Life / Catholic idol worship in Poland [29]


I've seen local people do that on buses round my way. You can tell whether they're Roman or Orthodox because they only do it when they pass the 'real' churches ;-)

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]


That reminds me of another thing I'll never get used to. I'm a wee bit photosensitive, and when in winter it's very bright I wear sunglasses. I get the strangest looks when I walk down the street. "Look! That madman is wearing sunglasses in January!"

History / Restitution Sought by US Holocaust Survivor Family of Expropriated Property in Zywiec, Poland [24]

Good. If someone stole my stuff and it ended up in a museum, I'd want compensation.

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]

I really think family pressure is largely to blame for this (especially when the młoda para have been bought a flat). A young woman I know went for a picnic with several friends. The quite large group arrived in several vehicles. This was a very warm day a couple of summers ago. One young couple appeared to have come without their baby, and everyone else assumed that he had been left with his grandmother so his parents could have a break. They were shocked when, after about an hour, grandmother appeared from the couple's camper van with the baby dressed for Siberia, including hat and woolly tights.

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]


Can you imagine the stick young mums would get from their own mothers or mothers-in-law or passers-by if they didn't dress their kids like the Michelin man?

I don't watch Polish TV but when I happen to see it at a relative's house I can't believe the number of ads for OTC meds.

Life / Catholic idol worship in Poland [29]

Catholics don't worship idols. The saints are believed to have the power to intercede on behalf of petitioners, especially when prayers direct to the Big Yin have gone unanswered. Something like St. Anthony saying, "Ah, go on, God, he really needs his car keys. Give the guy a break and remind him where they are." Comparisons between Catholic saints and, e.g. Indian deities are wrong. The saints are not worshipped but asked to intercede.

Life / Catholic idol worship in Poland [29]


Don't forget Meryemana, near Selcuk, where Mary is supposed to have settled and died, or the icons in caves in Cappadocia (most of which have been literally defaced by idiots).

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]


It's funny you should say that, as only yesterday I saw 'Boys' tights' in Lidl. I had never seen these two words together before.


Why would there be? It just gives away private information.

Classifieds / Help the little boy from Poland (he has cancer in his both eyes) Jesli mozecie pomozcie temu dziecku! [11]

From the Moorfield's hospital website:

Speaking about the disease Moorfields' paediatric service director who specialises in retinoblastoma, Mr Ashwin Reddy, said: "Around 50-60 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma each year in the UK. Here at Moorfields we have a network with the Royal London Hospital where we detect and forward referrals of retinoblastoma cases for treatment."

Mr Reddy went on to say: "The key message we would like to stress is the need for more awareness and the importance of early detection, if detected early the disease can be treated and a child's vision can be saved. "

I wonder whether the parents have explored othre, less costly avenues.

Classifieds / Help the little boy from Poland (he has cancer in his both eyes) Jesli mozecie pomozcie temu dziecku! [11]

It doesn't say what's wrong with the child, except in the vaguest terms. Are you sure this procedure can be done only in the USA? Moorfields eye hospital in London has been a pioneer in eye surgery for two hundred years. There are also plenty of other world class hospitals around Europe, e.g. Geneva.

News / Poland in ruin or flourishing? [35]


Come to my nearest town. You won't see any beggars, even on market day, and you won't see anyone dressed in rags or starving.

If you want to see poverty, go to, e.g. rural Virginia or Washington State.

News / Poland in ruin or flourishing? [35]


Polonius, do you live in Poland? It's just that I don't recognise the country you describe. I live in what you are happy to describe at Polska B (I hate that term) and I have seen rising living standards year on year for at least a decade.

Work / Salary: 24,000zl a month - how much I will I have after tax in Poland? [29]



Just about everybody in Poland manages to live on much less than this.

Life / Polish maid very flirtatious? [36]


We have 46 ares and an old Jag. Now I just need the maid. Does she, er, wear a uniform?

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]

It's more common among older people, but it's considered bad luck. A couple of years ago I was conducting oral exams and I asked a young guy of about 21 if he was superstitious. He adamantly denied even the slightest superstitious trait. OK, I said, leave the room and come back in. When I extended my hand across the threshold he wouldn't take it. OK, he said, you got me.

Life / Polish maid very flirtatious? [36]


Sounds like a lady who loves her work. When your wife fires her, give the maid my contact details.

Life / What are the things which cause culture shock in Poland? [164]

Refrigerated tinned fish. Uncovered displays of food at mouth level on top of perspex deli counters, so people can breathe and cough all over it all day. Beefy guys in sandals and white socks. Not shaking hands across the threshold. Fruit syrop in beer. Dogs chained up their whole lives.

News / Poland loses bid to built Jaguars and Land Rovers [23]

True, but I saw a YT video about the 6 lightweight E-Type models made for people with 1.5GBP to spend this year.
youtube.com/watch?v=Gw6gAOpiXnQ

News / Poland loses bid to built Jaguars and Land Rovers [23]

I recently made a dream come true when I bought a Jaguar X-Type. Purists might not consider it the real thing, but she's a beaut. The only thing I have ever agreed with Jeremy Clarkson about.

News / Poland loses bid to built Jaguars and Land Rovers [23]


I tend to think of Rolls Royce, Morgan, Lotus, Jaguar, McLaren, Bentley, Aston Martin...

Classifieds / Private English Lessons by Experienced Professional Teacher in Poland (Warsaw) [107]


Alleluia. This was getting boring and repetitive.

News / Poland loses bid to built Jaguars and Land Rovers [23]

Ford or Tata, it's a crying shame that Jaguar is no longer British.

History / Age of Enlightenment in Poland? [80]

My advice (I know you didn't ask for it) is to try to laugh off the stuff you find crazy and focus on the good stuff, like your civilized friends and the beautiful countryside. There's a lot I didn't like about everywhere I've lived, including Poland, but I choose to ignore that which irks me. btw, I'm half Irish, and I remember Ireland in the 60s and 70s, and the power the RC Church had then. Well, things changed there, and they are changing here, too, for exactly the same reasons.

History / Age of Enlightenment in Poland? [80]


No, I suggested that a change of scenery might make you happier. Why would you think I was (or could be) forcing you to leave? You're not paranoid, are you?

Life / In Poland everyone is everyone else's doctor? [33]


I live in a village in eastern Poland, and what you describe is alien to me. The religious fundamentalists leave us alone, the village drunks do not knock on our door, the people are friendly and helpful, and I thoroughly enjoy living here.

History / Age of Enlightenment in Poland? [80]

Actually, it's quite refreshing to hear from an American who has really lived here and doesn't like what they see. We usually get the nostalgia-suffering deluded, whose great grandmothers came from Poland and who believe that it is a heaven on earth. Nobody is telling you what to say, or that you should leave. Lighten up and try to see the positive side. There must be something you like.

Life / In Poland everyone is everyone else's doctor? [33]


That much is clear from your posts today. Is your frustration the result of your experience of moving so often between "every major city", or has something recently happened to make you so angry with and dismissive of Polish society?

History / Age of Enlightenment in Poland? [80]

Well, we've had very different experiences. Perhaps it's time for another move.

History / Age of Enlightenment in Poland? [80]


Could you give a bit more detail regarding your experience here in Poland, e.g. long long you've been here, what circles you've mixed in, where you've travelled to?

Classifieds / Private English Lessons by Experienced Professional Teacher in Poland (Warsaw) [107]

The same has been seen in deaf children of deaf parents with poor signing skills. The kids seem to auto correct. Fascinating stuff.