teflcat
13 Sep 2011
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
Why are you so keen to make enemies here? You joined only yesterday.
For an English teacher you seem to have great difficulty in expressing yourself clearly and effectively.
Why are you so keen to make enemies here? You joined only yesterday.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
Did I say that? I don't think so. Read carefully.
that is it better to "stay in one place".
Did I say that? I don't think so. Read carefully.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / How is the living standard in Poznan? Does 5200 PLN enough for a decent living? [32]
You'll be fine on 5200PLN gross as long as you don't run a big car. Can't you defer SL payments until you earn more? Good luck.
You'll be fine on 5200PLN gross as long as you don't run a big car. Can't you defer SL payments until you earn more? Good luck.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
I wasn't having a dig at you. Why on earth would I do that given my own career path?
I said, "You certainly get around." Read it however you like, but no dig was intended. Have a nice day.
Well then why the hell were you trying to take a dig at me for moving about?
I wasn't having a dig at you. Why on earth would I do that given my own career path?
I said, "You certainly get around." Read it however you like, but no dig was intended. Have a nice day.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
I have 20 years' experience in several countries. After travelling for a long time I decided it was time to settle down. Any problem with that?
You sound like a lot of fun to work for.
There is nothing complacent about my teaching Mr Senior Manager.
So perhaps a little less smugness and an appreciation of an alternative opinion to you own may just be worth considering.
I have 20 years' experience in several countries. After travelling for a long time I decided it was time to settle down. Any problem with that?
As a senior manager
You sound like a lot of fun to work for.
There is nothing complacent about my teaching Mr Senior Manager.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / How is the living standard in Poznan? Does 5200 PLN enough for a decent living? [32]
Teaching what? Don't tell me English.
Teaching what? Don't tell me English.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
I've already told you that my name isn't Patrick.
You certainly get around. I've found that if you stay in one place, do a good job and agree terms before you start, then a mutually beneficial arrangement can be reached.
As I said in an earlier post, of course there are bad schools everywhere, no doubt in Germany too. These schools are businesses, first and foremost, so of course they want the most work for as little outlay as possible. What annoys me is the franchise operations, where you get any Tom, Dick or Harry with no experience in the field opening schools. These are the worst.
If your name in Patrick then I know someone looking for you.
I've already told you that my name isn't Patrick.
7 or 8 in 5 cities.
You certainly get around. I've found that if you stay in one place, do a good job and agree terms before you start, then a mutually beneficial arrangement can be reached.
As I said in an earlier post, of course there are bad schools everywhere, no doubt in Germany too. These schools are businesses, first and foremost, so of course they want the most work for as little outlay as possible. What annoys me is the franchise operations, where you get any Tom, Dick or Harry with no experience in the field opening schools. These are the worst.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
No. Sorry but you don't know what you are talking about. How many schools have you worked in?
Is your name Patrick?
No. Sorry but you don't know what you are talking about. How many schools have you worked in?
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Travel / Any Hooters in Poland? [28]
Don't think I know her. Knew a chap with frightful piles. Most uncomfortable. For both of us.
Most agreeable.
Quite right. I think this is an opportune moment for prandial refreshment.
Lady Bumps
Don't think I know her. Knew a chap with frightful piles. Most uncomfortable. For both of us.
ladies with large breasts and small behinds serve drinks
Most agreeable.
dining establishments
Quite right. I think this is an opportune moment for prandial refreshment.
teflcat
13 Sep 2011
Travel / Any Hooters in Poland? [28]
Have you changed your mind?
Perhaps my learned friend could help me. What is, or are 'Hooters'?
You aksin a keschin? I do believe robust beat combos perform in 'Speakeasy' establishments, and such like.
I was coming to Poland
Have you changed your mind?
Hooters
Perhaps my learned friend could help me. What is, or are 'Hooters'?
I did see hard rock is there?
You aksin a keschin? I do believe robust beat combos perform in 'Speakeasy' establishments, and such like.
teflcat
12 Sep 2011
Life / Attending my first Polish Wedding and Celebrations [18]
'Karpuz', but excellent post boletus.
Nozz, imagine a Polish guy coming to your wedding wearing a bowler hat and carrying a bone china cup and saucer, or, having done his research, offering the father of the bride a piece of willow branch entwined with holly.
These people will be happy if you just have a good time and give the happy couple an envelope containing 200PLN. Have a good time and don't get in the way.
Turkish harpuz.
'Karpuz', but excellent post boletus.
Nozz, imagine a Polish guy coming to your wedding wearing a bowler hat and carrying a bone china cup and saucer, or, having done his research, offering the father of the bride a piece of willow branch entwined with holly.
These people will be happy if you just have a good time and give the happy couple an envelope containing 200PLN. Have a good time and don't get in the way.
teflcat
12 Sep 2011
Work / Salary for Teaching EFL in Krakow [120]
You haven't been in Poland long, have you? Stick around and you'll see that running a private language school isn't as easy as you might think. Sure, there are lots of cowboy outfits everywhere in the world, but it's up to you to find the good ones. Don't rubbish the whole sector. There are very many good people running good schools in Poland.
