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Posts by delphiandomine  

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - Q
Last Post: 17 Feb 2021
Threads: Total: 86 / In This Archive: 69
Posts: Total: 17813 / In This Archive: 12419
From: Poznań, Poland
Speaks Polish?: Yeah.
Interests: law, business

Displayed posts: 12488 / page 199 of 417
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delphiandomine   
14 May 2013
Life / First communion - it's that time of year again in Poland! [109]

Delph can rage against the machine - that's her choice. Whether any of her relations will turn up to the christenings/first communions/weddings she invites them too is another matter. As for the Church, well. All the running is done by society on this one, so ...

Anyone with common sense knows that it's not an event put on for random guests anyway, so quite who would care about random relatives is beyond me.

And the Church has openly, repeatedly spoken out about these excesses. Anyone with common sense certainly would follow the teachings of the Church rather than society.
delphiandomine   
14 May 2013
Life / First communion - it's that time of year again in Poland! [109]

PLN 300 is the going rate for guests, PLN 1000-1500 for godparents.

How disgusting. You should be quite ashamed of yourself for participating in something that the Church openly spoke out against - the commercialization of the First Communion.

The second one, the day after, was in a restaurant. It cost PLN 8000 to organize (I think about PLN 130 per head, but don't quote me on that). The parents had it easier, the guests had less fun though.

Quite obviously an attempt by the parents to show off. Completely pointless, and goes against the whole idea of the First Communion.
delphiandomine   
13 May 2013
Life / Why are Polish so obsessed with Russia [46]

Some people have families (who may disagree of returning), financial problems (god plz I hope harry/delph dont comment about their money offers), and its very tough to move across ocean.

Our money offer still stands : any proud, patriotic Polonia poster with a history of posting dubious views on PF is welcome to take up an all-expenses paid volunteering opportunity in Poland. They certainly don't have to worry about money issues.
delphiandomine   
12 May 2013
Study / How hard is it to get accepted to Wroclaw University of Technology? / Unis in general? [37]

Competition is tough to get students into the university, I agree - that's why entry standards are laughable. Spending ten minutes in their company tells you all you need to know - this is not the cream of American society that turn up here! Entry is open to *anyone* with a degree to the 4 year course that you mention. Even Justyna from Olstzyn with her degree in pedagogics from a private university would get accepted as long as she's got the money.

It is a sad, simple fact that the course exists solely to take money from those who have the ability to pay but not the ability to learn. I have friends that graduated from these programmes - they all have the same opinion, that the course sucks and that they wish they had realised this earlier.

have a nice life - just stay away, especially from Poznań, which I am frequenting!

Stay away? I live here :) I've seen first hand much of the behaviour that they indulge in - sulking in the hospital because they have to actually deal with patients, whining and moaning because people don't speak English in shops, having "parties" where they spend yet more time complaining about Poland, the list is endless. They're even nasty to their fellow Americans that actually live and work in Poland!
delphiandomine   
12 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

With most accounts you have a choice either you can have at least 300$ in the account and then their is no monthly charge or you have to use the card at least 5 times a month.

My account is free as long as I use my card for at least 100zl a month. It would be virtually impossible not to do this! The concept of paying for ATM transactions isn't common in Poland however.

As for you Meathead, the fact remains that the magnetic stripe can be cloned very quickly and easily.
delphiandomine   
12 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

it sounds a little strange that US still hasn't caught up with the rest of the world...

They still use cheques as an everyday part of the banking system, so you can hardly expect them to embrace EMV!
delphiandomine   
11 May 2013
Real Estate / Buying land near the Vistula/Wisla in Poland? [5]

I've not seen any plots for sale at all, so I'm wondering if they are protected or simply just not available?

It's more likely that they're sold to people in the know.
delphiandomine   
11 May 2013
News / Negative Polish stereotypes in US 'changing for the better' [20]

That is the number of immigrants entering Poland each year since the restriction which was based on race, has never been lifted.

Are you still trying to present that same old lie?

but it is impossible to the day for a Polak to get a visa to go to America, that has not changed since 1929....

I assure you that several of my friends have 10 year multiple entry visas without any problem, all of them under 30.
delphiandomine   
11 May 2013
Study / How hard is it to get accepted to Wroclaw University of Technology? / Unis in general? [37]

I know that it's off the topic of the original poster, but wow, for someone relying on hearsay, with obviously little knowledge and understanding of how the medical programmes in English work

Etc etc. The point remains that they do not produce high quality graduates in any way - as I repeatedly say, the course is treated as a joke by the university (although not to the students faces for obvious reasons) and the Polish students who realise that the international students are buying their education. You might want to ask yourself why many of the students themselves tend to be exceptionally bitter by their 3rd/4th year.

