quite often and it takes 15-20 minutes to get to the centre. Also, Olsztyn is considered as one of the safest cities in Poland so walking at night is no problem. At least it never was for me. There are also private small buses called OKejka. And night buses goes to Jaroty too. I wish nice staying in Olsztyn!

Study / Student experiences with housing/finances in Wroclaw [11]

With such budget you won't be able to rent whole flat, but if you don't want to live in a dormitory you can just rent a single room in shared apartament with other syudents. If you do so, you will have enough money to live a good STUDENT life :) I mean enough for food and a lot of partying.

I think Wrocław is one of the best cities to live in, much going on there. Lot of events and the city itself is very beautifull.

Study / Student experiences with housing/finances in Wroclaw [11]

That is why flat-sharing is the best option. In Poznań rent prices are getting up too :(

Study / Student experiences with housing/finances in Wroclaw [11]

why is it that rents are so high?

In my opinion, there are few cities in Poland known as a "student cities", because they have many different universities, like Wrocław, Poznań or Warszawa. And as there are so many students in one place, they have to live somewhere, and there are no enough dorms. (For example in Olsztyn, there is population of 170 000 people + over 40 000 students - it DOES make difference for a small town) So people got smart, and if they have a flat to rent, they want as much money as they can get, because students will rent it anyway. I was living in dorms back in high school, 4 people in small room :P it was fun, but... NO MORE! Maybe single room is an option, but dorms are always so loud. The choice is yours! Good luck!

Travel / Weekend trips from Olsztyn [5]

Driving in winter in Warmia and Mazury district is not the best experience. Most of the less important roads are covered with ice. I mean in Mazury, Warmia is better.

You can go to Malbork (the teutonic knigts castle-the biggest in Europe) and Toruń (one weekend), Gdańsk, Suwalszczyzna (as all region) - there are many orthodox churches and it is very rural part of Poland. After the winter you should see Biebrzański National Park and Białowieski National Park (you can make it one trip with Suwalszczyzna). Going to £yna river source close to £yna village is good for one day trip. Also visiting the great lakes district is nice idea, Mikołajki, Ryn, Giżycko-maybe rent a yacht? You can go to Gierłoż with its bunkers, it's very popular and worth seeing. From Gierłoż is very close to Święta Lipka, very important place for Polish catholics, so you can make it at one time. You can go canoeing on Krutyń river, one of the most beautiful, but it is better to go in May, early June ore September because it is very crowded in summer. Also Czarna Hańcza river and Wigry Lake are not far from Olsztyn, and they are well known from its beauty. You can also go on boat trip by the Elbląg Channel, it's very unique, one of few like that in the world. There is much more to see and go, but I can't remember now everything :P

Oh, if you ski, there is a not too big slope in Mrągowo open probably from December. And there is nice aqua park in Hotel Gołębiewski in Mikołajki.

If you have any questions I will be very happy to help :)
Take care!

Travel / Weekend trips from Olsztyn [5]

Trains never shut down, in winter it is even better to travel by trains beacuse they run in every weather, and if there is snow and ice on roads its safer than buses.

I remeber now that in Kadzidłowo, near Mikołajki is a Wild Park with lots of animals, but it is something much better than a zoo. I really like that place. :)

Life / What are your favourite Polish Radio stations...? [27]

I like Afera from Poznań, and UWM FM from Olsztyn.

Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]


You mean "śledzikowanie" :)
I am from Mazury and live now in Poznań.
There are words I just can't stand here and we often have "word fights" at work, where half is native Poznańska Pyra and half from "worse part of Poland" (as they say). For example: szneka z glancem, naramki for ramiączka, ramiączko for wieszak, skibka for kromka and many many more.

