Travel / Is Poland worth visiting on family holiday? [3]

If it's soon, then Bieszczady will be nice. Otherwise - Poland is not that good in late autumn. In winter you can go to the Tatra mountains.

In terms of cities - Warsaw, Krakow, maybe Tr-city. There are plenty of small towns with atmosphere (Lancut, Kazimierz Wielki, Zamosc, Malbork) with historical sites, but roads in Poland are not very good and it can take time to get there.

All depends what you want to do on your trip and how much time you have.

Love / Dating a Polish guy for three years. Will he ever marry me? [44]


No. If Polish guy does not make up his mind in a year or two it is unlikely that he is interested in marrying you. He might be "mommy type", or just not interested in marriage at all or not interested in marrying you.

Is marriage important to you? If you are happy, do you need that piece of paper?

Love / My Girlfriends Decisions! Am I overreacting? British guy with Polish girlfriend. [11]


What??? Maybe his "buddies" from the block would do that, but certainly not majority of Poles (and especially not women).
Although I don't think he would be dangerous to her daughter (or to her), the fact that she gives shelter to a dodgy character is certainly worrying and displays poor judgement. She is definitely not a typical Polish woman, more likely one of pathological background where excessive drinking, resisting arrest and convictions for assault are a norm.

The fact that she asked OP to stay with her on this night is encouraging though, to me this would mean that she is not playing mind games (possibly didn't feel comfortable with the guy alone) and perhaps sees that what she is doing is not quite a norm. I don't think that her being from low social background should should rule out potential relationship (if OP is prepared to accept differences), but certainly a lot of work ahead!

Life / Bishops defend Polish family [105]


This is where you are wrong. In the world, various relationships are defined - also within law. As Christians, we would not agree with many of them. Yet, they exist. Do you think people in Polyneysia, or Himbas in Namibia give the slightest as to what we think is moral or not? And, just to preassumpt the argument that those mentioned are not developed societies - do you think non-Christians (or non-Jews and non-Muslims, as laws related to marriage are more or less similar in the main religions) in Holland, Norway, UK and any other country where civil partnerships are defined and legally catered for - care what you think as conservative Catholic?

Love / Why don't Polish women treat education seriously for themselves? [130]


No - because they don't have money to pay for studies in USA (or in fact overseas, because costs of living are higher than in Poland in general). They have to EARN the money FIRST.

Love / Why don't Polish women treat education seriously for themselves? [130]


Lack of working visas and lack of money is an excuse? I don't think comparing to Israeli women is the right level of comparison, they come to USA to study, therefore is more natural that they enter qualified work force (easier to get work permit after completing uni in USA, also easier to find employer who will help to take care for paperwork). Those Polish women that come to USA to study (to few) follow similar route.

Most Polish people who come to stay in USA, still come for work, as USA universities are too expensive for Polish people. We can study in any EU country for fraction of the cost. But then you don't go to USA, you usually find job in Europe - closer to home.

If you are talking about Polish immigration in USA, they are either "Polonia" - which I found are a lot more traditional in their thinking as to what women's role in household is (yes, and there I certainly agree with your statement - in this case is upbringing), the casual workers without proper visas (they can't find legal work so they are obviously confined to waitressing and domestic jobs, and the small number of professionals (whom I assume you didn't meet too many of them).

Another thing is what you perceive as the "higher" level of education. If a degree - then you are wrong, as more women in Poland than men hold Bachelors/Masters degree. If you are talking about PhD and further, then you are right. This is because it is easier for men in Poland to find employment where high level of education is required than for women. Again - driven again by more conservative perception of women's role in society.

Overall, you do have a point in your statement, but argumentation you gave is not right. Many women are quite happy not having a proper career, but that's often because they have to more persistent and driven to be given same opportunities as men in Poland. So they don't even try too hard. But there are plenty of Polish women in international companies all over the world that worked hard to be where they are.

UK, Ireland / Should UK Poles be forced to attend English language courses? [10]

I'm Polish, but on this one I do agree with you Hudson. I don't care if it's called forced or encouraged, but if you want any benefits you should somehow contribute, even if it's only by learning language to bridge communication gap.

Law / Stay in Poland after Divorce- Yes or No? [5]


I'm not expert on Polish law - but I think it depends on your visa. If your visa is work related, then you should not have issue if you divorce. However, if your visa was given based on marriage with Polish woman, then the fact that you are getting divorced will most likely invalidate visa. You should be given some sort of notice, and even before you could try to change your visa status. If your company is willing to support your application it should be easier.

Law / Stay in Poland after Divorce- Yes or No? [5]

Local_Fella, do you and your wife have child together?
If yes, then this is your chance (legally) if you can prove in court that you are "significant element" in your child's life. If not - then you have same chance as anybody else going via career, study etc.

Love / Why don't Polish women treat education seriously for themselves? [130]


The same is true in Poland, women are more likely to graduate than men.
Your comment about Polish women working in USA as "unskilled labour" is completely irrelevant to the point that you are making.
Let's face it - how many of them have work permits to work in USA? I guarantee the women working in USA in coffee shops etc are mainly working without proper paperwork, or in process of getting proper visas.

Quite few of them will actually have degrees, but because they never worked in "proper" job in USA, their opportunities are limited.

UK, Ireland / My wife is Polish and our son was born. British passport? [9]

Yes Wroclaw, but you were born in UK, right?

USA, Canada / If America is so bad, why move here? [254]


No one I know eats "paczki" for breakfeast... Where the hell did you live???

