Life / Life as a African American man in Poland [8]

If you attempt to speak the language you will charm the pants of the ladies(or men if that is your thing). In Poland, like any other country, you will come across ignorant potatoes--just like you would in any other country.

My daughters best friend is a Polish born Vietnamese girl. I notice that people tend to stare at her when she is with us.--but that could me my issue and people look at her more out of curiosity rather than hatred. Her Polish is flawless.

If you make the effort people will appreciate it. I also think that Poles are quite accepting and open.

Just don't do the loud American thing. You will be fine.

UK, Ireland / Is it possible to watch live UK tv BBC, ITV in Poland ? [7]

there is a company that provides it. It is a Polish company- all the installers speak English. It is illegal but they do it anyway. We used to have it- I can't remember the name of the company, unfortunately.

if you google skytv polska I am sure you will find it.

and the dish is a regular size.

Real Estate / Questions about what's standard or conventional in a tenancy agreement in Poland [21]

seriously- my husband is a leasing agent- this is what he does from 9 to 5 every day. He can look at it for you, no problems.

Real Estate / Questions about what's standard or conventional in a tenancy agreement in Poland [21]

if you have a copy of this in Polish you can send to me in a message. I will have my husband look at it. he deals with leases every day.

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

seriously? It is Rumia, but a clearer picture is painted by saying Gdynia- which is, as you well know, on the border of the city.

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

here is the thing- all of us are left shaking our heads. My father in law included. It is very easy to sit in judgement after the fact. A momentary lapse in good judgement has just cost him 5,000 pln. Actually more than that as well as embarrassment. When this happened- he wasn't looking for a generator but the guy presented himself as a dealer, with a business card who couldn't get on the flight because of the load restrictions and he was stuck and didn't know what to do. He was practically in tears trying to unload the crap.

Buying something outside the Castorama to somebody who barely remembers communism would be shocking- but my father in law who extensively travelled outside of Poland used to smuggle toys, fruits and clothing from the west into Poland--this is not a stretch. Old habits die hard- so to speak.

And that is what the target market is.

5,000 pln is nothing compared to the humiliation he feels as well as the feeling of being completely taken for a burak.

Now we are laughing about it but I want others to be aware of this guy and his methods

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

as I said this guy targets older men that remember the smuggling mentality of the communist era. Thinking they got a good deal.

a moment of poor judgement. happens sometimes. I don't get it either. My father in law has been to greenpoint- he knows the bridge isn't for sale. nice one, though

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

The story from the guy was that he was attending some conference and he couldn't get back to Italy by plane with these Honda generators and saws. He was selling them as legitimate Hondas.

There is no question about filing a claim- that is not what this post is about. The money is gone. My father in law will be happy if he can get 100 pln from the parts.

Basically, I would like people to spread the word- some are already doing this via forums and youtube.
Buying something from a Russian or Gypsy- one expects them to be fake.
I think my father in law got taken in because the man was sharply dressed, spoke only in Italian and his story was crazy enough to be believable....

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

it has left me and my husband scratching out heads. My husband has said to his father- what the hell, you are not a burak- how has this happened to you? I think he was sold on the outward appearance of the seller and believed the unbelievable story.

Happens to the best of us.
But- I want more people to be aware of this scam- I would have thought buying electronic goods in the parking lot of a Castorama is a dead give away- apparently not.

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

I think so, I don't watch tv- so I am not a good one to ask. I don't think my father in law wants to rehash the embarrassment- but perhaps a story can be told without mentioning his name.

It is a good idea.

History / Welcome to Lemmingrad! [59]

or something you saw on youtube. please.

Life / Fake goods in Poland [42]

these are amazing fakes. The only difference is the weight. There are loads of the exact model on Allegro. The funny thing is my father in law is an electrician--so he should have known. It is such a ridiculous situation and now he has to keep secret from my mother in law that he blew 5,000 pln on fake garbage generators and saws.

And if anything comes of the whole embarrassing situation is that by spreading the word- hopefully more people will know about the scam. I don't know how to go about it- maybe contact the news stations or something. It is not as bad as Amber Gold- but still a scam all the same.

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

but he isn't wrong, is he? just you are.

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Interestingly enough in the spring I was in the UK and watched a bit about Greece on tv and what the experts thought. Number one issue was the Euro. Had Greece not taken the Euro as their currency- they would not be in the mess they are in at the moment- I am sure this is a huge reason for the many problems in Greece. Poland, in my opinion, should not take the Euro. It is far too soon- and then the supposed house of cards will then definitely fall. We still need a lot more foreign investment in order to bring the country up to parr.

Why is foreign investment frowned upon here. It happens everywhere in our globalized world.

Work / This student Polak has a job, at last. [9]

do the job but always keep your eyes open for better. nothing wrong with that.

Life / General questions for those who have chosen to make Poland their home [32]

General labourers do not get paid well here. That is why they flock elsewhere. Having said that- those that have stayed and run a quality company can do exceptionally well. My carpenter is doing well, his brother- also a carpenter is having to turn away jobs. There is something to be said for taking pride in your work- no matter if you lay tiles, paint walls or install flooring- when your work is quality, people will recommend you and so on and so on. In Poland this is an excellent way to find quality trades people. So- being a general labourer is no excuse and neither is stupidity.

