Genealogy / Why did(do) Poles sometimes have German first names? [28]


No problem, I meant it. I myself am very attached to the land where I was born and where my family comes from. For me it's a bond probably as strong as bloodline.


Thank you, although I'd say it's a bit "sketchy", a lot more info could be put in there...
Btw, can you imagine that only thanks to this thread I found out that it's possible that I have some Lithuanian roots? I always wondered about my surname, because it didn't sound terribly "Polish" and it turned out that, judging by the suffix of my surname, my grandad could have Lithuanian ancestry. I was told that he came from "somewhere from the East" - I think that could mean Kresy (Eastern Borderlands) - so I guess "the Lithuanian connection" makes sense... Funny thing, when I was preparing for my First Communion every kid was getting a necklace with a cross or medallion with Mary and baby Jesus, one you wear for the rest of your life - my mum wanted to buy me one depicting Black Madonna from Częstochowa, but they run out of those in the shop so she bought a random one. It turned out that the medallion she picked for me depicted Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (Matka Boska Ostrobramska) from Vilnius in Lithuania with the coat of arms of Lithuania on the other side of the medallion :) Maybe it was some kind of a sign :)))

Anyway, someday I intend to do a research of my own and get to the bottom of this.


Good luck, I hope you'll find something :)


It doesn't look German... But I really have no idea, I would have to read into this stuff and I don't have time for this these days, I'm sorry...


Well, it says that Maciej Stryjkowski "states that...", it doesn't necessarly mean it's true ;)


As far as I understood CuriousBanana's great grandfather's surname doesn't seem to be German (he wrote that it's "mostly distributed in Poland").


Yeah, true... Either way, according to an article about Sanok in Polish Wikipedia, Bolesław-Jerzy II granted on the 20th of January 1339 "przywilej lokacyjny" (settlement rights?) to Sanok and to Germans, Poles, Hungarians and Ruthenians who were already living there. So I guess it's true that there's been a German presence in that area since the 14th century.

Please avoid excessive quoting

Life / Evening wear / prom dresses - Polish sites? [4]

I don't usually buy such stuff on the internet so I don't know which are good ones, but I guess you could try general shopping sites where you can buy clothes like zalando.pl, domodi.pl or bonprix.pl.

You could also try to google it by yourself and see what you like:

cocktail dresses - sukienki koktajlowe
prom dresses - sukienki na studniówkę
eveningwear - sukienki wieczorowe

Some examples:

cocktail dresses:

zalando.pl/odziez-damska-sukienki-koktajlowe

allani.pl/wyszukaj/sukienki-koktajlowe?stores%5B%5D=125

prom dresses:

domodi.pl/odziez/odziez-damska/sukienki/sukienki-na-studniowke
allani.pl/wyszukaj/sukienki-na-studniowke?stores%5B%5D=125
sukienkimm.pl/sukienki/sukienki-na-studniowke

evening dresses:

domodi.pl/odziez/odziez-damska/sukienki/sukienki-wieczorowe
bonprix.pl/kategoria/846/sukienki-wieczorowe

evening dresses and ball gowns (suknie balowe):

evita.com.pl/produkty/suknie-wieczorowe
navona.pl/Suknie_balowe
sukienkimm.pl/sukienki/maxi
domodi.pl/odziez/odziez-damska/sukienki/sukienki-balowe

Genealogy / Why did(do) Poles sometimes have German first names? [28]


I know that Americans think that but I disagree - you have a distinguishable culture even if it's young. You would come to appreciate it more if someone tried to take it away from you, trust me...


You're welcome :)


I don't know much about genealogical research but I'm not sure how much you can find online - probably the best way would be to come to Poland and go to that parish and ask in the church so they would search the records for you (at least that's what my aunt did when she was researching our family genealogy).


It is possible. He could be a Protestant if he was German or Orthodox if he had, for example, Lemko roots. You never know with these regions, I guess...


Well, if your family comes from Poland then you are always going to be connected to it through this :)

Genealogy / Place of birth: Tereza Minsk - Russia~Poland? [2]

There's a village in Russia, in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Bolshemurtinsky District called "Minsk" (Минск):

mapdata.ru/krasnoyarskiy-kray/bolshemurtinskiy-rayon/derevnya-minsk

There's also a village in Russia called "Tereze" (Терезе) - it's located in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Malokarachayevsky District.

I also had an idea that "Tereza" could be a village or a town in the administritive district of Minsk in Belarus (Belarus was once a part of Russia) but I didn't manage to find anything on Google nor in Russian on Yandex (it's a Russian search engine like Google), so I guess you would have to ask a Belarusian about this.

