SeanBM
23 Feb 2011
SeanBM
23 Feb 2011
Food / Typical lunch in Poland? [50]
I see this as a difference between Ireland and Poland.
People here in Poland start earlier, have shorter lunches and earlier finishes comparatively IMO.
many Poles like a standard 7-3 or 8-4 working day and choose to just eat something cold at their desk.
I see this as a difference between Ireland and Poland.
People here in Poland start earlier, have shorter lunches and earlier finishes comparatively IMO.
SeanBM
22 Feb 2011
UK, Ireland / What use is an irish childs pps number in poland? [7]
I don't understand, why would the Polish father, living in Poland, want his child's Irish pps number to get a job? one has nothing to do with the other.
I don't understand, why would the Polish father, living in Poland, want his child's Irish pps number to get a job? one has nothing to do with the other.
SeanBM
21 Feb 2011
Law / WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE EURO CURRENCY TO POLAND? [101]
Look at Belgium, they don't have a government :)
We could vote on individual issues using modern technologies.
Voting on issues not for parties! :)
Well...we are on the way...
Look at Belgium, they don't have a government :)
We could vote on individual issues using modern technologies.
Voting on issues not for parties! :)
SeanBM
21 Feb 2011
Law / WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE EURO CURRENCY TO POLAND? [101]
Ireland was not always like that, e adopted the Euro back in 1999 before the party got started.
Because Ireland is an Island in the West, the introduction of the euro brought us, in our daily lives, closer to the E.U., something I think Poland will benefit from too.
There is a psychological barrier that breaks when you have the YoYo.
I think the danger of partying and throwing money around with banking, housing and credit bubbles should be avoided by Poland...
Ireland was not always like that, e adopted the Euro back in 1999 before the party got started.
Because Ireland is an Island in the West, the introduction of the euro brought us, in our daily lives, closer to the E.U., something I think Poland will benefit from too.
There is a psychological barrier that breaks when you have the YoYo.
SeanBM
21 Feb 2011
Law / WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE EURO CURRENCY TO POLAND? [101]
Luckily, it seems, that nobody really knows what will happen apart from the heralds of Armageddon, of course.
For the countries of the E.U. it is different and markets are inevitably going to fluctuate.
Poland will not be joining in the near future, every year they say they will join in two years, this time to add a bit of spice they have said four years:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_and_the_euro
What does that mean? well the zloty is not as stable as the Euro, so fluctuations hit independent currencies more, so if the Euro does drop a little, the Zloty drops a lot because it is considered more of a risky currency than the Euro.
But inevitably Poland will join the YoYo
When it comes there'll probably be a price hike, like there was in Ireland and Slovakia.
Luckily, it seems, that nobody really knows what will happen apart from the heralds of Armageddon, of course.
For the countries of the E.U. it is different and markets are inevitably going to fluctuate.
I will be moving to Poland in the near future.
Poland will not be joining in the near future, every year they say they will join in two years, this time to add a bit of spice they have said four years:
On Friday, 11 December Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland could join the eurozone in 2015
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_and_the_euro
What does that mean? well the zloty is not as stable as the Euro, so fluctuations hit independent currencies more, so if the Euro does drop a little, the Zloty drops a lot because it is considered more of a risky currency than the Euro.
But inevitably Poland will join the YoYo
Under the terms of the Treaty of Accession 2003, all new Member States "shall participate in the Economic and Monetary Union from the date of Accession as a Member State with a derogation",
When it comes there'll probably be a price hike, like there was in Ireland and Slovakia.
SeanBM
21 Feb 2011
News / Should government monitor the net in Poland? [38]
I could be reading this wrong but isn't that what this monitoring thing will be doing?
Finding hate speech and enforcing the law?
How about just enforcing the laws on the books
I could be reading this wrong but isn't that what this monitoring thing will be doing?
Finding hate speech and enforcing the law?
SeanBM
19 Feb 2011
History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]
So why did you choose communist-Poland of all places to study medicine?
Are you an American of Polish decent?
Were there many nonPoles studying with you?
Were you "Interviewed" because you came from the other side of the iron curtain?
So why did you choose communist-Poland of all places to study medicine?
Are you an American of Polish decent?
Were there many nonPoles studying with you?
Were you "Interviewed" because you came from the other side of the iron curtain?
