Work / English teaching or English language preschool in Poland? [15]

A qualified, trained and experienced teacher could find a job in Poland, but what is a 'good job'? From the op's use of the word 'profitable' the main criterion would be money, and nobody's going to get rich working as a jobbing schoolteacher, here in Poland or anywhere else.

An unqualified person would be able to pick up a few hours here and there, but they would be competing with Polish teachers with Master's degrees (of varying worth).

Setting up a school teaching little ones English is an idea which is occurring to people more and more often these days, which is to say it's getting more competitive. There is certainly money to be made in that area, and with patience, the right team, and a willingness to ruthlessly exploit unemployed teachers, there's room for more investment.

Food / Is black tea disappearing from supermarkets in Poland? [29]

What is hard to find is loose leaf Earl Grey with real bergamot oil. Since the white coats synthesised it Italian farmers and tea lovers have suffered.

Law / Will traffic fines law like in Finland make Polish roads safer? [21]

If it could be made to work properly, this would be a great idea. The last time I got fined it was 200PLN. The points were more of a worry than the cash I had to pay. I just shrugged and made the transfer, but for a guy on minimum wage with kids to feed a 200 fine would have hurt, and not just him. If they'd fined me a couple of thousand, I'd have driven like a nun for a year.

Law / As a foreigner non EU citizen working in Poland, can I get visa for my spouse? [34]

There's no such thing as an EU passport. You can't automatically get Polish citizenship. Spend five years in the country and then apply. If it is decided that you are an asset to the country, you might get your passport. If it looks like you just want it as a means to move on to Germany, France or the UK, forget it.

Love / How many Polish men are Violent how much is domestic abuse reported. [129]

Get out while you can. He will never change. My cousin was in a similar position, but her husband was one of those who drink, beat, apologise, and then start all over again. Your guy doesn't even apologise because he thinks his behaviour is normal. It isn't, it's criminal. The social services are waiting to help you get out of this toxic situation. He doesn't love you, he loves to own you. Good luck.

Language / "Cup of coffee" translated in Poland as Kubek kawy. Why not a mug? [70]


I can understand that ;-) Some of their stuff is a bit busy for my taste, although the polka dot tea things are v. nice. Coffee Tube hasn't reached the frozen wastes of Podlasie yet. Looks cosy.

News / Is Poland's PO party left or right wing? [15]


Relative to what? The Left-Right paradigm is increasingly unclear, especially in the developed world. For example, I don't think anyone could call any of the three main UK parties right wing. They are all social democratic parties in the Western European mould. In Poland there are politicians who are so far to the right on social issues that it is hard to imagine them ever operating elsewhere in Europe, or even in much of the United States, apart from the more intellectually underdeveloped states. As for economics, PiS has to try to please a constituency which has largely lost out in the post-communist era. PO is a run-of-the-mill European Social Democratic party with sometimes surprisingly liberal attitudes. They get my vote largely because they aren't PiS.

Language / "Cup of coffee" translated in Poland as Kubek kawy. Why not a mug? [70]

Beautiful mugs from Goebel.

• 
  Special guests get their coffee in this at our place.
  

Language / "Cup of coffee" translated in Poland as Kubek kawy. Why not a mug? [70]

I don't think I've ever seen coffee drunk from a glass in Poland, but as I'm not Polish I can't possibly know what I'm talking about.

Language / "Cup of coffee" translated in Poland as Kubek kawy. Why not a mug? [70]

Most people drink coffee out of a mug at home. If you use a cup, you use a saucer. Who does that? The only time I do is in cafes, as I did last week in Wedel, Białystok, where they rushed me 24PLN for an espresso and apple pie. That'll be the last time before winning the lottery.

Love / Sexual diseases! Please tell me how I go about getting tested in Poland? [103]

Borek, that was four years ago. It's probably dropped off by now.

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]


So I guess you'll be putting the house on a UKIP victory in May. You can get 100/1 against a Farage PMship. Easy money, right? Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, UKIP is going to get utterly trashed at the election. As for Poles returning to Poland, that's not going to happen. They have been welcomed by the vast majority; you represent a tiny fraction who are still hurting from the referendum vote. Get used to it.

Work / Jobs for a Native English Speaker in Konin Area? [21]


I am ready to give advice to any educated, qualified teacher who wants to work in Poland. Opportunists who refer to people as "grammar robots" because they teach standard English and not dialects give the profession a bad name. btw, your grandfather's exploits are irrelevant, as are those of my father and my uncle, who were both on the Normandy beaches.

Life / Thoughts on "Ida" (Polish movie) [30]

Vox, if you visited any school history department in the UK, you'd probably be surprised at the things modern kids learn about. Even when I was in primary school we learned about the British slave trade, and I'm talking about 1972! Nowadays, most British people are well aware of the shameful episodes of their country's history. It's a sign of a mature country.

Life / Thoughts on "Ida" (Polish movie) [30]

The film is not popular among people who prefer to see the world in black and white. History is as complex as the people who make it, but some find it more comforting to simplify matters according to their prejudices (see the pro-Russian comments on this forum). Ida is a superb film on several levels, and is further evidence that some Poles are beginning to address the many-faceted nature of difficult recent historical events and to come to terms with them.

