Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Pawian, if you live in Warsaw, let's meet and I shall show you where I work ;). (I'll pay you a drink ;))

Ok, je me casse

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Pawian; don't talk about what you don't know. I happen to be a (full time) teacher and I can tell you that most of students taking French are from the upper crust (senior executives, kids from very rich families and high level officials).

As to the UE, French is necessary (commission in Brussels, parliament in Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg, court of justice in Strasbourg) and whether you like it or not, I can assure you that high officials in Poland do learn French. Don't tell me it isn't true since I teach them.

Why don't you want to accept reality?

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Ilmc, I'm talking about learners in Poland since 99% of them belong to the upper crust and since 2004 because of Poland's joining the UE, all high officials have to learn it.

Comme dit dans mon mp, là, je dois éteindre. Bien à toi!

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Coucou lmc! I've just sent you a mp en français ;).
Yes, French is a beautiful language and I'm proud to speak and also teach it. I lived many years in the US and a lot of people there call it the "language of love".

In Poland (like in most countries) it is a language spoken and learnt by the elite.
I suppose only the rednecks are against and also unable to learn it.
Je dois partir et au plaisir de te parler à nouveau, Ilmc !

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Pawian: What is this BS???? I'm in same situation as Imcl, que je salue :) (speaking both languages with French as native language I aso happen to be a teacher thereof).

English is a mixture of Germanic language and of Latin via French and that's why there are numerous (around 40%) English words coming from French and it was a time when they spoke French in Britain. For instance, table, chair, beef, veal, pork, mutton, to demand, mercy,.. and thousands more come from French.

I bet you have never taken French ;). French is more complicated than English since more complexed structures (among others, masculine and feminine, agreements of nouns and adjectives of all kinds, numerous endings to verbs, irregular verbs found in all tenses (in English only in preterit), adjectives placed either before or after the nouns and sometimes the meaning is different because of it (cf. "un grand homme" vs. "un homme grand", or "un brave homme" vs. "un homme brave" and a lot others. French spelling is also non phonetic contrary to other Latin languages).

French is a latin language and is very similar to Spanish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Italian, Catalan, Romanche and a few other dialects

Please learn it to a high level and then you'll talk.;)

I

Law / Starting a seasonal work agency in Tricity.... [15]

And what re Sécurité Sociale, Médecine du Travail, URSSAF, ....? And what about accommodation?

Sorry but 1,400 - gross ? - for 40 hours a week for hard work under sun and rain won't be acceptable to 99% French.

(PS. why don't you post on a French-Polish site?)

Law / Starting a seasonal work agency in Tricity.... [15]

I assume you cannot find "decent" French workers simply because they expect decent salaries and conditions and therefore you prefer exploiting poor Poles, who know nothing about wine, nothing about the language and the local laws so they cannot complain to authorities in case of problems.

Honte à toi, négrier !

Food / Jacket potatoes - do Polish people like them? [22]

Barney: maybe YOU grow different kinds of potatoes but in stores they only have one kind. In French (for instance) vegetable stores, there are always several kinds offered and people buy according to the way they'll cook them. Believe me, if for instance you mash potatoes suitable to be fried or vice versa, your recipe won't taste what expected.

Study / How can I study in Poland? Is my high school certificate enough? [30]

Sorry but why studying in Poland? Polish schools are nothing special so besides entering the UE, what's the big advantage? It's amazing all those 3rd world people expecting to use Poland to enter the UE!

Food / Jacket potatoes - do Polish people like them? [22]

It amazes me that when they sell potatoes in Polish stores, there is only ONE kind of potatoes. (It's the case too for most vegetables and fruit).

I don't know the names thereof, but there are a lot of different sorts of potatoes; some are more suitable to be boiled, others to be mashed, others to be fried, others to be baked.... and if not the right kind is used, the dish is a disaster. I don't know whether potatoes to be baked can be bought in Poland.