SeanBM
18 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
I think people are better off now than they used to be.
But the topic of the thread does not ask that particular question.
I doubt that as you said 'restrict' not and all out ban.
People are no better no worse than they used to be.
I think people are better off now than they used to be.
But the topic of the thread does not ask that particular question.
But to restrict their production and sale in the name of public helath would deal a crippling blow to the economy, cost to loss of jobs and the bankruptcy of many companies in the parapharmaceutical sector.
I doubt that as you said 'restrict' not and all out ban.
SeanBM
18 Feb 2011
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
We don't speak like pirates, although that'd be deadly too!
Yah! :)
The accents here are nominal and it is great, I can understand people from most places in Poland.
I pity the poor Poles who have to attempt to understand the amount of accents we have in Ireland.
yaaarrrr
We don't speak like pirates, although that'd be deadly too!
but I'd rather speak like someone from the north of the Liffey than some D4 ponce.
Yah! :)
there is a little more variation accent wise in Poland than I was initially led to believe.
The accents here are nominal and it is great, I can understand people from most places in Poland.
I pity the poor Poles who have to attempt to understand the amount of accents we have in Ireland.
SeanBM
18 Feb 2011
Work / Some cold, hard facts about teaching in Poland for newbies [101]
How much preparation should a beginner teacher be prepared to do for a 45 minute class?
40 classes per week means 30 hours' work. Not exactly killing yourself!
How much preparation should a beginner teacher be prepared to do for a 45 minute class?
SeanBM
18 Feb 2011
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
Some women here have beautiful "R"s :)
Nor would I, The Dublin accent should be the height of aspiration, naturally.
The English south Africans sound well posh.
IMO there needs to be some level of rhoticity for a start.
Some women here have beautiful "R"s :)
although I wouldn't call RP an objective "standard" to aspire to by any means
Nor would I, The Dublin accent should be the height of aspiration, naturally.
Well maybe I've been mixing with the wrong South Africans
The English south Africans sound well posh.
SeanBM
18 Feb 2011
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
Nope, not the Dutch South Africans....obviously.
You're having a laugh surely?
Nope, not the Dutch South Africans....obviously.
SeanBM
17 Feb 2011
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]
I vote Milky for PF mascot!
Have you an links to any figures about that?
Just curious.
Don't forget the rest of us idiots who answer ;P
milky
I vote Milky for PF mascot!
Also, Poles are returning from the UK etc
Have you an links to any figures about that?
Just curious.
we need at least one idiot on here to keep this thread going.
Don't forget the rest of us idiots who answer ;P
SeanBM
17 Feb 2011
Language / Polish regional accents? [141]
That's what I was also told.
Same as the English language in South Africa, they speak RP English.
i think when isolated, it retains the old style, instead of evolving like in London.
Stalin's transmigration destroyed accents and dialects.
That's what I was also told.
but the nicest, purest accents I've heard are from (very posh) old people who grew up around Wilnius.
Same as the English language in South Africa, they speak RP English.
i think when isolated, it retains the old style, instead of evolving like in London.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
I know a teacher here and one of the kids fell and chipped his teeth, the teacher was scared, especially when the father of the chipped toothed young fella came in to speak to her.
He came to apologise about his child's disruptive behaviour.
Although that thread on Polish cheating is interesting.
I know a teacher here and one of the kids fell and chipped his teeth, the teacher was scared, especially when the father of the chipped toothed young fella came in to speak to her.
He came to apologise about his child's disruptive behaviour.
Although that thread on Polish cheating is interesting.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
Which century are we talking about again?
Are we talking about Poland or where you are?
I don't think it has collapsed.
Yes, there has always been a minority that have literally paid for their child's affections but that is not knew and not the norm.
He was not only grounded, depriced of TV and pocket money that week but may well have been in for a good thrashing.
Which century are we talking about again?
Now the parent starts badmouthing the teahcer, apparently siding with the kid.
Are we talking about Poland or where you are?
If you disagree with that assessment, what is yours? Why has the child-rearing consensus collapsed?
I don't think it has collapsed.
Yes, there has always been a minority that have literally paid for their child's affections but that is not knew and not the norm.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
I think that's a general rule, not only the rich can afford :)
people with class don't brag
I think that's a general rule, not only the rich can afford :)
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
The media?
