Law / Allegro for non-Polish users -- Cancel order, bank transfer, contacts for help, etc. [19]

There are a few vinyl shops in Warsaw but in this case Allegro might be the best bet. Unless their payment methods have changed though, you'd need to contact the seller directly (to pay by credit card you need (or used to need) a Polish ID card number) and their bank transfer thing (again unless it's suddenly changed) is set up for Polish bank accounts.

Why not write the message you want to send the seller in English, post it in the free translation section here and someone can help?. Mention that you'd need to pay by bank transfer from a UK bank since you don't have a PESEL number. Obviously trust would be involved, however someone selling vinyl jazz records is probably ok.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

If you call emerging as a significant European power "diplomacy made on knees" and being so far an economic, cultural and political success story "political prostitution", then you would be right. But you aren't.

As for the PiSuarzy being utopian, perhaps you're right; Utopianism is about wanting good things, which they don't. Morbid fantasists would be a better appraisal.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


I'm there now, though if by post war you mean years ago, then actually yes. That's going off topic however. Not but what, a comment you tried to make is worth looking at furthering the context of this year's elections.

Your statement


proves my point


beautifully. You're actually praising (albeit inaccurately and misplacedly) the impossible while spurning the achievable.

Life / Poland's Alior Bank reviews / ING / Millenium [26]


I would certainly call them reputable, not just because they've won European Retail Bank of the Year twice in a row bit also because all retail banks operating in Poland are 'reputable' since they have the same financial tests and protective compliance as each other. the largest holdings in the bank are held by large international institutions too.

The post above is about Alior, by the way. A very good bank however I'd recommend a third option, Nordea. I used them for several years and found them excellent.

I would avoid Citibank; I used them and found their staff to be dishonest. I'd ask why a transfer hadn't gone through or whatever and they used to just say the first thing that came into their heads. Ask a day later why it still hadn't and something completely different, all without actually looking at a computer screen or trying to find out a truthful and accurate answer in another way.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Certainly expressive in a jejune way, however largely irrelevant since the reconstruction in both places was complex (been to Berlin?) and in any case very close to going back off topic.

Thinking about Germany though, it's worth reflecting as the Polish general election approaches which parties are better or more ill disposed to Poland's most significant neighbour. Realpolitik v. Utopian fantasy. The concept of Ciemnogrod is very real and that particular political tendency has always been a disaster for Poland.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Interesting that your 'brain' immediately orientates itself to the Second World War, ignoring (and I used that word with precision) a massive military defeat, a violent revolution, huge financial reparations, years of hunger, an invasion by France, the worst regime the world has known, stunde null, twice (yes twice, remember) losing large chunks of territory to Poland, years of Stalin and his heirs and then painful re-unification.

Yet still they survived it all, and their neighbour Poland could do well to look long and hard at their political and parliamentary system. And as elections draw near, look at which parties look for closer relations with them.

Edit. The German reply bit was written before the mod intervened

I do think very much though that Poland has an example of good governance right on its border and this is heavily relevant given the various parties' positions come election time.

Law / Allegro for non-Polish users -- Cancel order, bank transfer, contacts for help, etc. [19]

Agreed - it's a nuisance. Unless they've changed it recently, they used to ask for a PESEL too. Amazon marketplace and even Ebay are more convenient (and trustworthy, since it's very hard to deal with them from outside PL if a seller rips you off) so I would suggest buying from another source if possible.

If not, as Smurf says, some web browsers and search engines have an inbuilt translation facility. As far as I know you just have to set it up via settings or add-ons.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]

Quite. If one European country has been devastated more by the horrors of the Twentieth Century, has had more ups and downs and has had more hurdles to clear, it is Germany. Who've done very well out of reconstruction, including in the former East.

In Poland there has long been a cultural tendency who like to get off on the thought of national martyrdom, who believe that their country's misfortunes are all the fault of others and that no one has suffered more. In Germany that tendency is proportionally much smaller and people in general just get on with things.

In the context of Polish politics and the 2015 elections we should look at the way Germany deal with coalitions and parties and the much smaller role of acrimony. That and the role of their Trade Unions and their not-for-profit sector.

Travel / How to travel to Rzeszow - flight is expensive, is it worth to fly to Warsaw first and then get there by road? [9]

Check out Eurolot flights between Warsaw and Rzeszow - very quick and getting a cheap flight to Warsaw then an internal one to Rzeszow can be cheaper than you might think if you travel on an unpopular day.

