History / Poland obliged to make war reparations to Austria and Germany after WWI. Why? [119]


Not sure if the original Prussians were "destroyed" but their culture did die out and what was left became part of the German or the Polish culture (depending on the location of the inhabitants). Original Prussians were neither German nor Polish but rather a Baltic culture.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia
"...The name Prussia derives from the Old Prussians, a Baltic people related to the Lithuanians and Latvians. In the 13th century, "Old Prussia" was conquered by German crusaders, the Teutonic Knights. In 1308 Teutonic Knights conquered the formerly Polish region of Pomerelia with Gdańsk (Danzig). Their monastic state was mostly Germanized through immigration from central and western Germany and in the south it was Polonized by settlers from Masovia. After the Second Peace of Thorn of 1466, Prussia was split into the western Royal Prussia, a province of Poland, and the eastern part, since 1525 called Duchy of Prussia, a fief of the Crown of Poland up to 1657. The union of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia in 1618 led to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701..."

Language / Baby blessing for Polish female baby [7]

I see, thanks. Yeah, it sounds like something that probably applied to most countries at the time.

Jane - I understand, thanks. It was the "mu" or "jemu" (him) that got me confused.

Language / Baby blessing for Polish female baby [7]


Huh? Where did you hear that?

JaneDoe - I know that your greeting pertains to "maleństwa" (the little one) but can it be used for a baby girl? Somehow " życzymy mu" sounds way off to me but I'm sure I'm wrong.

History / Poland obliged to make war reparations to Austria and Germany after WWI. Why? [119]

Did you learn that in Grunnskolen? Somehow I doubt it. Nothing prevents Poland from doing as much research as they want. However, as everything else in life it's about money. There's more worldwide interest in archaeological finds from say Egypt than Poland. Therefore there's more money to be made doing research in that region. Don't make things complicated when they really aren't.

Language / Changing Polish punctuation? [23]


01011001 01100101 01110011 00101100 00100000 01101001 01110100 00100111 01110011 00100000 01000010 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01000111 01100001 01110100 01100101 01110011 00100111 01110011 00100000 01100110 01100001 01110101 01101100 01110100 00100001

or

Yes, it's Bill Gates's fault!

(it really does say that, check it yourself :)


Are you getting old Varsovian? :)

How many is a billion?

In British English, a billion used to be equivalent to a million million (i.e. 1,000,000,000,000), while in American English it has always equated to a thousand million (i.e. 1,000,000,000). British English has now adopted the American figure, though, so that a billion equals a thousand million in both varieties of English.

The same sort of change has taken place with the meaning of trillion. In British English, a trillion used to mean a million million million (i.e. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000). Nowadays, it's generally held to be equivalent to a million million (1,000,000,000,000), as it is in American English.

oxforddictionaries.com/page/114

Genealogy / Mroz surname - adoption - searching for family members of my adopted Polish daughter [7]

I totally agree.

I guess I was looking into the "deep emotions" of a man who one day finds out that his wife of 10 years or so had a child in the past that she gave up for adoption. Don't know what I was thinking, keep forgetting that we men have no feelings whatsoever.... I've read quite a few statements on this thread alone that we men are liars? How is this different? Enlighten me please.

If a man turns down a woman just because she had a child in the past then he simply doesn't deserve her. In relationships honesty should ALWAYS prevail. I just don't see why such an important event should be kept secret from a loved one??

"on this thread alone" - meant to say "on this forum alone."

Genealogy / Mroz surname - adoption - searching for family members of my adopted Polish daughter [7]


Terri - you really feel that way? Wouldn't that be a relationship built on a lie? What about the wishes of her new partner to know the full truth about his fiance/wife, etc.? We are not talking about who she was with in the past, etc. Who cares. We are talking about a child she gave birth to. A pretty big deal, wouldnt you say?

I mean if I was her new partner I think I'd have liked to know the full truth, nothing wrong with putting up a child for adoption if that seemed like the right idea at the time. However to keep it secret from the new partner seems somewhat sickening to me... What else could she be hiding?? Sounds like a very unhealthy situation.

USA, Canada / I sent a package from Wisconsin, US, to Warsaw. 3 weeks and still not delivered? [14]

Maybe it's going by boat??