Or buttons... :)
We say "Nouveau riche", the opposite being "Old money".
Hahaha, I have some reading to do :)
Curious alright.
Parents.Who else?
The media?
I agree but I wouldn't give up my PC :)
Or buttons... :)
There is beautiful word in Polish:nowobogaccy (nem money)-that's the kind of ppl that always talks abot what they have.
We say "Nouveau riche", the opposite being "Old money".
Bizarrely, the one about Formula1.
Hahaha, I have some reading to do :)
Perhaps not a very scientific analysis, but an interesting thought.
Curious alright.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
Which one?
i think that's a bit of an extreme too, I shouldn't really knock it till I've tried it.
I think life has a lot to do with balance, do stupid things but balance it out with something semisensible ;p
I have met many rich secondary school kids and there is a tendency for them to be sycophants.
? That's odd, I wonder why, any ideas? working too much?
I tend to agree, from personal experience.
Many of the (mentally) poorest people I know in Europe tend to wear the trendiest gear, drive flashy looking sports cars (but only flashy looking not actual sports cars) and have the latest mobile ringtones.
I guess people with cash don't need to prove themselves.
Check out the Amish/Plain People stuff on another thread.
Which one?
i think that's a bit of an extreme too, I shouldn't really knock it till I've tried it.
I think life has a lot to do with balance, do stupid things but balance it out with something semisensible ;p
rich kids
I have met many rich secondary school kids and there is a tendency for them to be sycophants.
over half of them hadn't been abroad, even for a holiday, in the past 10 years
? That's odd, I wonder why, any ideas? working too much?
tended to drive mid-range cars.
I tend to agree, from personal experience.
Many of the (mentally) poorest people I know in Europe tend to wear the trendiest gear, drive flashy looking sports cars (but only flashy looking not actual sports cars) and have the latest mobile ringtones.
I guess people with cash don't need to prove themselves.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
News / Which modern developments harm Poland? [83]
I agree, consumerism, in its extreme is perverting people's idea of beauty, self esteem, freedom and reason.
Nothing specifically about Poland though.
Who doesn't want to live the dream:
"I'm just a regular Joe with a regular job.
I'm your average white suburbanite slob.
I like football and pûrno and books about war.
I've got an average house with a nice hardwood floor.
My wife and my job, my kids and my car.
My feet on my table and a Cuban cigar."
youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs
consumerism
I agree, consumerism, in its extreme is perverting people's idea of beauty, self esteem, freedom and reason.
Nothing specifically about Poland though.
Who doesn't want to live the dream:
"I'm just a regular Joe with a regular job.
I'm your average white suburbanite slob.
I like football and pûrno and books about war.
I've got an average house with a nice hardwood floor.
My wife and my job, my kids and my car.
My feet on my table and a Cuban cigar."
youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
Oh and while we are at it, dealing with Enion (ESB) and Telekomunikacja Polska (Telephone networks) is like living in the Soviet Union.
Guess where I have to go tomorrow.
It must be due to their monopolising their sectors.
It is unbelievably difficult to give them money to pay your bills, you have to prove that you are the owner, as if you are going to pay someone else's bills and as if they should care? but procedures are procedures...
And to get hooked up with TP is a nightmare.
It is really a question of what you compare it to, before moving back here I lived in Lithuania, so I see Polish bureaucracy as easy comparatively.
Oh, the horror stories I could tell you about Lithuania...
One small example: to pay your hot water bill, you don't get a bill, oh! no! you have to add up your metre, look in the newspaper to see how much it costs, write all the information in a special book, subtract the current amount from the previous and go down the post office and cue only to meet, what can only be described as "the scariest women I have ever met" and hopefully, if you are lucky, you get to pay your bill.
Oh and while we are at it, dealing with Enion (ESB) and Telekomunikacja Polska (Telephone networks) is like living in the Soviet Union.
Guess where I have to go tomorrow.
It must be due to their monopolising their sectors.
It is unbelievably difficult to give them money to pay your bills, you have to prove that you are the owner, as if you are going to pay someone else's bills and as if they should care? but procedures are procedures...
And to get hooked up with TP is a nightmare.
It is really a question of what you compare it to, before moving back here I lived in Lithuania, so I see Polish bureaucracy as easy comparatively.
