Real Estate / Question about Czynsz (Building maintenance fees/utilies) in Poland [129]

Merged: What is a lot for czynsz?

I own and rent out to studentki an old run down flat in an old run down kamienica in Poznan, and the czynsz just went up from 522 to 670/month. It seems like a lot. Part of that is the fundusz remontowy, which my wife says will cease to be charged once all the improvements have been made. But when in the hell will that be? The stairwell is circa 1945 and many other things need to be done to the building. Is it possible that the building association will one day stop charging for the renovations?

Life / Do Polish parents let/encourage their kids to **** outdoors? [40]

Yes that little video is what everybody who has lived in Poland has always wanted to do.

Life / Do Polish parents let/encourage their kids to **** outdoors? [40]

At least somebody is taking the 'law' into their own hands.
youtube.com/watch?v=bJQHyxCjB2k

Law / What's the best way to transfer £20,000 into PLN [31]

I've got a dollar account in PEKAO that you could transfer it to. :)

Law / How deep is the Gloom in the Poland's Economy [84]


Really? What's the minimum wage for a waitress? And let's not assume that all restaurant owners are paying ZUS for all their workers.

Law / How deep is the Gloom in the Poland's Economy [84]


In 1999 a waitress in my friend's cafe in Poland earned 5 zl/hr and a coffee cost 5 zl. Today the waitress still earns 5 zl/hr and now coffee is 6. So a person has to work over an hour to buy a stinking cup of coffee? Wouldn't this make you gloomy? Where are the statistics to cheer that person up?

Work / Most Attractive Maid? Is a picture required with some job applications in Poland? [8]

Just the general practice of having to show a picture to get work is a little.... Can't put my finger on it.

Life / The Blame Game (Have you ever noticed that a Polish person is never wrong!?) [205]

I've always looked at this as somebody always having to be guilty, i.e., a sinner. I thought it was a Catholic thing.

Food / "Modern" Polish cooking (funny video clip) [21]

Gross he touches the raw chicken with the wooden fork and then goes and touches the other ingredients, especially the lettuce. Doesn't he know anything about food hygiene?

Life / Worlds most liveable cities (Krakow or Warsaw don't even hit the radar screens) [104]


I can't imagine that Warsaw is so different than the rather large city I lived in in Poland, but have you been sniffing model airplane glue?!?!?

It didn't bother me so much when I was single, but taking my little kids for a walk in the city drove me nuts with the vast amounts of feces and urine (not sure if it was human or dog) as well as broken glass everywhere. I was just in Poland on holiday and was taking a morning stroll at 6:00 when I saw a huge pile of dog sh*t right in front of the door to Costa Coffee. That about sums it up.

It's true that some Polish people are really nice, but I just can't get past that coldness and unwillingness to help. I've definitely seen improvements in this area, but it's got a ways to go.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]


I suppose they took out the piec and put in a fireplace for a summer project, and then realized in winter that it wasn't such a god idea.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]

The book is a real classic. The pictures, cartoons and dialogues are surreal.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]


And what would Amazon write about Mein Kampf, which is not only on Amazon, but it's free for the Kindle?

The title of the book is First Year Polish.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]


There are plenty of books out there with moronic information, but I really doubt that Amazon is going to start yanking them just because.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]

That textbook was published in 1983 and can still be bought new on Amazon for $35. I applaud the author of the book for getting a textbook out there when there probably weren't too many, but man what kind of image is he sending about Poland?

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


I've had this experience too and it's nice. However, I just can't shake the jerk who yelled at me at the Urzad Skarbowy or the bank teller who won't make eye contact.

Travel / Whats your favourite Polish city and why? [132]

As far as any city's central rynek goes, Poznan is my favorite. Krakow and Wroclaw have great architecture, but are too spread out. Warsaw's is simply too small and unimpressive. The Stary Rynek in Poznan in the summer is just like a beehive; it has a special buzzing energy to it at night. The rest of the city is pretty hopeless.

Travel / Watch out for airport personnel stealing stuff on regional Polish airports. [64]

Yeah you're right Thug. When I used to go home in the summers to the States, I always found stuff that pissed me off too. It's easy when you live in a foreign place to slip into that mentality of thinking that the locals are somehow bad or stupid, when in fact people are just people. I need to give Poland a break. I had a lot of good times; hell I got married and had two kids there.

Travel / Watch out for airport personnel stealing stuff on regional Polish airports. [64]


Good point, but it doesn't change the 'fact' that some slimebag pilfered my goods, more than likely in a country that begins with the letter P.

Travel / Watch out for airport personnel stealing stuff on regional Polish airports. [64]

It may be whole nother thread, but I had two packages go missing from the States thanks to (in my opinion) Poczta Polska. However, I think that PP was trying to fight this, because a later package arrived and the next day the local postmaster dropped by to see if we got it.

USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]

I keep seeing these posts with the suggestion that kids have to go to a private school in the States to get a decent education. It's been 25 years since I was in high school, so I don't want to assume things are like in 'the good ol' days'. However, I went to private Catholic school for 12 years and really didn't see the advantage comparing with my friends from the public schools.

In the big city, maybe. Bit we will probably live in a small city/town (100,000) and from what I've read the schools are excellent.

Any insight?

Language / Double meanings, Polish slang and embarrassment [49]


I love when my wife talks about Sting, but calls him Stink.


Did you miss "rz" as "sz" as in "egzemplarz"?

USA, Canada / Moving from United Kingdom to USA. Is it worth it? [136]


I'm in the medical field, so I could probably get a job.

I can't help but imagining urban decay in Vegas. Do I want to put my young family in that kind of environment? Yes the houses are dirt cheap and the weather is great, but...?

USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]

My crappy Saudi interent just swallowed my rather extensive response. :(

USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]


I think this just may be a reason.

Love / American marrying Polish woman in Poland - Church problems [79]

I didn't ask any questions, but I did comment that a discussion would be more beneficial than a lecture. When I did that, people in the class ganged up on me and said how informative and worthwhile it all was.

USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]


My university students were sharp, and generally speaking Polish lecturers were very qualified. When I started teaching in Poland, native speakers got more money at the university but I was glad when that changed because my Polish colleagues were good and deserved better.


Don't be so sure. See the following link. Higher tuition fees are coming to universities in Britain. It's only a matter of time til this hits other places in Europe.

guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/04/fewer-students-expected


No surprise; my wife gets an A in sex. :)