USA, Canada / A Polish Americans phone call to Rush Limbaugh [15]


Got a problem with the South you elitist yankee dweeb??

Oops, missed the smiley or whatever that symbol means so I'm taking it back. unless you're a yankee of course... ;)

USA, Canada / American father's son is in Poland, [he's] told to pay child support.... [30]

I agree with you and fortunately more and more judges start seing the value of fatherhood and are more impartial in divorce cases. I'd also add -> stop blaming men. It would be nice if women too could support men when they feel their rights were violated. Whenever a woman is hurt I'm always there to support her. In cases such as this some women look for excuses to defend the woman simply because she's "one of their own". I think that's sad and self defeating.

People like to gang up on Zimmy and I too disagree with some of his views, however many times he's is right on the money but folks discount his views just because they think he dislikes women due to some bad past experiences he might have had. I say try to look past your disagreements and you'll see that often he's correct.

USA, Canada / American father's son is in Poland, [he's] told to pay child support.... [30]

I'm sorry Patrycja, I enjoy debating with you but your comment is as sexist and as cold as it gets. So you are also blaming him for the death of his first wife or for collecting money for her death?? His wife was killed in a car accident and he should be getting payments, that's what that type of insurance is for, to at least partially replace the lost houshold income in such tragedies. Can't believe you even brought that up, how is that even related to his second-kidnapper wife?

As far as alimony payments, in kidnapping cases an attorney usually advices the client not to make any payments but rather to lock it in a trust. A payment is viewed in some countries as an acknowledgment of the status quo. Why did the kid say he didn't want to see the father? Have you heard of parental brainwash? Happens every day in parental disputes and applies to men and women.

The attorney I'd mentioned earlier said what you just mentioned is a typical response she gets if a woman doesn't get her will in court -> there MUST have been abuse, and that's why she hates taking on men's cases because in her own words -> if there's "he said she said" then the man is pretty much defenseless.

Just because some, a very tiny minority of men are abusive the rest of us, and we are the vast majority have this suspicion put on us whenever there is a case such as this.

The fact is -> a family lived together in the US and decided to have a child. For whatever reason they split up and a US court, a court with a jurisdiction on this issue, decided in his favor. That alone is amazing as the vast majority of similar cases are always supportive of the mother. So instead she escapes to Poland and kidnaps the child. That's what she did and if she ever comes back to the US that's what she is going to be arrested for - kidnaping, her child or not. Now she also wants the money and you say, "well, there must have been something else in that case..." How about an appeal?? That's how we deal with outcomes we don't like. A parent kidnaping a child is a criminal whether a man or a woman. To use the typical "how do we know if (fill in the blank)..." is a bunch of bs. It's up to the courts, NOT us to judge.

This guy was raped, yes raped by his former wife and now she wants him to pay child support for the child she kidnapped. Seems very similar to what the Brazilian woman did, she too tried to get the kid's father to give up all legal fights or she'd sue for child support even though she kidnapped her kid. Her new husband was a lawyer so it was even easier for her. Karma is a ***** and the kid is now with the rightful father and she isn't around any longer. I don't know if the guy in this case was abusive or not. IF he was it should've been brought up by the court and not us. What we know is that she broke the law and was never punished for it, now she's going even further. Disgusting.

My mom's work with the feminism movement showed me many ugly aspects of men/women relationships. For a while we even used a room in our house as a temporary shelter for abused women so yes I know the ugly side of this and as a young boy promised myself I'd always be kind and gentle to women. I think I've fulfilled that promise.

However, my mom also warned me that women too can be mean, ugly and manipulative when trying to score a point. So no matter what the issue there is I should always look at the both sides of the equation and to always let the judicial system run the show rather than to judge based on emotions.

Therefore I don't care what else there might have been in this case. The court has spoken and one person in this tragedy decided to deal with it in her own way by stealing the child. It's as despicable as it gets and I'm sad you feel the need to use your trumph card of "maybe there was abuse..." simply to defend a criminal act.

