UK, Ireland / No Welfare in UK unless You are Polish [31]


Quite possibly. The story doesn't seem to add up at all.

He might also have been getting paid gross into a limited company and then taking out dividends - which would have attracted considerably less taxation.

Food / bar mleczny prices [14]

Absolutely. A bizarre ordering system, but don't let that put you off ;)

Food / bar mleczny prices [14]

They're all the same - owned by the same company and offer pretty similar prices.

For what it's worth, the best place to go is in the History department of UAM in the canteen there. Same sort of prices, but much better food.

Real Estate / Stronger zloty - potential driver for Poland's property market [42]


The GBP has been all over the place since the introduction of the Euro - it's not really a good guide. The DM/PLN rate and now the EUR/PLN rate is far more interesting - historically, it's sat around the 1:2 / 1:4 level.

Real Estate / Stronger zloty - potential driver for Poland's property market [42]

I wouldn't gamble on the Zloty for one simple reason - the exchange rate is (and has been for a while) based on nothing but the emotion of FX traders, nothing else. There's no logical reason for the Zloty to sit at 4.25 against the Euro - but as it is a minor currency, it is prone to wild swings for no apparent reason.

Life / Buying Samsung S4 in Poland? [8]


I'm seeing them for 2200zl minimum.


In theory, she can purchase it, get a VAT refund from the Polish Customs, then cross straight into Ukraine and come straight back. However, there are potential flaws to this plan :

- The Polish authorities will want to see the phone in its original packaging and will want to see that it isn't used.
- The Ukrainian authorities will hammer you for import VAT + import duties if she's caught
- The Poles on return will also hammer her for VAT+import duties if she's caught, as well as (likely) an administrative fine for attempting to smuggle goods across the border. She would have to throw the packaging away and make it seem as if the phone has been used properly - a sim card inside, added contacts, etc.

Not worth the hassle, and the Poles are pretty hot on searching Ukrainians on the border due to the massive amount of smuggling that they do.

History / Poland is a Catholic country [177]


I don't know about you, but the best person for the job is the best person for the job.

If you want to talk about "weirdness", a man in his 60's who has never been married thinking he has the right to talk about "the family" is definitely weird.

USA, Canada / PolishAmericanReview's review of current events in America [48]


Designed is the wrong word, although the writing is certainly similar to yours.


It is not semantics. What part of Poland did not surrender are you struggling with?


What are you talking about? There were plenty of Polish forces that made their way to the West, and have you forgotten the major Polish successes during the war? It was a world war - Poland did not surrender.


You claimed Poland surrendered. She did not. Individual forces are irrelevant - what matters is that Poland never surrendered.


Do they say that Poland surrendered? No? There's your answer.

Sheesh, for someone who claims to be "pro-Poland", you seem hell bent on showing that Poland lost in WW2.

History / Poland is a Catholic country [177]


Sure, sure. Is that why you use American spellings?


I really don't think so. Catholicism is only doing relatively well for one reason - school admissions and the presence of Poles. If the Catholic schools were like in Poland (not so good), then the RCC would be in even more trouble than it already is there.


No, it was criticised because she was (rightly) criticised for causing Blair to make decisions based on religion rather than for other reasons. The Iraq War was perhaps the finest example of this.


Oh dear. I do like how you are commenting on UK affairs from across the pond, but let's start.

No, I never voted New Labour. They were champagne socialists and at best, utter frauds. I've never voted for the Conservatives as well, being ideologically opposed to them on the issue of unionism.

Now, on the issue of Scotland. Perhaps take some time to learn about the West Lothian Question and why Labour are so heavily dependent on it. You could look at how legislation (particularly in the 2005-2010 parliament) was heavily dependent on Scottish votes, and why Labour (despite Scottish Labour being a socialist party) are so bitterly opposed to independence for Scotland. You could also look at why Cameron has offered Scotland further devolution, and the implication for the amount of seats in the UK parliament as a result.


