PolishForums LIVE  /  Archives [3]    
   
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 16 of 40
sort: Latest first   Oldest first   |
Trevek   
3 Dec 2010
Life / Foreigners commenting on Poland - a minefield? [30]

I know supermarket managers who would rather leave shelves empty than fill them cos its not their responsibility.

I had something like that in a Tesco near me in Olsztyn. There had been a bottle of water spilled in one of the aisles. There was water all over the floor. In UK it would have been cleaned up as it constitued a major health and safety risk. As a customer I pointed it out to a worker in the shop. She just shrugged... not her problem.

I think quite a few people also have the attitude of "why should I work hard for 8zl an hour?" - especially younger people.

Indeed. I was teaching English to a manager at one Polish firm and she was amazed that 'kids' only about 8 years younger had no concept of working in a firm. they'd turn up a couple of hours late with a "so what, I'm here now, aren't I?"

Mind you, I had similar problem with British student temps working in factories in UK.
Trevek   
2 Dec 2010
Life / Expats in Poland - would you fight for your new country? [105]

Indeed. Witkacy didn't really forgive Malinowski for becoming "anglicised" and wrote a play with a character who parodied Malinowski.

Interesting thing is that Malinowski considered himself the "Conrad" of anthropology, with his writing. Conrad also took British citizenship (although there wasn't an independent Poland at that time) but turned down a British knighthood as he already held a hereditary Polish one.
Trevek   
2 Dec 2010
Life / Polish stereotypes of other nationalities!? [472]

Spaniards: Quite useful for harvesting oranges, lemons, hazelnuts, almonds, and olives

Also a better alternative to Africans, according to one Spanish minister a few years ago.
Trevek   
2 Dec 2010
Life / Expats in Poland - would you fight for your new country? [105]

You know nothing about Polish expats. You are judging by your coward/sissy/nihilistic British standards.

Well, we have a fine example. The Polish anthropologist, Bronisław Malinowski and his friend Witkacy were in Australia when WW1 was declared. Malinowski was an Austrian citizen, whereas Witkacy was a Russian citizen. Malinowski was to be detained in a camp for 'enemy citizens' but he had a few high ranking friends amongst Commonwealth academia, who wrote a few letters. Malinowski was allowed to sit out the war on the Trobriand Isalnds, where he did a lot of research, wrote career defining books and made his reputation. Witkacy went to fight in the war.

Later, Malinowski took British citizenship and took a giant step away from Poland, whereas Witkacy embraced the new republic.

By the way, Dan, interesting thread. Has brought up some interesting replies. Just hope it doesn't descend into the usual name calling.
Trevek   
2 Dec 2010
Life / Expats in Poland - would you fight for your new country? [105]

It would depend on the situation of the conflict. If it was against UK, then no... in fact UK-expats would probably be rounded up anyway. If it was an attack on Polish soil then I would be prepared to, however if it was something like Iraq etc, where Poland have business being, then no.

Even if you serve in the French Foreign Legion you do not have to serve against your motherland.

If it was a NATO conflict, then I was, until recently, a member of UK reserve forces, so I'd probably have been enlisted somehow.

As I understand it, US citizens can lose their citizenship if they fight for another country as a mercenary etc (unless it is OK with US govt).
Trevek   
1 Dec 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

crumpets, thick cut marmalade, English mustard, Christmas pud, Yorkshire pud, poached eggs, Red Leicester, Wensleydale, Caerphilly.....

Wensleydale!!!! oh thou art like good health...!

I despise mustard (and marmite) but some of these things (a wonderful cheddar) and a thick marmalade were in Lidl's British Week recently.

I was at a village craft fair recently and one lady had made her own "czetney"... chutney!
Trevek   
1 Dec 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

Scrambled eggs are good anytime, esp in the morning with freshly squeezed orange juice.

urgh, you put orange juice on your eggs? And i thought fruit in an omlette was weird.
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
News / New Polish Light Tank - Anders [74]

Most of Polish roads too can't take the kind of tonnage

No, I was wondering whether the tank could survive the roads (just had to get my car suspension fixed during a service and it doubled the cost... I'm bitter and twisted at the moment!)
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
News / New Polish Light Tank - Anders [74]

Trevek:
Of course, the big question is, whether these tanks can cope with the roads in Warmia-Mazury, Suwalki and Polska B.

