Poland: The Things That Make Foreigners Lift a Brow

LMFAO, eloquently put mate :)

well, in any city, avoiding dark parks and alleys is advised. I dont care what country
you are in. so you can take this post as a warning. for those visiting because even
though Poland has lesser crime, it still has crime non the less.

I want to take a Poll, how many think that the UK and the United states are the
same?? and Poland and the united states?? what seperates them??

( this is not for prejudiced but for uniqueness which each country holds)

I will go first, only because this I heard from friend at work who went to the UK

that the UK doesnt have convienences like we do, we have 24 hour grocery stores
and pharmancys and gas stations , resturants etc.

I know Krysia can add to this post with the poland and US diference. what are some
of the differences with the uk and poland as well.

no yeahs or neahs?

man you people are difficult!! lol...

America and the Uk are exactly the same we just speak different languages.
Seriously though since this is about things that make you lift a brow.
Why Carp for Wigilia? my Mother in law made it special and I had to eat it and it damned near killed me its more bone than meat! And you have the best Trout I have ever eaten and yet Carp is the Holy fish for Wigilia please explain this one. There is a reason that Carp is only one letter away from Cr.. well you know what. Not to offend the Chinese but they are gastronomically brave and even they don't eat it.


Mcdonalds KFC and Pizza Hut are equally popular in Poland and the USA perhaps more popular in Poland they are always full and the Poles love to say how terrible American food is.

And how all of our fruits are bigger :) American blueberries...the bigger ones:)

im an Irish guy living in Poland and "steves " views are so inaccurate for instance if he had spoken to some educated people he might of heard of how good the Polish education system and how so many people finish university with really good degrees.

The fact is all he seemed to do was look for the countries faults and im sure where he comes from is just as bad in different ways, for instance cocaine and heroine are not as popular in Poland as in the "west lands" especially in england, Ireland and the usa.

as for the food i have never had better so tasty and healthy for instance golabki pierogi and many many more. In fairness they are quite hardcore when it comes to religion but thats not so bad is it??

And about the birthday thing 18th is really important other birthdays usually celebrated with close family

Only thing i can say is come and see for yourself you wont regret it:)

My main problem was the toilet signs, I had to go out of the cinema halfway through for the toilet, then had to run back in to ask my girl what one I oughta use :)

Guns most people carry a gun in the usa but do not in the uk, the us takes the p..s out of the Poles, the uk takes the p..s out of the irish, every one else just comes to the uk to take the p..s

No way, dont believe everything you see on t.v.

Some ppl have permits to carry a gun

otherwise if you get caught carring a conceled weapon
your looking at some serious jail time.

Has anyone heard of a Saints Day?? My grandfather is from Poland. His middle name is Roman (Ive read the that most people from Poland are given a saints name for their middle name?) and he celebrates his saints day as his birthday... and he cheats and celebrates his birthday too:) Has anyone heard of a Saints day before???

I live in AZ and dont have much of a Polish family living near me anymore. So I have really enjoyed reading all the info provided on this site!

Your first name is celebrated on a Saint's Day.

It's on a few threads on the forum.

O Yeah, has anyone had sileovivwz ( I am sure I am spelling that wrong...) ? My polish grandfather crushes prunes and lets them soak in vodka with some sugar, then we let it sit for as long as we can tolerate (we try for several months). I’ve had the idea that this must be a popular polish custom... is a correct assessment or not so much?

sliwowica - and do you know the delicious soup called “czarnina” (black soup)? It is basicly some real blood from a duck and plums ;D

Here what wikipedia say on it:

Czernina (from the Polish word czarny - black; sometimes also Czarnina or Czarna polewka) is a Polish soup made of duck's blood and clear poultry broth. In English it is referred to as Duck Blood Soup.

Generally the sweet and sour taste of the soup comes from the addition of sugar and vinegar. However, there are hundreds of recipes popular in different parts of Poland and Lithuania. Among the ingredients used are plum or pear syrup, dried pears, plums or cherries, apple vinegar and honey. Like most Polish soups, czernina is usually served with fine noodles, macaroni or boiled potatoes.

