News / Controlling the internet ACTA in Poland (Like SOPA) [34]


Very true. Sometimes it's frustrating, but it's better than the alternative.

Free speech is something people fought for - the internet as a whole was a great step in that direction - but is it only temporary?

News / Controlling the internet ACTA in Poland (Like SOPA) [34]

Have a look at the top of this page. Particularly the name of this forum.

Life / Ephiphany - Święto Trzech Króli [12]


I think you mean 'yes' rather than 'no'.


'Why' is a better question.


Ooh, you are argumentative today, aren't you. Typical weather was it this year? Now either run along or explain how the new public holiday for Trzech Kroli impacts on whether or not people in Poland are close to their grandparents, somee of whom they never visit, never even ring.

Travel / Warsaw's most beautiful disctrict or village [18]

It's lovely round there - next to Pniewnik from post #4.

Another nice place is completely in the opposite direction, Nowe Miasto nad Pilica:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowe_Miasto_nad_Pilic%C4%85

News / Turkish Airlines might buy Polish LOT [9]


Istanbul Airport is one of the worst. 10 euros for a can of pop near the gates. 5 star hotel prices for that place that has wi-fi near the main entrance.

News / Turkish Airlines might buy Polish LOT [9]

They're not bad at all - not expensive and decent service. As long as the clowns who own Istanbul Airport (one of the world's most expensive for food, drinks etc) don't get their sticky hands on Okęcie.

Classifieds / English speaking AA group in Warsaw [4]

The bit with the names and phone numbers. I'll PM you with a link to the site with their contact details.

History / Why are Jews pestering Poland for "proper" WW2 monetary restitution/reparations? [750]


No, it would not.


Very true. The only country in Europe never, ever, to have any anti-Semitic laws is Scotland. The situation of Jews in Poland should be viewed in the light of individuals such as Marek11111, Joe Pilsudski and others. On here they're just basement dwellers spouting racism, denying the fact of the Shoah, repeating outrageous lies abot conspiracies - even on more than one occasion repeating the 'blood libel'. In 19th Century villages that type of person sadly had sharp implements.


Why not behave with a little dignity for a change?

Life / Ephiphany - Święto Trzech Króli [12]

'Festival cavalcades down the streets of major cities' in a Polish January? Let's hope the snow ploughs are working and the 'cavalcaders' are well wrappers up.

Actually most people stay at home and keep warm on that day.

News / Don't let Poland become like my country, France. [630]


And its key to this thread, that a Frenchman can overturn a market stall selling English food (it happened recently) but English cuisine has absorbed influences from around the world. Even without that it's still delicious...

Genealogy / Writing to the council (tracing for father's step sister) [14]

You should try sending it anyway. If that doesn't work, an ad in the local paper might. If her surname isn't one of the top twenty, google it and it might bring up a child or grandchild.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


There's a hilarious novel called Demolishing Babel set in a summer school where one of the teachers has a panic attack and takes to her bed when she hears there are going to be Germans in her class. I found with them that they need to be sure that everything isstructured, has very clear goals and generally in ordnung but will open up if they think you're doing a favour by letting them. Works in Poznan too! Incidentally the book (out of print, but amazon have plenty) is a great read for anyone new to the work. It captures various stereotypes of teachers (and students) as well as giving insights into the business end of it and methodology!

Then again, it can't be easy doing Germans every day. Ugh, all those precise questions!

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]



Very very sound advice.

The trick for a beginner if it's a conversation lesson is to decide the grammar skill and the set of vocab (which should be a coherent set) and figure out how you're going to steer the student in needing to use it. If the vocab and grammar come up naturally (so the student thinks!) in the lesson and then you give them a pre-printed summary with a homework exercise at the end, they'll think you're the god of teaching.

News / The New World Order and Poland's place [50]


The real Sister Faustyna cult (cult in the Catholic sense of the word) is 100% respectable. This guy is just a loony tunes. Did you see the bit where he claims to have grown 8 inches taller and shows before and after photos?

News / Don't let Poland become like my country, France. [630]


Why? There is a lot of good in France and the French.

Classifieds / English speaking AA group in Warsaw [4]

These are probably your best bet. There are others on ul. Poznanska and some suburban ones. Ring to check the details are still current. The weekday meetings are open. If you want contact details, they're on the Europe (rather than the Poland) website.

Life / Poles close to grandparents [32]


first Sunday after 'labor day' (whatever that is) is the day on which they officially celebrate Grandparents' Day.


There is if you do it on one of the old PRL pseudoświęty.

Life / Poles close to grandparents [32]

Actually there are several religious celebrations of motherhood in Poland - so why have Mothers' Day on an arbitrary PRL era date - and why have the peripheral things like Grandmothers' Day - a communist copy of an American commercial thing - at all?

USA, Canada / Can you BE Polish without SPEAKING Polish in the US? [256]


It depends a bit more on whether you are part of the nation culturally and linguistically rather than just on paper.

Travel / Trip from Boston, USA to Poland - cost of stay / places to visit? [14]


You'd be surprised! For 165zl ($50) you can find a decent place to stay. Even in Warsaw you can get into a few places for that. The Etap Hotel is $50 during the week, cheaper at weekends. The cheapest I know of is 85zl, but you don't get a bathroom for that.

News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]


Looking again, I found two. Fortunately a minority opinion - one of them a misanthrope the other a pûrn producer.

Travel / Trip from Boston, USA to Poland - cost of stay / places to visit? [14]


Hard to account for if they ask at the airport.

$50 to $100 a night will pay for a moderate hotel. About the same per day to spend, train/tram/bus fares, meals should cover it.

News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]


Actually only one poster has supported it. Always good to read the thread before jumping to conclusions.


Exactly.


Some of them feel they have a right and even a duty to impose their values on others.

Life / Poles close to grandparents [32]


One's an Anglican religious festival (that by the way probably predates Christianity) and the other is a 1960's construct designed to take people's minds off state imposed repression and food queues.

Life / Poles close to grandparents [32]


Of British greetings card importers. Nobody celebrates it.


Actually Mothers' Day goes back centuries.

Travel / Warsaw's most beautiful disctrict or village [18]

a) we used to go to a grill place in the forest near Otwock Kolonia
b) no, but I've been to the animal sanctuary at Falenica

Travel / Warsaw's most beautiful disctrict or village [18]


I like Czersk but haven't been to the restaurant - we usually used to continue over the bridge and eat round Otwock - also an interesting place but not picturesque.

Language / Too many English words in the Polish language! [709]

Ale najborzy są ciapakis!

News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]


Don't forget that the details were heavily influenced by large commercial software companies from the US - not surprisingly ACTA would kill off the whole Open Source sector.

News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]


All of this happens anyway and all that proposed bill would achieve is restricting freedom of speech on the net. If it is passed, I will take care to refer some of your more intemperate posts to the appropriate authorities.