If we are ever to reach a true equality than we all have to learn to obey the law - all of us, men and yes Patrycja, women too. Disappointed with your "if in doubt - men are always wrong" view in this case.

USA, Canada / Changing plane in the USA without USA Visa [13]


Not true. Depends on whether the flight is a through flight or a via flight on the flight plan. Many airports use a separate gateway for those passengers as the only reason the airplane landed in those cases is a tech-stop, extra fuel due to strong winds, etc. etc. We treat our passengers exactly the same way we get treated in other places, whether in Narita, Singapore, Shanghai, or Cologne. Border control needs to be strenghtened and therefore I like the idea everyone uses a passport today. Those "new" 24/7 updating rules helped us catch this dirtbag:

washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/04/new-york-car-bomb-called-act-of-terror/

USA, Canada / Changing plane in the USA without USA Visa [13]

I'd say check with the Polish consulate in Mexico. Good luck to you both.
Nos vemos

poland.visahq.com/embassy/Mexico/

USA, Canada / American father's son is in Poland, [he's] told to pay child support.... [30]

Not really. There's a parental pro-mother bias in most countries whether Poland or the US. My friend's wife, who's a divorce attorney says she hates accepting male clients with children because it's so difficult to get a shared custody and much less a full custody for them.

Just look at this guy, took him 5 years to get his boy back that his "vacationing" wife took home to Brazil and never returned. Each and every child convention was violated, when she died her new husband kept the kid; fortunately the biological father didn't give up. Yeah, I wish the feminism movement, which supposedly is about equality between the genders, took up this as their cause. Parents should be judged as parents whether male or female...

My mother used to chair a local chapter of the Feminist Party (feministiskt initiativ - F!) in Sweden but she left it because of their strong anti-male views. She (and I) wants equality for both genders and NOT to replace one type of discrimination with a different one. Oh well, hope the guy prevails, and gets his kid back. A court ruling is a court ruling.

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-12007-504083.html

USA, Canada / Better life in USA or Canada? - expats opinions and your comparison [143]


Hmm, you have pretty strong opinions about things you don't seem to understand. I guess I'd be considered part of your evil "Christian Right" yet I'm nothing like what you describe. I'm a Lutheran, believe in God but also in humanity. I think each and every person should believe in what they want to believe in but at the same token am turned off by the constant leftist lunatics who worship their own religion - socialism.

I respect gays and lesbians although I struggle sometimes in understanding certain aspects of it, but I certainly do respect them. I'm simply asking not to be bombarded with their own agenda day in and day out. ...and yes, I'm even for their right to get married but would prefer if they chose a different name for their union if at all possible.

The disgusting picture you posted has nothing to do with Christianity, zero, nada!! Yet people use nutcases and morons to parade their hate for our religion all the time. That's fine, we won't kill you or burn you for your views. We simply ask for you to let us keep our views intact.

As far as the original question - both the US and Canada have their pros and cons. Recently I was moved to Anchorage, Alaska area (job not residence) and will be flying out of here for a while and must say that Anchorage, and all of Alaska is packed with Canadians and most of them say the opportunities here far outweigh what they have back home, most have US health insurance and go back home for minor/routine medical visits and use their US insurance for more serious medical problems.

I think the two countries are like twin brothers always competing yet always helping each other out when needed. I do like Canada for sure.

By the way, surprisingly many Canadians live in Hawai'i too.

History / Give back Lwow to Poland and Kaliningrad to Germany - is it possible? [198]

Huh?? Who are you replying to?

History / Give back Lwow to Poland and Kaliningrad to Germany - is it possible? [198]

"Lwow and Kaliningrad"??

Feels weird to mix languages like that. Call it Lviv and Kaliningrad or Lwów and Królewiec... This website provides all the Polish letters by the way, feel free to use them.

Just my take on it...

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]

Great post!

News / Decoded talks inside Poland's president's plane are released in Internet [337]


I haven't read all the posts on this thread, probably should've but there're so many conspiracy theories here that I gave up. I don't know all the facts so everything I say is pure speculation. However, what German findings are you talking about? I think the Russians made a mistake by puting Putin (hey, it rhymes;) in charge. Well meant but shows lack of understanding of the distrust most Poles feel to anyone ever associated with the KGB. Also, they should've invited international experts prompto! Not because they were needed but to show good-will and to dispel all conspiracies from the get-go.

