Off-Topic / Loading a photo of Poland from your mobile/cell phone takes 30 seconds, come on! [86]

it looks like most Polish houses I have ever been in. Loads of books and plants.

Off-Topic / Loading a photo of Poland from your mobile/cell phone takes 30 seconds, come on! [86]


too difficult. I need to be able to do it straight away from my phone.

Off-Topic / Loading a photo of Poland from your mobile/cell phone takes 30 seconds, come on! [86]

ok- I will play. how do you do it? I have an iphone so if it is more complicated than necessary I won't do it.

Life / Polish Born Ethnic Minorities - are they integrated? [10]

they speak almost flawless Polish.

my daughter's best friend and all the kids in her vietamese community speak perfect Polish. The parents speak excellent Polish- but not perfect.

Indians- hit or miss. You don't see as many children in everyday Warsaw. We used to have neighbours that were from India- the whole family spoke perfectly, but they have since took their Tata car and returned to India.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


Have a look at Ursynow. I really like this part of Warsaw. It was meant to a be a model development during the big communist build after the war. But after communism fell- this part got a lot of new development- it has proper roads that are two lanes, loads of new builds, large grocery stores but also smaller more personal stores and then the open air markets.

It is also close to Kabaty forest- Poles go crazy for the forest...

It has really nice new buildings, lots of great parks and bike paths everywhere. The old post war blocks don't stick out- they all have had facelifts. That would be my recommendation, for sure.

Life / Polish Born Ethnic Minorities - are they integrated? [10]

Warsaw has a large Vietnamese population. There are also loads of Indians.

Integrate? sort of. They speak the language but they still practice their own traditions and customs.

My daughters best friend goes to Vietnamese school on the week ends.

There really isn't one area like a "ghetto" where they tend to live---they seem to be quite spread out. There seem to be loads of Vietnamese close to Blue city in Ochota--but I can't prove this- it is just an observation.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

An average is a misleading number in real estate.

In Miasteczko Wilanow- the price is about 5000 m2--some even less, down to 4,600m2. In Piaseczno it is less than this.
Sady Zoliborz is close to about 7000m2. On the Praga side- apartments are far cheaper.--Old Praga is beautiful, original and gets a bad rap so the prices are cheaper.

Closer to centrum, like Powisle- new construction is over 10,000m2.

This is shell and core- no fit out.

There are loads of flats being built in Warsaw- just depends what you are looking for. As for discounts....hit or miss.

Life / Polish Born Ethnic Minorities - are they integrated? [10]


So a person of Polish descent born in the U.S. is American.

Double standard no?

My daughter, born in Canada, half Polish, half Canadian mix has a best friend who is Vietnamese born in Poland. She is a Polish citizen with Vietnamese ethnicity. She probably speaks Polish better than you.

You are confusing the two. Ethnicity and Citizenship are different, duh.

let me guess, you are wearing white socks with trainers and gym shorts with t-shirt from Auchan. Poland B behind a computer is a dangerous thing.

And I know this will get deleted.

USA, Canada / My story. Born In the USA - do I have a chance in Poland, my Mother Country? [69]

I think it is simple. Advertising has managed to brain wash the average person into thinking that paying a private insurance company does a country more good than having the gov't regulate health care paid by income tax.

I just don't get it.

And then in true American fashion- the words communist and socialist are used together- of course the average person has no idea what either one of them are---just that they are bad bad bad.

USA, Canada / My story. Born In the USA - do I have a chance in Poland, my Mother Country? [69]

He doesn't have a socialist attitude. And seriously, what is wrong with getting social services paid for through taxes? The majority of the world has this method of health care yet Americans think that giving their money to the ultra wealthy insurance companies are so much better. It is sick.

News / Amber Gold and other Poland's suspicious institutions [139]


he is too arrogant to kill himself. He thinks he will get off again, just like he has in the past. Shame really. Those poor people that got suckered in by his scheme.

USA, Canada / Vancouver Polish People [27]

why don't you go to the Polish church and see if you can find any there.

there are a good number in North Van- but they also seem to be well spread out in Vancouver.

