News / Jarosław Kaczyński sharing his words with Russians! [57]

True, I guess not many indications in the back for sure. Many years ago American had a camera mounted upfront so the passengers could watch what the pilots saw, but they don't have it anymore...

PS. I'm not implying all Asian pilots (few Cathay pilots are Asian by the way ;) are trained to land hard. Some are, but I've also experienced some really cushy ones on Singapore Airlines for example.

You're right about avoiding unnecessary stress on the airframe. I'd imagine that average turbulence or flight through some weather will put more stress on it than a hard landing but it's all relative of course...

Genealogy / Favourite Polish county coat of arms? [24]

Present...

Past (except the name not much has changed)...



The Coat of arms of the City of Wrocław is divided into quarters.

"...In the centre is the head of John the Baptist, patron saint of the city. The crowned lion rampant in the first (upper left) quarter represents the Kingdom of Bohemia, to which Wrocław belonged to since 1336. In the second (upper right) quarter there is the Silesian eagle which comes from the Silesian Piast eagle. The letter "W" in the third quarter stands for both "Wratislavia" (Latin name of the city) and for the name of the legendary founder of the city Wrocislaw. In the fourth quarter there is St. John the Evangelist..."

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Wrocław

Language / Ski Or Ska? - Polish surname endings [44]

A friend (female) told me that's a "divorce" backup. Easier to get the paper work rearranged if things don't work out. She should know, she's on her third husband... lol


Although not as common, some men have a last name with a -ska ending as well. Why don't you get it Americanized to -sky -> very asexual. ;)


Maybe in Polish passports but for example in the US "umlauts" are often converted to a "sound letter" instead. So å becomes aa, ä -> ae, and ö -> oe. Ü would be ue. At least my passport uses that solution.

News / Jarosław Kaczyński sharing his words with Russians! [57]

I'm not going to make judgement on the Tupolev aircraft because I've never flown them and it seems they might have gotten some unfair ratings due to reasons beyond the manufacturer's control (terrorism, poor navigation and communication training in some of the Asian countries, etc.).

Either way Velund, please tell me that you don't judge a pilot's training, knowledge and proficiency on the smoothness of the landings??? That's like judging an author on the color of the ink he/she used to write the book.

Amazing, I've talked to so many other pilots and we always wonder about the fascination the general public has with a smooth landing. The crew might have busted every regulation out there, flown above the ref speed, below the glideslope, and touched-down halfway down the runway while trying to "milk" a smooth landing out of the bird; every pilot and FAA inspector will look at it as stupid, dangerous and ridiculous but the passengers will say, damn he/she's good! Didn't even feel the touchdown. LOL

Also, to defend the Cathay pilots, some of them still use the Kai Tak airport (closed now) procedures which basically treat the airport as a "short field" -"asphalt in front of you is your friend."

Language / Caring/loving words in Polish? [90]


As others explained piękny means beautiful. Piękna is for ladies and I think it's seldom a guy will hear he's piękny unless he's in touch with his feminine side lol or you're talking about his mind or kind heart.

I do wonder though if fajny/fajna is the same as cute?

I hate the word cute which when a lady describes a man is like when a guy describes a woman having a "great personality."

In my view cute should only be used for kitties and puppies. Not sure if the meaning is the same in Polish but if a lady tells a guy he's cute it means he's acceptable and she will sleep with him but only if he's the last man left alive on this earth. ...and only if she doesn't find any of the remaining ladies attractive enough. lol. ...and even then she'll do it with lights turned off and her eyes closed...

So if the meaning is the same I hope I'll never hear I'm fajny from a Polish woman. Przystojny would be nice though... ;)

Love / Met a Polish girl on the Internet, and I'm soon off to meet her... [82]

Liquidlove - of course this could work out - why not? I have a very good friend who met her husband on match.com, they've been married four years now and are very happy, 2 identical twin little girls make them even happier.

You are the only one who knows if you can trust her, just go with your instinct and give it a try. If things work out I'd love to know what website you used to meet a polish lady? One day when I'm ready to start dating again I might try the online dating myself... Apparently that's the way to go nowadays...


