Off-Topic / Protestant countries developed faster than Catholic countries [14]


There is the small matter of 700 years of English hegemony. btw, climate and geography didn't exactly hold back England.

Life / Is it common for Polish people to speak English in Poland? [122]


Do you say, "the police is looking into..."?
If an agency wants British English, that's what I give them; if they want the United States variant, that's what they get. The customer is king.


That's what I won't accept.

News / PiS to force every hard working, low earning Polish family to pay for TV [96]

Terri, if you can receive TV or radio on your phone, they'll probably say you have to pay.

Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

Where in Ireland, Karachi?

Life / Is it common for Polish people to speak English in Poland? [122]

These stats are based, it seems, on EF's own internal exams. UCLES stats would give a more objective picture. It's also unclear. Do they really mean 'speakers' or learners of English? I've taught students from more than thirty countries, and some of the best were from countries not on that list. I have to say that Russians are, in my experience, the best students in terms of hard work, and the Dutch take the palm overall. The Poles are somewhere in the middle, which is a respectable placing given the problems Slavic group speakers face in terms of orthography, pronunciation, article use, etc. (Don't ask me about the Japanese)

Travel / Poland traffic signs are confusing.. Do you agree? [30]

Thanks to Delph and croggers. There's one in the virtual pipe for each of you. I suppose humble pie is on the menu for me today. btw, the new average speed camera I mentioned the other week seems to have made it's point. Most people drive very slowly on the 4km stretch between Zabłudów and Żwierki on road 19. It's a pity they didn't put it where it might have helped. The stretch it's on doesn't have a single roadside cross, as far as I'm aware.

Travel / Poland traffic signs are confusing.. Do you agree? [30]

I don't use satnav. Don't need it, really, as I don't travel that much. I bought one some time ago before going to the lakes, but it effed me around so much that I chucked it onto the back seat. Good idea, though. I'll hook it up tomorrow and say what it says.

Travel / Poland traffic signs are confusing.. Do you agree? [30]

Who can settle an argument between my dear wife and I? When you are driving on a single carriageway and see a white on green town/village sign, what is the maximum speed you should observe? If a town or village is close, there's then a black on white sign, signalling 50kph in daytime, but the white on green sign is also placed when you are passing villages. I say it's 70 kph until you pass a crossed-out second white on green sign. Virtual beer for the settler.

News / PiS to force every hard working, low earning Polish family to pay for TV [96]


My poor Polish is not the reason why I don't watch Polish TV at home. When I happen to be in a place where there's a TV on, it seems that there's utter trash liberally interspersed with OTC medicine ads. I have a smart TV at home and use it to watch documentaries on YT and Vimeo. Polish TV isn't worth 10PLN per month. If it was any good, I'd watch it, but twenty minutes of haemorrhoid cream ads in between (no) talent shows is not how I want to be entertained.

News / Poland to end state funding for IVF treatment [102]


That argument would include people who get injured doing sport, or those who drive. After all, there's public transport, right? I don't know the numbers for Poland, but UK smokers cost the National Health Service 2bn GBP a year, and they pay 9bn in tobacco tax.

Life / Why are Muslims seen as a deterrent to Poland? [564]

Nightclub bouncers are perhaps beyond help, but perhaps the police could educate their officers about the difference between Muslims and Sikhs for a start. Sikhism is arguably the most peaceful religion on Earth.

Travel / 9-Day Poland Trip Itinerary: Warsaw-Krakow-Wroclaw-Poznan-Gdansk-Torun-Warsaw [27]

Andrea, you work for them, don't you? Come on, be honest.

Travel / Englishman's travel across Poland! [19]

I've seen manky bogs in every country I've been in, but I didn't highlight them on the first day of a travelogue.

Life / Welcome to Poland ! (Stay away for your own sake) [239]

Nocy, are you related to Levi?

Life / Welcome to Poland ! (Stay away for your own sake) [239]

I would have serious problems talking to anyone I knew to be abusive towards women, and I would give the benefit of the doubt to others until I knew they were abusers. As for the Egyptian authorities, and not only authorities in that country, turning a blind eye to fgm, it is barbaric.

Travel / Englishman's travel across Poland! [19]

Samue1son. On your blog you post a picture of a revolting public toilet with the caption:

"Public toilets, unless part of a restaurant, modern shopping outlet or house, are likely to be something like this:"

This was on day one of your trip. I have never seen anything like that in Poland, and it's far from typical. Your honest account of your trip is welcome, but please refrain from predicting negative stuff. Good luck.

UK, Ireland / Europe first serial killer is Polish. [8]

My contention is that he is far from being the first European serial killer, that's all.

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

Round our way Kaufland still want silly money for real Cheddar, and I haven't seen any good knock-offs there, yet. I wait until they lower the price of the real stuff and steam in, same with Stilton. Lidl have got very nice Cheddar at the moment. And yes, Poland has finally woken up to the joys of cheese that tastes of something

News / Poland's election winning party: PIS proclamations [229]


You didn't, so what's wrong with holding your party to account when it's in power? What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

UK, Ireland / Europe first serial killer is Polish. [8]


Here's a tip: don't believe all you read in the Daily Mail. In fact, don't believe anything you read in the Daily Mail without first checking more reliable, less sensational sources.

USA, Canada / Half Polish, half Russian girl from the US. Would I be accepted in Poland? [6]

You would be viewed as Polish-American. How you behaved would determine how you were treated and accepted. Poles don't really identify as Slavic. More as European. (I'd keep quiet about the Russian half, though.)

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

Until you get some you could eat Halloumi over a bonfire!

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

It's sold vacuum packed, so it keeps for ages. Enjoy...

Life / Welcome to Poland ! (Stay away for your own sake) [239]

jose, ignore Levi, he has personal problems. It sounds like you've had some really appalling experiences. What can I say? The behaviour you describe is unforgivable. It sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with your fellow students, and I hope you can see that younger, more educated people are more open to the world. As for the doormen, these thugs are often the same types as skinheads. I'm sorry you're having a bad time here, but try to enjoy it as much as you can, even if that means avoiding the clubs. Good luck, and please don't think of all Poles as haters.

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]


In Christmas markets (and also at outdoor events) it is often sold by people who grill it over charcoal onsite. It's warmed through, rather than cooked. There was a guy at my local Auchan supermarket a couple of weeks ago doing this. When I eat it at home I have it at room temperature or heat it in the oven. The last time I bought it outside, at an Easter market in Białystok, it cost 2PLN per piece, plus 50gr for a dollop of cranberry sauce. In shops expect to pay about the same, 2 or 3 PLN per walnut-size piece.

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

Have you tried the cheddar-type sold in Biedronka? It's not at all bad. Yes, Polish cheese is generally bland.

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

peanuts, please let us know how you got on and how much you paid.

Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]


Eat it grilled, and don't forget the cranberry sauce.

Work / How to get hired in Poland teaching EFL? [4]



Childcare and the beauty business must be dog-eat-dog in the US, but I guess that's how life is over there. Here in Europe your approach would not work, as what you have to offer is limited. You would be in competition not only with EU nationals, but also with Polish English teachers with higher degrees in Philology. I know several excellent Polish teachers whose English, and knowledge about the language, is far superior to most native speakers. Having said that, if you get here in late summer (June is the worst possible time) and start knocking on doors, you might find something.

News / Poland's political party to ban pornography? [60]

dolno. No, you are not correct. It's a long and easily accessible story.