Jimmu
6 Jun 2012
News / Marion Barry insults Polish people calling them "Polacks" [33]
You sound like a Lenny Bruce fan! :->
I have tried to make a concentrated effort to call myself a Polack when asked.
You sound like a Lenny Bruce fan! :->
Jimmu
5 Jun 2012
News / Marion Barry insults Polish people calling them "Polacks" [33]
The only Poles I know who might be insulted if I called them a Polak are the women. They prefer Polka.
The only Poles I know who might be insulted if I called them a Polak are the women. They prefer Polka.
Jimmu
5 Jun 2012
Language / The Polish language - it's bloody hard! [210]
If the other language is Polish, you are correct.
I have a theory.
Long ago a king of Poland decided to raise money by taxing vowels.
The populace responded "Screw you! We just won't use any!"
Kind of a Polish version of the Boston Tea Party.
English is essentially a language that uses vowels no other language would accept
If the other language is Polish, you are correct.
I have a theory.
Long ago a king of Poland decided to raise money by taxing vowels.
The populace responded "Screw you! We just won't use any!"
Kind of a Polish version of the Boston Tea Party.
Jimmu
22 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's flat rental agents and the anger they brew in me.... [60]
Once you find a place you might want to take along a translator to help with financial details, etc, but as far as searching through the ads, google translate works well.
After your first dozen ads you'll see that there are about 20 or so words that are repeated over and over.
Especially words like "cichy" and "spokojny" :->
If I spoke Polish, I'd not even use an agent tbh
Once you find a place you might want to take along a translator to help with financial details, etc, but as far as searching through the ads, google translate works well.
After your first dozen ads you'll see that there are about 20 or so words that are repeated over and over.
Especially words like "cichy" and "spokojny" :->
Jimmu
22 May 2012
Life / Poles always ask how much money you earn. Why do they do this? [30]
I've had people ask me that question.
Maybe it's not so much prying into your personal space as it is doing research for their own future. If you're thinking of going out of country for work it would be nice to know what "real people" earn where you're headed.
The same conversations usually include questions about what it costs to live there.
Also, I get less personal questions about how much different professions make.
I've had people ask me that question.
Maybe it's not so much prying into your personal space as it is doing research for their own future. If you're thinking of going out of country for work it would be nice to know what "real people" earn where you're headed.
The same conversations usually include questions about what it costs to live there.
Also, I get less personal questions about how much different professions make.
Jimmu
17 May 2012
Study / Is it really worth moving back to Poland to study in a pharmacy school? [44]
That's pretty much my point. One doesn't walk up and say hello in Poland, much less ask for their financial status. And to assume that the way things are done in Polish cities is the way they are done "in all social situations" would indicate you are rather limited in your exposure to "social situations" around the world.
Barking? You mean the caps? I plead guilty to the unnecessary capitalization of "Dobry" but maintain that capitalizing "Dzien" was appropriate. :->
Poland ain't a "hey, what's up" to random strangers in the street kinda country.
Uhhhh, you say "dzien dobry" to random people on a street? That's not quite "lol", that's "I'm totally inept in all social situations".
That's pretty much my point. One doesn't walk up and say hello in Poland, much less ask for their financial status. And to assume that the way things are done in Polish cities is the way they are done "in all social situations" would indicate you are rather limited in your exposure to "social situations" around the world.
You're probably barking it at people. I would also give you an icy stare ;)
Barking? You mean the caps? I plead guilty to the unnecessary capitalization of "Dobry" but maintain that capitalizing "Dzien" was appropriate. :->
Jimmu
13 May 2012
Study / Is it really worth moving back to Poland to study in a pharmacy school? [44]
I can't quite imagine doing this in a country where "Dzien Dobry!" gets you an icy stare from strangers on the street. lol
walk up to a teacher who's been working for a school for 10+ years and ask her, "how much were you earning 8 years ago? 5 years ago? 2 years ago?"
do the same for a cop, a nurse, someone at the corner Biedronka, etc.
do the same for a cop, a nurse, someone at the corner Biedronka, etc.
