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Posts by Trevek  

Joined: 21 May 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 12 Jun 2016
Threads: Total: 25 / In This Archive: 17
Posts: Total: 1699 / In This Archive: 1176 		From: Olsztyn
Speaks Polish?: not a lot
Interests: varied

Displayed posts: 1193 / page 13 of 40
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Trevek   
17 Dec 2010
News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

The Polish airmen serving in the battle of Britain were not used for a long time in the battle as they were thought to be lacking in skill and commitment..

There was also the matter that top brass wanted them to fit in with the basic techniques/strategies/methods other RAF pilots used.

The thing with US army is that it has its own methods which differ from other forces. This doesn't always allow them to understand how other forces work and to utilise/work with them to the best end for both forces (of course, this also works the other way too).
Trevek   
17 Dec 2010
USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

Yes some of our politicians made mistakes but our politics will change soon and our next government will make much better decisions and slowly but surely, we'll manage our problems this way or another.

But wasn't that why you changed your government in the first place? (I believe that's why UK changed theirs... or maybe UK didn't feel its pols had made enough mistakes)
Trevek   
17 Dec 2010
News / US Military: The Army of Poland is crap. [124]

Oh, so now it's the turn of the Poles to be complained about (the germans and the brits have previously been on the receiving end). maybe everyone should just pull out and leave the US to it, as they seem to be the only ones who know how to do it properly...

I bet it's great for morale of the guys (US and coalition) to hear such things.

One day maybe the brass will learn to shut up!
Trevek   
17 Dec 2010
USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

It is so obvious that they are blind to what America really stands for today.

Stands for... to whom?

US stands for sifferent things to different people. I mean, you go on about wars but what does that say about Poland? Poland either went to war because they wanted to be the oppressors and invaders for the first time in 80 years or because they were playig little puppies to big US in order to get a few bones from the table (and UK went into the war because Tony Blair so wanted to be the new Margaret Thatcher and kid on he headed a world power... and all the other successful Tory leaders had wars, so why shouldn't he?).

That's not what Poland stands for to me (as a foreigner), but using your outlook, it could.
Trevek   
17 Dec 2010
Food / Why carp for Polish Christmas? [157]

why do people in Poland eat carp for Christmas Eve?

Because Poles just love to carp on about things.
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
Travel / Has anyone seen Mazowsze (established in 1948) [9]

Mazowsze have a special effect on certain people in that they are sometimes seen as "fake-lore", as in 'not real traditional' and, indeed, possibly harmful to genuine traditional music.

They are also seen by some as symbollic of communism ("communist-approved folk-lore"). In Central and Eastern Europe there is/was a movement from the late 1980's known as 'post-folk-loric', where a number of musicians tried to search out older, more original forms.
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

Nothing changes, as long as the parent was a Polish citizen at the time of the birth. It even extends to the grandchildren.

Interesting. Thanks.

It's funny how you Brits react when you hear Americans talk

Hey, I enjoy hearing Americans speak. As someone who studied linguistics and anthropology they fascinate me.

We have a tame American at work and he and the Brit NS's are constantly sounding each other out about what you can and can't say as an American/Brit speaker of English. It's vital, cos a lot of the kids use US spelling (so we need to know if they are using uS spelling or just spelling it wrong ;-) )

If you ever wanted to see the piano stop in a school staffroom, there was a time when another American teacher asked, "Hey, do you British really have a difference between the Present perfect Simple and the Present Perfect Continuous?"

Americans aren't a political people. We tolerate mistakes.

and often vote them back in for a second term... hey you're not THAT different to Brits (we can manage a third term)
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

Its very simple. If one comes to America and does not support it.. No big deal.. Get the hell out.

Franek will have a heart attack when he reads this... but I agree with him.

I am tired of hearing things in UK like, "You can't fly that Union Flag or that Cross of Saint George because they are racist and might offend immigrants!" (yes, I've been told that!).

Sorry, if immigrants want to come to my country, fine, but they should accept that people died for that flag which they are coming to live under. Presumably they are coming to live there because they value something about that land... then why should they feel threatened by the flag?

Since i've got dual citizenship now i feel like i belong in both countries.

does Poland recognise dual citizenship? (genuine question)

Its the road to a green card, the final stage - after that youre a US citizen.

I see. Thank you.
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
USA, Canada / Expat Poles swearing allegiance to the US - how did you feel? [157]

Like a traitor. Honestly.

I'm not asking this as a challenge or judgement, but why did you pledge allegiance?

If that isnt brainwashing i dont know what is.

Certainly not Polish kids parading with flags on national holidays...

Come on, where do you draw the line at patriotism and brainwashing?
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
Life / During winter in Poland, does petrol in the car freezes [60]

I didnt see your post im only talking about door trims, should be fine for locks and stuff.

That's a relief (or 'Uffff', as my studes say).

weird, I can write a word like 'sh1t' but when I write 'ufff', which my students tell me is just a sign of relief, I get it removed by mods... maybe my studes are lying to me!

Better to protect the rubbers beforehand, a dab of vaseline works as well.

I keep my rubbers in my wallet until I need them...
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
UK, Ireland / Polish immigration in UK [491]

Nope...when the Brits want Turkey in so much they should come up with all the costs and open up for their immigrants!

Hey, considering the amount of iraqis, Afghans etc that seem to make it across Europe to French coast in the hope of claiming asylum in UK (when pol asylum is supposed to be the first safe country you come to) we all know the definition of an EU passport is "Hello, Mr European border guard, I want to go to England!"
Trevek   
15 Dec 2010
Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

Doesn't matter much. The thing is amateurish, but well observed. If you know what I mean.

Well, it's for a primarily British audience, so it doesn't have to be exact. Considering some of the criticisms of the phone ads using mock Russian in Poland, I think it's OK.

Harry Enfield is pretty good with his observational stuff.

Brits are over-sensitive about racism. Unless in private, that is.

Indeed.
Trevek   
14 Dec 2010
Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

When did Polka make its way to Ireland? Is dance of the mirlitons Polka?

Probably around the time the Schottische made it's way to Europe.

Probably it was popular amongst sailors or American Irish.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka
Trevek   
14 Dec 2010
Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

Trevek, the video of Orkiestra Sw Mikolaja can be considered to be a polka.

Thanks. I thought it was but wasn't sure.musically. having danced in some bizarre places in little villages off the map, I thought it was a polka rythym.

Do the Irish dance Polka?

Here's an of Irish shanty to ANSWER to answer the question

youtube.com/watch?v=Q8HD9GWc_P4&feature=related

youtube.com/watch?v=x67j_aWFqxk

Kerry is well known as a Polka place, musically.

Here's a Cajun polka but all the band members seem to have Polish names.

youtube.com/watch?v=-CB2UPIImbI
Trevek   
14 Dec 2010
Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

Sorry, I didn't realise "polka" was actually a genre, I was thinking more of bands which played traditional polkas in their repertoire (OK, those tunes weren't but I do know they play them). Would I be correct in thinking it's a bit like the difference between a Scots traditional band and a ceilidh band?

MY wife plays traditional music (she won't call it 'folk' as she see's that as too much like Mazowsze-style 'folk-lore')

Of course, plenty of Scots/Irish/Cajun bands also play polkas, so I suppose I could stretch it.
Trevek   
14 Dec 2010
Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

What's funny is some of the debates about sketches like this... the Brits go on about how racist it is and the Poles love it.

...