Btw, Tereza is a Russian and Belarusian equivalent of the name Teresa/Theresa (in Russian: Тереза, in Belarusian: Тэрэза).

Genealogy / Why did(do) Poles sometimes have German first names? [28]


It's a village called Lalin:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalin,_Poland


There's been a German presence in that area since the 14th century:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanok#History

"Marcin Bielski states that Bolesław I Chrobry had settled some Germans in the region to defend the borders against Hungary and Kievan Rus', who later turned to farming. Maciej Stryjkowski mentions German peasants near Przeworsk, Przemyśl, Sanok, and Jarosław, describing them as good farmers. "

As for the village Lalin - during the Middle Ages the village was divided into two settlements: Lalin Ruski (Ruthenian Lalin) and Lalin Niemiecki (German Lalin).

So I guess this gives you an idea about the German presence over there :)


Maybe you could give us the surname (if it isn't a secret)?

Btw, I've discussed on one internet forum with a German man living in Berlin whose family have lived in Poland since sth like 17th century or longer (I don't remember exactly), he has family both in Poland and Germany, his mother is Polish and his Polish language is pretty much perfect.

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]


Where did you get that info? The only thing that I've managed to google was that Petru proposed that the Konwent Seniorów should be called to resolve the crisis (the article is from 10 hours ago):

wiadomosci.wp.pl/ryszard-petru-zaapelowal-o-zwolanie-konwentu-seniorow-i-spotkanie-szefow-partii-6070872155890817a


Oh, you're not the only one, trust me...


Not only him... I thought that Poles don't have a problem with understanding what democracy is all about despite all those years of communism, but it looks like I was wrong - quite a lot of them don't seem to understand... or care - I don't know...

And look here:

tvn24.pl/gowin-o-kryzysie-sejmowym-i-zmianach-dot-dziennikarzy,700968,s.html

Gowin says that he doesn't know anyone in the government and among the PiS MP's who would like Kuchciński's restrictions for the media.

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]


You seem to forget why they did that - Kuchciński excluded an opposition MP and he did that against the rules (and for no reason, really). The opposition got pis$ed because Kuchciński wasn't treating the opposition MP's fairly for quite some time and this was a drop that filled the cup.


The problem is that this chamber wouldn't fit all those MPs so we don't really know whether there was the necessary quorum or not. Why we don't know? Because the media weren't allowed in. There was a view from one camera on the wall that didn't show the whole chamber.

Plus some MP's signed the voting list... after the voting ended... which may mean they didn't vote at all... and that's illegal...

So we don't know whether we have a legal budget or not - what labour courts will do with this?


Indeed.
And the weirdest thing is that they don't have to do that - they have majority anyway... So what's the point? Are they stupid? Self-destructive or what?

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


A fan of Putin?


Really? PiS seems to have problems with both the West and the East... lol


With the devil too? lol


You think he wasn't doing that during all those demonstrations about Smoleńsk with torches and when he watched the devastation of Warsaw during the Independence Day marches?


PiS caused this anarchy and instabilty by breaking the law and the Constitution.

Right now I don't care what Putin is rubbing, tbh, what I care about is whether my country will be a democratic, successful country and not some semi-authoritarian corrupt state ruled by incompetent, primitive idiots who can't tell democracy and rule of law from their toilet paper.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]


Exactly.


Pro-Putin Russians laugh at those anti-Putin protesters in Moscow too. They find them hilarious and pathetic too. (Oh, and they consider them to be traitors either manipulated or bought by the West). So you're in "good" company.

You're probably a fan of Putin too? :)

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]


Where and when? Which demonstrations are you talking about?


I've barely watched TV since quite some time. I get too angry at PiS :) And I've become an aunt recently :))) My niece was supposed to be born on November 11, can you imagine :), that was the "deadline" but I guess she's a "Soviet scum" too, because she decided to come to this world the following day :/ The whole family was hoping she would be born on the Independence Day, that would be pretty cool, but oh well...

As for the first KOD demonstrations - I live in Kielce, I don't know whether there is a demonstration in my city every time when there is a demonstration in Warsaw or other bigger cities and at that time I didn't imagine anyone would organise a demonstration against PiS in Kielce (you do realise that Kielce is one of PiS strongholds, right?), so it didn't even come to my mind to look for info about any demonstrations in my city.

I'll probably go to one of those demonstrations eventually, if they continue to organise them, or if they won't - maybe I will go to demonstrate in Warsaw (less likely though - something really, really bad would probably have to happen), although there doesn't seem to be a point - PiS doesn't seem to care about most of them (Black March was an exception to this rule, I guess) and isn't changing its ways. I would go to them only because it's the right thing to do, not because it will change anything... I can imagine many people wonder - what's the point... You gotta admire people who go to each of those demonstrations...