I can't quite imagine doing this in a country where "Dzien Dobry!" gets you an icy stare from strangers on the street. lol
Jimmu
13 May 2012
Life / You've been in Poland a while if .... [49]
- you stop trying to explain to people that San Francisco is not very close to San Diego and just say "No, I don't think I remember meeting your cousin."
- you realize that "Nie, dziękuje." never works at the dinner table.
- you say "Herbatka" not because you want tea, but because you don't want to hear the list of all possible drinks your host can provide.
- you pepper your English with Polish words because the Polish words fit better what you're trying to say.
- you laugh when someone mentions the A2
- you stop trying to explain to people that San Francisco is not very close to San Diego and just say "No, I don't think I remember meeting your cousin."
- you realize that "Nie, dziękuje." never works at the dinner table.
- you say "Herbatka" not because you want tea, but because you don't want to hear the list of all possible drinks your host can provide.
- you pepper your English with Polish words because the Polish words fit better what you're trying to say.
- you laugh when someone mentions the A2
Jimmu
13 May 2012
Life / Why do you choose to stay in Poland, why not other country? [152]
The A4 between Kraków and Wrocław is pretty nice. And then there is ... uhh ... hmmmm... ???
The A4 between Kraków and Wrocław is pretty nice. And then there is ... uhh ... hmmmm... ???
Jimmu
13 May 2012
Life / Why do you choose to stay in Poland, why not other country? [152]
Uhh, it was a joke.....
- you stop trying to explain to people that San Francisco is not very close to San Diego and just say "No, I don't think I remember meeting your cousin."
- you realize that "Nie, dziękuje." never works at the dinner table.
- you say "Herbatka" not because you want tea, but because you don't want to hear the list of all possible drinks your host can provide.
- you pepper your English with Polish words because the Polish words fit better what you're trying to say.
- you laugh when someone mentions the A2.
Jimmu: Ok, maybe California has better beaches than Śląsk......
dude.......New Jersey has better beaches than Śląsk.....
dude.......New Jersey has better beaches than Śląsk.....
Uhh, it was a joke.....
- you stop trying to explain to people that San Francisco is not very close to San Diego and just say "No, I don't think I remember meeting your cousin."
- you realize that "Nie, dziękuje." never works at the dinner table.
- you say "Herbatka" not because you want tea, but because you don't want to hear the list of all possible drinks your host can provide.
- you pepper your English with Polish words because the Polish words fit better what you're trying to say.
- you laugh when someone mentions the A2.
Jimmu
12 May 2012
Life / Why do you choose to stay in Poland, why not other country? [152]
Ok, maybe California has better beaches than Śląsk......
no no, it's the beautiful sandy beaches ;)
Ok, maybe California has better beaches than Śląsk......
Jimmu
11 May 2012
Life / You've been in Poland a while if .... [49]
- you expect beef to be cooked to the point it falls apart on your plate or raw with raw egg and onions. Neither of which requires a knife!
Correct. Either raw or extremely well-done. Rare, bleeding steaks are horrible perversion for my Polish taste. I am not a vampire.
- you expect beef to be cooked to the point it falls apart on your plate or raw with raw egg and onions. Neither of which requires a knife!
Jimmu
8 May 2012
Life / Why do you choose to stay in Poland, why not other country? [152]
You now know one. Or at least know of one.
After 40 years in California I moved to Poland. It's hard to convince Poles that years consisting of 50 weeks of warm sunny weather and two weeks of downpour get boring after a while, but it's true. And I'm living in a house with more history than anything in California not made of mud bricks that cost me about what a nice one car garage would in CA. Not a house with a one car garage, just the garage.
You are comparing California to Poland?? HAHAHAHAHAHA. I know lots of Poles who would love to live in CA but not any Californians who would rather live in Poland. That says it all.
You now know one. Or at least know of one.