You have some good advice. Was your husband a Polish man living in America? What made you try the online dating and most of all, international type of dating? If there's anything you'd do differently what would it be? Are Polish women OK with moving far away from their families? I live in Hawaii so we're talking 12 hours away... What kind of advice would you give to a guy from a woman's perspective not to get hurt... Sorry about the many questions but I thought about a Polish or a Swedish (I was raised in Sweden - hey, Elin Woods is now single lol) online dating website but don't know much about it. I'm not quite ready yet but one day hope to be and would like to know all the how-to's... Thanks.

Love / Should i wear this to a polish wedding or not? :) [27]

I checked out the link you posted and noticed there's an email address that you could use (info@karczowiska.pl) - I'd email them if I were you. Summarize your concerns and questions and send it in. If your friend (boyfriend) speaks Polish tell them the reply could be in Polish. After all they're the pros and might be able to give you some good advice, I'm sure you aren't the first foreign guest they've dealt with.

In my view you simply need to show up with a smile on your face and a good attitude. Learn a few words in Polish, that always brings appreciation and respect. It's possible some people will be shy around you as they speak little or no English. The younger crowd might flock to you to practice their English. PS. Shyness disappears after folks have started drinking ;)

I think you have a good attitude about it already and will impress them just by your willingness to do a research beforehand.

So smile, be curious and friendly and have a blast.

PS. I'm a guy but am very partial to ladies putting their hair up like Ksysia recommended - never seen a lady who didn't look great with her hair up. ;)

Love / Fell in love with a Polish girl, but find it difficult to approach her [620]


In my view he will snap out if it before you know it. It's possible though that he'll lose you as you won't ever be able to trust him again. Listen to your friends, they're right. Wish you the very best and hope you'll feel better soon. If so we'd like to hear about it please... ;)

Love / Are Polish men romantic and caring or... "plain"? [85]

I'd seen several shrinks when healing from my divorce but never thought of seeing one due to the "PF-syndrome". ;)

- So what's bothering you dear?

- Well, I can't stand Sokrates and It'sallaboutme pisses me off from time to time....

- Huh??

You gotta admit that would be funny. :)

Yeah, you definitelly need some Yankee love Justysia. We love you long time over here! ;)

Love / Fell in love with a Polish girl, but find it difficult to approach her [620]

Sorry to hear about the heartache you're going through.

Are you Polish as well? It's hard to tell if he's truly in love but we, guys aren't that much different from you ladies. Sometimes things happen slowly and sometimes they happen with a bang. I'd imagine that he's infatuated right now; the ability to talk to her in Polish while in Poland probably added to the overall feeling of being connected to her.

If I were you I'd let him know that you love him and believe in the two of you but then I'd leave him alone. The fact he was so upfront and honest with you tells me two things - he's a good person and he respects you.

You talking to him about her does NOT help, you're obviously very biased on the issue and he knows that. It's very possible that in a week or two he'll snap out of it but who knows?

It's sad you have to be going through this after sharing two years with him but I guess that's the curse of love. When it's good, it's this breathtaking and toe-curling, wonderful experience amplified by the candle-light sparkles of happiness.

When it's bad however it's the death of love as we know it and it feels like nothing and no one will ever be able to bring this happiness back to our hearts again...

At this point I think you need to back off and let him figure things out and while you do it keep living your life, keep breathing and stay with your friends as much as you can and "simply" hope for the best. That's all you can do. Sincerely wish you the very best.

---

PS. I agree with Softsong's message above with one exception.
Ultimatums to us men are equivalent to declarations of war - they do NOT work - EVER!

In my view it'd be a guaranteed break-up. To tell him "I will be seeing other men" is equivalent to saying "good-bye." Instead I'd say "I love you and hope the two of us have a future together but in the mean time I'll have to plan for my own future as well, one that maybe won't include you, it's up to you now." More of a gentle approach.

The way I understand it he hasn't been unfaithful yet he chose to be upfront with you. No reason to confront him with the "I'll be seeing other men" ultimatum - is so, bye bye it is. Just my testosterone-influenced view on it...


Forgot to mention. I know you don't want to hear this but she is not a slut. Ask yourself if you were in her shoes, would you too say - "sorry, I can't, you already have a girlfriend"?