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]


But they are supported by many people. I don't know anyone who would attend those demonstrations (I didn't attend them either for various reasons - I didn't even know about the first demonstrations of KOD in Kielce, I was a bit shocked that anyone dared to demonstrate against PiS here, tbh :)) but I know many people who support those demonstrations.

News / Poland's political crisis deepens [228]

Unfortunately, I have a terrible cold and I can't get into the discussion in detail (yes, my comment could be even longer, so be grateful lol), etc., gotta go to bed ;/// but I just have to comment on something because all of this is far more sickening than my freaking cold...


Haha-ha-HAHA! Observer... Allegedly president Komorowski proposed similar changes in law but of course PiS... opposed those changes back then :D
I didn't invent it - on Friday night I suspended for a while my boycott of state TV and decided to check how the events in the Parliament and outside of it were shown and commented on TVP Info but there was this TV show "W tyle wizji" or sth like that and so I listened a bit and a right-wing journalist Rafał Ziemkiewicz had a fit of objectivity, apparently, because he pointed out that when president Komorowski wanted to introduce such changes in law restricting journalists in the Parliament PiS criticised him and opposed those changes :D

I don't know why that law wasn't passed - I guess it was voted down in the Parliament or maybe Komorowski pulled out of it after being criticised or maybe Ziemkiewicz twisted something - does anyone know? Because I don't remember this...


I see, Ironside, that you know everything about what "zaplute karły reakcji" are thinking :D


There wasn't, as far as I know.


Of course.


You're preaching to blind fanatics...


Are you kidding? It was all over the news. Well, maybe not on the state TV, I don't know lol


I wonder if that's the problem with PiS supporters - lacking imagination and knowledge about how such process develops over a time (dissolvement of democratic rights). I've discussed for years with Russians so I realise how such creeping process may go unnoticed by ordinary people... On the other hand in case of Poland it isn't such a slow process - it took Putin some time to get Russia to its current state and PiS is doing some kind of rather hasty Blitzkrieg.

The changes PiS is making (and there will be more and I suspect it's going to be worse and worse) will affect ordinary people only after some time and by then it is possible that they will be brainwashed to such an extent that they won't know things can be different, better. At least that's what I fear. Of course, at some point Poles may wake up, but I'm afraid it will only happen when the standard of living will get low enough, because as one Russian commented on the situation in Russia - "the worst kind of zombie is a zombie with a full stomach".


I don't think he's being hysterical at all.


Then they must be "SOVIET SCUM"!!!! :D There's no other way :))) All of them - demonstrators, journalists, the opposition, judges, prosecutors, scientists, environmentalists, artists, ordinary people and whoever is currently (I am not up to date recently lol) on the target of PiS populists :) We should round them all, pack them on a train and carat them to Kremlin Russia where they belong! Who needs scientists anyway, right... lol Or the opposition... and the rest of that scum :D


Then I am a "Soviet bastard" too, Ironside. And my parents who took part in Solidarity strikes during the commie times with ZOMO at the gates of the factory where they worked. My mum told me that once during a strike my grandma who lived in the countryside was told by a neighbour that he heard on the radio news of ZOMO shooting at workers in a factory in Kielce (probably it was some kind of histerical :) gossip) and my terrified grandma took a bus all the way to Kielce and found the factory where my mum was working. My mum was called out to the gate and there was my grandma - clutching the bars of the gate and crying like a baby because she thought they might have killed her daughter.

Btw, my grandma voted for PiS last year - for my mum and dad so they could have an earlier retirement lol My dad didn't go to the last elections, I guess mainly because he got pis$ed at PO for those changes in the retirement age (he was a somewhat reluctant PO voter).

But now he's even more pis$ed at PiS.

And as for my dad - he was a member of our local electoral committee on behalf of Solidarity during the first elections when Solidarity was allowed into the Parliament. I was a small kid back then - I wanted to watch "Isaura" or some other Latin American sope opera lol but my mum dragged me and my even smaller brother out in the rain (I was so angry lol) to the polling station. She said: "We're going to see daddy, it's important for him". I remember to this day the green curtains behind which people where voting in the local school and now I'm grateful that my mum took us "little citizens" to witness such a historical moment :)

There was also this lady who protested in front of the Parliament last Friday night - she was asked by a journalist how long was she standing here and she answered: "Since 1968" :) She meant that she took part in the demonstrations during the March events of 1968.

So why exactly are you calling us "Soviet scum", Ironside? Do you know who we are? What we think? What we care about? What is important for us? You clearly haven't got the slightest idea.