Oh, the horror stories I could tell you about Lithuania...
One small example: to pay your hot water bill, you don't get a bill, oh! no! you have to add up your metre, look in the newspaper to see how much it costs, write all the information in a special book, subtract the current amount from the previous and go down the post office and cue only to meet, what can only be described as "the scariest women I have ever met" and hopefully, if you are lucky, you get to pay your bill.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
I get your point but (always with the ''buts'') the one where I always go "ah, what do I need to do that for? it's stupid" is when they want a payment of 1 zloty to issue some document by stamping it but you can't pay them but have to go to a cantankerous old bat (such as the job description reads) in some cubbyhole that you passed on your way in, who will do her level best to annoy you.
Last time I had to do that, she hadn't any stamps left and asked me to come back the next day, I told her I'd give her 5 Zloty to sort it out and I was met with the simplest word in any language "NIE".
The other woman, who issued the paper, took over and sorted it out for me at no extra cost.
When the revolution comes they will be the first up against the wall...
I can actually think of a few occasions where arrogance by foreigners has caused them endless problems - usually concerning "ah, what do I need to do that for? it's stupid".
I get your point but (always with the ''buts'') the one where I always go "ah, what do I need to do that for? it's stupid" is when they want a payment of 1 zloty to issue some document by stamping it but you can't pay them but have to go to a cantankerous old bat (such as the job description reads) in some cubbyhole that you passed on your way in, who will do her level best to annoy you.
Last time I had to do that, she hadn't any stamps left and asked me to come back the next day, I told her I'd give her 5 Zloty to sort it out and I was met with the simplest word in any language "NIE".
The other woman, who issued the paper, took over and sorted it out for me at no extra cost.
When the revolution comes they will be the first up against the wall...
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
Actually, the U.K. have a good system for tax.
You pay emergency tax, which is a high bracket tax, so you can start your job right away and then when you sort it out and you're put in to the correct tax bracket, you get the extra tax you paid back.
Gets everything up and running at no extra cost to the Brits.
You can buy off the self companies too, which a lawyer can sort out everything over the phone, pretty much.
How do I pay taxes then?
Actually, the U.K. have a good system for tax.
You pay emergency tax, which is a high bracket tax, so you can start your job right away and then when you sort it out and you're put in to the correct tax bracket, you get the extra tax you paid back.
Gets everything up and running at no extra cost to the Brits.
You can buy off the self companies too, which a lawyer can sort out everything over the phone, pretty much.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
Not the U.K. but in Ireland, no we don't have them.
And they ask for your Irish address.
Not the U.K. but in Ireland, no we don't have them.
And they ask for your Irish address.
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
And try telling anyone in a Bank or office where you have to fill out a form in England that you don't have a post code.
Computer says NO
youtube.com/watch?v=WOdjCb4LwQY
Utility bill with my name on a bill so I had to wait...
And I always got the feeling that they looked at me suspiciously as if I was laundering money for the IRA, maybe that was just paranoia? ;)
Really? Mine just came through the post when I was 15. Mind you, that was 1981.
And try telling anyone in a Bank or office where you have to fill out a form in England that you don't have a post code.
Computer says NO
youtube.com/watch?v=WOdjCb4LwQY
Why 6 months?
Utility bill with my name on a bill so I had to wait...
And I always got the feeling that they looked at me suspiciously as if I was laundering money for the IRA, maybe that was just paranoia? ;)
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Life / Bureaucratic issues in Poland - I sorted complex problem using the telephone and email [37]
I had to go out in to the sticks and cue, wait, fillout forms and wait to get mine.
In Poland at least it's all in the city.
I find this a problem here sometimes.
Like Invoices, I can email you an invoice, it doesn't have to be stamped but try tell that to some people...
This is a pain at first but once it's done, it's done, thank goodness.
Took me six months to open a bank account in England, takes me about 20 minutes here in Poland.
Polish bureaucracy has come a long way since I used to cue up for a visa but does need to be cleared up even more.
The one that nibbles my goat is the notaries and their non-commercial status.(has that recently changed? I heard something but...??)
people get the NI number automatically when they're 15, or as a migrant just send off for it.
I had to go out in to the sticks and cue, wait, fillout forms and wait to get mine.
