Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Atch: Since you obvioulsy have NOTHING to write re Poland and Polish things in general, I am sure you can find an Irish forum very easily.

Amazing that mods/administrators don't say anything about all these OFF TOPIC posts! I was suspended for 2 days because of off topic comments whereas Atch is off topic at least 99.99% of time.

Double standards! "sad"

PS: as to socalled neutrality, be aware that de Valera (who offered Ireland's condoleances to Germany on May 3, 1945 further to Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945) was together with his friends Franco and Salazar a good friend of Hitler's and that's the reason why countries like Spain, Portugal and Ireland were not invaded. I suppose that in your history books they are silent about a lot of events ;). But never mind, POLISH fora are NOT about Ireland, Pakistan, Singapore, France or Paraguay but about POLAND and everything related hereto ;)

Work / Average salary in Poland for PhD in IT [40]

Come on! Most Poles have to get by with some 2,000 ZL/month and you don't know whether you'll make it with more than 5 times more?????!!!! Get informed about Poland and Poles and you'll realize that your question can shock....

Language / Is Polish an easy language to learn and is there a way of learning it easily? [105]

@Labrador: of course, no language is easy and no language is hard! It all depends upon first of all one's native language and also of one's experience in language learning (it is well known that 2nd language is "easier" than the 1st, that the 3rd language is "easier" than 2nd etc etc..).

As a French native, I can also understand a lot in other Latin languages withOUT having studied them (only Italian for 2 years, centuries ago and mostly forgotten).

As to someone (obviously not educated) claiming a lot of French words look like "English", it is so BECAUSE English is made up of at least 40% French words (some have of course changed their meanings over the centuries and it is the same for instance for the numerous French words also in the Polish language (of course spelled Polish way).

As Victor Hugo rightly said "open a school, and you'll close a prison". Lack of education and ignorance lead to disaster....

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]

@Labrador! Good to read all your comments! Absolutely, to be prejudiced and to hate entire nations/populations only show lack of education, of intelligence and of experience. Hang around and you'll read a lot of members who have moreover have NEVER set a foot in a particularly country but they HATE (????) everything about it. Pure stupidity! Fortunately in real life, I have no contacts with people of this kind. Personally, I hang around dozens of nationalities on a daily basis and I love it. Sad that some people (including a lot of members in PF) are so closed minded and refuse others simply because they happen to be "different".

Classifieds / Where to find English - speaking community in Warsaw? [15]

@Dolno: thanks :) but as a non native English speaker, by "hanging around", I meant "to have contacts with" and of course not physically standing in front of gates ;). I meant through contacts WITH the schools (through PTAs....). Personally as a non drinking person, I'd rather meet people in "heatlhier" conditions than in bars (ok for me to go to bars WITH people (which I do) but not as a mere way to meet people (which I do not) ;).

Classifieds / Where to find English - speaking community in Warsaw? [15]

@Ewa: do hang around British and American Schools! You'll meet a lot of people. As to International Women, I have a friend who used to go there and she has stopped: a lot of snobs (not only from English speaking countries but from everywhere else - everybody is welcomed as long as they speak English. For a while, I wanted to but 1. no time (work min. some 30 hours per week) and 2. I don't like snobs) and their activities are mostly during day (not easy when you work) and very expensive...

In my opinion, best to hang around British and American Schools. I personally know quite a few of parents thereof. Even if you don't have kids, don't hesitate!

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

this ugly jerky drinking Boris is married! Wow! Who is the "lucky" one? I suppose he has a fat wallet, which would explains why...

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Delph: I am not aware of it but a lot ot them are so freaky .... I know that often in Germany and in Switzerland they don't want to vaccinate their kids. Kukiz? Against vaccinations? Thanks to vaccinations, a lot of people could have been saved over the years. I suppose in order to enter schools in Poland, kids need to have all kinds of vaccinations and it is fortunate.

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

@Pol attorney: in theory, yes but in reality? ;)

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Dolno: the said camps are really run like prisons. Parents send their kids (minimum age 8 or 9) to show them what could happen to them if they did something wrong. Poor kids! Well, so ..... American!

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

the worst I have seen is on CBS Reality where in the US, some "normal" middle class parents send their kids to special "prison camps" where kids are dressed with prison clothes and lead prison life, are barked at, humiliated.... for several weeks during summer vacation and parents pay for this BS. And you see the resut in the society!!!! Fortunately, in Erurope, we are not that crazy and we don't need the "American way" ;)

Pure common sense that if treated badly, may be a child, an adult or an animal, they will all react badly.