We don't have all the facts BUT it's always the crew, and in particular the captain who decides if a landing should be attempted. Tower, ATC, it's all very appreciated help but if we don't like it we go missed and either try again or go somewhere else. What bugs me the very most is the response or apparently late response to the ground prox warning, EGPWS, or TAWS if you prefer. I bet you most pilots who're sound asleep would "add power and pitch up" if they heard "TERRAIN TERRAIN WHOOP WHOOP PULL-UP" while asleep. That's how we're wired. I'm perplexed at what happened there. Still waiting for the official investigation to be concluded to find out why they got so low and why they didn't go around as soon as the GEEPWHIZ (EGPWS) kicked in?

News / Unbelievable but, its truth. Poland is finally happy to share border with Russia [57]

Crow


Yeah right. ...Poland is about as "happy" to share border with Russia as Serbia is to share border with Kosovo and Bosnia & Hercegovina. Except million times over. Your anti-EU, anti-US and anti-NATO stance has turned into a Russo subservient paranoia. Had your country shared border with Russia throughout centuries it probably wouldn't exist today, instead it'd be a "special region" a la Chechnya, etc.

Life / Sci-fi / Fantasy books in Polish? [12]

Never read his books in Polish but Solaris by Stanisław Lem is a must for any sci-fi afficianado. Coincidently I read it as a 15 year old ...in Swedish lol

Not sure if the website is what you're looking for but they have many books in Polish...

polonia.com

Love / Can 'engaged' soon to marry Polish men say I love you to their female friend? [62]


Sort of uncool of you plk to get personal here just because you disagree with him, wouldn't you say? Doesn't sound like you...

EpicMe - I'm sort of torn here because it sounds like you ended an engagement based on an email and the possible innuendos in it??

Granted, I'm a guy and as such am very slow to comprehend certain things but surely there's more to the story, right? Is it possible he still has some feelings for his former girlfriend but that's as far as it gets? I don't know but I think part of my heart will always belong to my exwife even if one day I fall in love with someone else. I can see myself sending her a Christmas card or something saying Love Always and I'm sure she would do the same but it would never go any further. I've never cheated on a woman in my entire life, I believe in honesty but don't think cherishing one's past is bad.

I don't know, as I said I'm torn here because maybe he's a cheater or maybe he's just a clueless man like I am who wanted to say something kind to his former love? I'm not sure, I do think that he should've talked to you first before sending this email but I also hope you talked to him before breaking off your engagement due to your suspicions derived from an email.

Signed,

clueless...

Polonia / Trip to Sweden - questions [39]

What?! IKEA without meatballs is just sacrilegious to me! Wrong! Like music without ears or sex without orgasm, should be illegal! ;)
Meatballs made of moose meat are the best by the way and no one beats my mom's homecooked meatballs. That's a different story though.

What you experienced is the Latin way of thinking which is "it'll all be good", enjoy your life and don't worry about rules and regulations. Germanic way of thinking (and the UK is part of the Germanic family) is all about rules and following the rules. It applies to the language, ways of life and yes walking in shopping malls.

If they had arrows in Malaga stores no one would follow them anyways. In Asia Japan and Singapore follows the ORDNUNG mentality whereas China, Korea, the Philipines are followers of the WHATEVER way of life. :)

Both ways have their own pecularities and I just follow along.

IKEA with no meatballs! What an outrage! ;)

Polonia / Trip to Sweden - questions [39]


I was serious too. The only ikea stores I've seen with arrows were in the countries that drive on the left side of the road. Since 90% of the world drives on the right side of the road it makes a difference for the tourists. People tend to walk on the same side as they normally drive on. Same with stairs and escalators hence the arrows. I wasn't picking on you folks. Heck, we still use gallons, Fahrenheit, inches and some other measurements no one else does. :)

Polonia / Trip to Sweden - questions [39]

Yes, it's mainly in the UK and the reason is the driving on the left side which translates to the walking patterns. For example, the escalators go up on the right side and down on the left side all over the world except in the UK, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, etc.