And what where you doing during March protests in 1968? Where were you during Solidarity strikes?
Where were you?
Who are you to call these people "Soviet scum"? What did you do for Poland? You don't even live here, do you?

What baffles me is the complete lack of understaning by PiS supporters of the intentions of people who go to KOD demonstrations and other people who criticise PiS. I don't understand this. It's seems to be pure fanatism. Another planet. Parallel universe. I didn't imagine that something like that could happen to Poles...

I don't see all people voting for PiS as some kind of "evil incarnate". So what is wrong with you, PiS supporters?


My thoughts exactly. I don't know whether they lack imagination and are that short-sighted or whether Kaczyński plans to be the next Putin... Piłsudski... or whatever.

You know what, during that TV show "W tyle wizji" on TVP Info they had a call from a viewer who expressed a sentiment that maybe it would be better to "pogonić" this whole Parliament - according to the caller we could use someone like Piłsudski to make "order"... :)) Ordnung muss sein... Who needs democracy... It's so messy :) Ziemkiewicz was talking to him, but he didn't crticise such an idea in any way. That was pretty worrying...

Oh, and you know what Ziemkiewicz in the same TV show called KOD protesters? "Kodomici" (kodomites). He said, smiling, that it was a "biblical reference". Not sure what he meant by that, the only association that came to my mind immediately was "sodomici" (sodomites). That's the level of our current state TV, it seems :( Unbelievable...


*FACEPALM*

Did you mean Jarosław Kaczyński, btw? ;D


No, you are an idiot who has no idea, clearly.


What a devastating argument, Ironside! :D You're such a great debater :)


Because Poland is a member of the EU and NATO, for example? For now, at least... ;P


That's my assessment of Trump too - he's a businessman. I don't think he cares about democracy, right or wrong, etc. He will care about American interest and that's it. If he thinks it's in American interest - he will side with Russia (and in result against Poland, as usual). I have little doubt about it, tbh...


You mean like when Bush looked Putin in the eye and "found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy"? :D
I honestly don't understand what's with this naivety of latest American presidents towards Putin.


Not only in his eyes.


...of many Polish experts and journalists... You seem to underestimate Russia, gumishu... Obama already made that mistake.

Life / What is the reaction of Poles to Russian? [95]


I didn't write he was pro-German, I don't know whether he was "in fact" pro-German or not. I wrote that he was a long-lasting supporter of the agreement with Germans and probably that's why Stalin dismissed Maxim Litvinov from the position of the Commissar for Foreign Affairs (since Litvinov was rather a supporter of alliance with Great Britian and France) and appointed Molotov in 1939.

Whether Molotov was wary or intimidated by Hitler that I do not know, maybe he was pis$ing his pants for all I care - I have no idea and I don't know how does this matter and why we're even discussing this man. In the end it was Hitler and Stalin who decided about the content of the pact and about signing it, not Molotov.


Well, it was significant enough for Russians I discussed with or so they claimed :)


I didn't write it was equal, I wouldn't even say there was any "relationship" and that was my point - Nazi Germany was courting Poland but Poland refused to go along with it.


And you think that German Reich looked upon the Soviet Union in a different way? lol Of course, the Soviet Union mattered far more militarily and politically than Poland, there's no doubt about it, but Hitler and his ideology regarded all Slavs as subhumans.

Have you heard about the Nazi Generalplan Ost? According to this plan all Jews were to be exterminated along with majority of Slavs (the rest would be turned into slaves of the Reich). Russians were to be entirely exterminated by stopping the birth rate of the Russian population and 3-4,8 mln of Poles were to be left alive as slave workforce. The Nazi Germany was supposed to rule from Portugal to the Ural Mountains.

I wouldn't call it exactly an "equal relationship" but each to their own, I guess :P


Yes, and? I don't understand what's your point, Lyzko, and why we're even discussing this.
As I wrote, Poland didn't "go to the altar" with neither Nazi Germany nor Soviet Union. I think your comparison with a bridesmaid isn't correct - Poland wasn't even present at the wedding. Poland was kidnapped and gang raped during Nazi Germany's and Soviet Union's wedding night. After the World War II Poland was forced into Soviet Union's "harem" - it didn't end up there by its own free will either.

That was my point.

Life / What is the reaction of Poles to Russian? [95]


I don't think Molotov had to be "pushed" - he was a long-lasting supporter of agreement with Germans.


As far as I remember Nazi Germany was courting Poland but Poland didn't feel like going to the altar with Hitler.