By the way, buses might look cheap, and you may be tempted to put up with one, however trains in Poland (intercity, don't bother with TLK/Interregio unless you're low on cash) are particularly good value.

News / Poland Parliamentary elections 2015 [1060]


You can say much the same about many places. Those 'industrial assets' that you cherish were very run down (the famous Vaclav Havel speech applies to Poland even more than Czechoslovakia) and those who managed them were not competent to do so. Nor was there a great pool of talent waiting in the wings that had been held by by the political situation.

You seem to be advocating an ultra-nationalist business model (an interesting comparison with the Greens here) whereas the reality is different. Capital is international, and Poland chose capitalism at a time when capital was becoming increasingly mobile. In any case, most of the large companies operating in Poland have tradable stock - the nationality of stockholders is an irrelevance; anyone can invest.

Balcerowicz did very much the core t thing and is rightly praised for doing so.

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

Exactly - and nobody compiles the stats of LGBTQID people involved in mainstream charities. Interesting now that the Urzad Skarbowy is interested in people who have got married outside PL to people of the same gender - evidently money talks if the tax office is recognising the marriages.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]


No no no.

Many have a portfolio of private and corporate students without speaking Polish. I do speak the language but when I was in EFL in Poland, I never needed to. Not to people in-company (the ones you deal with don't tend to have employers as in some foul cow from HR who needs to approve costs - they have their own budget) or the delightful lady from HR wants to speak English to you herself (and you're maybe teaching her anyway). Same with the parent thing - I chose never to do minors except as the odd favour to someone I knew (who I was probably teaching anyway).

When it came to sales negotiations - during that period I didn't teach and in any case employed a salesman. The billing etc was simple and any discussions were almost invariably in english.

I can think of plenty of people who make a good living as freelance trainers here in Poland with little or no English.

Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]

What makes you think that being a descendent is only about DNA. By the time of the Sarmatian Movement, any biological link was too far back to be relevant to anything. The Polish population, by the way, are much more diverse, with heritage from many more sources.

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]


I've had mixed experiences with steaks from there. I do like their salad stuff, fresh watercress which is popular and traditional in Poland (though they don't make soup with it much) and Rukola which is very popular in PL now.

The frozen seafood at Biedronka is good value.

Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]

So why post links to trash like that?

More important to look at 'Sarmatians' and other groups in terms of their cultural heritage rather than DNA which doesn't determine how people behave or what they achieve.

News / Presidential elections and debates 2015 Poland [472]


Quite. People simply don't want a return to that. Also the anti-EU rhetoric doesn't appeal.

Life / How to carry your groceries if you travel by tram in Poland? [12]

Get a bagażówka taxi for the first big shop. We tend to get a cab if we do a lot of shopping, or just get smaller amounts if we go to the shops during the week - it just depends on your shopping habits.

Life / Little-known facts about Poland [45]


No, not plac Sloneczny - somewhere much nearer town. Interesting about Forteczna though.

Genealogy / Slavs are descendants of Sarmatians? [600]


is a race hate site - not a reliable source for anything. Its presence in that post puts the other 'sources' in question too.

And by the way, any theories about 'Sarmatians' is just guesswork fed by a lot of romanticism - in fact we know very little about who they were. Their genes today aren't relevant either.

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

I don't know any expats these days, except for a few French people here with their jobs, however worth mentioning that most expats are male and don't tend to cook much. Those who are their without wives doubtless eat a fairly local diet or whatever their girlfriend etc cooks for them.

Love / My Love Story: my 'good' family vs her 'bad' family in Poland [25]

Jaky, you're marrying her, not her family. Something tells me that you'd be scrutinising them whatever they were like, but really, if her sister wants to make a bit of money, so what? She doesn't need tour position. What if they were wealthy farmers? Would you be as snotty at them coping up then killing animals (far worse than stripping or tomming) or would you respect their money?

If you dump her, she's probably fortunate. If you don't, forget her family. After all, things can easily change and they may well be looking down on yours one day.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

Pretty well the same here. A lot of exposure to both Pakistanis and British people of Pakistani heritage and all very hardworking and valuable members of the community. In Poland I've never heard anyone say anything g negative about them to their culture.