Study / How can I study in Poland? Is my high school certificate enough? [30]

To Razul: I assume Cyprus (the Southern part thereof) is part of the UE because it's population is Greek. Moreover, Europe was a Greek princess so it can be seen as normal that Greece is part of the European Union.

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Delph! Just to finish: 3 women I know who are in Germany had their classes closed. They were in Lublin. Obviously you don't know what is going on in Poland otherwise you'll know that a lot of classes have been closed around Poland due to lack of kids. Don't make up what fits you because I know that those women are NOT on retirement (besides, do you know the level of Polish retirements? I doubt it ;))

Sorry but you sound like the perfect spoiled brat who thinks everything is easy, that everybody is rich. I assume that you are very young not to know anything re life. I can also assure you that it is most difficult (more so in post-communist countries since older people have not been trained to work in capitalist societies) to be hired at 50 or more.

No need to further discuss since you refuse to see reality. Keep in your marvelous world! ;).

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Witam!

To Delph!

Re teachers of German going to Germany to take care of old folks, I do know 4 cases. All of them are women in their fifties so get back on earth! Do you believe everybody in Poland is .... 25 years old? Have you ever heard that it is very hard to be hired (not only in Poland but everywhere else) when you reach a "certain" age. Sorry but when you are in your fifties or older and you have no connections, forget about getting a job and many older Polish women have to go abroad to take cleaning/elderly caring jobs. I do know several women who have left for Germany, England, France (most cleaning ladies there are Polish) or even Italy.

And as to cases I "heard" of, yes, I have them among my acquaintances.

It is really something to read people who believe all is bright, that everybody has it easy, that the world is great. Maybe you are in a good shape financially (I AM) but it does not mean everybody else is having it easy. Stop taking govermental propaganda for granted and instead look around, talk to people and you'll discover a lot of misery. And this does not apply only to Poland.

Probably you live in the marvelous world of Disney but don't prevent others from looking at the real world ;)

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Yes, true, Milky! Poland's economy is like a house of cards. It reminds me of what Spain was a few years ago - everything financed by the UE, building apartments galore for which people took credits for up to 50 years and .... In Poland it's the same, people are all on credit (I heard of such cases like borrowing from a bank for the ... Easter or Christmas dinner ;)), they take credits for some 40 years to buy an apartment and so what when they lose their jobs? There is no unemployment benefits in Poland (compared to Western Europe) and how shall they reimburse their credits?

Of course, some people prefer to think that everthing is ok because they make it but the overall situation is much different.

Grzegorz: ????? - don't worry, this is NOT my situation ;)

Although I'm rather priviledged, I am able to look around and see the way the world really works....

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

To Delphi!

Yes there may be new companies opened in Poland but they are by foreigners because of cheap labor.

A "successful" economy is not when relying on foreign aid, when locals have to move out because they want to make a decent living and when people do not have kids because they cannot afford and are scarred of the future.

Don't make us believe that all those Poles applying for welfare as soon as they arrive in Britain (or elsewhere but it's mostly in Britain because the British government had the "brilliant" idea to open British labor in order to lower British salaries) and those cleaning homes, hotels/pubs, picking up tomatoes or taking care of elderlies or working on the building industries do it for the sake of having an .... "experience" abroad. "lol" . In yesterday' s Gazeta Wyborcza, there was an article on Poles getting 2,000 EUROS in the West whereas they would have made 2,000 ZL in Poland where the cost of living is often as high as in Western Europe.

I personally know alot of people going to the West for bread, among others, teachers of German who lost their jobs since a lot of classes close in some areas and who go to Germany to take care of old folks for some 1,000 euros there (poverty line in Germany but as seen from Poland, 1,000 euros seems a fortune).

With the crisis in Europe going deeper, if the UE reduces its funding (Poland receives the most) and if foreign companies reduce their presence, then we'll really see the economic situation in Poland.

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Witam!