Many women (and men) wouldn't if they met someone they're attracted to. Sad but true.

Genealogy / I am looking for my family. Hart or Hort [12]

Hard to tell but based on ancestry.com choices and where his/her family came from I'd say it's a German or a Jewish name. It could also have been shortened from Hartmann for example...

Name History and Origin for Hart

Hart
English and North German: from a personal name or nickname meaning 'stag', Middle English hert, Middle Low German hërte, harte.
German: variant spelling of Hardt 1 and 2.
Jewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name or a nickname from German and Yiddish hart 'hard'.
Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hAirt 'descendant of Art', a byname meaning 'bear', 'hero'. The English name became established in Ireland in the 17th century.

French: from an Old French word meaning 'rope', hence possibly a metonymic occupational name for a rope maker or a hangman.
Dutch: nickname from Middle Dutch hart, hert 'hard', 'strong', 'ruthless', 'unruly'.

ancestry.com/facts/Hart-name-meaning.ashx

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


...or maybe he'd been a bossy man all his life? ;)

I won't judge people no matter what the age difference and I've given up on guessing which relationships will last and which ones won't.

Some 15 years ago I started training at this new facility and became good friends with many couples there. There was this one couple in particular everyone sort of made fun of, or at least had many opinions about. At the time he was 38 or 39, she'd just turned 19. The age difference wasn't the main reason people (yes, me too) sort of picked on them. It was the size difference.

He was an average hight but really "big boned" and fat I'd say, he loved food. I think at the time he weighed around 280 pounds or so. She was this slender, pure-bones looking girl, with a very light complection, and she was his height so tall for a girl. However he had a great sense of humor and people just loved listening to him, including the Tiny-rella ;)

Fast forward to today, most couples from then had split up, gotten divorced, so did I. The "unusual" couple is still together, now married with two absolutely beautiful daughters... They still look funny as a couple when they're walking next to each other, but each time I visit them I feel like I'm in the most harmonious and loving home a person can ever hope for.

So I'd say go for it if it feels right...

Genealogy / Polish person's average height? [210]


Fair enough, I re-read it and see how it could've been perceived that way, not my intention.

I get measured on the good 'ole weight/hight scale but also some newer machines that looks like laser point markers, can't explain it well enough. When I was getting out of the active duty I thought about a sting flying for Japan Airlines and did their "astronaut" medical at the Mayo Clinic; I ended up joining the Guard instead but their results were the same.

I don't know but military is very picky when it comes to their tests. Heck, just the color vision test is a nightmare for some, more than 25% fail their test (less than 3% of women - would explain why what's blue to a guy becomes indigo or periwinkle to a woman ;)

Either way, I don't know the statistics but those are my perceptions.

Genealogy / Polish person's average height? [210]

Hmm, not sure where the animosity came from? Have taken plenty of measurment and conversion classes in my life, don't think I need any more.

This thread is really about people's perceptions, no one here knows for sure. I'm 6' and my own perception is that I don't meet many people shorter than me. That's all, just my perception.

As far as the 6 foot "claim" - I don't claim anything, that's what my medical certificate shows and every six months I get weighed, measured and tested whether I want or not. Most of the time it's a different doctor yet each time the number stays the same.

Never thought my reply would cause someone to get argumentative, I was surprised to hear about the 5'9" estimate, that's all.

Genealogy / I am looking for my family. Hart or Hort [12]


Was your family of Jewish faith? Mordecai is a Biblical name , many Jews had German sounding last names as Yiddish is based on German.

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]


Easy fix Zachodzie. Get a few of these... ;)



PS. ...and to be clear, I'm talking about the t-shirts here... :)


Thanks, I guess I didn't realize it's a common curse word...

News / Poland should move its location to be more secure.. [21]

Yeah, I like the name Vulgaria. I'm Vulgarian so get used to it or else... ;)

Of course, being a Bordello resident sounds kind of nice too... LOL

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]


You're welcme. The Beijing Olympics was awesome. Often I felt they should've had tourist tours showing people around some really messed up signs.. This doesn't happen only in China but English is still sort of new there and often they'll translate things verba-tim which is never good and they also leave out words sometimes and it all becomes comical...