Food / Instructions for a nice Polish mix cake to make [5]

why don't you make him something Polish- be proud of your culture!!

USA, Canada / Canada to attract more immigrants, also from Poland [8]

you know, I don't think it is one or the other. Poland is great and Canada is great. But what I miss about Canada is the feeling of belonging somewhere. The people in Canada are more open and accepting. I have met really nice people here but it isn't the same. There is no sense of belonging to a community here. Everybody has closed doors and high fences- communal parks are few and far between- you don't get a chance to meet your neighbours here.

We usually go to North Van for our holiday. My best friend has a son who is submerged in hockey- but it is such a community thing--and this is what I miss.

We did arrange a bbq for our osiedle which carried over to our basement- there are twenty houses in my osiedle- we had great success with this and the residents just kept saying what a super idea and we should do this again. I guess it is not normal here for people to try and get to know each other? I used to have an acquaintance in Canada who was Polish- she didn't like the Canadian style because she felt as though everybody was trying to know her business. I don't think it is like that at all.

We are here for a while but I definitely want to go back. Canada is a great place to live.

USA, Canada / Canada to attract more immigrants, also from Poland [8]

let me just clarify what I mean by assimilate.
In the U.S. total assimilation is expected, which in my opinion is one of the reasons the states is a mess. The "melting pot".

In Canada we are considered a "cultural mosaic"--sounds a bit cheesy but it works. Immigrants are not expected to give up their culture- but they are expected to learn one or both of the languages, and adapt to Canada. They are able to practice their own languages, religions and culture without problems.

In fact, I celebrated more Polish customs when living in Canada than I do now. I was married in a Polish church in Canada and we usually did all things Polish at Easter and Xmas. Now that we are in Poland and our families are in Canada- I do the preparations so it is turkey and my Canadian traditions.

My in laws go to Polish church and have Polish friends but they don't live in a Polish ghetto. They enjoy Canada and didn't want to live in little Poland while living there.

We have quite a few Polish friends that still live in my home city in Canada. They are educated, home owners, living in different parts of the city- not in one community. They have made a life for themselves in Canada and have kids that speak both Polish and English and even French.

That is the Canadian meaning of assimilate.

However when an advert goes out like the link it often attracts the bottom feeders who are pretty much trailer park trash no matter where they live. The thing is- Canada is so far away- the bottom feeders that are sucking all the benefits and causing problems in the UK will not be able to do the same damage because a flight to Canada is about 4000 pln--they can't take a cheap flight or drive back like they do now.

There is no cheap flight to Canada- it is all or nothing.

Law / Rights of a consumer when dealing with faulty goods in Poland? [65]

I have taken a few things back to Leroy. Never had a problem.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]

I don't think everything is more expensive. Depends. Fabrics yes but furniture that is made in Poland- sofas, chairs--they are cheaper. Ikea tries to source as much as they can in the country before they go elsewhere. There is a monster Ikea furniture manufacturing factory in Poland (cant remember where- it is on the drive to the north) anyway, this factory ships to all other Ikeas in Europe.

USA, Canada / Canada to attract more immigrants, also from Poland [8]

Canada is a great country to live in. There are loads of Poles there, in fact I married one of them. For those that want to work and learn the gov't sets up immigrants quite well. They want them to succeed. They don't just lure them to Canada and set them up in slums. There are many that will always take advantage no matter which country and culture.

Trades people make bank in Canada. If you can set up your own company you will do well. Rig pigs in the Alberta oil sands make crazy money. Some cities are super expensive and don't make any sense to immigrate to- for example: Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal. If you go to some of the smaller cities and towns you will have better opportunities just because the cost of living is better.

But if you just want to go and work for 6 months to send money home- don't do it. You will not have saved enough and probably won't even be able to afford the flight back. Canada is for those that want to immigrate and assimilate.

My in laws still live in Canada. They started out in subsidized housing then were able to buy their first home- now they are living in their second home mortgage free. The health care is good (contrary to what you may have read-it is good) the social systems are good, schools are good. Everything is good in Canada.

