Life / Foreigners in Poland and what they think of us [54]

Wow, those Vietnamese woman in second movie at 6:32 speaks great Polish :-) some minor grama errors but nevertheless good accent. That guy on third movie about 8:12 speaks quite good too. I wonder if they are first of second generation of emigration into Poland.

Anyway, overall from non-European people East Asians seems to accommodate the easiest to local environment...

Work / I'M SO SURPRISED BY THIS SALARY FOR IBM in WROCLAW 3000 ZL gross [135]

I happen to know one guy who was working in IBM in Wroclaw.
If I understand correctly then IBM in Wroclaw is for the most part kind of IT service. As such it is divided in two levels (third level is X file section which is not based in Wroclaw). First level of support is basically working with "issue screen". In fact the only skill required to work on first line is language skill, possibly some West European language other than English. IBM is training this people of course but they are not by any means IT engineers. The second line is where some fun starts and where future employee should have some dedicated IT skills...

Anyway, the guy I know was working on first line and got something between 3000-3500 gross. Considering Wroclaw realities and the fact that his initial skill was just foreign language (not English) I would say it is not bad, not great, but not bad. Before you all come on me, mind that he is not a native speaker of that language.

To sum things up, @YANNICK, if you are experienced IT guy then definitely someone is trying to rob you. If you are not, then you will not rather go far north from those 3000. I suppose for foreigner without family net which makes life easier for typical Pole, you would be struggling.

News / 30 to 40 thousand abortions by Polish girls in foreign countries [142]


This map shows, that all this talk about spoiled west culture by some should be rethinked
(of course Polish data are obscured because of restrictive law). Look at the east, it is disaster:

PS. it is some random map from internet though, hard to judge its reliability

Travel / From Poland With Love [20]

Well "Wodka wars" were much better but nevertheless I enjoyed some parts... The one with Polish Film was quite good.


Yes, but one of many contradicting ones ;)

News / U.S. role in Poland is shrinking [82]


Ok, let assume that it was unfortunate coincidence and leave it...
Again I agree that outcome of this Shield deal is good because this shield wasn't for Poland but Poland suppose to be a shield.


That I do not know, and it is long after coffee break so I cann't ask my wise friend who knows to the bone Polish banking law ;) But regardless of what banks in Poland can by the law they apparently do not lend more that they have deposits.

On the other hand if you look closer at this table you will see the astonishing exceptions of the rule with GE Money Bank as a star (a small subsidiary of USA GE Money bank). They had stunning ratio of 57333,3%... So it can indirectly prove that banks in Poland can lend more than they have deposits, they just do not do that. Thanks God that GE Money has it own problems and this kind of lending culture didn't spread here....

News / U.S. role in Poland is shrinking [82]


The insult wasn't in a decision but in a date that USA choosen to made it public. It was 70 anniversary of Russian invasion on Poland. Quite a sensitive date. Why did they choose to make internal ferment in Poland by choosing that date? I don't believe that their foreign department is so stupid, so I have to assume they on purpose tried to play with polish internal matters. So they sined twice: unsensitive date and much worse, meddling in that way in Polish internal affairs. Thinking about it now I come to conclusion it was element of negotiation strategy. The deal wasn't close yet then and by choosing that date they increased internal pressure on Polish gov. and weakened Polish gov. position in negotiations (there was of course big lament in Poland that "Americans are leaving us and it is gov. fault because gov. dared to be a little tougher in dealings with USA, oh stupid gov. sign whatever USA want you to sign")...


It is the old way in Poland, banks lends and keeps loan on their book mostly. As it use to be in States twenty years ago.

"How are they stay liquid?" For the most part amount of deposits in Poland exceeded loans, but balance was changed during boom years of 04-07' via fx loans from parent banks to Polish subsidiary banks (that is why there was a lot of stress regarding falling zloty in 2008). It is dynamic of course and I'm not sure how is this balance today and have no time to look for it. I'm sure there are proper data somewhere on NBP portal.

Some nice table from 2008:



loan to deposit ratio = 101,4% so almost balanced back then.


