Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

You don't get it. There is similar sounding kind of music in Poland and it's called "piosenka biesiadna". I will be played at some parties or picnics and weddings, especially in small towns or villages. It is very simple and the lyrics are crude. It is usually enjoyed by elderly people from small towns, with rather lower education.

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News / "Letter from Poland" (List z Polski) by the Netherlands TV - [9]


Just one question: why would they risk so much by killing the president, instead of just patiently waiting till the election, which he had no chance of winning whatsoever. I could believe that Russians are evil, but I don't think they are such idiots!

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

It's actually pants, not stockings.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]


I've heard it from Gazeta Wyborcza loyalists, Rzeczpospolita loyalists, anarchists and Radio Maryja fans. Poles are simply not afraid of telling jokes about all sorts of minorities.

Then again, I don't think it's a surprise that it's the Polonia getting upset, not real Poles.

Work / If you were to compere Polish Unis and Unis/Colleges in your country... [75]


This is very odd for me - I cannot work out why the programmes aren't validated in some way.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]


Exactly, they might refer to things like cartoons or old movies, which a foreigner doesn't know. Enough to see Shrek in Polish and in english. The Polish version is riddled with references to Polish movies and actors ("ciemność widzę"). Polish people will also use quotes from Polish movies or books, which will not make sense to a person who hasn't seen them - "parówkowym skrytożercom mówimy stanowcze "nie!" or "a podejdź no do płota, jak i ja podchodzę"...and many many more.

Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]


Looks like Softsong is absolutely right.

It just amazes me why the Polish Americans are trying to insist that they know better what's Polish and what's not.


It's a song sung usually by very drunk people by the bonfire. Her singing is not much different from the original drunk version, apart from the pronunciation, which is just awful. In general, ouch.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]


Actually, Polish old comedies are simply brilliant - "Sami swoi", "co mi zrobisz jak mnie złapiesz", "Jak rozpętałem II wojnę światową"...

There was this programme on TV in the 90s called KOC (you can find some examples on youtube) - just like MontyPython!

Funnily enough, Polish adverts are very often really good as well - look at Heyah, Biedronka, Simplus ads :)

And haven't you ever heard of Laskowik??

But if you don't speak Polish, you will not benefit from this. Bear in mind, it's also far more difficult to joke in a foreign language. I speak English really well by now and still some "cultural" jokes skip my attention - just because they are based of knowledge I have no chance of having.

Law / Poland's Online Services for TAX, ZUS, etc. [4]

Not exactly. The accountant submits your declaration on line and she has a proof of that. She can't check if you've paid and if they received it.

You've got a proof of payment from the bank. You can request ZUS to check how much money you have. They send it periodically anyway - they sent it to me a while ago, that was funny :P

UK, Ireland / Why British men move to Poland [63]


Well, I don't know any young Polish women being that grossly overweight. I met several British girls of the size of a young whale. I think it's just far more socially acceptable in the UK. They even had boyfriends, which probably wouldn't have happened here!


In the UK I had trouble with finding clothes small enough, cause their size 8 would be our 10 and so on - I suppose to make women feel better? I saw plenty of clothes in sizes like 26 or so. Not very common in our shops, so there can't be many people that would need them?

Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]


:D My ears, for a start :P

Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]


Neither is particularly Polish, and both are rather crap.

I don't like rap, and I find "polkas" incredibly kitsch - something like an American version of disco-polo. I hope it will not become popular in Poland, I don't want to hear it on the radio!

P.S. My city is quite famous for its rapers - for example Peja (not that I see rap as any worthwile kind of music).

Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

"Polka" music doesn't have much to do with Polish music just as well, as I said, it's a Czech dance ;) (not that I listen to rap).

I used to dance "polka" dances - on the concerts of bands such as Beltain or Sailor, so playing their variations on Irish/Sea shanties music. Not very Polish, is it?

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]


First of all , what's one to do with the other anyway? They are not starving because I'm feeding my dog! (well, I was feeding my dog, unfortunately it died of old age last winter, still miss it :( )

Secondly, I am responsible for my dog. I am not responsible for the whole humanity.

Thirdly, I respect anything and anyone that is alive. I love those close to me: friends, family and pets. Can you honestly say you love all those children in Africa?

Fourthly, what exactly are you doing for the famine victims? I used to spend my money on meat for my dog. Are you maybe buying nice cosmetics? Or expensive clothes? How dare you not spend it on starving children? Is buying nice things wrong, cause the money could be used for charity? Why buying dog food is worse then buying sweets for one's children? Surely they don't need it, they could go without, the money would be better spent for the kids in Africa?

In all honesty, unless you are not buying any commodities for yourself or your family, how dare you tell me what I should be spending my money on?


That is not what I mean at all. As I said before, all the living beings deserve respect. The fact that humans have free will and can shape their fate has nothing to do with my respect of lack of it. The ones that screw up deserve compassion and also help if they are willing to make an effort as well. However, many people want money handed over with no effort from their side. It's the same as with unemployed who can't be bothered to work in a low paid job cause it's not good enough for them - and they expect the country to give them money. Or the families living in 1 room flat with 10 kids - moaning that social help is not enough, but refusing to work and yet producing even more children. I'm all for giving a helping hand - opportunity to work and better oneself. I'm completely against handing in ready solutions.


They had a choice when they reached for the first bottle of vodka. They have a choice of going to a shelter in the middle of winter - if they stop drinking. Some of them are just liars - like a famous beggar in my city who can be seen with one leg injured... just it can be either right or left depending on a day!

People should be offered help, and they very often are...but many of them don't want to use it. And they do have a choice.

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]

I'm not cruel. I don't hurt anyone, I help my friends if they need help and I give money to WOŚP and Caritas. I always buy food for people if they ask for it (though I don't give money to beggars on the streets). I also feed homeless animals.