After 40 years in California I moved to Poland. It's hard to convince Poles that years consisting of 50 weeks of warm sunny weather and two weeks of downpour get boring after a while, but it's true. And I'm living in a house with more history than anything in California not made of mud bricks that cost me about what a nice one car garage would in CA. Not a house with a one car garage, just the garage.
Jimmu
8 May 2012
Real Estate / Thinking of buying an offplan Luxury Property Wroclaw [79]
On our first trip to Poland I asked my wife if we shouldn't look at buying an apartment in a building undergoing remodeling very near her parents' place. The artwork looked great and the building would include underground parking and a playground. Oddly enough the asking price was 50,000 PLN....
On our second trip to Poland we found the developer had left the country, taking all the pre-payments with him. Luckily for us my wife had decided she wanted a house not an apartment.
Caveat Emptor seems to be the applicable phrase here.
On our first trip to Poland I asked my wife if we shouldn't look at buying an apartment in a building undergoing remodeling very near her parents' place. The artwork looked great and the building would include underground parking and a playground. Oddly enough the asking price was 50,000 PLN....
On our second trip to Poland we found the developer had left the country, taking all the pre-payments with him. Luckily for us my wife had decided she wanted a house not an apartment.
Caveat Emptor seems to be the applicable phrase here.
Jimmu
7 May 2012
Life / You've been in Poland a while if .... [49]
In a thread titled "You know you're Polish if..." or some such, someone said they thought it was about ex-pats who had been here a while. It got me thinking:
- you no longer blush when someone says być or fakt
- you get angry at the slow pokes going only 5 kph over the limit
- it's not petrol or gasoline, it's benzene
- you know that 'bry is not a kind of soft cheese
- you know that klan does not imply ku klux
- you see Kaczinsky on TV and you know it's something about Smolensk
- you feel you didn't park well if you didn't run over the curb
- you know pieśi is not the plural of pies
- you say pierogi when you mean pierogów and smirk at people who say pierogis
- you don't ask "How are you?" because you know they will tell you in detail
- you don't say "Dzien dobry." to people you don't know in the city. In the village you should know everyone.
- you know that any alcohol other than beer or vodka is exotic and expensive
- you have stopped asking for milk in a restaurant
- you have stopped looking for iced tea without lemon or peach flavoring
- you think sushi is the opposite of mocre
- cholera is an expletive, not a disease
strike any chords????
In a thread titled "You know you're Polish if..." or some such, someone said they thought it was about ex-pats who had been here a while. It got me thinking:
- you no longer blush when someone says być or fakt
- you get angry at the slow pokes going only 5 kph over the limit
- it's not petrol or gasoline, it's benzene
- you know that 'bry is not a kind of soft cheese
- you know that klan does not imply ku klux
- you see Kaczinsky on TV and you know it's something about Smolensk
- you feel you didn't park well if you didn't run over the curb
- you know pieśi is not the plural of pies
- you say pierogi when you mean pierogów and smirk at people who say pierogis
- you don't ask "How are you?" because you know they will tell you in detail
- you don't say "Dzien dobry." to people you don't know in the city. In the village you should know everyone.
- you know that any alcohol other than beer or vodka is exotic and expensive
- you have stopped asking for milk in a restaurant
- you have stopped looking for iced tea without lemon or peach flavoring
- you think sushi is the opposite of mocre
- cholera is an expletive, not a disease
strike any chords????
Jimmu
11 Mar 2012
USA, Canada / Would like to move back to Poland from New York after living in USA for 20 years. [155]
My situation is quite different from yours. I'm retired, have no Polish heritage, am slowly learning pidgin Polish, moved here with my wife, a Polish native. We are living in a small village far from anything that would be considered a medium sized town in Southern California where I lived for forty years before coming here. That being said ....
I think I know enough about what you are going through to be able to say "Give it a try."
I agree with several other posters that you should try to find a job before you come over, and that teaching English is not a viable option. Knowing a subject and teaching a subject are two very different things.