My intent wasn't to demonize product as a concept (though naked swaps are discredited in my eyes as a pure evil) but to point to the fact that in general Poland has no exposure to the USA financial market in a way some western countries have, ergo another link puts Poland down in US priorieties. Of course there is a link through USD and US bonds, but which country hasn't that...

News / U.S. role in Poland is shrinking [82]

As I said: "regardless what I think about it". I agree with you that it ended well the way it did, but the insult was there nevertheless.


I do know what I'm talking about, and no, not everybody is using this tools at least at such a scale. I can assure you that securitization of mortgages is almost not existent on Polish market. The only issue in Poland was with options but that issue is closed. The point about financial tools and USA made financial products was not to amplify about it here but to point out that Poland has not much direct exposure to that and if at all then only indirectly through west european banks. The issue with MBS in USA is that they were fraudulent as it turned out and thanks God we didn't buy them as for example some German banks or even communities in Norway..

News / U.S. role in Poland is shrinking [82]


I sincerely believe that they announced their decision regarding The Shield (regardless what I think about it) on 17.09.09 on purpose (17.09.39 Russian invasion). Well either it was straightforward insult or they have the worst diplomacy department on the planet... Anyway it was noted in Poland and will not be forgotten...

About opening question it is really not surprising. You just don't need to look farther than at foreign trade numbers of Poland with USA:

import 2,3 %, export 1,8 %
I suppose they are not even in the first ten... Of course the main partner is Germany and other countries from EU, trade with Russia and of course with China is growing rapidly. Besides our banks wasn't "sophisticated" enough to buy all this financial s***t like MBS, CDO, CDS, etc from US banks. From economical point of view if not counting their influences at IMF and WB, USA is just minor country (it sounds strange I know...), and Poland probably not even in the first twenty for them...

USA is important from Polish perspective mainly because of NATO, but during Bush era they where destroying it on purpose and trying with Europe policy a'la UK in XIX... I would like to repeat here what I wrote before, NATO for Poland is important not only because USA is in it, but even more important because Germany is in it. As soon as USA started to weakening NATO the Polish reaction was WTF are you doing America ?!!

What is worth to note is the fact that before Iraq Poles had let say pink view of USA as a state, you know, the best democracy, pure motives and all that, but after they lied about Iraq to us virginity was lost...

Last but not least they have such a mess with economy AGAIN! that they are just preoccupied with internal affairs. Read about ForeclosureGate... it is shocking and hilarious at the same time, such a mess... I think that some time in the future they will stand again on their feet but they will not regain position they have after 89'. This train left the station and Poland has to adjust wich means keeping good relations with Germany and at least try to warm relations with Russia...

Travel / Clubs, bars and general night life in Poland [13]


White bears lying drunken on the pavements... ;-)
Hm... more seriously probably not much of action on October there, but Gdansk is just nearby... Maybe as a bigger and academic city it will have more to offer during such cold autumn...

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Well, maybe it was invitation not only information ;-)


If I remember correctly this habit of not shaking hands over thresholds is based on ancient tradtion of Slavs to burry some dead ones below threshold... So, you shouldn't shake hands over them for some reason, bad luck I suppose ;)

PS. actually I decided to check it and I learn some weird stuff..
For example pre-Christian Slavs burried below threshold dead children (from miscarriage for example) to have some presumably good (?) home deamon. They believed that children had accumulated a lot of life energy ergo dead ones suppose to be powerful friendly deamons.

Weird stuff, isn't it ? SeanBM, remember DON'T shake hands over home deamons ! ;)

News / Does it seem to you that Russia loves Poland now? [35]


Yeap, but first: they've lost the war, second they've got Marshall plan.


It seems to me that those who think we alone can somehow change Russia are soaping their eyes more... Thinking that we can turn our back on Russia, ignore it, or extort something big from them is total illusion. All those talk by some politicians "to make a tough stand" is just propaganda for internal politics. Actually there was no better moment in recent centuries than now for getting normal relationship because there is no border issue.