Language schools are basically parasites living off the labours of their teaching staff. I challenge you to prove me wrong! Ask your Language School principal what their personal qualifications are...TEFL and other. You will be amazed!
You haven't been in Poland long, have you? Stick around and you'll see that running a private language school isn't as easy as you might think. Sure, there are lots of cowboy outfits everywhere in the world, but it's up to you to find the good ones. Don't rubbish the whole sector. There are very many good people running good schools in Poland.
teflcat
12 Sep 2011
Life / Attending my first Polish Wedding and Celebrations [18]
Pace yourself. It's going to be a long night. Plenty of juice. Just knock back half a glass when there's a toast. I wouldn't worry too much about providing the entertainment. Go with the flow and enjoy it; you're a guest, not the guy on the organ playing 'The Lady in Red'.
Pace yourself. It's going to be a long night. Plenty of juice. Just knock back half a glass when there's a toast. I wouldn't worry too much about providing the entertainment. Go with the flow and enjoy it; you're a guest, not the guy on the organ playing 'The Lady in Red'.
teflcat
11 Sep 2011
Love / Was the strict Polish family the reason for our break-up? [20]
What do you know about it Rat? You say you are Indian living in Singapore, then you are Chinese and asking for information about illegal activity in Poland. Why not do everybody a favour and **** off?
If you are half-black, her family will lynch if you try anything. They might change their minds if you're from either West Europe or N.America and want to marry their daughter. Of course, once she marries you and moves to the West, she will vasnish, along with most of your money. lol.
What do you know about it Rat? You say you are Indian living in Singapore, then you are Chinese and asking for information about illegal activity in Poland. Why not do everybody a favour and **** off?
teflcat
10 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
Not you. Imelda Marcos.
Nah, I don't think you were that offended. What did I write that was so bad or inaccurate?
Not you. Imelda Marcos.
teflcat
10 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
You doubt that I want only her happiness? Ok, her Cornish pasties are terrific and I wouldn't want to give them up.
Who needs men when you've got fifty pairs of shoes?
I somehow doubt that.
You doubt that I want only her happiness? Ok, her Cornish pasties are terrific and I wouldn't want to give them up.
I have about 50 pairs of shoes.
Who needs men when you've got fifty pairs of shoes?
teflcat
10 Sep 2011
Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]
I couldn't agree more.
Your other remarks were highly offensive to me. I adore my Polish wife and want only her happiness.
do not make offensive verbal generalisations on the Internet
I couldn't agree more.
Your other remarks were highly offensive to me. I adore my Polish wife and want only her happiness.
teflcat
10 Sep 2011
Work / How To Study In Poland and stay with my GF? Inability to move to Poland looks stupid. [60]
That was true but in the mid-nineties the currency halved in value two or three times in a few years and a lot of middle-class folk suffered a lot. I was there between '93 and '96 and I well remember the shock felt as salaries were halved in value overnight. Of course, the more prudent kept their savings in Dmarks, USD and gold.
It's true that Turkey has no shortage of rich people. Take a trip along the Bosphorus and look at the places - palaces, more like - which line the water. Not just Istanbul, either. Izmir, Ankara, Bursa, Trabzon, etc. have plenty of wealthy people. Having said that, the gap between rich and poor is huge. I lived in three places: Adapazari, near Istanbul, Elazig in the south-east and Batman [sic], also in the south-east. The poverty in the Kurdish areas is depressing, and central government has a lot to hang its head in shame about.
The Turks have so much to be proud of but one big fault, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to see problems in their country. They are fiercely nationalistic and are unable to laugh at themselves as a nation. The result of this is that they see too rosy a picture of the state of the country.
there was always a big wealthy Turkish middle class whose members never needed to go abroad to make money and extremely rich Turkish entrepreneurs.
That was true but in the mid-nineties the currency halved in value two or three times in a few years and a lot of middle-class folk suffered a lot. I was there between '93 and '96 and I well remember the shock felt as salaries were halved in value overnight. Of course, the more prudent kept their savings in Dmarks, USD and gold.
It's true that Turkey has no shortage of rich people. Take a trip along the Bosphorus and look at the places - palaces, more like - which line the water. Not just Istanbul, either. Izmir, Ankara, Bursa, Trabzon, etc. have plenty of wealthy people. Having said that, the gap between rich and poor is huge. I lived in three places: Adapazari, near Istanbul, Elazig in the south-east and Batman [sic], also in the south-east. The poverty in the Kurdish areas is depressing, and central government has a lot to hang its head in shame about.
The Turks have so much to be proud of but one big fault, in my opinion, is their unwillingness to see problems in their country. They are fiercely nationalistic and are unable to laugh at themselves as a nation. The result of this is that they see too rosy a picture of the state of the country.
teflcat
10 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
Thanks for your comments. Well, as far as I know, most houses do have a basement. Where else would they keep all the pickles? We have eight layers of foundation brick below the house. In fact most of the money we spent was on stuff we'll never see! We chose not to have one on grounds of cost and the fact that there's an old house on our plot that we use for storage. Yes, the inside is all done. Home sweet home.
It seems that most houses in Poland do not have a piwnica ,no foundations inside the ground ,am i right?