As said above, if you forget about the UE funds (Poland is no.1 reciepient), foreign investors, the millions of Poles going to the West for bread and not willing to return (again the headline in yesterday's Polish media) and their monies sent back home, Poland is far from brilliant.

The socalled growth is because Carrefour or Tesco opens a Xth store in Poland and that's all.

Poland has no economy per se, it's all in foreigners' hands. In my view, Poland is following Spain's steps, a lot of wind and nothing concrete. I would like to be wrong but easy to make the parallele.

,

Law / how does the legal system work in poland? [25]

OK Midas! I had thought that you were among the Poles who praise Franco, Salazar, Pinochet, Papadopoulous and the like. Trust me, it was as much hell as it was in Poland et al. My family escaped from Spain into France (there were even camps in Southern France for Spaniards since Franco was on Hitler's). I've also seen numerous Portuguese walking from Portugal into France and also have met a lot of Greek + South American refugees. Both extremes meet and both are evil. On the other side, my husband was Polish (with Jewish born mother) so believe me, I have an idea about life without reading books ;)

Besides, these terms does not mean anything since for instance China is the most capitalistic society in the world inspite of its communist government, all Westen European countries have "socialist" parties, which often are in power and believe me Norwegian, Austrian or French "socialism" has nothing in commun with what was in Central and Eastern Europe (although some countries had softer regime than others).

I personally don't believe in ideology and hate extremists, whatever they are: rightwing, leftwing or religious (ALL religions) - they are all nuts and most dangerous.

Law / how does the legal system work in poland? [25]

Hi Midas!

My family were Spanish refugees and I have come across numerous people who had lived in Spain, Portugal, Greece or South America under dictatures (just to mention a few) and trust me, it was not any "softer" than in Poland et al. under communism. In fact, fascism and communism have a lot in common so the author's message is not "stupid" to compare Spanish and Polish legal systems so no need to look up in dictionaries. Besides, "communism" and "socialism" do not mean anything if for instance we look at China, which has both a communist government and the most capitalist economy (lending money even to the US) and what Western Europeans call "socialism".

PS : have you ever seen a fascist regime? I have (Spain, Portugal and Greece under the Colonels) and believe me nothing to be excited about. I saw Poland for first time on March 19, 1990.

Polonia / Can I travel to france with a polish visa typeD multi? [7]

Like said, I'd rather contact French consulate if I were concerned.
(I am French and therefore without knowing all details, I know that it is not so obvious since laws are strict and if you mean to work there on Polish visa, just forget it - in order to have right to work, potential employer shall prove that he cannot hire locally either French or resident and processus is heavy (DDTE, Préfecture....) and obviously "perfect" French shall be needed ;)).

Polonia / Can I travel to france with a polish visa typeD multi? [7]

Hi!

The only way to find out is to ask French consulate since it depends upon a lot of things, like your nationality, the reason and the conditions of your trip to France. You won't find answer on Polish-Anglo/American forum.

Good luck!

Law / Largest Corp In Poland :Polski Koncern Naftowy S.A. [8]

And????

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

Hi!

Completely irrelevant to throw figures "just like that". "Per capita", it means that they divide the amount of wealth by the number of inhabitants and therefore it does not mean whether everybody is rich or poor and does not show the reality of the said society. Some are rather equalitarian, like northern countries, some in the middle like Germany or France and some are rather unequalitarian (mostly in the East of Europe).

Throwing numbers and figures like they do in North Korea does not make any sense. As to Poland, when we live in Poland, we all know that the government (like all governments) lies, that the economy in Poland belongs to foreigners and that most Poles are poor and that's all. No need to pretend all is marvellous in Poland (or anywhere else) because it is not. Such attitude is pathetic and shows how a lot of (I am not saying "the") Poles are full of complexes. In fact, people of Polish origin on PF are exactly like all people of foreign origin: they seem to seek revenge for their parents' and grandparents' harship, poverty and humiliation that they want to believe that their country of origin has become a wonder and the inhabitants thereof are simply the very best. I have witnessed such attitude for instance among North Africans in France and Belgium, Turks in Germany and also Pakistanis and Indians in England - their home country has suddenly become the world's diamand. Those of Polish origin think and act exactly this way and this is "psy".