Yes, Dolno, in those days ... ;););)

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

@Josie: believe me, it is necessary! Also if need to fight in a Polish court, you guys as foreigners will lose, no doubt about that. If you don't want current wife to get more than her legal share, do protect your family! Maybe you can get informed re British law!

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Pol3 and Dolno: this is pure child abuse and parents accepting their kids to be abused should be dealt with by law together with the "teachers". I did teach in a (public) high school in Georgia, in which at the time (now I don't know) "bad" kids were hit with a .. paddle by the principal. I never sent any of my students to principal's office to be hit and they all behaved in my class. The kids called him "Gestapo". Violence only brings more violence. If a kid is treated like sh##t, they'll react accordingly and vice versa.

Law / A Polish company have not paid me [13]

@Pol Attorney: you know, when people make themselves officially insolvent, there is not way to force them to pay ;). Years ago (when I was still naive) I worked for a woman who still owes me 2,000 and in those days no way to get my money (I have of course stopped fighting) and inspite of PIP, police, lawyer, komornik, there was NO way to force woman to pay because officially she owned nothing (whenever she bought expensive things such as cars, flat, she would put purchases under her mother's or her daughter's names).

Also, what about those companies with headquarters and money from obscure exotic places, there is no way to make them pay!

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Dolno: I forget and forgive (too) quickly ;). Unfortunately, I am too nice (and too lenient) and am often hurt as a consequence because a lot of people take kindness for weakness... It is often so in Poland. Life is crual ;)

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

@Pol Attorney: for sure, if widow/er is alone, it is normal that he/she receives 100% but I meant in cases when there ARE other heirs ;)

@Josie: 100% with you! Please ask your dad to do all paperwork to avoid problems later on! My husband meant to write a will in my favor but unfortunately passed away before and as a result I have to split all 50-50% with his son (who is loaded and that's why his father wanted me to have everything) and I even have to fight against greedy ex ;). It has been a nightmare for me to fight for years against that mafia so please make sure your dad protects everybody (including of course his current wife)! You know, nobody needs such conflicts!

Law / A Polish company have not paid me [13]

reporting this company to whom and what for? First of all, what kind of contract do you have? If commercial contract, you need a lawyer; if work contract (umowa o pracy), you may contact Labor Inspection (PIP) but of course they have no power to force people to pay so again you need a lawyer. A lawyer will be expensive and if need to go to court because he cannot negotiate with them, you are not guaranteed to win and even if you did, your employer if insolvent would not pay you...

If I remember, the money they owe you is ... 50 dollars so less than 200 ZL so no need to bother with lawyer who will cost much more.

Sorry but welcome to real world! Most probably you were naive and now you have lost 50 dollars. I know it ****** you off but believe me, such things do happen. C'est la vie.... In Poland until a few years ago, it was not unusual not to be paid for work done (it has happened to me too and as people had made themselves officially insolvent, no way to get my money).

Just next time, don't sign anything with anybody!

Do concentrate over next job (with more serious people)! :)

@Delph: don't be naive! If such "employers" do it, it is simply because they know they can get away with it. You also don't know story. Maybe OP did something wrong and the employer keeps money as a result.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Dolno: absolutely! Without bragging, I have much more morals and values than a lot of "hollier than thou" people I can come across. Being kind, tolerant, respectable and whatever else positive can be achieved without any religion as they are universal values and have been around since the beginning of mankind. To me, pure common sense: not to steal, not to kill, not to hurt others....

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

Can it be more than ... 1/2? ;). However, I am pretty sure that EX husbands/wives are not allowed to dig in inheritance ;)

Work / Taxes and ZUS on a second job in Poland [11]

First of all, as to an "employee", what are you from? If not from EU, you'll need a work permit and said permit will only be issued to potential employer if no Pole and no EU resident in Poland can do the job ;)

Law / Internet provider in Poland - signing a contract with my foreign passport [9]

@Veik: so if you have a EU passport and are white, easier to deal with them ;). Yes, true, very often things are different from one employee/civil servant to another and quite often I need to keep looking until I find the "right" person who will agree with me.... It is amazing but it is a reality in Poland. However I doubt that someone not European will be successful.....