Thanks for your comments. Well, as far as I know, most houses do have a basement. Where else would they keep all the pickles? We have eight layers of foundation brick below the house. In fact most of the money we spent was on stuff we'll never see! We chose not to have one on grounds of cost and the fact that there's an old house on our plot that we use for storage. Yes, the inside is all done. Home sweet home.
teflcat
9 Sep 2011
USA, Canada / Why are Polish restaurants not successful in the USA? [698]
If you go to Chinatown in London's Soho, you'll find restaurants that serve all kinds of things, but they tend to be on the menu in Chinese only. If you know what you want, just ask and you'll probably get it. btw I used to go to Chinatown twice a week for twenty years, and I got to know the best places.
One of my favourites is Mr Poon's in Lisle St., which is between Gerrard St. and Leicester Square. There is (or was) a Mr. Poon's in Leicester Place but it was an up-market version of the original Poon's around the corner in Lisle St. This place is very narrow and operates on about five floors. Their hotpots are famous. The other restaurant I like is in Manchester place, just off Gerrard St, but I can't remember the name. Great food and cheap. The restaurants in the main Chinatown street, Gerrard St. are good but cater to the tourist trade mostly. Always look in the window and go where you see Chinese people eating.
you wouldn't be able to ask for "chicken and intestine combination rice" over here, like I once had in a backstreet restaurant in Wan Chai LOL.
If you go to Chinatown in London's Soho, you'll find restaurants that serve all kinds of things, but they tend to be on the menu in Chinese only. If you know what you want, just ask and you'll probably get it. btw I used to go to Chinatown twice a week for twenty years, and I got to know the best places.
One of my favourites is Mr Poon's in Lisle St., which is between Gerrard St. and Leicester Square. There is (or was) a Mr. Poon's in Leicester Place but it was an up-market version of the original Poon's around the corner in Lisle St. This place is very narrow and operates on about five floors. Their hotpots are famous. The other restaurant I like is in Manchester place, just off Gerrard St, but I can't remember the name. Great food and cheap. The restaurants in the main Chinatown street, Gerrard St. are good but cater to the tourist trade mostly. Always look in the window and go where you see Chinese people eating.
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
Thanks. And good luck to those who decide to do the same as we did. We haven't had a holiday in six years and we buy second-hand clothes, but I'm the King around here, and my Queen tells me I can say that!
Thanks. And good luck to those who decide to do the same as we did. We haven't had a holiday in six years and we buy second-hand clothes, but I'm the King around here, and my Queen tells me I can say that!
Back view
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eujCeBC4Lh0
youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eujCeBC4Lh0
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
In Poland you pay full VAT but you can claim 16% back.
It's a struggle but it's possible if, as you say, you have anything left after paying rent.
You got that right, but it's worth it in the end. We've just finished finishing our place (if you know what I mean) and we've spent about 210,000PLN to build a 105m house, not including the cost of land.
but you would be paying 23% VAT on any labour/materials you had to purchase
In Poland you pay full VAT but you can claim 16% back.
It's a struggle but it's possible if, as you say, you have anything left after paying rent.
Also, the strain of spending all your "free" time on a project such as building an entire house can be quite daunting but at least its built to your own specification.
You got that right, but it's worth it in the end. We've just finished finishing our place (if you know what I mean) and we've spent about 210,000PLN to build a 105m house, not including the cost of land.
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
Don't forget, there's always the option to buy a plot of land and do it yourself over several years. Much easier - OK, less hard - than in many other countries.
Don't forget, there's always the option to buy a plot of land and do it yourself over several years. Much easier - OK, less hard - than in many other countries.
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]
Don't forget stoned drivers. That's really dangerous. I've heard.
Don't forget stoned drivers. That's really dangerous. I've heard.
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
Food / "Modern" Polish cooking (funny video clip) [21]
Funny that a public health information film preceded the first clip. Spoon on the chicken and then back into the mayo jar. This guy should be arrested for inciting poisoning. Bugger badly needed a shave, too. I wouldn't let him empty the kitchen bin.
Funny that a public health information film preceded the first clip. Spoon on the chicken and then back into the mayo jar. This guy should be arrested for inciting poisoning. Bugger badly needed a shave, too. I wouldn't let him empty the kitchen bin.
teflcat
8 Sep 2011
Work / Can I become a teacher in Poland? Can I go to college there? [7]
You would need to improve your English.
i
Im
are
just a English
What would I have to do to be eligible to be a teacher in Poland?
You would need to improve your English.
teflcat
7 Sep 2011
Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]
Come home to Poland, son; England is obviously not for you.
I'm proud to be British, never in the world would i buy a home in poland, i feel the approach they lead gave me a negative affect, I losy my religeon felt raped of my soul and lost almost everything.
Come home to Poland, son; England is obviously not for you.
teflcat
7 Sep 2011
Life / How can I make Poland a better country for all? [10]
I think Jonah means, "My English was a bit better than the other Poles I shared with, so I taught them a few things."
I was an English teacher
Really? Blimey...
Really? Blimey...
I think Jonah means, "My English was a bit better than the other Poles I shared with, so I taught them a few things."