There will always be geopolitical diferences concerning Belarus and Ukraine, but it doesn't mean we can't have normal relationship with Russia, for sure we should have at least as good relations as Germany has.

I reaffirm it again: THERE IS NO BORDER ISSUE and there is no minority issue. All this talk based on historical backlashes between Poland and Russia of whatever form is just false analogy. Shift of Poland after WWII was a total game changer regarding relations with Russia.

News / Does it seem to you that Russia loves Poland now? [35]


They are not nice if someone don't pays the bills...

Anyway, it is for sure not easy to have a Russia as a neighbour. But it is astonishing that many people including some on this forum thinks that Poland can because of whatever reason ignore or even run an openly hostile politics toward whatever gov. Russia have.

We cann't switch places with UK or with USA... Many opinions from those places are usually totally out of our context which is as usuall in history growing cooperation between Germany and Russia... Either we choose to gain on this cooperation or we will lose... Time to put sabres into closet, really (but we should sharpen them regularly just in case ;)).

Sorry again for dispelling ilussions but Poland can be ignored most of a time, Russia and Germany most of a time can't.


Can you imagine the amount of compensation that Russia would have to pay? Polish officers is a small issue here. If they started to change decrees of soviets than they would have to do the same for their own citizens. We are talking about milions of people here who would get a possibility to sue their own country... It has potential to bancrupt them. I don't believe any serious change of decrees happens in next few decades just because of money issue...

News / Does it seem to you that Russia loves Poland now? [35]


Err.. it is totally the other way round. Russian gov. is nicer becasue Poles are buying a lot of their gas... So, if you want Poland to pay twice as much and lost one crucial ingriedient of "love" then that's just crazy ;). Since Rusians became capitalistic they have no greater friends that those who buy their resources. The bigger trade turnover is, the bigger friends they are...

Of course at the same time Poland should diversify which actually is happening as we speak :-) I would gladly report that recently construction of gasport for LNG in Swinoujscie started. What is more Polish gov. settled issues with Germans who blocked some funds from EU regarding this project so there will be additional money for it. It should be operational around 2014.

News / Palikot - too liberal/modern for Poland? [197]

It doesn't matter if he is liberal/modern/conservative because he is just lazy comedian...

He had his chance to prove his effectiveness as a politician when he headed parliamentary commission "Friendly Government". But instead of reducing contradictions and ineffectivenes of Polish bureaucracy he preffered to make shows for journalists. He get bored fast with his precious commission and serious work and prefered a role of a clown, maybe clever but still a clown.

So, even if personally I agree that church is meddling to much in Poland, even if I'm pro "In vitro" then mister Palikot can kiss my a** and f** o**, because I know that the only thing he can do is talking, talking and talking with vibrator in his hand.

History / What happened from 1650-1795? [68]


Actually 30 years war in Germany was big factor in Commonwealth war with Sweden.
It can be said that Swedes trained in Germany and then went for Poland... They had costly and good army wich had nothing to do. So they took first opportunity to give this army some work... During that time Commonwealth looked like big and juicy fruit ready to pick. It was wealthy country sure that nobody can really endanger it.. well that was first mistake...

History / What happened from 1650-1795? [68]

Of course it is a long period so many things happened. But among many others the most important were war with Kingdom of Sweden between 1650-1655. In military sense Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth has finally won, but it was Pyrrus victory. In economical, cultural and demographic sense it was total disaster. There are different estimations but Commonwealth lost about 1/3 of population (I'm not sure though if this number is about Polish Kingdom only). Countless castless and other important buildings were destroyed, entire country was pillaged to the naked bone. Every time I'm in some museum about something there is a map how it was, and then among the lines "but during war with Sweden most of it was destroyed or taken to Sweden", etc.

To give you some anectodical examples, yesterday I was in Paper Museum. There was a map with paper mills in Poland in XVII century and another map after the war with Sweden, where most of places were destroyed. One could think, "o paper, not important", well, maybe paper alone not, but when you realize that in muzeum after muzeum about x, y, z you see the same story, you see the disastrous effect of this war.