I once saw a sign "SORRY, WE ARE OPEN" LOL

or "TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW" :)
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Exploding chicken or mushroom rape anyone? :)

History / Should visitors to Auschwitz pay an entrance fee? [82]


I think they simply mentioned the countries and left out the provinces of those countries... LOL

Jag skämtar bara... ;)


I see your point plk and I realize that today it's a huge tourist attraction but I think some people might think it's distasteful. I like to think of Auschwitz (and other concentration camps) as historical monuments of the-very-worst humankind failings.

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]


Yes but only if you start the sentence with "Niektórzy". ;)

Rychlik - it could be worst. You'd be surprised how often I've had tears in my eyes after hearing/seeing Chinglish. LOL

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Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]


Das pointe tagen. Oczen xié xié ;)


Excusez moi, is this supposed to be a rhetorical question? LOL

News / Russian air traffic controllers ignored communication protocol of Polish pilots? [194]


True Olga but let's keep in mind that I've flown into Malaysia many times (just an example) and I'd lie if I said I've never made a mistake. Likewise my buddy who's been an Atlanta ATC controller for the last 15 years has made mistakes and some pretty recent ones.

My point is that humans make human errors but once again I'm not accusing the pilots nor the ATC controllers as we simply don't have all the facts.

Unless you fly within Russia day in and day out their altimetry procedures can get confusing sometimes. Errors are usually recognized early on however it's certainly an area of extra caution.

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]

I try to practice my very limited Mandarin when in China and the same applies there. They all want to practice English. They'll giggle when I butcher a word, will correctl me and then switch to English... "My turn, my turn, how u say..."


They're not proud or snobby, they simply feel sorry for you for not being French. LOL Yeah, my Parisian experiences are similar to yours... :)

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]

Simple solution zachodzie - tell the people you're conversing with that you'd like to practice your Polish and I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

In the past it was Greek, Latin, French, or German, now it's English and one day it might be Mandarin or maybe Klingon. It might be annoying to some lingo-purists but the phenomenon itself is not new...

Kapla! ;)

History / Should visitors to Auschwitz pay an entrance fee? [82]


Awesome, the fine is cancelled. ;)

History / Should visitors to Auschwitz pay an entrance fee? [82]

Well, using that analogy Russia (and Germany) should pay too since Nazi-Germany in cohesion with the Soviet Union invaded Poland and thus they both started WWII? See the point you're trying to make but a realistic suggestion maybe?

History / Should visitors to Auschwitz pay an entrance fee? [82]

Well, I agree with the first part but how should the maintenance be paid for?

Life / WHY DO POLES USE ENGLISH WORDS IN CONVERSATION? [396]

Disagree. The reason we have a forum is to share thoughts, ideas and whatever bothers you. This bothered him/her so I don't see why you'd use the word idiot here? You might disagree with him/her and if so tell us why? Name calling just doesn't make sense here.

News / Brown's 'Bigotgate' and the debate about Poles [63]


Que? U talkin' to me, mijo? ;)


I know, I was being facetious...

News / Brown's 'Bigotgate' and the debate about Poles [63]


What about west of it? Was DDR a western society? ;)


Seriously doubt it. Instead imagine all the Polish migrants who moved to the UK, multiply it by 100 and then imagine every official phone call you'll ever make having to listen to "For English press one, Na Polski nacisnij dwa." Then imagine every time you take out cash from an ATM you chose English or Polish before you can select your pin-code or the amount to be withdrawn. Whenever you go to Lowe's or other major retailers you see a sign in English right next to the sign in Polish... Oh, imagine 30% of prisoners for violent crimes being Poles... That's the reality we have in North Carolina for example where 30% of Charlotte, NC are illegals (almost all Mexicans) who've committed serious crimes. Imagine an estimated 10-30% of Poles crossing into the UK bringing in illegal drugs... Imagine...

I'll take your legal Polish immigrants over our illegal Mexicans in a heart-beat. Notice I said illegal Mexicans. Those who came to the US in a legal way I have no problem with whatsoever. Also, I say Mexicans because the vast majority of the illegals come from Mexico but my comment applies to all illegal aliens.