PS @Veik: it does NOT work for everything ;)

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

@Pol Attorney: Since no will, I received 1/2 from my husband's inheritance and my situation was nothing special. Besides, a widow/er should not receive less than 1/2 as most often death of spouse also means financial hardship for survivor

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

Yes, Pol3, everybody has different expériences ;). My father raised in religious boarding schools experienced (sexual) abuse from priests so needless to say as soon as he could leave said "education", he stayed all the rest of his life as far away as he could from anybody/thing related to religion and saved us (my brothers and I) from such socalled "education". We were raised away from the Church and all of us have turned out fine, decent and respectable citizens (higher education, no trouble with police/justice, no abortion, no sleeping around, no alcohol/drug dependence, even no ... homosexuality ;)). No need of religion to raise kids properly and make them decent citizens. My case is not exceptional ;).

Law / Internet provider in Poland - signing a contract with my foreign passport [9]

You may have found an easy-going employee to start with (it happens ;)) and like you say it is more expensive than a regular contract would be. However, if as per the employee's goodwill, I suppose that it depends where your passport comes from. If you are let's say from Belgium, I suppose you had an easier time to deal with them than if you had been from Pakistan, Zimbabwe or Tanzania ;).

Law / A general question about inheritence and will - (no debts) - properties in Poland and England [19]

Yes, true, Zazulka! Unfortunately I have been there (as a widow) and yes, in Poland 1/2 for widow/er and 1/2 for other heirs combined. I suppose it's this way in at least European style countries. Of course, father's stepson (i.e. another man's son) has no rights. In addition, with 4 natural kids in UK + some property also in UK whereas the couple lives in Poland, it is not going to be very easy so BEST to write wills and whatever needed documents NOW. I got "lucky" that there were only 2 heirs and all was clear (although my husband's ex managed to take some 80,0000 zl from inheritance (although divorced some 23 years before ;)) but unfortunately as a foreigner, I have NO chance in a Polish court against a Polish citizen so altough I am most pi...ssed and most unhappy about it, I have to "pack it up") but in the OP's situation, it is obvious that some sh###t is to be expected especially if (a lot of) money is involved so father needs to get everything in order asap both in Poland and also in UK (4 kids there and on top of that not legitimate so Polish current wife could use in her favor as per Polish law + property).

Facing spouse's or close parent's death is far from "easy" so best not to have also to fight for one's share of inheritance.

@OP: Ask your father to contact lawyers both in Poland and in UK and to write documents asap!

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

@Jon: it goes for a lot of areas (Saska Kępa, Sadyba, Anin....among others) where we see gorgeous villas built before 1989. Some years ago, I worked with an expat family who at the time lived (rent paid by the husband's company) in a house, in which one of Jaruselski's bodyguard once lived. The villa (located in Sadyba not far from British School) is gorgeous, several floor high, a lot of rooms most of which are huge, nice garden. It strikes me that Poles are nowadays very discreet about their past....

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

of course, Roger, the "yes" to EU will win all the more as I expect that a lot of people will not bother to vote.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Nothanks: When would Hollande have said this? No track whatsoever in French media including those CLOSEST TO FN ;). As to extreme right parties, I suppose you don't know that they are financed by Putin. French FN OFFICIALLY recognizes it and these days, le pen's (meaning "the head" in Gaelic) daughter publicly admits that her party (= family sect) is to seek help from Russia for 27 million euros. Even The Times has reported it.

I'm not crazy about EU but better EU than ... Putin ;).

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

@Pol3: absolutely but no matter what, everybody (at least in the West) knows that EU is to collapse very soon and personally the sooner the better ;). Most probably UK voters will vote in favor of EU (otherwise their votes will be refused like already seen in Ireland, France and the Netherlands - EU self claimed clique does not like populations to vote "wrong") but as EU has become a giant fiasco (Merkel may have contributed a lot to said fiasco but the others did not do too much better, it won't last very long (no matter what UK decides). Except of course big business, there is hardly any soul in Western Europe in favor of EU.

Good riddance and asap!

@Ktos: "Poland being a servant"! It'll stop when 1. Poland will really contribute to EU's funds (check what Poland pays in and what Poland get out ;)) 2. Poles are paid as much as their western counterparts so big companies from abroad won't have to come to Poland for cheap labor.

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

If UK out (which I seriously doubt), it would mean more unemployment and more poverty in Poland. Poles would not be able to go there and work, would not be able to send money home (very big concern for Polish governmentS). Moreover, Poland as the no.1 EU money's recipient is too weak to dictate their whims.