I have no problem at all switching back and forth when I drive in different parts of the world but ALWAYS find myself walking in the wrong direction in shopping malls, etc. when in the UK and other "wrong-sided" ;) parts of the world. Arrows help! LOL

PS. I agree with you and am surprised SvenskiPolen hasn't chimed in yet...


Their asses getting kicked? Huh?? Is this some Weegie "alternative" history you know? :) Nah, it was the Norwegians who were so whiney we granted them independence without one shot being fired...

There's only so much whining a person can take. :)

Seriously though, I do like Norge and feel at home there almost as much as in Sverige.

Ok, time to work... Hej då

Polonia / Trip to Sweden - questions [39]


True, i keep forgetting about the misspelled Swedish some people call Norwegian. Just keedin'. LOL
Ha det. ;)

Polonia / Trip to Sweden - questions [39]


Shush, don't look for other forums, PF is all you need! LOL

First of all - Välkommen till Sverige! :)

Born in Polska, raised in Sverige, fell in love with America so there you have my background. I visit Sweden every few years, sometimes more often.

They never really accepted the British pound in Sweden, German Mark in the past was ok but only a few stores would let you do that, nowadays a few stores will let you pay with the €uro, not common at all. If you take a boat to Finland or Estonia (booze cruise! ;) they'll accept everything -> Swedish, Danish, Norwegian Kronor, Estonian Kroon, Euro, and even grains of gold LOL.

In Sweden you gotta use the krona or kronor [pronounced kroner] in plural. If you persist they might accepted your Brittiskt Pund at few places but you'll get a horrendous rate.

I never really stay in hotels when in Sweden as I have family and friends all over the country but in the past I've stayed at the Radisson SAS Stockholm, I have no idea if it was expensive or not (probably) as it was a crew hotel - company pays. Nice hotel for European standards but nothing extraordinary. Asian and Middle Eastern hotels have gotten me spoiled lol.

If you want something really close to the airport I suggest Jumbo Stay Hostel which is litteraly on the opposite end of Arlanda. It's a converted Boeing 747, which I'm very familiar with :) and it has small but cute and practical rooms, showers, etc.

It has a bitter-sweet meaning to me as my exwife and I stayed there one time and we had a blast. It's not "cheap" but I thought it was reasonable, it's been a while though so prices might have changed.

As far as you venturing out of Stockholm, personally I'd advice against it because you only stay there a few days. I'd say soak in the Gamla Stan' atmosphere (Gamla Staden), it's the old section of the city, i think they called it Rynek? in Wrocław, can't remember.

I'd visit the Vasa ship, an amazing experience in itself.

If you go there with a friend, visit the ice-bar, pretty neat.

Actually typing this from the Anchorage airport and I'll be gone for a few days in case you reply so Trevlig Resa (Have a nice trip) and Vi ses igen (see you again).

Hej då
Sayonara :)

USA, Canada / Requirements for marriage in the US if not planning to stay [11]

I know that you can get married in your boyfriend's (fiance's) home country and apply from there. Not sure about the conditions you specified but I'd contact in immigration attorney to make sure you get all the info you need. A few bucks for something very important in your life.

Study / Brazilian girl considering going to wroclaw university for my master degree. [13]


Of course we do. Still love the warm and friendly people whether mulheres bonitas or not... You too should know that. ;)

Language / Why x.xx$ in Poland? [20]

Good point.

In Sweden we use "Swedish mile" or svensk mil, except we just call it mile or mil. 1 mil is exactly 10 km so when you ask someone how far is it from Malmö to Kiruna they'll say it's only 142 miles which of course a tourist might take for UK/US miles or 230 kilometers. Because most people have never even heard of the Swedish mile.