USA, Canada / Education transfer USA (Micro biology from a technical university in Poland) [30]


Sasha is a Russian who's living in Germany. While he might be enjoying poking fun at the US I doubt he's defending the Polish education here.

USA, Canada / I sent a package from Wisconsin, US, to Warsaw. 3 weeks and still not delivered? [14]

It'll get there eventually. Christmas probably delayed it.

FYI - you paid to the USPS but in all likelihood it was flown on FedEx as they carry some 80% of US post office's international mail and packages. They only deliver to the local post office which then delivers to the customer. When you went to the post office you probably saw a fedex drop off box there somewhere? They have a 7 year agreement to carry most of their air mail/packages. The post office simply couldn't handle it, they've been losing money for years.

Po polsku / Polak/Polka stulecia [32]


Tak? A jakie słowa się używa w Polsce?

USA, Canada / I sent a package from Wisconsin, US, to Warsaw. 3 weeks and still not delivered? [14]

Doubt it was in the US as they have some of the best, cushy jobs out there and have lots of benefits and if caught you're fired on the spot and police gets involved. Why would anyone want to risk that is beyond me. Of course, you never know. Tracking number is a must whether you choose the government (USPS) or the private option (DHL/Fedex/UPS).

USA, Canada / I sent a package from Wisconsin, US, to Warsaw. 3 weeks and still not delivered? [14]

How do you know it's the Polish postal service that's the problem? It could be the USPS... Did you get a tracking number? It's only a few extra pennies.

If it was important you should've used DHL, Fedex, or UPS (note, not USPS). Don't trust a government agency for important packages.

Po polsku / Polak/Polka stulecia [32]

Kiedyś Marie była Polką a dzisiaj byłaby "plastyczną Polką". Ironia losu.

USA, Canada / Education transfer USA (Micro biology from a technical university in Poland) [30]


I'd be shocked if she gets credits for a Master's Degree. I have several friends who went through similar transfers, my own was a while back but I don't know one single person who was credited with a Master's Degree. Hope it works out for her.

News / Poland sees its past in Belarus's present [12]

How is Poland building a nation? I don't get it. It's a free, democratic society, a country that's a part of the EU and NATO. When Poland was a totalitarian nation there were several independent radio stations transmitting from Germany, a neighboring country. My mother remembers listening to BBC and Voice of America to offset the Pravda BS. Poland is now doing the same for Belarus. It's something Poland should be praised for rather than admonished.

News / Poland sees its past in Belarus's present [12]

Wow, you sound like Molotov. ...or was it Ribbentrop. So freedom and liberty for all, except... Very convenient for sure.

News / Poland sees its past in Belarus's present [12]

A huge diaspora? What's that got to do with anything? Polish government is simply "paying it forward." There was a time people felt about Poland the way you now feel about Belarus (aka, not our problem). Fortunately not all people felt the same way.

USA, Canada / Education transfer USA (Micro biology from a technical university in Poland) [30]

Well, I don't think it has anything to do whether the degree is from Poland or another country. I had an electrical engineering degree from Sweden (that's where I was raised) and had to go through all the hoopla myself. Every university I applied to wanted the original documents and authorized translations. Some of the course literature had to be translated (many pages) but fortunately most technical books in Swedish universities are printed in Swedish and English so that helped me a lot. I could do the translations myself but it had to be an independent, certified firm who did that. In hindsight I like it because they want to avoid the "Nigerian University" type of scams.

I ended up getting credits for some 70% of my past classes and had to take some courses in the States. Actually took several of those courses in different universities as I relocated several times during that time. Then I ended up changing professions and took a different degree all over again but that's a different story...

So yes, it's possible but it won't be easy nor cheap.

USA, Canada / Education transfer USA (Micro biology from a technical university in Poland) [30]

Research online for a university with similar courses and find out if there's a way to transfer her degree or to go to the next stage, probably a Master's Degree as I think her current education would translate to a BS with microbiology major. You will have to provide course summary, books, literature, etc. for each class she has taken. Some classes might get transferred while others might not. It will cost her some money for sure. Most jobs in highly technical fields require many references; inquire with those who're willing to give her references on what her best options are. Good luck.

Off-Topic / PF - The Omnibus Edition [1502]


Well, since you asked. It basically boils down to the laws of physics and thermodynamics. The aura of boobs is directly and inversely proportional to time and gravity, it is also highly dependent on the desperation of the appraiser. For every action there might be some more action, and sometimes a negative reaction. And lastly, a boob in the hand is worth two in the bra. Wow, I'm turning into Southern... Someone shoot me!