I guess we prefer marriage out of love, not pragmatism lol ;)

Life / What is the reaction of Poles to Russian? [95]


Yes, there was even an article in "Rossijskaja Gazieta" (state newspaper), I think, which outlined this semi-official position and was emphatic towards Hitler on this issue :) It stems, of course, from the fact that the annexation of Crimea and general mood in Russia resembles the actions of Nazi Germany and the state of mind of Germans at that time and such comparisons were being made (the article appeared some time after the annexation). So Russian propaganda had to deal with that somehow. And they did that in a pretty twisted and shocking way - I must say that I was surprised to what lengths they can go, especially considering the hate of Russians towards the Nazis. It probably means that everything is possible now. Propaganda is capable of remarkable things - it wasn't the Nazis' fault that they invaded Poland, but Poland's, it isn't Russia's fault that it took Crimea - Ukraine was "asking for it". Blame the victim :) Pretty disgusting if you look at it from the moral point of view.

Life / What is the reaction of Poles to Russian? [95]


Well, I did come across quite a few Russians on the internet who seemed like they did "give a ****" about Poland or at least about what Poles think about Russia and Russians (to the point of being obsessive, even if they usually claimed they didn't care :)). Although I imagine that majority of Russian society doesn't know nor care much about Poland and Poles. I think it's similar to some extent with the majority of Polish society - I doubt Russia is constantly on the minds of ordinary Poles (I don't mean the media here or some politicians).

There is a difference of levels of interest between the countries, of course, but I don't think it stems from "inferiority complex" as the charming troll suggested but from the difference in potential of doing harm :) Elephants (countries like Russia) don't usually care where ants are going, because they don't have to, but ants (countries like Poland) have to know where elephants are going in order to survive. Hence the increased "interest" on the part of Poland and Poles.

Russians, on the other hand, seem to be greatly interested in Ukraine and Ukrainians which leads me to a conclusion that Russian interest isn't something I would necessarily wish upon my country and my people :P

Life / What is the reaction of Poles to Russian? [95]


I know, pumpkin, I know, Russians who read everyday Polish comments translated into Russian write the exact same thing as you do ^__^
Maybe you're one of them? If yes, then give my regards to the She-Bear and her little bears - I didn't visit their forum for a long time lol Or maybe they got a life at last and shut down the forum? :P

Language / Polish inscription in a book for a loved one [35]


I have to agree with EuroBrit on that. It isn't our business. I don't understand why you guys jumped on him like that.

I myself thought it's weird that he would write her name ended in "i" that's why I commented, but later on I remembered that a Polish girl I knew who's name was Gabriela was called "Gabi" for short and that there was a girl in our highschool who's name was nicknamed into "Sali" (both are rare names in Poland, btw, in fact - the second one is so rare that I'm not giving it here on purpose :)) so I suspected it can be a nickname in his girlfriend's case too. It doesn't have to be declined so it's all good.


Come on, maf, he didn't. He clearly wrote "it only takes that one mutual friend to be on here".


If it's a common name you probably don't have to be so careful, nevertheless, I respect your sentiment.


He didn't write he thinks we're prying and nosy. And you're generalising (not for the first time). Poles do differ among each other, we're not some identical robots from a factory line. You don't know her nor her friends or her family. I'm Polish and I'm a very private person, especially in certain matters like intimate relationships and I must say that EuroBrit comes off as a gentleman and as woman I would feel safe with such a respectful man. It wouldn't hurt if more men were like him, tbh.


But there's plenty of judgement, as we can see lol


He definitely seems more nice than "stuffy and serious".


True, but I wouldn't exaggerate with that... "Dla mojej kochanej (Name)" would be less heavy or "poetic", I guess, but also probably a little bit less elegant in this context (dedication in a book). I suspect that EuroBrit may be a more refined type and so maybe his lady is like that too so she may appreciate this kind of language.


This isn't a normal forum... Better avoid it like a plague, it may destroy your soul if you stay here for too long... lol :))

Language / Polish inscription in a book for a loved one [35]


Is this a Polish name? I don't think any female Polish name ends in "i"...


When you're giving a book in Poland as a present with a dedication then you write in Polish:

"Dla mojej ukochanej (Her Name),
na zawsze Twój, (Your Name)."

It means:

"For my darling (Her Name),
forever yours, (Your Name)."

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]

Another links:

biblioteka.stalowawola.pl/index.php/wypoyczenia-midzybiblioteczne

"Materials brought from other libraries can be made available only in the Main Reading Room of Municipal Library in Stalowa Wola for the period of 3 weeks"

lib.tu.kielce.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18:regulamin-wypozyczalni-miedzybibl&catid=5:miedzybiblioteczna&Itemid=18

"9. The materials brought from other libraries are being made available on spot in the Main Library"

If I googled some more I'd probably find more of this.