However, 142 Swedish miles is actually 1,420 kilometers, not 230 as one would think. ;)

Language / Why x.xx$ in Poland? [20]

Kidney or gallbladder? ;)

Study / Brazilian girl considering going to wroclaw university for my master degree. [13]


I live in America but was born in wrocław. My relatives still live there and I watch their pictures and videos all the time. It's a beautiful, cosmopolitan city you'll appreciate before you know it. Think of São Luís but with German rather than French flair, at least downtown.

From what I remember from São Luís the traffic in wrocław is much less aggressive and chaotic than in your beatiful country. ...and my relatives say the traffic in wrocław is horrendous... lol

Wrocław university has a long history and education is great. I say go and make them all fall in love with Brazil, I know I fell in love with your country (and women :) the first time I visited.

Aproveitar a Polónia

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]


I think you misunderstood, we are not obsessed with our money. I know I'm not. Money is nice but it cannot buy you happiness. Cliché but true. I make good money but I doubt I'm any "happier" than the guy next to me who makes a fraction of what I make, in fact I bet you the opposite is true.

What I am obsessed with, or at the very least what I truly do care about is to be a good person toward others and would like the same in return. As I said I truly enjoy chivalry but don't like when people make assumptions, men or women. When a woman expects a free dinner simply because she's a woman than she's just as sexist as the guy she accused of being a sexist pig for expecting sex just because he took her out and paid the bill.

Courtship is about attraction but also balance, curiousity and respect for each other. I'll never expect anything from a woman I go out with and instead will hope for some kind of chemistry between us. Likewise I'd like to be myself without feeling pressured into someone else's "expectations".

I love old fashioned courtships where a man makes a woman feel like a princess. At the same token I wouldn't want to feel like her money-purse just because she expects that from a man.

So to answer you - yes, I've "made up my mind" long time ago; it's hard to explain it but yes generosity is sooo much better when it comes from the heart rather than from the sense of obligation.

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]

Tru Dat... :)

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]

I do understand your thinking too but in my view it's very sexist and I think it's sad there's still so much sexism around us. If it was me you'd never get a chance to dump me because I always pay lol but also because I'd never ask you out again if I felt like your purse. (too old for u anyways ;) but trying to making a point).

Relationships are about mutual admiration but also respect. If you really feel annoyed when a guy doesn't pay than you don't really respect him. When I spend time with a lady and she smiles at me, makes me feel special to her I take it as gift, not an expectation simply because I paid for the meal. If she's kind to me because I paid then I don't need her in my life because she doesn't respect me.

Likewise you should treat each moment a guy makes you feel special as a gift. There are no assumptions in relationships and love. If you start out with mutual respect though you just multiplied your chances of finding happiness.

At least that's my testosterone induced take on it. :)

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]


I always do, and I always open up doors for the ladies, pull out chairs at the table, etc. My mom taught me that and I enjoy that part of being a man. However, I think it's sad when a lady "expects" for me to pay, or if she makes her stand clear on what her "expectations" are. I love chivalry but hate being taken advantage of just because I was born with the wrong part between my legs.

So enjoy being a woman and let us enjoy treating you as the "kinder and gentler" gender we want to believe that you (women) are but please don't ever make your "expectations" known or the whole allure of being a man treating a lady like a true gentleman evaporates at the speed of light. In fact, it's probably more like warpspeed 5!

Language / Why x.xx$ in Poland? [20]


In Swedish we also say twenty five hundred (tjugofem hundra) versus two thousand five hundred. We can say it both ways but the "American" way sounds more logical to us - Germanic languages have their own logic. I like the American way of writing numbers for sure. 1,000,000 is very clear from far away wheras if I see 1000000 I have to count the zeroes to figure out if it's a million or not. That's just me though.

When it comes to money, remember it's just the way we write it down, to emphasize numbers. Reading is the same -> $25 is always 25 dollars just like 25zł is always twenty five złoty.

Love / Polish men what is the worst thing a girl can do upon first impression? [360]


Really? So basically a gold-digger? Wow, why would they be named after fairly inexpensive, thin sheets of metal? I thought it had to do with being flat chested, blacha - thin metal... LOL Oh well, blachara it is...