Po polsku / Młodzi polscy prozaicy - kogo polecacie? [66]


Dziękuję. Często gubię te ogonki...

Po polsku / Młodzi polscy prozaicy - kogo polecacie? [66]


A "już (dosyć) długo szukam" byłoby poprawne?

Czekam (z utęsknieniem ;) na Waszą propozycje / Wasze rekomendacje?

USA, Canada / Think you're Polish (and live in the USA)? [161]


I assume you're being facetious, right? If not you must have forgotten the history of People's Republic of Poland and a few other countries I can think of. Communism and Nazism is the same cancerous tumor but looked at from different angles. The communists focused on your class while the Nazis focused on your race. Same thugish ideology despite pretty words and lofty ideas.


I do because there's nothing wrong with trading with China. The whole premise of the Coal Union which eventually evolved into the EU was to force the Germans and the French to become codependent of eachother, to prevent a possibility of an actual war. See any similarities?

What we need is to demand better conditions for the Chinese workers, to make the trade more fair to all of us.

USA, Canada / Think you're Polish (and live in the USA)? [161]


They have no choice. Those poor people would be even poorer if we didn't buy their goods. Some 80% of items at Walmart are made in China! That money the Chinese are making gets "parked" in our treasuries. We need them to buy cheap stuff they need us to feed their poor and prevent an uprising. Sooner or later they will have to allow more freedom and democracy in China. ...and that will be a great equalizer for national relations.

FYI - when the Nobel Peace Price was being awarded Polish Forums (amongst a myriad of other websites) was blacked out. The message I got in Beijing and later in Shanghai was that the website I was searching for was unavailable! So kudos to PF, you all made it to the Chinese censors' boo-boo list! LOL

USA, Canada / Think you're Polish (and live in the USA)? [161]


Well, you just mentioned mainstream media, hardly a neutral point of view. It's no secret that the "mainstream media" is very biased, usually leftist and often anti-American. Not in the sense of hating America but in the sense of blaming every evil on earth on America, George Soros mentality you know.

Having said that, I do not disagree with your premise. I think America's influence will decrease, partly due to China's rise and partly by default. American citizens are getting tired of being vilified by other nation's governments, allies and enemies alike. It's easy to gang up on the big, fat guy in the room. ...and by no means am I implying that America is faultless.

Personally I cannot wait for the day when some of our fiercest critics start dealing with the Chinese on a daily basis. There will come a day when some will miss the perceived "American arrogance", when they are faced with the daunting task of negotiating contracts and deals with the behemoth, communist giant. ...I'm talking politics by the way, not business, Chinese are good in business. However, when politics get involved then everything is on the table. Blackmail will be the standard approach, you'll see. I love China and am there every month yet I don't fear it. China will create many, many friendships for us around the world, mark my words.

There's plenty of fish in the water, both countries can be successful.

USA, Canada / Think you're Polish (and live in the USA)? [161]


Maybe you are the one who's bought into the idea of your citizenship being all about your rights but no obligations whatsoever? Sort of like friends with benefits?

The only thing that matters to you seems to be "what's in it for me!?". "As long as I get my bennies but don't have to feel obligated to do anything in return I'm all game!" "Oh, and I checked already and I should be ok to keep driving after "a few glasses of wine"... "

I didn't imply anything about my values being more important than yours. I simply explained why I personally didn't think you should pursue the citizenship, I explained it and then I butted out of the discussion. Then of course you accused me of living on welfare (I am in the military and you explained very clearly your views on the US military) and of being a war criminal (I got your Nuremberg reference).

Yeah, great discussion indeed...

USA, Canada / Think you're Polish (and live in the USA)? [161]


If it came out as me being rude than I apologize, wasn't my intention even though rereading it now I can say I sounded pretty mean.

However voting is important to me, it's a core value to me, you know some things I just believe in and it's hard for me to discuss something when there's no mutual groud to stand on. I didn't join the military for the money you know. Either way, yes being able to vote is the most important aspect of being a citizen to me. So basically I butted out of this discussion not to be mean but because we don't have the same set of values on this issue, that's all I meant by it.