Do you still want me to get my eyes checked, DominicB?

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]


But will they allow me to take it home?


Maybe it depends on the library in question?
Here you have this for example:

biblrac.pl/pl/site/index/2-abc-czytelnika/118-uslugi/155-wypozyczenia-miedzybiblioteczne.html

"The materials brought from other libraries can be used only in the library's reading room for a certain period of time as specified by a library that loaned the material. The cost of bringing the library materials from other libraries is covered by the reader according to postal fees."


Maybe you ordered books from Polish libraries?
Here you have fees for bringing books from abroad in National Library:

bn.org.pl/programy-i-uslugi/wypozyczenia-miedzybiblioteczne/oplaty-za-sprowadzenie-materialow-bibliotecznych-z-zagranicy

That's expensive. It cost me less to buy the books I mentioned in an online store and I could keep them for life...

It's a bit cheaper in the Jagiellonian University:

bj.uj.edu.pl/wypozyczalnia-miedzybiblioteczna

It's "even" cheaper in Wrocław University, but, still... 50 zł?:

bu.uni.wroc.pl/o-bibliotece/wirtualny-przewodnik-uzytkownika-cenniki#miedzybiblioteczna

I could buy a book for 50 zł... And I could use it at home whenever I wanted, for as long as I wanted and keep it forever.


Well, imagine a Polish student would need a book from abroad - he or she would have to pay sth around 50 zł, apparently.


Sorry, Dominic, but it wasn't a "patient" explanation - you behaved like an unpleasant as$hole.


No, I'm not. I know you can find more in a library than just books. But that's not what we're discussing right now.

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]


So why do librarians say that they don't have this or that book (not that it was borrowed by someone else, but that they simply don't have it)?


Yes, imagine that I am :) So, please, explain. Maybe there will be a very special place reserved in Heaven for you too :))
If a librarian says "We don't have this book in our library" - what do I do??


From what I know such books are only available in the reading room of the library and that wouldn't be an option for me anyway. I had no time to go to the library every time I had some time to write my graduation work. I needed something that I could physically borrow to home or simply buy. So buying books was far more convenient, fun and definitely more productive option for me.


I did well enough, thank you very much :))


Well, apparently you have to cover the cost of sending the book. But as I wrote - I don't regret buying those books, I kept them after I finished my studies.


You know what, Dominic, you don't know me and you have no idea what you're talking about.


Well, do it then :) Maybe borrow them written in Arabic or sth so it would be more interesting or "challenging" or whatever, I don't know ;)

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]


Oh no... So I was buying books all my life, while I could simply borrow them... And when I went to any municipal library and asked whether this or that book is available and I got an answer "No, I'm sorry, we only have this and that title of this author" or "No, we don't have books of this author, but the books of this one are on similar topic" - they all lied... They just didn't want me to lay my unworthy hands on those precious books stored away somewhere in the library dungeons... :P


Oh... I don't know... Because nobody told me? :P Please, do tell, how do I do that and what to do if they look at me as if an UFO has landed in front of them when I ask them about it? ;D


Dominic, what they covered was how to physically search for books and other stuff in the library and told us how to "reserve" and borrow books through the university's library internet system.


Nope, they didn't!


Sure, even during the stone age they had the internet ;))


No, it wasn't. And now what? You will write that I was "undoubtably" blind and deaf? lol
Trust me, Dominic, I was a good student and a diligent one and I paid attention - after all I needed books for my graduation work - don't you think I would use any resources that I could get my hands on? All other students were doing the same as me if they couldn't get the books they needed so they somehow mysteriously didn't pay attention too? lol

And, anyway, I was interested in the topic I was writing about, obviously, so I don't regret buying those books - I still have them.


One would have to know what to ask about in the first place :)


Well, if you say so, but the guy lives in Jordan so I'm not sure if that helps him in any way...


Dominic, will you take up the challenge? :D And take photos of those books to prove that you borrowed them :P

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]


Dominic, what are you talking about? If that was the case there would be no need for bookstores because people would simply borrow books from libraries for free. In my case I needed also some newer books, so how on Earth would they get them for me for free?


I'm sorry, Dominic, but what's clearly "undoubtable" is that you haven't attended a library orientation course at my university, so how on Earth would you know that? :) You don't even know when I was studying and what was available back then.


Yes, and the library staff everywhere is equally eager and expert :))

God, why am I wasting my time here again... lol *facepalm*

Life / Libraries in Poland [20]


Well, I don't know, Dominic, I myself was buying books on the internet both in Polish and English and I think I've stumbled upon one or two in second-hand bookshop in order to make my graduation work better and more interesting (since there wasn't much in the university library), so maybe I have some idea :P

And what if he's studying in one of those "business schools" in some small city (Wrocław isn't exactly some tiny sh1thole by Polish standards, btw :P)?