There are problems like with any country but it is still a great country to live in.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]


not if you only eat whole foods. They don't put corn in meats, fruits and vegetable, cheese-don't know. They may feed it to the animals- the jury is still out on that one- but we don't eat food from a box or package.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]

I come from corn country in Canada- during the harvest you can get 12 for about 2 dollars- maybe more now.....I have lived in Poland for eight years- I am out of touch.

there are two types of corn. cow corn and sweet corn. cow corn- obviously for cattle. sweet corn for humans- however they are all genetically modified to the max that I stay away from all things corn.

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Three colours White is not Ashes and Diamonds.

Life / Moving To Krakow May (a place to live and work?) [48]

warsaw is a hole. If given a choice I wouldn't live here but unfortunately my husband's work dictates where we live. If given a choice I would live in tri city. Fresh sea air, laid back vibe- that is more my style.

Travel / Warsaw city bikes [14]

why do pedestrian walk on the bike path? In my neighbourhood there is a bike path and a foot path- people would rather walk on the bike path- I don't get it they are right next to each other.

why do cyclists ride in twos side by side even when somebody is coming in the opposite direction?

Travel / Warsaw city bikes [14]

a lot of people use them here. I live close to a bike path and loads of people use them there.

it is about time. now if we could just get them to wear helmets and drivers of cars to look where they are going.

UK, Ireland / Crap parenting in our UK youth today (in Poland it's a little better) [52]

I used to get hit with the wooden spoon.....I think it is a Canadian thing- I have friends that had the same thing. I also don't have a good relationship with my mother- being hit and slapped will do that- particularly when it is for stupid reasons.

However, I learned how to parent. After highschool I went to college to become a nursery school teacher and I learned how to deal with children of all ages- what they are capable of, what is appropriate behaviour as well as working with special needs and behavioural problem children.

I don't hit. I never have. I simply don't need to. I have good kids that are nice to others and respectful of everyone. My eldest fights back against bullies and she sticks up for her friends that are targeted by bullies. My youngest is the sweetest huggiest kid. They are good kids because they know what is acceptable behaviour right from day one. Being a parent starts the moment they pop out of the womb- not just after work.

Perhaps I am bragging but I don't care. I see so many obnoxious, rude, horrible children in this country- mean and spiteful and selfish. My husband and I have worked hard to raise our kids- and it shows.

Good kids just doesn't come from genetics- they are nurtured from birth.
My kids are not perfect- especially when they start fighting with each other or talking back- but usually time alone in their rooms solves this problem.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]

don't be ridiculous. It has nothing to do with money- not with me anyway. I have never, since I have owned a car bought anything other that all season radial tires- and I come from a very cold and very snowy city. Yes, the snow plows are on the snow just as fast as it comes down but it doesn't lift the black ice. Bet you never lived in a city where it reaches -45 with the windchill and hovers at -20 most of the time.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]


ok- then explain to me why in Canada it is abnormal to use summer and winter tires. The general population uses all season unless you live somewhere far north and then it is chains on the tires.

whatever, don't explain, I don't really care anyway.

UK, Ireland / Crap parenting in our UK youth today (in Poland it's a little better) [52]

what makes me laugh is parents begging their children to stop doing something unacceptable.
like getting into a negotiation. there is no negotiation, i am the parent, i said no, end of conversation.


everything about this is quite sad. there is no need to hit children if you know how to parent.

Life / Let`s compare prices of services and products in Poland [359]

winter tires and summer tires are a cash cow.

I come from one of the coldest cities, with the most snow in Canada and we (meaning general population) only ever used all season radial tires. never been in an accident.

UK, Ireland / Crap parenting in our UK youth today (in Poland it's a little better) [52]

I don't understand what situation would justify hitting a child?

If you are parenting your kids instead of the tv or computer- you don't need to hit them. If you set limits with concequences--there is no need to hit.

If parents hits their kids then the kids will hit other kids and once they become parents- they will hit.

There is nothing wrong with saying no to a child or telling a child their behaviour is unacceptable- go to your room--what justifies a spank, slap or hit?

I remember getting spanked when I was a kid. It hurt for 5 minutes but the slap across the face my mother gave me has left a lifetime scar. It takes away the trust and respect children have for their parents.