Of course, Poland has moved ahead a lot (but needless to say thanks to Westerners and their money) but is still a very poor country (but need to move away from the glitter and blingbling of parts of Warsaw and Krakow - what most foreigners don't do - to realize it).

Poland is in such a way and that's all.....

Have a nice week-end!

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

Hi!

All these big western companies move to countries like Poland and so forth simply to take advantage of cheap labor and the result thereof is huge unemployment in western countries. I have heard a few Poles working in call centers and it is usually a disgrace, pure exploitation (the proof, employees never stay long and there are always vacancies).

whereas the companies make fortunes.

"Of course all is well" according to some media. Those who make money are these companies' shareholders and a few top managers and that's all. The average Pole makes peanuts and has to emigrate to make ends meet.

Those call centers sent abroad to cheap labor countries are a disgrace. They move to India for English and North Africa for French.

Don't be so optimistic because only a minority in Poland can really afford things. A big majority live on credit (easy to get), have relatives working abroad and sending money home, dress in used clothes shops (more and more) and shop at discount stores. I shop in small shops in the center and no matter what time of the day, customers are rare and don't buy expensive food.

A few weeks ago, I read that Poland was the European country with the highest income inequality. It is easy to tell that there is a very rich minority and all the others (more numerous) who struggle.

Love / How i can make a relationship with a Polish girl? [20]

Hi!

Sorry, it's pathetic to read this kind of teenager's bs: "the Poles or the Belgians or the Urugayans or the Martians are the best or worst of this or that". In Poland like in any other country, the best and the worst can be found and as re "girls", in Poland some are girls are great and some are awful, some are beautiful and some are ugly, some are intelligent and some are stupid, etc etc..... This of course applies to men in Poland and also to people all around the world.

I have lived in altogether 7 countries (Europe + USA) and believe me, people are more alike than they are different.

I understand that girls in some countries are said '"easy" or "easier" (it was the case in Poland too) because of their economic situation and they are desperate to find anybody to take them out of the country.

In conclusion, Polish girls are basically the same as in any other Western country and they are not desperate to go with any idiot from a foreign country, thinking he's so great because he has a few dollars or euros.

The end!

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Harry: can you give a hint?

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Sorry but 1,500 is a lot when we make let's say 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000 - the majority of people in Poland

Maybe 1,500 does not seem a fortune but it's hard to earn.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Maybe I was not clear; what I meant is that: when NOT citizen of another UE country, a work permit is necessary

As to supposed rights to Polish employees, based upon my experience I seriously doubt it. Of course, employees may go to court and so what? I've seen a lot of people going first to PIP and nothing. As to the police it was about a case with the boss being a criminal (whose business would have been closed down in most civilized countries).

But never mind, if our friend here has accepted to be paid under the table, it's another matter. It's common in Poland to have some 50% na czarno.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Acey: to me too, it's a lot of money but this is the reality in Poland. And you did all orally???? Even a written work contract is no guarantee in Poland (I've seen weird things) so how can you believe what your boss says orally??????

You have to forget about this money now....

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Wroclaw: It's even worse than I thought ;)

In fact, it's almost normal to be "f.."ed up by smaller bosses in Poland and it takes time to be able to beat the system.

It should be a warning to all those naive young westerners moving to Poland.

Even a written contract is often no more than toilet paper in Poland so UWAGA!

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Sorry but probably there is nothing to be done as it happens very often in Poland.

If it were a big fortune, you could hire a lawyer. In your situation, a lawyer should cost you more than what boss owes you and there is no guarantee....

Sorry again but this is one aspect of Polish life and with time, you'll learn about what to do/not to do in this country.

I know 1,500 is a good sum of money and I'm sure that you have worked like a slave but this happens often in Poland and you have to know it.