Law / Polish citizenship claim (father naturalizes as a citizen of Poland) [5]

You can't just claim Polish citizenship based on that, but you might be able to apply for permanent residence.

Law / Citizenship of Poland can be obtained through the blood line but my ancestor could lose it in the past [45]

PennBoy, I don't think pt 2 is still valid. My son was born to a British dad (citizenship known and defined) and still qualifies for Polish citizenship because I'm Polish.

UK, Ireland / My wife is Polish and our son was born. British passport? [9]

Harry, I think you might still be able to, but you have to be living in GB either at the time when the child is born and child needs also to be born there, or via patriality visa (which takes some time).

UK, Ireland / My wife is Polish and our son was born. British passport? [9]

Yes, but I think this is if you were born in GB. My son was born in South Africa to a British dad. We applied for a British passport for him when he was one year old. You need application form (I think it's called C4 but could be wrong) your sons unabridged birth certificate stating your name as fathers name (regardless of if you are married or not) your birth certificate (I dont think passport is enough, as I dont think your son would be entitled to British citizenship if you weren'born in GB). Form needs to be signed by both parents. I'm not sure if this was all we had to provide, but it was very straighforward and took one month. I read somewhere that the pregnancy needs to be registered few months before birth, but we did not do it and we didn't have any issues. I'm not sure if it works the same if you were not born in GB and living outside GB now, better check with Consulate.

Travel / City apartments in Warsaw for tourists [7]

you can try warsaw apartments.
A bit more geared for business travelers than families, but clean and nice. Make sure you ask them for pots/ pans/ hair dryer/ iron (if you need those things). The apartment we stayed in was a bit scarcely equipped. They have apartments in Sadyba and Wilanow.

If you want something closer to the centre try warsaw4you.com , one of my friends stayed in one of their apartments and was happy.

Travel / where to book train from Warsaw Chopin Airport Station to Gdynia [3]

try: bilet.intercity.pl/irez/
You need to use Polish names of the places you want to depart from and arrive at.

Language / "bibshite" Is this is an actual polish phrase and if so what does it mean? [25]

InWroclaw, in the end sod off, bugger off and f*** off all mean the same thing. Similarily to spieprzaj, spadaj, spierdalaj. Goggle is obviously not very sensitive to subtle differences.

Language / "bibshite" Is this is an actual polish phrase and if so what does it mean? [25]

Spieprzaj DOES NOT mean f***off. F***off is "spierdalaj". Spieprzaj means get lost/ sod off etc, still offensive but nowhere near as bad as "f***off".

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]


...how surprising is that Polonius? Would you prefer "macac kury"?

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]


Yes, I never questioned that, I know it's still a generation, but it's nothing new. And by now most people realized that there are dangers of living on credit.

Mere fact that they buy stuff with credit cards does not mean they are in red.

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]


I don't think the commercialism is a novelty any more. It's been around for at least 20 years.


Sure - but your relatives will be the ones in the graves, the ones that are alive will probably be living elswhere...


That's what I meant - typo

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]


Polonius - we may not know about Polonia, but you are clearly out of touch with Poland.
It DOESN'T MATTER that they originally came from rural area, the family they have in Poland more than likely migrated in the last 50 years to towns or even more likely to UK (a lot of Poles in UK come from rural areas, there is much less jobs there).

Not many People in Polish village actually have farm.
Those that do - yes, they might slaughter a pig, although if they do have farm it's probably stock that they are intending to sell to butchery, so I wouldn't count on that in every case.

You call all of us who don't agree with you "snotty urban style sophisticates" - we are not that. We are just realistic.

Things changed in Poland, it's not like it was 50 years ago, please either believe it or come here for yourself and see. You might be disappointed with some things and happy with others. OK, who am I to say - I don't even live in Poland now - but I did until 5 years ago.

Things changed even in last 5 years, you can't even imagine the change compared to 50 years ago.
You seem to have this romantic idea in your head which is build on what Poland used to be like and which has nothing to do with reality.

It is not about Polonia.
It's about reality in Poland.

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

Des Essientes
Well, I travel few thousands miles to meet with family in Poland, yet I respect their schedules and family meetings usually occur on weekends and evenings. With a high (for Europe) unemployment, people tend to take their jobs seriously and not take unplanned leave. Some actually plan leave at times when relatives come, but it's usually just regular family gathering with catching up on stories and stuff. Then I would say they may have a beer or or glass of wine in the afternoon. The point is - the question "do Poles drink before noon" to me is a question if this is done on regular basis. I would say - in the morning, no - not even on family gatherings. In the afternoon, occasionally - weekends and holidays if friends and family are around

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

Sobieski, i was thinking weekends, friends gatherings not weekday drinking.

Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

Yes Polonius, we understand, then you probably drink 24/7. But looking at ease of travel in last decade there is really no reason not to see your relatives a bit more often than once in 50 years. The bottom line is - most Poles don't drink before late afternoon/ evening.

UK, Ireland / Poles becoming British subjects [39]


And how would you define that contribution? How would you measure "outstanding"? Vs. what?
Aren't there set of criteria that one has to meet anyway?

Life / Are surf/skate clothes popular among Polish kids? [15]

F stop - what's wrong with a good pair of skinny jeans especially if they go with nice pair of boots and good woolie blazer???

Travel / How quickly does the sun set in Poland? [12]

Angie, I was saying that sun does not set the same. Latitude is the main reason, but also amount of moisture, smog, clouds. Amazingly enough some polluted places have beautiful sunsets.