What you also need to know is that I know several of their lecturers. None of them have a positive opinion about the American students - they are seen as spoiled, lazy and arrogant.

It seems you are missing the boat entirely by failing to make the effort to understand what these programmes aim to achieve.

These programmes exist for one reason - to make money. It's easy money for the university and easy qualifications for the students. Let's not beat about the bush - the amount of graduates from the course who were good enough to graduate from American medical universities are low - very low.

the 4yr MD I made reference to in previous post requires a set of 'pre-med' education, which you could have easily checked.

Unfortunately for you, while they might have a BS degree, no attempt is made to consider how good the degree actually is. As I keep saying, it's an open door for those who are willing to pay the roughly $70k USD to the university.

Do you think that the gov'ts guaranteeing loans and respective medical bodies would be willing to consider accrediting a programme they were not happy with?

Many of them aren't taking loans to get there. I do know quite a few of them, and many of them fall into the "rich but stupid" category.

Note also, most of these alumni have no intention of staying/working in Poland, so they are not a threat to the 'superiorly grilled' Polish programme alumni when competing for work on the local market..

Is that what they told you? Ah, of course, they would never admit that they actually went back home to work as a paramedic, would they?

The fact that most of them have no intention of actually repaying Poland in any way for her hospitality says it all - the course exists to take money from gullible American students who think that it make them a doctor. It won't.
delphiandomine   
10 May 2013
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

the prevailing view is prices will continue on the downward spiral until 2015 at least.

Fine by me, I'll have a nice deposit saved up by then to buy a nice house. I've been looking at property prices and they've barely budged from what I paid for mine - maybe a small decrease, but nothing worth writing home about. If this means the stability of the banking system, I don't mind.
delphiandomine   
10 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

It is unthinkable because we moved on a long time ago - most Europeans would be thoroughly surprised at the usage of such...ancient technology. Even the majority of ATM's these days access the chip, not the mag stripe. I'm really not sure why you keep defending a system that is clearly unfit for purpose.

It is a benefit and mincing words won't change this. Even the British Treasury calls it a benefit: hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/benefits.htm

Hardly - it's an insurance payout. Trying to claim that it's a benefit is ridiculous, given that it's not subject to any means testing nor is it provided solely to those in need.

Collecting National Insurance while living in Poland and posting on polishforums all day long makes you a dole troll.

You seem to be rather familiar with the subject.

So you've done nothing. It sounds more like you were living in a drug fueled hippy commune before being kicked out. If you had made a mark it would be evident and you wouldn't need to hum and haw about it.

Remind us who was claiming (claiming) a 3 million investment in Poland?

Then again, it's only to be expected from a guest user on PF.

You know banks are there but know next to nothing about them or their relationship with their account holders.

Customers do care, hence why Europe has modern technologies used for banking while the US system relies on paper and mag stripes.

Remind us why many US companies still rely heavily on chequebooks? It's not exactly the sign of a modern banking system, is it?
delphiandomine   
10 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

That's right : when made to look stupid, resort to attacking the poster!

For what it is worth, I saw an American using a mag stripe and signature earlier. Unthinkable in Europe now.
delphiandomine   
10 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

Europe has a lot more credit card fraud than the US because of how they handle transactions.

Actually it's the other way round. The American reliance on the magnetic strip is bewildering to many of us here.

but if what delph said was true and that since I am still a citizen it would be very cheap then it is more likely to happen.

It can be ridiculously cheap - if you just want the experience, then a good private university should only cost you around 2000 dollars for a year at the most.

Economically Europe is on it's back right now.

Another completely factually incorrect post.

Poland is doing well economically at the minute, and quite a few other economies are too.
delphiandomine   
9 May 2013
Life / Drink driving a bike and losing your driving license in Poland [27]

Taxi (or non drinking buddy driving people to and from the party) should replace the car.

You really have to wonder what's so difficult about that concept.

I'll drive to the pub tomorrow. I won't drink. No problem.
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
Life / Drink driving a bike and losing your driving license in Poland [27]

The UK Poll tax wasn't defeated by the masses, it was defeated by Conservatives who knew that the party was suffering from voter fatigue and who realised that Labour were finally starting to sort themselves out. Don't kid yourself that the people really had any influence on this - apart from their ability to vote Labour. If the Conservatives hadn't abolished it before the 1992 election, then Labour would have won regardless of what The Sun published.

