Classifieds / English cuisine week in Lidl shops in Poland [203]

Scampi is Norwegian if anything, not British, though we adopted it. Baked beans are more American. Heinz is from Philly, I think.

Thanks for the list, ukpolska. I might get myself over to the LIDL here. It's a fair hike but worth it.

Genealogy / Last name Los (Łoś) from Bialystok, also: Moskal, Zoltek, Starzec - Galicia, Kolbuszowa [18]

I know a Jarek Sudoł here. As you know, I know an Ania Gil.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I second that, you have to get in their faces like I have done. Even then, they will try and fob you off with this and that. Do what you have to but it won't be easy :(

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Popems, stick in there. I did the same and you got one more response than I did. I'll resend them in Polish I think as I know enough. They want your skills in getting bums on seats but don't wanna go through all the hassle.

USA, Canada / What do the Poles hate and love about the U.S.? [170]

Some of the nicest people in the world come from the States. Clint Eastwood, for example. Give me a Pole as successful and as likeable as him. I could quote many more Americans with bags of personality and evident success.

OK, America is diminishing a little but, should it win the fight against fascistic elements, I will rejoice! I love the openness and full-bodied charisma of many Americans. They know they are alive and I tip my hat to that.

News / Mass immigration to Poland - article and response [479]

Homosexuals are humans too, LOL. You are a hoot, lad! Acquiring virtues is noble :)

USA, Canada / Do many Polish people in America hate Americans? [592]

Wipe yoself off, you dead ;) ;)

LOL, where's the love these days? People must wonder why I appear to be laughing. The faces are just priceless.

UK, Ireland / Question about Irish-Polish similarities [25]

I think we see an Irish-Polish similarity emerging ;) ;)

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

The fast food places in Gliwice are the favourite hawking spots for them. McD's or Złoty Kurczak tend to attract nyaffs who stand there with their pouting faces. What pis*es me off is the ineptitude of the staff. They stand by and do nothing. I've paid to eat in their establishment, they should be ushering them out.

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

Good point esek. By all means, give to noble charities like those for the blind, children and animals but these lowlifes just punt it up the wall on booze. They don't appreciate it, rather they come to disrespect you if you don't give when they expect you to.

You don't owe them anything. It's a government problem and not for individuals to solve.

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

There are those that can irritate you but they are younger. You can be sitting on the rynek and they come up to you and just stare you down. The ones who stand with their hand out are the most frustrating. You turn away and they move round. The staff don't escort them off the premises but they should.

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

Fair point! There is one guy who bullies people so I thought I'd turn the tables on him and test his metal. He wasn't so hard after I remonstrated with him.

You are right to say that most Polish beggars are harmless. They usually accept no as an answer and don't pester you too much. They will accept warning signs.

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

There's a guy here who stands with a sign in front of him, dressed in a suit. Strange, he doesn't look like a beggar at all. A bit like the drug dealer I'm watching at the moment in Danny Dyer's program. He is posh and innocuous.

Life / Beggers namely Kurwa boys in Poland [70]

I had the same. There was a guy out front who harasses everyone. He wants money for beer and he tries to tell them it's for some bread and water. Yeah, pull the Jesus card on me why don't ya ;) I bet he wishes he could turn water into wine (jabol). One time I just went into the shop and bought him a bottle of water as that's what he asked for. He didn't know what to say.

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. In Scotland, we say 'set a sprat to catch a mackerel'. Feckers here don't even set the sprat, they go straight for the mackerel, then the caviar.

Love / Scottish & Polish relationships [229]

Well, Aberdonians are the only ones with a rep for being stingy in Scotland. You have Kraków AND Poznań here ;) ;) Och, here's a pipe ;)

Love / Scottish & Polish relationships [229]

I'm not a fan of either Rangers or Celtic so I can't really comment. Scots and Poles tend to be resourceful and that's a strong connection :)

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

Hmm, not that short overall. Over 160cms on average.

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

It's quite disconcerting having young basketball players walk off the hall floor and look down at you. Teens should not be that tall :( ;)

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

4cms doesn't matter, is that what you tell your GF too, Arien? ;) ;)

A lot of the taller guys tend to come out on the weekends. I've seen some really tall dudes in pubs.

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

Give or take 10cms :) I'd say about 175 then

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

I think you are thinking of the Black Madonna from Częstochowa, Joe ;) ;)

Poles are about 185cms on average.

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

I'm 182cms but feel short alongside some males here. A fair few females are my height or taller. Amazon women as Shelley calls them :)

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

Some are and some aren't but they are generally pretty tall when compared with most other nations.

Love / Scottish & Polish relationships [229]

That's what bars are for. The ones that aren't looking generally stay at home, drink cheaper beer and listen to whatever music they want, i.e me.

As for the thread, rollercoaster springs to mind.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Pro-Callan, LOL. I dunno how you got that impression. It has very little relevance to the real world and is of little practical value out of the classroom. It's a joke. What I found was that the students I met in the streets would throw a Callan question at me and have a laugh. The whole thing was about acting and the boss here even said so.

I'm glad that I teach a fair bit of grammar now, get some return on my investment in teaching. Callan was about quick presentation of grammar but now I systematically go through it in SU.

I'm not happy that I spent 3 years there but I'm onto other things now.

Love / Polish Girls negative or positive personality trait? [267]

Um, I'd rather it be heartfelt and not out of a sense of, 'oh, it's that time again, time to call him kochanie'.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

True! However, in my 3 years at Callan, I met people who had already received their CELTA qualification. It's useful and restores discipline. I didn't have it easy there and got a bare pass but I'm happy about that. Years of getting high passes in degree exams and for what? For very little really.

If you are confident in your abilities and are prepared to self deprecate a little, that's a start!

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Even if you were a confident and proficient teacher of grammar, much depends on the opportunity you have to present that. It's frustrating to just be picking up scraps before the school year really hits full flight. Still, free time to do other things :)

It's good to get some private teaching in.

Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

Do you still teach Callan, delph? How many years now?

Polonia / What About The Poles In The Netherlands? [102]

It certainly seems that way. The Dutch are a smart bunch of people. Respect! So, any Poles floating around your neck of the woods?