Housing costs in Warsaw are outrageous compared to the rest of Poland, just like they are in New York City compared to the rest of New York.
Some things cost more, some things less and there is a different take on what is a necessity and what is a luxury.
The winters are very cold compared to So. Cal., but not bad compared to the US North East and Mid West.
The hardest thing to get used to is the cultural homogeneity. Everybody knows the saints days and the life history of THE Pope. Everybody knows that the "katastrofa" means Smolensk. Nobody questions why the shops are closed on Sunday. Why whiskey, vodka, and wine are in a special high security section of the store, but beer is stacked next to the soft drinks and mineral water. Something built 300 years ago may be historical, but something built 100 years ago is just old.
It will be either frightening or fascinating, and you'll never know which until you try.
I've found it all fascinating, I hope you will too!
My situation is quite different from yours. I'm retired, have no Polish heritage, am slowly learning pidgin Polish, moved here with my wife, a Polish native. We are living in a small village far from anything that would be considered a medium sized town in Southern California where I lived for forty years before coming here. That being said ....
I think I know enough about what you are going through to be able to say "Give it a try."
I agree with several other posters that you should try to find a job before you come over, and that teaching English is not a viable option. Knowing a subject and teaching a subject are two very different things.
Housing costs in Warsaw are outrageous compared to the rest of Poland, just like they are in New York City compared to the rest of New York.
Some things cost more, some things less and there is a different take on what is a necessity and what is a luxury.
The winters are very cold compared to So. Cal., but not bad compared to the US North East and Mid West.
The hardest thing to get used to is the cultural homogeneity. Everybody knows the saints days and the life history of THE Pope. Everybody knows that the "katastrofa" means Smolensk. Nobody questions why the shops are closed on Sunday. Why whiskey, vodka, and wine are in a special high security section of the store, but beer is stacked next to the soft drinks and mineral water. Something built 300 years ago may be historical, but something built 100 years ago is just old.
It will be either frightening or fascinating, and you'll never know which until you try.
I've found it all fascinating, I hope you will too!
Jimmu
10 Mar 2012
Language / Use of A/An/The ...... Articles [186]
"He was a most peculiar man."
I think in these cases "most" is used as "very".
"He was a most intelligent boy." = "He was a very intelligent boy."
whereas:
"He was the most intelligent boy." = "He was more intelligent than the other boys."
And please don't ask me to talk about "parts of speech". My English was learned by trial and error, not study and analysis. :->
He is a most intelligent boy.
"He was a most peculiar man."
I think in these cases "most" is used as "very".
"He was a most intelligent boy." = "He was a very intelligent boy."
whereas:
"He was the most intelligent boy." = "He was more intelligent than the other boys."
And please don't ask me to talk about "parts of speech". My English was learned by trial and error, not study and analysis. :->
Jimmu
8 Mar 2012
Love / Cultural misscommunication, or is he trying to send me a message? Working with Polish dude. [34]
Actually, I'm in Poland.
And England and Wales repealed buggery laws in 1967.
you are in a country where right wing bible bashing hypocrites still call the shots,
Actually, I'm in Poland.
And England and Wales repealed buggery laws in 1967.
Jimmu
6 Mar 2012
Love / Cultural misscommunication, or is he trying to send me a message? Working with Polish dude. [34]
as opposed to most of the civilized world where now, or in the recent past, it gets them executed! lol
you live in a land of the free that gets people fired for who they choose to sleep with
as opposed to most of the civilized world where now, or in the recent past, it gets them executed! lol
Jimmu
28 Feb 2012
News / US-POLAND special relationship [20]
So Marek111111111, do you object to US policy when they intervene, or when they don't? Sounds like you're sitting on both sides of that fence.
So Marek111111111, do you object to US policy when they intervene, or when they don't? Sounds like you're sitting on both sides of that fence.