Law / Citizenship of Poland can be obtained through the blood line but my ancestor could lose it in the past [45]

jesus- why are so many looking for a free ride into Poland?

go through the embassy like everybody else does

Law / Selling product to restaurants/ supermarkets [7]

I have a client who does this already. She has no problems but doesn't sell to supermarkets.

Life / General questions for those who have chosen to make Poland their home [32]

I meet a lot of people in my shop. They always always always ask where I am from. When I tell them I am from Canada- it is always oohs and aahs. Even my physiotherapist did this. For some reason the idea of Canada is very romantic to Poles. It has its good and bad. I am always asked which country I like better and I can't give an answer. I like them both for different reasons.

Life / General questions for those who have chosen to make Poland their home [32]


I married a Polish guy in Canada who got a job offer he couldn't refuse.


My husband and daughter were fluent. I knew simple things. Now I am fluent. Poor grammar but people don't mind.


My husband works in commercial real estate. Did in Canada too. I have switched occupations. I used to be a preschool teacher but before we moved here I returned to school for interior design- which is what I do in Poland.


Some things were a bit annoying at first. Just silly things which I have gotten used to and have adjusted my life accordingly. For example, shopping in a large grocery store is a clusterf*ck on a good day- I try to do our weeks shopping on Monday am when not a lot of people are there. I also check all foods to see if they have been opened. So many times I had just grabbed something off the shelf only to discover it had been opened and taste tested. Traffic in Warsaw is terrible- so I plan my days after or before rush hours.


mostly really great. very accepting and I feel welcome. I am also from Canada which has a romantic image in most Poles minds.


I have lived here for 10 years. We are not going back any time soon but I would like to return and live in Canada at some point.


I own my own shop so I set my hours. I don't work Sundays or Mondays and my days are short. I am home at 4:00. My husband is at a point in his career where he is able to set his own hours. We have seen a lot of Poland. My husband is from Gdynia so we usually spend week ends at the sea side during the summer.

Food / Kasztelan niepasteryzowane is really fresh! [11]

who drinks bud light? seriously.

Study / Learning Polish in Warsaw - good school recommendation? [47]

I went to IKO. It was quite good.

Travel / Lublin ruined by arrival of Ryanair [33]

but the planning of the night is done sober, no? what is the logic behind the costumes?

Travel / Lublin ruined by arrival of Ryanair [33]

a question for the Brits- why do Brits go completely apeshit when on a stag week end? I have never seen anything like it. We do similar in Canada, a bit more moderate and respectable fun, but nothing like what I have seen in the old town of Prague, Bratislava and Krakow.

UK, Ireland / Polish Biker condemned over 103mph wheelie in the UK [15]

last week I saw a motorcycle burned to a crisp under a car. The driver of the car was in shock after the motorcycle hit the car from behind. I don't understand how and why drivers are so insane in Poland while on motorcycles.

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

can I ask you what you want to do- if you don't want to say, please send me a message. I have a client in Szczecin and I am sure she would rather buy from you than paying the postage of my stuff.

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


well, I don't really want to put myself out there on an open board- but it has something to do with interior design. I can send you privately my site.

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

your last post is something I am very familiar with. I have my own shop so I have done a fair bit of research on the subject. Primarily, rents are too high. For example, in Warsaw, in a place called Miasteczko Wilanow- a 45m2 retail space can run from 3500 to 5000 pln per month. What in the world can support such high rents besides 24hr alcohol. Nothing. No small business can afford that.

Not only that- people don't seem to do business plans or research their market- they don't know what the hell they are doing- but they want to open a shop.

There are many places around me that seem to change shops every six months. There is one that was a flower shop, pizza place, toy shop, second hand clothing shop, back to flowers and the most recent is a bike shop. Every time I drive by this place it is different.

My husband is in commercial real estate and manages a few buildings in Warsaw. There was this lady who had a shop in a class A building- about 75m2. She had it fit out in all materials imported from Italy- extremely high end, not only that- she imported the tile layers from Italy to fit out the space. She dropped about 500,000 pln just on the fit out of a rented space- all to sell high end Italian clothes. Anyway, she couldn't pay her rent. Even from day one. My husband actually evicted this person (and got great pleasure from it because she was such a *****). I simply don't understand how somebody could have a business plan thinking they would make back all of that money.

It isn't just this type, it is also small shops. Poor locations, bad pricing- very bad service. What I have learned by running my shop in a year is that word of mouth is important. I have so many clients who have heard from somebody about my shop. What has happened is that I have now rented a space twice the size and I will be moving in Nov and expanding my business.

Figuring out what the market needs is key- not thinking that the customer should buy what you have.

anyway...rant over. This is something I am quite passionate about- there are so many shops and services in this country that are open one day and closed the next- all from poor planning.

Law / Child Alimony in Poland - 1700 PLN? [74]

why do the regular racists need to make comments about the colour of his skin. stop being such dicks.

and of course there are no white Poles that have ever neglected to pay their fair share of child support. Or is that ok because they are Polish.