Another example: guess where are oryginal books by Coperinicus? In Upsalla taken there from Toruń (or Frombork?) somewhere between 1650-1655.
Overall many historians compares losses in 1650-1655 to losses that Poland suffered because of WWII.

To sum things up, war with Sweden was a turning point for Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after wich negatives started prevailing over positives for this country.

Travel / From Poland With Love [20]

Well, franky speaking I'm disapointed. "Vodka Wars" was so much better, author put much more effort then, and it was both funny and interesting. "From Poland With Love" so far seems to be only about fun part, without main idea behind, chaotic.

USA, Canada / Moved back from Canada to Poland:). Here are the reasons why. [868]


Well I don't want to get to fanatical about it, some car parks in the city center are unavoidable. What really drives me mad though is that most of my beloved fellow citizens don't get that in the big city we can't all drive a car in the city center at the same time... Many people have their minds in 80' when there were a few fiats around and that's it.

Everybody would like to park their car in the center, of course for free, God forbid walk 15 minutes. Some would like to demolish half an old city and put big overpass over city hall just to get free way to their new shiny ****** flat somewhere on the outskirts of the town (ok, now I'm exaggerating ;) )

Well, whoever is listening: there is life beyond a car, believe me ;)

USA, Canada / Moved back from Canada to Poland:). Here are the reasons why. [868]


I don't agree... Inner city public transport should be better instead. I'm getting sick of Polish love to cars. There is just to many of them. Every moron who parks on a sidewalk wrongly should have the car taken at the police parking and be fined properly arghh!#

PS. If anybody wants Detroit like disaster of a city, go to the states ;)

USA, Canada / Moved back from Canada to Poland:). Here are the reasons why. [868]


I hate those Gyros bastards, they've killed good old Wroclaw's Knysza...

Travel / Wroclaw nightclubs [20]


Yeap, thx, I should use some dict. first...

Travel / Wroclaw nightclubs [20]

Hi

When in Wroclaw don't forget exploring Hala Stulecia (Continental Hall) area.

Enjoy

PS. In case you will need a city guide try there: biuro@wrota.wroclaw.pl

PS2. A bit of warning: if you use airport give yourself a lot of time to get there, because of road works getting there can take even between 1-2 hours.

News / POLAND IS 4TH BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN EUROPE [60]

@rychlik
this "Life Index compiled by uSwitch" was already ridiculed in Poland. It has important factual errors, so there is really nothing to talk about.

Life / School and stadium violence in Poland? [21]


I was going to wrote the same. During a communist era one thing that was working was a terror machinery of a State. So if someone crossed a line and didn't have connections then he/she was f..cked... There was no other organized crime than state back then. Then 90' came which in the begining was an implosion of the state including security forces. In last years they started to recover some authority, people started to trust in their abilities again, but still in to many cases people just don't go to the police believing that it is not worth it.

It has not much to do with "western values" but much to do with rebuilding the state after communism implosion. Besides, for Poland "western" means for much part West Germany. What I heard and saw is rather quite an ordered society...

Genealogy / Labia: IS THIS A COMMON GIRLS NAME...in Poland..? [19]

Labia? Never heard of... But if it is Lamia, then it is very good name for a girl in future Poland when there will be only three males left... She will safe them for sure ;-)

Life / Polish "Forfiter" :) [26]

yeap, part of ad campaing... nevertheless I find it extremely funny :-)

DO NOT DO IT AT HOME :-)

Life / Polish "Forfiter" :) [26]

If we are speaking about Polish "pearls", well this guy is funny...:

News / Huge costs of preparing for EURO 2012 in Poland [38]

As much as I would love to fly over Wroclaw just for a lunch ;-) I'm not a photographer myself. But we can maybe find someone with proper camera on SCC.

News / Huge costs of preparing for EURO 2012 in Poland [38]

If you will make cool pictures I can buy you a lunch, sure :-)
But my intention was rather to find out if you are into aerial photography, and if so, to suggest that SCC would be just the right place to share. I'm talking about that kind of photos:





author: Wladyslaw Kluczewski