Jimmu
28 Feb 2012
Food / Stuffed cabbage - gołąbki - recipe [59]
We used to use the same stuffing to fill bell peppers, bake until the peppers are tender, then cover with tomato sauce and bake a bit more. I've never tried the mushroom sauce, but it sounds really good!
We used to use the same stuffing to fill bell peppers, bake until the peppers are tender, then cover with tomato sauce and bake a bit more. I've never tried the mushroom sauce, but it sounds really good!
Jimmu
28 Feb 2012
UK, Ireland / Why can't unemployed Polish people on benefits just leave UK and go home please? [240]
So let me get this straight. They don't do any work, but they steal jobs from you by taking work you refuse to do?
doing jobs for the elitists that no self respecting person would do.
So let me get this straight. They don't do any work, but they steal jobs from you by taking work you refuse to do?
Jimmu
5 Feb 2012
Life / Question about hot water in Poland and the use of water heaters? [52]
Right up until the time they decide to descale the boiler in the main plant in the middle of the winter.
And I don't always agree with their decision as to when it's cold enough to fire up the boilers or warm enough to shut them down.
I don't know either, except that the one I have keeps my flat warm even in the coldest winters.
Right up until the time they decide to descale the boiler in the main plant in the middle of the winter.
And I don't always agree with their decision as to when it's cold enough to fire up the boilers or warm enough to shut them down.
Jimmu
5 Feb 2012
Genealogy / Is tallness common among Polish people? [201]
Length? Sorry. I'm not even half that.
my average height is 183 cm. or preferably, length.
Length? Sorry. I'm not even half that.
Jimmu
31 Jan 2012
Law / IT department (computer programming) - Opening up an Office/Business in Poland [53]
Silicon Valley. Which is not SF, by the way. More like San Jose.
where are other big IT offices (microsoft, etc.) or where are the best technical universities.
Silicon Valley. Which is not SF, by the way. More like San Jose.
Jimmu
31 Jan 2012
Genealogy / Is tallness common among Polish people? [201]
All the Poles I have met are quite short. None have been near the 198cm I consider to be normal.
All the Poles I have met are quite short. None have been near the 198cm I consider to be normal.
Jimmu
31 Jan 2012
Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]
As long as you don't want to have a phone, cable TV, electrical service, trash pickup, bank account itd.
As long as you don't want to have a phone, cable TV, electrical service, trash pickup, bank account itd.
Jimmu
30 Jan 2012
News / Poland now soft-pedalling ACTA signing [107]
Two things about ACTA really bother me, and no one seems to be talking about them.
First is that under ACTA a person can be fined or jailed and their property confiscated on the basis of an accusation by an alleged copyright holder. After proving their innocence, the accused may apply for redress forcing the accuser to pay their court costs. Not damages, just court costs. Due process and presumption of innocence. Who needs 'em?
Second is that the commission controlling ACTA may modify it in any way they choose without the permission of the signatories. "Sign here, don't worry about the details. We'll fill that all in later."
Two things about ACTA really bother me, and no one seems to be talking about them.
First is that under ACTA a person can be fined or jailed and their property confiscated on the basis of an accusation by an alleged copyright holder. After proving their innocence, the accused may apply for redress forcing the accuser to pay their court costs. Not damages, just court costs. Due process and presumption of innocence. Who needs 'em?
Second is that the commission controlling ACTA may modify it in any way they choose without the permission of the signatories. "Sign here, don't worry about the details. We'll fill that all in later."
Jimmu
7 Dec 2011
Life / You are Polish if... [433]
More like "You don't recognize your own name when it is properly pronounced."
People often have trouble pronouncing your last name.
More like "You don't recognize your own name when it is properly pronounced."
Jimmu
7 Dec 2011
Life / You are Polish if... [433]
I always thought I was mostly English/Irish, but according to Post #1 I'm about 90% Polish!
Soccer? Football? I thought it was piłka nożna.
I always thought I was mostly English/Irish, but according to Post #1 I'm about 90% Polish!
Soccer? Football? I thought it was piłka nożna.