I also hate when people from some parts of Poland (mostly western) don't say "ą" at the end of words, so you hear "som" instead of "są". grrrr ;/

Language / DIALECTS IN POLAND? [28]

"Mazurzenie" is not actually specific for Mazury, but also for Mazowsze, Śląsk and Małopolska, but I don't hear it a lot. Mostly older people use it. There are very little native Mazurians in Mazury. I know berely few. They usually have German sounding name or last name. Warmińsko-mazurskie voivodeship hase the highest percentage of ethnic minorities in Poland. Mostly people who came from Lithuania and Ukraine after II ww, but also others.

Travel / Northeast Poland - Podlasie [6]

Just a church in Białystok, capital of Podlasie.

zmartwychwstania.bialystok.net.pl/zdjecia-kosciola.html

Work / Poznan - Career Path [22]

I am affraid your previous experience will not be usefull here. How do you want to manage or do marketing, or even work with Polish clients if don't know the language. I think the only thing you can do is to teach English. I know some time ago schools took people like you without teaching experience, but i don't know how it is now. There is an English school in Poznań nativeenglish.pl. Maybe you should ask there, or at least you will be able to talk with other people who used to be in situation like yours, as there are only native speakers working there. Good luck! Hope you will like in Poznań!

History / Has anybody read: Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland's Present [6]

I think all Norman Davies's books are good. I finished "Powstanie 44" recently. He writes the truth, even if it's bitter. I personally love soldiers's memoirs books, especially about the uprising of '44. But I don't know how many of them are in English.

History / Prussian History [29]

Most Mazurians used to call themselves as "Prussians of Polish language use". Some Mazurians didn't actually know that their language is similar to Polish (from Wańkowicz book "Na tropach smętka"). Mazurians were called, in German lexicons, as peacefull folk living from agriculture and using Mazurian dialect (which was Polish), oh! and very important - they were Protestants, unlike Prussians from Warmia. The name Mazury comes from Mazowsze, Mazurzy = people who migrated from Mazowsze. There were parts of Prussia where 99% of people in a village were Germans (mostly Warmia), and parts where most of people in village were Mazurians (strict Mazury - from osil map Sudowia, Galindia and part that is not on a map - Sasinia). Unfortunately before the war Germans start to consider Mazurians as Polish, that is why they were persecuted. And after the war Poles considered Mazurians as Germans, and that is why so many of them left Poland. Mazurians are an example where language and culture do not follows national awareness, maybe that is the reason their history is quite sad. I think the best way to know if a family from Prussia was German or Mazurian (that is with Polish roots) is actually not the surname but to find out if they could speak Polish (Mazurian dialect). Greetings from Galindia! :) Sorry that my English is not good enough to explain things better.

History / Prussian History [29]


RIGHT!


RIGHT RIGHT!

The Mazurian dialect was the one which was used by Polish linguists to reconstruct clasical medieval Polish language. Therefore Mazurian dialect is more Polish than any other.

History / Prussian History [29]

Book "Mazury. Zapomniane południe Prus Wschodnich" by German historician Andreas Kossert. No link, sorry. I checked, it was not medieval but XVI-XVII century Polish language.

Love / Polish wedding customs/traditions? Aussie marrying Polish. [21]

Maybe you could ask your parent to welcome you at the reception with bread and vodka.

Life / polish-indian couple looking for baby names [28]

I personally like name Kira. Also Ina would sound good in both cultures, and these are Polish.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]

There is quite big group of old aristocracy in Poland, but you don't expect us to call them and ask if they want to see you. I mean, come on.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]

But I did replied your question. There is a big group of aristocracy in Poland, they meet in their own company as most of them are related in some way.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]

ok guys, let's give him a beak...

Life / Questions about IKEA in Poznan [20]

ikea.com/ms/pl_PL/img/local_store_info/poznan/Cennik_transp ort_montaz.pdf

here are the prices of transportation. it says that if you want to have delivered your furniture farther than 30km from Poznan you have to pay 1,5zł x twice amount of kilometers. So it might me about 400zł. But there is an email address so you better ask. The store is quite big, very crowded on weekends, so probably the best time to go there is friday evening. Both credit cards should be acceptible.