A library orientation course (I had one too lol) won't help you if there are no books that you need...

Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]

NoToForeigners, as I already wrote pretty clearly this is a coloquial usage, not correct, proper, "standard", or, as you put it, "High" Polish. This is not what people are taught at school, obviously, but people may use it like this anyway, so I think it's always good when foreigners are aware of some coloquial uses too and when it's explained to them that although some native speakers may use this word in this or that way it isn't necessarily the correct, "proper" Polish.

I don't think there's a country where 100% of population use only the "literary" version of their language so I think it's better when learners know what thay can face when they'll get in contact with live language on the ground.


Yes, that's the correct, proper Polish, but I'm pretty sure that it happens that people use also "umyję". I don't know if it's only a colloquialism or also a regionalism - gumishu and majkel would have to tell us where they're from in Poland or where did they hear it being used :)

I myself will try to remember to pay attention next time and observe whether people also use "umyję" (I'm pretty sure I've heard it) :)

"Pomyję" would be more rare and even more colloquial in my opinion, but it doesn't mean people don't use it (at least where I live).


So? One doesn't exclude the other - it's Polish, not English.

Btw, this is not PWN dictionary, but still:

sjp.pl/pomyj%C4%99

pomyć

umyć, oczyścić z brudu wiele rzeczy, osób lub zwierząt (to wash, clean from dirt many objects, people or animals)

That's not how I would understand it myself (washing many things) but, who knows, maybe people use it in such a way too (definitely not in my region though).

Language / Perfective vs Imperfective - grammar [150]


Nah, only Lyzko deserves that ;D


We can always try you out in the "Po polsku" section of the forum :)


You could try to practice here on PF, I'm sure people would help you out.


Not really, people use this word too. I would say it's the case of coloquial Polish (umyję) vs. correct, "proper" Polish (pozmywam).


Wow, I have a sixth sense or sth :D


"Pozmywać" is a word kind of "reserved" precisely for washing dishes, while you can use "umyć" for basically everything, except for laundry.

But it happens that people use "umyć" colloquially in case of washing dishes too.


You can use it in such cases:

- Pomyję trochę naczyń, a potem obejrzę film. (I'll wash some dishes and then I'll watch a film.)

Lazy Husband :): - Wiadomości się zaczęły! (The news are on!)
Wife: - Zaraz przyjdę, pomyję tylko trochę naczyń! (I'll be right there, I'll just wash some dishes!)

It kind of implies a little that she won't wash all the dishes, just some, hence "pomyję" and not "umyję" ("u-" usually implies sth finished and "po-" the opposite). But one could use "umyję" in this context too (colloquially).

Again, it's coloquial Polish but it's possible to use it in this context.

Study / Turkish guy to study at a university in Poland. Is that problem for Polish people? [139]


You did: "They have different ideas what marriage, family and happiness means."


What I say is that Muslims are the same human beings like everyone else. Just like Catholics are the same human beings like everyone else, etc. etc.

And based on my knowledge about human beings, my observations and logical thinking I think I can safely say that majority of Muslims, just like majority of people on this planet, have similar goals in life - to have food on the table, to be happy, etc. etc. no matter what their religion tells them to do (or not to do).


You know, the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon by Christian Phalange on Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites done virtually under the eyes of the Israeli army wasn't THAT long ago (1982).


I'm not saying that you do but bearing in mind that Christians were wiping out whole continents and civilisations in the name of God I think Johnny should show a bit more restraint.


I disagree. It seems to me Muslims probably still have some catching up to do with Christians as far as the body count is concerned and the scale of atrocities.


Then I answered you :)


Yes, exactly, that was one of my points. In some cultures people don't even have much choice - maybe they often have to pretend that they believe in this or that or that they agree with this rule or that rule. I remember watching a documentary in which one reporter was travelling in trains through different countries and talking to people. One episode was about Iran - and when the train would cross a border and get out of Iran women would take off their hijabs :))

This proves my point that all Muslims are not the same, they don't have one goal in life, as Johnny claimed - killing infidels. They're not Borg. If they were then all Muslim countries would wage a holy war on all "infidel" countries or all Muslims would blow all of us up in unison. And somehow it's not happening.


Then they're both prejudiced and that was my point.


Yes, I do and I am able :) Now tell me - did you go to school and in what country?