Crushing ZUS - I'd absolutely love to hear your alternative ideas on that. Do bear in mind that ZUS exists in order to provide some degree of living for many people - yes, it has failings, but what would you replace it with?

and with such a foolish law as this one.

I really wonder if you'd be so brave when sitting in the back of the police car on the way to the local nick, knowing that you've lost your driving licence and face a mandatory psychological test as well as a driving test before being allowed to drive in Poland again.

Why take a bike if you can take a car and get the same penalty?

Who said it's the same penalty? Drink driving can still land you in prison.
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
Life / Drink driving a bike and losing your driving license in Poland [27]

The law here is a disgrace, and as before, must be flouted by all.

Must be?

Good luck with that one.

You are wasting your time with the sad Neocons on this board buddy.

sad Neocon?

That's original. Don't think I've ever even contemplated voting for a centre-right party, let alone a neocon one.
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

Also how expensive is school there?

Actually - could be quite cheap for you. You're still a Polish citizen (do you have a Polish passport? if not - you should get one!) - and depending on the school, it could be quite cheap for you to attend. Find me in the chat room some evening and I'll tell you all you need to know!
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

Pretty much. Czechs are dreadful for not using spices - I've been there so many times, and anything in a Czech-run restaurant that claims to be spicy most definitely isn't. The Vietnamese there at least understand that you should put chili sauce on tables!
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

Don't expect to find a lot of spicy food on offer.

This is actually changing really quickly :) The Czechs are terrible, but the Poles are starting to figure out that "ostry" can actually be that!
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
Study / How hard is it to get accepted to Wroclaw University of Technology? / Unis in general? [37]

to discuss my options regarding the dreaded 'nostryfikacja

Why did you need to discuss it with him? The best solution would be to submit the documents and see what came of it. It is, however, quite likely that your theoretical knowledge would be lower than the average Polish student, simply because Western universities focus more on practical elements of learning.

I did not want to be rude by asking the question - and knowing the answer - just how many laureates of internationally recognised awards in maths/science have come out of PUT - or any other Polish institution of higher learning for that matter?

Poland doesn't do too well in these things because they aren't well connected in academic circles. Better to look at the demand for graduates.

Subsequently, I was surprised to find that this is a conviction that is held rather universally by the Poles, grounds typically cited are 'higher levels of teaching/material to covered' at all schooling stages, including the university...;-)

The levels are undoubtably higher. It doesn't mean that they're better, but in terms of academic content, Poland still subscribes to the attitude that "more is better" even when it's obvious that graduates have a lack of practical knowledge.
delphiandomine   
8 May 2013
Study / How hard is it to get accepted to Wroclaw University of Technology? / Unis in general? [37]

But again, I would be surprised if you didn't in pretty much any other country.

You would? You're welcome to, but the evidence on the ground (professors openly admitting to lower standards, etc etc) suggests otherwise.

do the trick for many by allowing their alumni to successfully compete for specialty trainings/residencies worldwide

They certainly can apply, but the reality of the course in Poznan is that the students are helped to pass by any means necessary. It's commonly known and accepted that a 5 on the international course equals a 3, at best, on the Polish course. Not to mention that the entry requirements are somewhat...looser than for Polish students.

And obviously the admission criteria are reasonable - not as forbidding as those in some countries.

Reasonable? They are open to anyone with the means of payment and a basic high school diploma.

So overall not a bad option for many for my thinking.

Theroetical teaching isn't bad, because these are normally lecturers who teach Polish students too. But the same lecturers (I know several) openly admit that their grading criteria is significantly lower for the international courses as opposed to the Polish courses. Anything to keep the 17k USD coming in!

As for entering job markets, you might want to investigate how many of them actually get a residency/career after graduating. You might get a little surprise...

What you probably don't see/understand is that the course is designed to get money. It works for Norwegian students who accept that it's a course for those with the means to pay as opposed to having the brains, it works for Asian students who often get quite a lot out of living in Europe, but the bitterness of most American students by the 3rd/4th years shines through.

We had one poster on this site who got very upset when reminded that his course was seen as a joke, even by the university itself.
delphiandomine   
7 May 2013
USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

What I feel personally about the situation has nothing to do with the subject.

It's quite scary that the school has used such draconian punishments for teenagers that did nothing wrong.