In Poland at least it's all in the city.
though the old bags at the tax office don't always know that
I find this a problem here sometimes.
Like Invoices, I can email you an invoice, it doesn't have to be stamped but try tell that to some people...
business. In the UK, you just write out a receipt or invoice and declare any income on your tax return. In PL you need permission to conduct economic activity, a REGON (a pointless thing if ever there was one), prior registration with ZUS, prior submission to the tax office, a bank account number and a registered trading address. Oh, and a rubber stamp, which you can only get made if you produce originals of all the documents.
This is a pain at first but once it's done, it's done, thank goodness.
Took me six months to open a bank account in England, takes me about 20 minutes here in Poland.
Polish bureaucracy has come a long way since I used to cue up for a visa but does need to be cleared up even more.
The one that nibbles my goat is the notaries and their non-commercial status.(has that recently changed? I heard something but...??)
SeanBM
14 Feb 2011
Travel / Photographs and Weather in Leba, Poland [5]
Lovely photos,
You might enjoy and add to some of our other Photo threads like:
polishforums.com/off-topic-lounge-47/pf-photo-contest-35817/ - PF PHOTO CONTEST
Photos from Poland
Pictures of Poles [Everyday Life]
Lovely photos,
You might enjoy and add to some of our other Photo threads like:
polishforums.com/off-topic-lounge-47/pf-photo-contest-35817/ - PF PHOTO CONTEST
Photos from Poland
Pictures of Poles [Everyday Life]
SeanBM
10 Feb 2011
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]
Fair enough, I think this is more for a family with kids and all.
More about quality of life than efficiency, most Poles are from the country, in a country with 38 million people and only 1.7 million in the capital, I would say that's proportionately rare.
And the point was in reply to this:
Not to the author/teacher/James Bond life style you have :)
At least in Warsaw, a drive which can be done in 15 minutes when there's no traffic can take more than an hour and a half at peak times. Or at least that's what people who live in the suburbs tell me, personally I like being able to walk to work in 12 minutes.
Fair enough, I think this is more for a family with kids and all.
More about quality of life than efficiency, most Poles are from the country, in a country with 38 million people and only 1.7 million in the capital, I would say that's proportionately rare.
And the point was in reply to this:
but why is it that EVERYONE we know (ex-DINKYs who had kids in the last 2-3 years) is looking to upgrade from kawalerki to a house in the suburbs?
Not to the author/teacher/James Bond life style you have :)
SeanBM
10 Feb 2011
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]
Just to show what is actually happening in real terms in Poland, here's a graph of the motorways and express roads over the past 11 years:
Chart upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/PL-Motorways-en.svg
And if that is not enough, Click Here for an excellent view of Polish roads, you can choose your year from 1936 - 2015
stadiony.klszarak.org/scc_a_s.swf
I understand that Milky claims he lives in Ireland, so the only thing he really sees is Polish people working there and he claims that this was the only driving force behind the increase in property prices, which is only a part of the big picture (approx 2 million emigrated vs the 38 million here).
It would be too simplistic to say that there is only one cause for Poland's relative success thus far, Balcerowicz Plan, Devaluation of the Zloty (perfect timing), E.U. funds and emigration are what I would consider the most important issues, maybe others could add to it?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balcerowicz_Plan
The whole idea of the E.U. is to get all countries on a level playing field, it will take time but we are well on our way.
road infrastructure
Just to show what is actually happening in real terms in Poland, here's a graph of the motorways and express roads over the past 11 years:
Chart upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/PL-Motorways-en.svg
And if that is not enough, Click Here for an excellent view of Polish roads, you can choose your year from 1936 - 2015
stadiony.klszarak.org/scc_a_s.swf
I understand that Milky claims he lives in Ireland, so the only thing he really sees is Polish people working there and he claims that this was the only driving force behind the increase in property prices, which is only a part of the big picture (approx 2 million emigrated vs the 38 million here).
It would be too simplistic to say that there is only one cause for Poland's relative success thus far, Balcerowicz Plan, Devaluation of the Zloty (perfect timing), E.U. funds and emigration are what I would consider the most important issues, maybe others could add to it?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balcerowicz_Plan
The whole idea of the E.U. is to get all countries on a level playing field, it will take time but we are well on our way.