Ironside, what are you talking about? Gregy741 compared Islam to Nazism and that agnostic Pole compared Christianity in the past to Nazism too.
You've concluded that both of them are raving idiots.
So what kinds of views on what issues in our culture are you talking about? And what rights and privileges have to do with it?


No and I didn't call you names either - I just stated a fact.


Oh, what point this time, Iron? :)))


You would have to ask blues_fan - there was a time when he thought I'm a man, because, as he stated, I write like a man (whatever that means lol) :)

Ironside, you wrote: "There is difference between incoherent woman talk and a rational debate".
Women are perfectly capable of conducting a rational debate.
My comments aren't "incoherent woman talk".
In fact, they are more coherent than yours are. Your debating skills are often poor, Iron, and it was pointed out to you before already (I think by roz and Atch). So it's the case of pot calling the kettle black.

But could we focus on the exchange of the actual arguments and discussing stuff like adults rather than commenting our debating skills and such, Iron? :)

And, please, refrain from comments like the one with "incoherent woman talk" and I won't "call you names" then.


Well, that's interesting. Then why were they killing in the name of God and waging crusades?


I'm happy to hear that :) What about johnny_reb though? He seems to have a problem with that...


And which of my views are misguided exactly?


I am not your daughter, grandpa :)


Iron, in case you didn't notice over 1 billion people aren't blowing up a random bunch of people.
I'm not defending Islam right now - I'm not an expert on this religion, I probably don't know enough about it to defend it or not, I didn't read the Quran.

All I'm doing is defending people against unfair generalisation and prejudice.
Over 1 billion Muslims won't blow us up just like probably majority of Poles don't refrain themselves from using contraception when having sex.
So - common sense and the will to live prevails.


Well, that would be nice...


The Armenian Genocide was "the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians". It doesn't matter whether it happened during a civil war, a war with other countries, or during an invasion of Earth by aliens from Mars or during an attack by mutant rabbits or orcs from Mordor.

Crimes against humanity are crimes against humanity - that was my point.


No, my "lol" expresses my opinion that it doesn't matter what kind of conflict it was. Genocide is genocide - no matter whether it happens during a civil war or a local war or a world war or interstellar war or if there is no war taking place at all. It's still a genocide, those are still crimes against humanity, etc.

Do we understand each other now? *very heavy sigh*

Study / Turkish guy to study at a university in Poland. Is that problem for Polish people? [139]


True.


If that was the case then it would be more fitting if he was writing on a forum about the US. However, in this thread he was clearly writing about Poland and on behalf of Poles (quotes):

"The Polish Universities don't need you"

"you are way to smart to attend a Polish University.
I think you would be much happier if you pick a college in an Arab country which has a similar culture ass you."

"The Polish people do not want to bastardize their Catholic culture to Islam just like the rest of the world.
Pay no attention to the ex pats responses here but to the native Polish responses like the ones below."

"That is a polite way of saying, "Please don't come to Poland."

"Poland definitely would not be a good place for you to study"


Sure, Iron, because you're such an expert on what marriage, family and happiness means to over 1 billion people. You can look into the mind of every Muslim on this planet. I envy you your omnipotence lol


Something like that - it's from the New Testament - I don't know, maybe you've heard of it? ;)
It goes like this: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"


Tell this to Jesus, smartass :D


Not quite the same thing as what?


Well, you've just called gregy741 a raving idiot ;)


Yes, Iron. Did you go to school?


o_O What does it have to do with anything I wrote?


Well, I can also write that there is a difference between an incoherent Ironside's talk and a rational debate. And what now, you little misogynist?


World War II ended 71 years ago and I will bring up whatever is needed to be brought up to stress my point.


That is your opinion.


Those aren't "sob" stories. Those are simple real life stories.
And what those stories tell us? I don't know, Iron, maybe that... you know... Muslims are people too? Like us? You guys seem to be forgetting about that.


Well, people like that are a small minority among Muslims, just like rapists are a small minority among men. Right, Iron?


I'm sure my great-grandmother was getting older before World War II but what was going on at that time had nothing to do with her age, I'm afraid...


Well, I'm not sure whether "a relative" safety is enough for that Turkish student, I guess it's up to him to decide.


And the Armenian Genocide was what? A "foreign war"? lol What difference does it make? Crimes against humanity are crimes against humanity.


And what would you like to do with Turkey, Crow?

Study / Turkish guy to study at a university in Poland. Is that problem for Polish people? [139]


Following your logic the Turks also "didn`t do anything that this world already didn`t seen in times of war" so what's your problem with them? Aren't you being a hypocrite?


And what's his nationality, if you don't mind telling us?


Who are "they"?


Well, interesting stuff you can find out on this forum... They won't tell you this on TV now will they...


Good point, dolno.