What's so cruel in what I'm saying or doing? Please point out what I said that would be cruel or untrue. The fact that 90% of homeless are homeless because of their own mistakes? And 100% of homeless cats and dogs are homeless because of the cruelty and/or stupidity of their owners? If you're homeless there are places where you can go to get food and shelter - but you can't drink alcohol there. Many prefer alcohol to shelter - but this is their own choice! There are places where they will try and help you to get back to normal life - but again, you must be willing to change your ways. I'm merely saying that humans do have a choice! What are the homeless animals supposed to do?

But to be honest, I couldn't care less if you respect me or not. I certainly don't respect people who are cruel towards animals.

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]

Of course for some of us it's harder, but no one HAS TO live in Haiti. The animals living there have no choice whatsoever, they can't move, not even the slightest chance. Having said that, I'm certainly sorry for people there, I know it's terrible what's going on there and their fate is awful. Still, I'm always more moved by the tragedy of the dogs in a shelter or the "bush meat" being killed cruelly in Africa. Or the species of plants and animals going extinct all over the world just as we speak. That's who I am. And it's my business only what I'm spending my money on.

Language / déjà vu in Polish [23]

Poles might not be too good in pronouncing French, but English are terrible as well. Ask any French person what they think about it :D

Speaking of pronunciation, have you ever heard any English native speaker trying to use Latin?? Oh, the horror!

Even relatively simple Pinus is commonly pronounced as "pajnus". :D

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]


Depends on a human.
Would you say that Stalin or Hitler were "valuable"?

All the living creatures are equally important. It's just humans usually have a choice - they can move, finde another place to live in, change job etc. Animals can't make such decisions, and we are responsible for making their lives painless or their environment livable and sustainable.

Life / The Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs? [84]


No, it's not.
I am responsible for my animal, which is innocent and helpless without me. I am also responsible for my family and, to certain extent, friends. The animals in general usually can't do anything to improve their fate. Humans, however, have brains and means to deal with their own troubles. You're mentioning the homeless - how many of them did it to themselves? A dog thrown out by irresponsible owners did nothing to deserve it!

You look after humans if you want, but don't you dare tell me what I should be doing with my money.

After all, your attitude towards the most helpless creatures shows what kind of person you are.

Life / Polish-American Polka Music in Poland [60]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those so called "Polish polkas" have nothing to do with Polish dances or Polish music whatsoever. From what I have seen they sound and look like some terrible version of Irish dances. "Polka" itself is a Czech folk dance.

Polka is not a name of any traditional Polish dance, the best known traditional dances for Poland are:
- mazur
- oberek
- kujawiak
- polonez
- krakowiak

Also, no one listens to such music in Poland.

Work / If you were to compere Polish Unis and Unis/Colleges in your country... [75]

We definitely don't need hundreds of private "higher schools of journalism, psychology and peeling potatoes". The degrees from such schools should not be equal with public universities ones.

Life / What do you like about Poland? [100]

There are doubts whether soya is that healthy at all - healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/soy.htm]

So you are never safe :P

But you can get fresh filtered milk in Poland - like this: zimnemleko.com/index.php?act=static&var=mikrofiltracja

I don't know where you live, but in some areas you can get milk "straight from a cow" if you find a farmer willing to sell it.

Life / What do you like about Poland? [100]


Possibly :)
I'm not breatsfeeding => I don't drink tea with milk ("bawarka") - bleeee =>I wouldn't know :P

But you do realise that this milk is pasteurised, so not exactly "fresh" either?

Life / What do you like about Poland? [100]


You really like Saga??? I mean, I know it's cheap, but... :(
I often buy Tetley and it's exactly the same as Tetley I used to buy in the UK. Tesco's own brand (but not the cheapest one in the blue-white box) is ok as well. Plus, you can get Dilamh, Twinnings and other more expensive brands in the shops. Then there are special tea shops which sell rather good quality (though pricey) tea.

As for the milk, why do Brits insist on having "fresh" milk? I convinced my fiance to use UHT and he doesn't complain ;)

Lewis, which city are you planning to live in?

News / Will Komorowski be Poland's worst ever president? [72]


It's far faaaaaaaar too good. I have to pay full ZUS and farmers pay peanuts regardless of their profits. I'm all againsta KRUS!

Travel / Experiences in Restaurants in Poland [10]

I'd feel quite ripped off if someone gave me meat made of aluminum too.


Exactly. You wouldn't expect a free "side" in a greasy spoon, so why expect it in Poland?

Personally, if the menu says "kotlet schabowy" and I get it, it's hardly a ripoff.

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


I don't know of any non-smoking pubs in Poznań. I would go to one in a second. What is the problem anyway, so hard to go outside for a smoke instead of breathing it out at everyone inside?

Travel / Very dangerous defrauding trend started in some hotels in Krakow [49]


Where do they get a brand new fake passport from?

Have you just fallen into the media hype in the UK about "identity fraud"? It's funny - ID fraud is pretty much unknown in many parts of the world, yet it's all over the UK. Funnily enough, it was the Labour government which used this myth to attempt to introduce ID cards.


That's what they've told you. I know someone who works for a bank in security, and many of these people have actually run up huge bills quite intentionally - often without the knowledge of the partner, who would understandably murder them.

Bear in mind that UK legislation requires employers to take photocopies of passports or other documents - and these must be kept on file.

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


Polish sausages are far better then English, sorry :P

I love foreign food, especially Asian, also Spanish and Mexican. Just British food doesn't really appeal.
I was never as thin as when I lived in the UK, just because I barely ate anything.

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


There are virtually none in Poland.

I'm so looking forward to the ban, finally I'll be able to come back home after a visit in a pub and not smell of cigarette smoke! I will definitely go out more often now :)