Former. It's not going to happen today, not least because the national Church is Protestant and Catholics are very much a minority.

The Vatican hopefully wouldn't be so stupid as to get involved with such a thing with the presence of a large Protestant majority in Scotland. It's a nice hypothetical situation, but one based in the realm of fantasy.

Work / About taxes ("Umowa o dzielo") and minimum wage in Poland [30]


Well, there's a State exam in Polish available at C2 level. You'll need it if you want to be taken seriously as a translator - all the non-Polish translators I know have passed that exam.


Sounds incredibly dubious if you ask me.

Life / Polish natural remedies and homeopathey better than English [84]


You'd be surprised - I spotted "baby water" the other day...

Work / About taxes ("Umowa o dzielo") and minimum wage in Poland [30]


Depends how your Spanish insurance works. You'll be treated in Poland, but the normal procedure here (with the EHIC) is to get you stabilised, then when you're awake and aware of what's going on, they will want insurance details or payment towards your care. A Polish citizen would be treated exactly the same way - no insurance, no treatment.

But as I said - if your insurance works on the principle of getting the bill and then being refunded, you need to expect surprises.


In the teaching market, rates are more or less rock bottom for natives. It's actually more expensive now to hire a good Polish Spanish teacher than it is to get a native. There are so many men here who 'met a girl' and moved here to be with her - and they need money to live, so they're willing to teach for a minimal price.

As far as translation goes, there won't be much demand for Spanish-English translation here. Same probem as teaching - too many natives, too little work.


Bear in mind that you're not only competing against them as people, but also about their expectations. There's plenty of Spanish dudes here willing to work for next to nothing - how can you compete against them? I've met Spanish guys even working in kitchens and such like for pathetic wages - there just isn't much work for those who can't do something in need (such as programming).

Out of interest, how old are you?

Work / About taxes ("Umowa o dzielo") and minimum wage in Poland [30]


You do realise that hospital costs in Poland (if you have to pay on the spot) could easily exceed 25,000 Euro, particularly if you want to go to a decent hospital?


Ah, you're Spanish. There are a lot of Spanish guys in the same position as you - they've driven down the rates for translation and teaching to the point where I can get a fully qualified Spanish native teacher to work for me for 6 euro an hour. It's an employers market, and furthermore, Spanish is seen as something for 'fun'.


Please don't assume it'll be that easy. I've met quite a few foreigners in Poznan who are really struggling to find work, and you're up against some very very very highly skilled Spanish graduates in Poland who already speak the language.

I can tell you from first hand evidence that there are many, many Spanish native speakers in Poznan in a similar position to you.

Love / Are Polish girls better cooks? [45]


I think it was just an anecdote as to how cooking skills have been lost in Poland since 1990.

(a question : was it difficult to be self employed in those days?)

Work / About taxes ("Umowa o dzielo") and minimum wage in Poland [30]


I can tell you with complete certainty that they won't pay out if they even suspect that you're resident in Poland.


You're moving to Poznan without any clue about the local job market?

What's your background?

Life / Luxembourg Resident - Driving Lessons in Poland. Possible? [6]

Shouldn't be a problem.

I can recommend an excellent driving school in Poznań - I passed first time through them
oskarkadia.pl

Life / Moving to Krakow (and other questions) [23]


A decent living by what standard?

Sitting in at nights eating rosol from packets isn't exactly a great living...

Life / Luxembourg Resident - Driving Lessons in Poland. Possible? [6]

Sure, you can take lessons if you want. You won't be allowed to take the test without being legally resident however.

Work / About taxes ("Umowa o dzielo") and minimum wage in Poland [30]


Confirmed. No obligation exists to do so, but I believe that the tax offices are starting to take a much closer look at the use of these contracts when someone is working full time in a company.

History / Poland is a Catholic country [177]


Spoken as only a man who doesn't know the UK would say. If I recall correctly, only 8% of Poles in the UK go to church regularly, and it is highly unlikely that many would convert for anything other than school related reasons.