Work / Jobs for a Native English Speaker in Konin Area? [21]

Adam, this thread is about jobs for native English speakers.

UK, Ireland / And you wonder why there is Anti-Polish feeling in the UK [187]


People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Life / Cost of medical treatment in Poland? In particular, home visits from a nurse to change dressings [7]

It's true that there's a huge OTC meds culture in Poland. The main reason for this is that it's such a pain going to see an NHS doctor that most people choose to self-medicate. I don't think that there are dangerous drugs freely available, though. A pharmacist student of mine told me that they know the combinations of OTC drugs that might be abused, and refuse to sell them to customers, not that that is going to stop them.The worst part is that you can wait in the queue at the chemist's for ages while people have consultations with the pharmacist. If I see three old ladies in front of me, I leave.

Life / Medical Trials in Poland? How much do you get? [4]

Free chocolate round our way, quite a lot, too. If you donate enough, you get a free bus pass.

Language / Problems Polish People Have with Learning English [63]


æ as in cat. Poles tend to utter something between æ and ʌ (as in cut). Minimal pair exercises can help. Cat/Cut Bat/But Hat/Hut
ɜ: as in girl, work. This sounds stupid to Poles, so they try to avoid it. Unfortunately, it is a very high frequency sound.
θ as in thing. Poles find dental fricatives very tricky, and prefer to say fing. Then again, so do some BBC employees, so perhaps we are wasting our time.

ð the voiced version of the last one, as in this. Poles tend to say dis or viss.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]

Dougpol, I agree it's unnecessarily tough. I took my Polish test about fourteen years ago when it was simpler but still tricky. Who the hell tries to reverse into a parking space just bigger than the size of the car? I think they even have a mechanical element now. The days when the average driver could understand what went on under the bonnet/hood

are long gone.


Wow! Expensive.

Food / What ethnic dish should I insist on being treated to while I am in Poland this year? [4]


I'm afraid it will probably remain undisclosed in the Podlasian flatlands. Try Sękacz. If you are adventurous, try flaczki, tripe soup, although most women are a bit squeamish about that.


Hard to say for late spring, but it shouldn't be cold by then. If you get chilly, you can always buy a sweater in the excellent Alfa and Biała shopping centres/malls. Don't leave without catching an Orthodox mass, preferably at św. Mikołaja Cudotwórcy (Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker), which has the best Orthodox choir in Poland, I reckon. If you miss home, Elvis Burger at ul. Białówny 9, just off the main square, serves great burgers.

History / Why is it ok to represent Polish history of WWII inaccurately in the film "Our Fathers, Our Mothers"? [36]


Please quote your source for this. As much as I can't stand Farage, it just doesn't sound like the kind of thing he'd say.

Genealogy / How Polish am I? What is the correct formula? [58]


More Polish than the Polish, then. Congratulations.


That would be in the other one per cent, presumably.

Life / Polish people and racism. [943]


Haylal, posters have openly admitted to being racist, i.e. MarcinBu and JohnnyReb. You can hardly blame WB for referring to them as racist if they are happy to describe themselves as such.

Life / Calendar for a coffin producer in Poland. Boxes for stiffs. [9]

stoian, this may help.

• 
  game_over.jpg
  

Genealogy / How Polish am I? What is the correct formula? [58]

singingfalls. Could you give more details about your DNA being "entirely Eastern European"? DNA testing is an inexact science, and as far as I'm aware, nobody in Europe is entirely anything, genetically.

Real Estate / Sweeping powers? What rights do chimney sweeps have when inspecting rented properties in Poland? [8]

Re: insurance, yes the insurer's first question after a chimney fire would be about sweeping. I was told that for some premises it had to be done four times a year before the authorities got real. I believe once a year is now enough to keep insurers happy.

I don't find InWroclaw's quoting excessive. He addresses three specific points made by three different posters. This is getting a little anal.

Life / Where to buy a good dog for a good price in Warsaw? [12]

We recently got a mutt from a local farmer. He was glad to give one of three pups away to a good home. Last year my brother paid 650 GBP for a posh dog, but I can't really see the difference. Our pooch also goes woof, wags his tail and thinks we're great. Look out for a local website (if you know what I mean) that people use when they have dogs to give away.

Related:

Where to buy dogs in Warsaw


look in the newspapers ads sections. or check internet.

Why don't you contact the TOZ (Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zwierzetami) the equivalent of the RSPCA, it's a human society and they have shelters or contacts with shelters. There are so many homeless dogs looking for love.

Work / 2000 zloty in Katowice as a teacher - worth moving there? [33]

If I were in Depeche's position, I'd go to a smallish city, e.g. Białystok, and be a big fish in a small pond. You'll find lots of schools but very little competition. Also, the business sector is where the money is now. Just a couple of days ago a local firm contacted me (I don't advertise) and asked me to put together a course. Get your name known around town and the work will come to you. Avoid contracts with split shifts unless you like feeling like a zombie. I'd register a company and keep my options wide open if I were you. Private schools will rip you off if they can (with just a few honourable exceptions), so put yourself in a position where you can dictate terms. You'll need a bankroll, though. This won't happen overnight.