Travel / Getting back to Poland on an old ID. [15]


Maybe. You'll need to book an appointment through the passport service at your nearest office (google their address and phone number). They do a one-day service and you'll have to go in person (with the form ready filled in, get it at the post office) and some photographs (they may have a booth there). I had to do this once and it was quick. It does cost more. As I say, they have an appointment system and I'm not sure if they can deal with people who just turn up. If you explain when you phone that it's an emergency they may squeeze you in right away - I found them easy to deal with.

You say you're half Polish. If you have a Polish ID card, I think you can fly on that, however it would be a very good idea to check with the airline before booking. My ex flew from UK to Poland on an old style Polish ID card that had just expired and had no problems, however they may well have tightened up security a bit now.

News / Poland to withdraw from Visegrad defence radar project [10]


Given that they can't move to a desert island or the summit of the Himalayas, do you blame them for preferring an alliance that doesn't have a history of invading them?

News / Poland to withdraw from Visegrad defence radar project [10]


They've had such harrowing experiences with countries further East that I've never heard anyone suggest for a moment in PL that they should leave NATO. People spent years in which they almost daren't dream of being able to join.


This has happened - in 2004 when they voted to join the EU.


Why do you think that?

Law / I think my son's Mum is trying to get a passport for our son. Can she do this without my permission [3]


To a lawyer. As quickly as possible since this is a serious matter that is very important to you.

Law / Are there social benefits for foreign families living in Poland? [9]

Not for new arrivals from outside the EU, except in the most exceptional cases. If children are involved, the attention that may attract could well be something you don't want. Grants for study are usually pre-arranged and under very strict conditions.

Law / New Poland law -- old car insurer obligated to continue insurance on a vehicle that is between renewals? [23]


This happened when we did it (the other way round) however you do need to check it's been done.

Food / How to make this syrup for Polish Ginger Beer? [8]


You can buy the ginger syrup for SodaStream in Warsaw (Makro usually have), however to put in beer, you should be very sparing.

Love / Are women from Poland scared of good looking guys? [48]

Yes. One thing I've often thought about is how an actor or actress can appear either good looking or ugly just by their acting skills - so much seems to be not just about the face but also how we project ourselves and our personality. Maybe you remember The League of Gentlemen on TV - I think it was much more than just the makeup.

Love / Are women from Poland scared of good looking guys? [48]


It isn't just physical - it's a lot of things and if someone's as big a jerk as the OP comes across as and has such a demeaning view of women (calling them girls, discussing his 'finger bang' on the internet) then no wonder he has no takers in Warsaw.

News / New Shakespeare theatre in Gdańsk [3]


I don't know if the man himself was ever in Gdansk, however it looks likely he travelled. A few years before, Dee certainly spent time in PL and Chaucer (very well travelled) may have.


I've heard all the theories, and the Hoghton one looks most likely not least because the simplest answers are usually right. Some of the various theorists use textual interpretation badly - basically ignoring that it was normal to have more than one hand redacting or collaborating on a play at that time.

Love / Are women from Poland scared of good looking guys? [48]


This is the funny bit. Either the women who want nothing to do with him aren't


at all (I suspect many or most of the women in Warsaw are more sophisticated than he is), or he's hanging around in suburban dives where


would just look comical.

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]

The question is why religious groups should get taxpayers' money in some countries rather than actually pay tax on their takings like every other hobbyists club.

Absolute separation of religions from state make much more sense - if people want to believe or pretend they believe in x, y or z, let them do it privately among themselves.

Not that this is much to do with zameldowanie - maybe the mods could put it in another thread?

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]

Most people you'll meet in Poland are more sensible and well-informed than that


Yes. Many have been there and seen that for themselves. I've never heard a bad word about Turkish people in Poland.

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]


Yes, though every country has its own frustrations for foreigners. I remember hassles with my SIM card when I was working for a while in your country and Turkcell cut my phone off and wouldn't sell me a new one! The same sort of thing can happen in my country too sometimes. Poles often complain themselves about bureaucracy, but at least they often have a sense of the way the system works and what lies behind it. Though not always - sometimes they find it overwhelming, especially if they're helping a foreigner since matters that affect foreigners in Poland are outside most people's experience.


That sounds likely. I wonder if there's an Association of Turkish (or just foreign) Students in Poland who might be able to walk you through the process?

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]


They aren't generally dated. I once had a 3 month meldunek, a few years ago.


That might be a good idea.

Why not put an advert on Gumtree - your girlfriend can translate and you can explain that you need a temporary meldunek - some brave, foreign themselves, or just well-informed landlord might respond?

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]


That's what so many think, but it just isn't true - unless you're a woman with a young child or a part owner of the property. But still they believe that.