News / Poland's presidential system? [9]


That was abused once, by the previous incumbent and his unpopular 'Fourth Republic' project. Hopefully that is dead and buried now, however we should remember the other way in which he and his supporters were able to exert malign influence. One role of the president is to sign off certain appointments - many of them professorships, but not only. LK was (during his big sulk when his twin brother was booted out of office by the voters) able to throw a spanner in the works by not approving appointments. Posts were left unfilled and certain state institutions were effectively stymied. When things got back to normal after President Komorowski took office this was finally sorted.

We have to make sure that Duda doesn't get the chance to be equally as negative.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

So what do your experiences with taxi drivers in the developing world have to do with the OP's question about how people are seen in Poland?

For the record, I've never heard anyone say anything bad - only good things.

Life / Vandalism on cars in Poland [64]

Make a written complaint (in Polish, and in the correct format) to the police and send a copy to the prosecutor. That way they can't just ignore it. Perhaps also send a copy to your embassy and make sure the bottom of the complaint letter shows where the copies were sent. Make a copy of the images on your flash (so the police don't 'lose' it should they ask for it) and send hard copies with the letter(s).

Though yes, these things do happen all the time. The police in PL aren't very good and some are unwilling to act in a crime committed by a Pole against a foreigner however this is slowly getting better.

Work / Help on Relocation and Accommodation Info in Krakow - African guy [5]

Option B is better. You'll find somewhere at that price (though if "all in" includes bills, you'd probably be looking at a studio in a decent area of Kraków or 2 very small rooms in a less good place). Anywhere between your workplace and the centre should be safe - there are only a few areas to avoid, mostly big housing estates. As a rule, the nearer the centr, the more expensive, though there are always exceptions. If you take option B, you'll be able to ask colleagues which is the best bet.

Most landlords want a month's rent as deposit and the first month in advance - this does vary though. If an agent is involved (avoid!) they will want a month or half a month's rent, basically for doing nothing.

You should look on the website Gumtree Polska - it's generally a good way to find flats and you can check the box 'owner only' to avoid ads from agents (though beware of agents pretending to be the owner). Another good way is to ask colleagues - personal,contacts are always the best.

I don't know about an African community however there are certainly African people there and because of the universities, there are people from around the world.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

i to i doesn't have a reputation in Europe. As far as getting work with it is concerned you may as well print up a certificate on your computer and call it the BingBangBong teacher training institute. It will however give some people some insights into how to do the job, though they could probably get those from a 1 week taster course or just reading a good book. Same with TEFL International - might help in China (though they'll take anyone really) but not in Europe. They are not widely known in Poland. The price of the i-i course seems steep at the price compared to the CELTA - the price difference is far less than the difference in quality.

If you just want to be in Poland for a while, you could work in a method school (Google Callan and Berlitz). They take people without CELTA etc. your friend in Kraków perhaps works for one of those places - that or he's either very lucky or just muddling through at somewhere unpleasant to work, spooling out textbooks without actually teaching them much.

You mention that you have teaching experience. I would suggest that i-i wouldn't be much help to you. A CELTA would be better and is a good course to do. Cheaper in Kraków too.... Look into a College of Teachers online diploma (or the more advanced into that i-i do.

Be aware that they're getting very keen on work permits - you mention connections in PL - do you have citizenship of Poland or another EU country?

Looking again at the amount of experience you have, an i-i course would give you very little, except for making some things slot into place - the CELTA would do this far better and is reasonably priced in Kraków and Prague. Either that or as I said, look at a more advanced online course. Perhaps another adult training qualification. I did one (the C&G 7307) years ago and it has helped me much and often since.

That or just turn up - if you actually do know how to teach language you're in a better position that a lot of young people 'teaching' in Kraków (beware, the market is saturated there, Warsaw is better) and once you start doing some work, if the feedback shows that you are good, more work will follow.

Life / Dog Boarding Facilities/Dog Hotels in Poland [28]

Kanie Helenowskie? You mean the Kosmepol L'Oreal factory, since there's nothing else there ;-)

There are a few such places round Warsaw and several on the western side towards Pruszków - just Google 'hotel dla psow'. Most will take cats as well.

Life / Reaction regarding Pakistanis respected in Poland [54]

Most here have no opinion; they have not yet met anyone from Pakistan. No reason why someone shouldn't come here and open a business - there are plenty of opportunities especially in the bigger cities.

USA, Canada / 10 things that show you are Polish [24]

So in fact rather misleading...