Until the 19th century czernina was also a symbol in Polish culture. It was served to young men applying for the hand of their beloved ones after the parents rejected their proposal. It is a plot element in Pan Tadeusz, a famous Polish poem by Adam Mickiewicz.

It is also be a regional dish in Kaszuby and Poznan'.

Czernina may not be for everyone, however those willing to give it a try often find it to be hearty and satisfying.

I am from the UK and I have lived in Northern Poland for 6 months. There is a lot of truth in the main article, but for me, I find the Poles a very friendly people who would do anything to help you. Most of them would be mortified at the thought of offending you. I have shared train compartments many times with Poles who are very curteous and friendly. I have laughed for hours with complete strangers and we don't even speak the same language. I would say that Poles only suffer from a depressed economy which is a throwback of communist corruption, the symptoms of which are numbed by drink and other social vices which are also seen in many other western nations. All in all I think they are individual, proud, unique and I love them to bits.

I guess this means I really blew it when I didnt talk with this very hansome polish musician/conductor on the cruise I was on ,a couple of years ago. To this day I regret not talking with him!!! and wish I would bump in to him in the near future!!!

That part shouldn't be really so exotic to visitors from UK.

What was that recipe for hagis?

Stomach bag of sheep, sheep's liver, sheep's lungs, sheep's heart, gravy from liver. Of course some spices to kill the foul taste :)

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Admin should remove the "Admin" from the header of the quote ;)

I heard that both birthdays and name days are celebrated, but as one gets older, the name day is celebrated more often.

the talking bit, i found to be a tad inaccurate. in my time here, i've witnesses many a group of poles all sit or stand together in complete silence. I am surprised how different my observations have been compared to the author's

I remember being in the Papparazzi bar in Wroclaw when Poland were playing Germany in the World cup and it was as quite as a church. Every now and then a low rumble of Polska, Polska could be heard and then a german would make a tackle and then, silence. When, on another football outing in Wroclaw, England were playing Portugal the Poles as they had heard the Enlgish in the bar all cheering for their team decided its ok to cheer and they all got behind Portugal, with full vocals. Strange!!

What has portugal ever done for Poland I ask you. Maybe im a tad bitter as of course we lost that game.

What I found different in Poland is that officials in public sector take bribes(even the train conductor),many people hang out,sometimes next to churches and polish girls smile and show cleavage,they are almost seductive when they try to sell something.

I once saw a guy buying drinks for many people. I wondered if it was just him buying a round but people were singing birthday songs. It turns out that the guy who was buying drinks for other people was the one whose birthday it was. I was told that it was a Polish tradition to buy drinks for other people when it is ur birthday

Who is Steve?

Alice, Alice.....?

Portugal follows Poland everywhere.

Okay, nearly everywhere.
Well, in alphabetical lists of countries it does.
Sometimes.

It also does in alphabetical lists of languages...
Then you're right, osiol, Portugal follows Poland everywhere...

PS : for those interested in football, Portuguese even followed Poles there. Portugal came after Poland in the Euro 2008 Qualiications... ;)

I see pudzianowski is back on top in terms of the Worlds strongest man, he makes me lift my arms and tence my muscles and then feel skinny.

A great champion even if he is pumped full of steroids.

I agree. I never heard of a Polish person not celebrating his or her birthday. Depending ont he family or the area you come from you may celebrate more a Name day, but you will still celebrate the Birth day as well. Name day is just another celebration.

England national football team is a major rival of Poland NT. It may not be the case for English fans but definitely is for polish ones. Few victories against England we had enjoyed are well remembered as well as losses to England, that btw prevented Poland to participate in major tournaments at least several times. We had enjoyed victories against world champions but ones against England are sweeter. Poland would always estimate highly victories against England as we take England as a cradle of football regardless of latest form or rankings. It is Ireland polish fans would cheer for full heartedly anytime.

interesting

Never have I met so many Aunties, Uncles and Cousins.

i have such a small family that it lifts MY brow... :)