Not so much a case of "supposed to", it's just an option available.


No such thing as a permanent one - they are (except for temporary ones) undated and the irony of it all is that the landlord can cancel it at any time as quickly and easily as he or she can get one. They just don't realise that since it isn't an issue that generally affects Polish people.

Real Estate / Is it even possible to get a house with meldunek as a student in Poland? [21]


Most landlords are frightened of tenants having a meldunek for various reasons, most of them nonsense since 1989 if not always. People in Poland are also not usually aware that you can get a temporary meldunek. Also, if your landlord refuses to give you one, you can go to the town hall with your rental agreement, sign a piece of paper saying that your landlord refuses and you will get a different document. How useful that document is, I don't know, however you might get some good advice about this from the student welfare officer at your university who will certainly have come across this situation before.

Love / Are women from Poland scared of good looking guys? [48]


No. Just used to avoiding twerps.

Law / Giving notice that you are recording someone - Do they have this in Poland? [14]

I suspect that's as much to cover themselves if there are customer complaints and to cover their staff if they complain to their supervisor that a caller has verbally abused them, which does happen. When I worked for a while years ago for First Direct it was fun to hear the supervisors calling abusive customers the next morning, tearing a strip off them and closing their account.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

These jokes tend to be universal. One nationality always tells them about a neighbour or friend and they indicate more about the human sense of humour than any of the groups involved.

Travel / Indian or Mexican food in Warsaw. [60]

In a toss up about which is more 'tasty', pierogi leniwe, kopytki, ser bialy, schabowy and pyzy on on one side, with Masala, Enchilladas, Quesadillas, Vindaloo and guacamole on the other most people wouldn't have much trouble deciding.

But each to his own.

Language / Does pronunciation in Polish get easier with time? [9]


I'm not sure why you'd want to lose your English accent - it's very possible to pronounce Polish well with a British accent just as it's possible to pronounce English well with a Polish accent. Great Garbo pronounced English very well with a Swedish accent and there are many more similar examples.

The key, however, to good pronunciation is practice (a lot of practice) and not being afraid to sound a bit outrageous, even though it might not seem natural. Once you get used to forming the vowel sounds (and the soft consonants) you will be fine.

USA, Canada / Polish Law and divorce from a US citizen - when does it apply? [11]


You say the marriage was dissolved? A divorce elsewhere is valid provided the paperwork exists to prove it.

Work / Do I need English certification like Toefl or IELTs for Poland's Work Visa? [4]


Hi Abed. No you don't need either for a work visa. TOEFL is an American test aimed at people who want to study at universities there and IELTS is its Australian equivalent. Since Poland is in Europe, the Cambridge Suite (FCE, CAE etc) are much better known and more popular however they are not a requirement.

Remember that although English is widely understood in cities, by younger people and by many older more cosmopolitan and/or educated people, it isn't the language of Poland and you will find it much more rewarding if you learn some Polish.

Law / Cost of importing a car from Germany to Poland? [9]


In Poland, people have consistently told me over the past few years that they dislike the idea for some the reasons you mention but mainly lack of trust in the people who buy and sell them. It's not unusual for a car to passed from relative to relative instead.

That doesn't apply as far as I know to classic cars.

Love / Woman 23, man 47 years old. What do you think about ? [162]


That's not a big difference in the scheme of things, not something you should worry about (you should maybe even count your blessings)...


This is important for both your sakes. Not that 45 is old.


Genetics or no genetics, grey hair can be turned to whatever colour you like with a can of Grecian mousse and 30 seconds in the bathroom :-)


That's good. Nearly all relationships have their crisis eventually and you should be prepared that in yours, when that crisis happens, age may well play its part.


I know couples with similar or larger age gaps than yours in both those situations and they manage, even when age-related illness comes into the picture. I think from the fact that you write 'gray' 'college educated' and 'diaper' that we're from different countries, however by the time you're older, you'll probably have a normal National Health Service or something close to one and they are very used to providing support to people and their younger (or even older) partners. Remember, all it takes is a car crash or a serious illness and it could be you who is pushing the wheelchair rather than your partner. Unfortunately, I speak whereof I know. That doesn't diminish your love though.

Study / Discrimination & humiliation of non-white students by Polish professor at Med Uni [18]

The point is that we don't actually know what was said or really any details about this. If he was discriminated against, yes it's wrong. Very wrong. However what we have in this thread is a very vague allegation without much information.

The OP says:


. There are links in the thread to people who can advise and they are doubtless better placed than people from the internet.

Law / Everybody in my family holds dual Poland and Germany citizenship and I'm not being granted a Polish? [4]


I've heard of that but not for people in his situation. If his parents are Polish citizens he should not have the problem.