Not really. It gets mentioned because he attempted to cover it up for years - it was more of a "oh, finally" moment than anything else. He himself made a big deal about it at the time - which is why the press made a big deal out of it. I haven't met one Catholic that was inspired by him - most of them seem to regard him as a bit of a fraud who was happy to use the Church but not join because it was politically inconvenient to do so.


This is a wonderful fantasy of yours, but it's only just that, a fantasy. New Labour is dead, and Labour supporters wouldn't change religion just to support Blair. Blair himself wasn't willing to change, so why would anyone else? As for Brown leading the party to self-destruction - may I remind you that it was Blair's leadership that lost the election in Scotland in 2007, not Brown?

As for Scotland, that's a remarkably stupid and naive statement to make. No-one is going to build a Scottish identity around Catholicism.


There's a lot of significant differences, particularly in relation to the Marian cult.


Dream on.

News / Nationalist-socialists gaining ground in Poland [24]


Because that 13% figure makes no allowance for those that are only registered unemployed to get health insurance while having a job under the table. All those people working in car parks and suchlike - do you really think they're working with proper contracts?

History / Poland is a Catholic country [177]

There's a much simpler explanation. Catholic schools are heavily results-orientated which makes them the best schools in the country. They tend to use their position as a faith school to enact draconian policies, therefore ensuring that the schools achieve at all costs. As a consequence, you find parents 'converting' to Catholicism or simply 'finding' their faith just so their kids can get into such schools.

As for Tony Blair, he rarely mentions Catholicism. It's all to do with schooling, and the RCC is very good at blackmailing parents.

News / Demolish Poland's Palace of Culture? [55]


What's wrong with the area? Every time I've been in Warsaw, it always strikes me how nice it is to have such an open space in the heart of the city.

News / Nationalist-socialists gaining ground in Poland [24]


Indeed. What's scary is that they're already behaving as if power is guaranteed.


They are actually quite stuck in this respect. They desperately need to appeal to businesses (and thus, relax the restrictive labour rules), but they can't do it while they're so cosy with the trade unions that hurt them more than help them. The general strike (if it happens) will damage their support, particularly among centrists who don't like to see a breakdown in social consensus.

News / Nationalist-socialists gaining ground in Poland [24]


Except that the voters are showing a clear desire to keep the opposition out of power.

As for "tackle the problem", can you explain how a socialist party will tackle the problem of youth unemployment? It's simply not going to work - they won't do anything but spend money on job creation schemes.

Language / Ukrainian language similar to Polish? [236]


Not really. That's just nonsense spread by Partiya Rehioniv. It might be the case in small villages in Western Ukraine, but not in L'viv.


Odessa perhaps, but not in Kyiv.

News / Nationalist-socialists gaining ground in Poland [24]

I'm not surprised - the lack of flexibility that umowa o prace offers employers means that they need to find a way to minimise the damage should anything happen.

News / Nationalist-socialists gaining ground in Poland [24]


Yes, for a multitude of reasons. For instance -

- Young women are highly unlikely to get offered a real contract in a small company due to the impact if she falls pregnant. The law is hideously biased in favour of the woman, and the culture of going on 'sick leave' as soon as someone gets pregnant can do a huge amount of damage to a small company. Therefore, no-one is going to take the risk.

- proper work contracts have a hideous amount of allowances and protection for workers. The law is fine for those working in huge state-owned monoliths, but it simply doesn't work for those in the SME sector.

What's interesting is that Kaczynski seems to be very much following Putinism as a political model.

USA, Canada / PolishAmericanReview's review of current events in America [48]


Which doesn't exist except in the heads of the stupid.

The website is an utter joke - it even goes so far as insulting Poles by saying that Poland surrendered when...she didn't.

News / Demolish Poland's Palace of Culture? [55]


Since when has democratic will mattered to the types who actively want to destroy the III Republic in Poland?

What's the view like from the top of it?