If these regions are marshy and mellowy than Leopards won't be able to maneuver properly, maybe, even to move.

It's not the off-road I'm thinking of... it's the crappy "roads" themselves, I'm thinking of.
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
Life / Car's confrontation with a Wild Boar in Poland [37]

I think maybe deers don't get rabies.

Sorry, it was boar I was thinking of. However, I've been warned about eating wild fruit without washing it cos of possible animal contamination, so maybe deer carry other things.

I thought hunters did have to check their kill cos they have a limit on what they can kill (but maybe I've been misinformed).
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
Life / Car's confrontation with a Wild Boar in Poland [37]

Over here it is. One cop asked me if I wanted the dead body. If they're fresh sometimes they'll get taken to food banks. But our system-sucking ingrates sometimes turn their nose up at eating such; they prefer top grade steak.

Doesn't it have to be checked for rabies first?
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

One subtle difference (or not) is the behaviour of pedestrians and drivers at zebra crossings.

By and large, in Poland, drivers don't give a damn about the pedestrians and if one driver stops another is likely to overtake across the zebra (especially at night when the zebra is unlit). pedestrians fall into several categories... one of which just strides across the crossing without looking to see if a car can stop, another stabds and waits for you to stop so they can wave you on.

Also, there are a group of pedestrians who, when crossing to an island in the middle of the road, see a car coming and stand still rather than walk to the island. It doesn't occur to them that they are standing in the road at the time.

British driving instructors are a lot stricter about stopping at crossings etc, so there is a greater consideration and trust between drivers and pedestrians.
Trevek   
30 Nov 2010
News / New Polish Light Tank - Anders [74]

Leopard may crawl and climb trees, but what about flying? ;)

Don't know, but they are easily spotted!

Of course, the big question is, whether these tanks can cope with the roads in Warmia-Mazury, Suwalki and Polska B.
Trevek   
29 Nov 2010
UK, Ireland / Polish people in Wales - some questions about living in the UK [19]

When I was holidaying in Angelsey there were more than a few Poles (OK, they might have been holidaying too). However, I was told by a guide in Llangollen that there were a fair few Poles in that area (OK, it was about 2 years ago).
Trevek   
26 Nov 2010
History / Polish president Mościcki and Hermann Göring hunting together in 1938 [76]

Simon Schama's "Landscape and Memory" speaks of HG's love of hunting and gives a hilarious description of HG in blouson shirt and rubber flying trousers showing the world's press some bison (who refused to mate for the camera).

And before that it used to be german lands before Poles wandered westwards and settled there...

And weren't they Balt lands before either of you got there?
Trevek   
22 Nov 2010
Work / Doing my course in Krakow, working in EFL in Poland (newbie questions) [43]

Thanks very much for your help, though I have to admit I am a bit surprised by your less than optimistic replies. I wonder if this is a general trend for TEFL in Europe...

There is a rather large drop in numbers of students at the moment. The school where I work in Olsztyn is suffering about 10% drop in numbers, and we're the top school. The trend is similar, if not worse, across the board. The demographic situation means that there are less teenagers, less kids taking FCE etc.
Trevek   
19 Nov 2010
Travel / Crossing to Russia: Planning a Motorcycle Trip from Poland to Kalinigrad [26]

During our motorcycle trip to Kaliningrad we are planning to use the S22 road across Poland.

If that's the one I'm thinking of, small back roads through forests a lot of the time, often dodgy surfaces, beware of kamikaze audi drivers and russian truckers.

September, roads should be Ok (maybe wet) but ice free.

Frombork is also worth a quick visit if you're in the area.
Trevek   
19 Nov 2010
Life / The best of Polish stories, drama and art [7]

Witold Gombrowicz, my favorite Polish writer. Trans-Atlantyk is a great novel.

I used to work with teatr Wiejski Węgajty. They have done a production of Transatlantic using masks. It's pretty good.

films/books: I read Ashes and Diamonds and actually preferred the book ending to the film ending, although the film is superb in its own right.