UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Read back, I said why : )


And most poles by your definition therefore go to work dirty! Personal preference and as I said makes more sense from the sex aspect ; )

And don't start telling me that most Poles have showers in the evening and in the morning because I know it's not true!

In fact, a few I know wouldn't necessarily even have a daily shower at all.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Wait a minute - what?!

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Aha - so it actually is a challenge then in your opinion?

Nice one. Next time, as an experiment I'll focus a cold-hearted dead man's stare through the feckers and watch them wither ;)
( I can look very intimidating if I want to)

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

Depends what exactly you mean.

In Ireland anyway, if it's draught beer - absolutely always a fresh glass, not even discussed.

(I did notice in England however that it wasn't that unusual to have draught refills into the same glass - tended to be among older men though. It was the first time I had seen this)

For bottled beer drunk out of a glass, the barman will always ask you if you want a new glass.

No idea if there is any H&S thinking behind any of this though.

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]

Don't be too hasty.

We were the pioneers of this 'wonderful' idea - but also in ways of getting around it (kind of)

The law probably isn't going to be exactly the same in Poland as it is in Ireland though I suppose.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

Re staring, yes, I've definitely noticed this.

Where I come from it could potentially get you into a fight to be honest.

It's seen either as excessively nosey, a challenge, or as sexual interest.

I'm sorry but staring is simply rude - end of story. There is no culture that I am aware of in which it is not regarded as rude.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Ha ha - yes, that was a little strange for me. Sensible, but strange. It reminded me more of industrial or catering use.

Something else that was commented on by Poles in Ireland was the safety "pull string" for the bathroom light.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Are you saying that this is common in Ireland & Britain but not in Poland?

I think it's normal anyway - what are curtains for then? : )

Food / Cornish game hens in Poland? [13]


Possibly the same, or at least similar to, pullet, which would be the more typical UK/Irish term I think.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


What do you mean?


What 'grime' is going to get attached to e.g. your knees or back? Your hands and face can be washed whenever.

Depends what way you look at it. For me, showering in the morning has the added benefit of helping you wake up. Also, morning showerers are basically cleaner than all the evening showerers they meet during the day and early evening ; )

Also, it has to be said, assuming most people have sex at night a morning shower makes more sense in many ways.

Anyway, you really think it's not the norm to shower in the morning in the UK? Like I said, I lived there and every single personI encountered did this.


Plenty? really? Maybe some, but I lived in England for four years and never came across it.

I just think it's a bit much - you just make sure you wipe your feet properly, end of. Dogs (who have a lot worse on their paws than the average human shoe I'm sure) can run around peoples houses without wearing little pet slippers so what's the big deal? What's so important about your house - you have a hoover. That's how I feel about it anyway.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

Well if you can easily see in, yes of course. If not, I don't think it matters really.

Another difference for me by the way was beer (lager) not being served cold. Coolish to lukewarm was my experience. At first I thought it was a mistake but it appeared to be the norm.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]


Well that part would be normal for me.

Although the bed is positioned so that you would need to look in and round the corner to see anything.

Language / déjà vu in Polish [23]

Maybe some of the phonetics are ambiguous but


That looks pretty much correct to me.

Mind you, Americans tend to pronounce femme as FEM which is wrong so I wouldn't throw too many stones ; )

Life / Stereotypes: Do Poles believe in fate? [18]


Irish too ; )

I'm not remotely superstitious if that's the issue. In fact I go out of my way to do "unlucky" things sometimes. Regarding the notion of fate specifically, it barely registers. Your path is created as far as I'm concerned, not premapped.

But thinking about it, it does seem to be a romantic Eastern European cliché as portrayed in movies - destiny etc.

UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

But I did ! - sort of. Some of it anyway.

So this kind of breakfast isn't usual then? This is what I was offered in the three houses I stayed in anyway.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


So what is yours now Zeti?

UK, Ireland / More honest - Brits of Poles? [9]

In response to the question I can only say what I have observed. The British (and Irish) are more likely to tell "white lies" than Poles.

E.g. "your new hairstyle is really nice" "that meal you cooked was lovely". Poles are a bit more blunt and are less likely to tiptoe around. There are advantages & disadvantages to both.

If there is a difference in terms of "honesty", that's the only one that I can really discern.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


Very occasionally take a toke. Would do a line if the opportunity presented itself and if I was sure of the quality and the company - but wouldn't bother otherwise. It would need to land on my lap really. That's it. Stopped regularly taking stuff when i was about 30 I guess. Started at about 16, peaked at maybe 22-25.

When I did take stuff, I was probably a bit irresponsible, took risks, put myself in occasional danger etc - but obviously that's all with hindsight. Having said that, wouldn't change any of it.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


Of course, I know what you mean. Maybe I've been a bit lucky in the quality of pills I had though. Worth the money for me anyway ; )

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


Exactly. Have only taken E about 6 or 7 times but you would know if you had a proper E, definitely. Even one.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


Many were in those days Zeti - wasn't illegal for ages. You could get it like you can valium these days and it's potential for addiction wasn't fully realised. Wasn't regarded as a big deal.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


Well a Scot never would eh? ; )

Buckfast abuse/intake/consequences in certain areas in Scotland is supposedly notorious.

Dunno how much of this is Daily Mail (or the Scottish equivalent) hysteria or what though?!

Edit: Just saw your post Zeti - basically sounds much the same as here (and most of western Europe) then.


Not sure what you mean Sean?

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]

Speed is dodgy stuff. We only ever took it when we couldn't afford coke. It's rough and nasty and a bad comedown. If coke is champagne, speed is basically Buckfast ; )

Edit:


Exactly. And providing you don't go mental, you can get up the next day as if nothing has happened.

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]


So, what about in Poland then - what is your impression?

UK, Ireland / Do all Brits take (illegal) drugs? [114]

I couldn't say how popular it is now as I'm past all that (in my fourth decade) so not very in touch "wiv da kidz" as they say. ; )

However, in the day, it was fairly common - maybe 20% or so of my contempraries regularly smoked, took mushrooms, acid, speed etc. This was in Ireland by the way.

My impression anyway from talking to Poles here is that it was more widespread than in Poland anyway.


This bit is wrong though.

Travel / Is it safe to travel to Poland? [194]

LOL - indeed.

USA, Canada / Moved back from Canada to Poland:). Here are the reasons why. [868]


I wouldn't be afraid of it - chances are the "poor bugger" wouldn't think twice about giving you the full once over, with a final glare right in the eyes for good measure !

Language / How similar is the Italian accent to the Polish accent (when speaking English)? [34]

To me, they don't sound at all similar.

Spanish & Italian sound a little similar maybe but I'd still know the difference. Lithuanians, Latvians & Poles all sound a little similar when speaking English though.

Life / Jehova's witnesses in Poland - how to deal with them? [110]

I don't admire them but neither do feel or show disrespect to them. I am just indifferent to them. On a personal day to day level, the only 'controversy' that presents itself is their refusal to take no for an answer - I realise that persistence in their mission to convert is part of who they are but to be honest, as far as I can see, it annoys nearly everyone.