News / Tesco out of Poland? Żabka and Biedronka opportunity. [73]

Yes, Doug, I have noticed too (and as a result no longer go) that Tesco really sells sh###t in Poland. You say that in UK it's better, it could be (I have never been to Tesco in UK so I won't say). It could be the same with other foreign stores too. I have also noticed that Auchan is really bad too (and I may go max 2 times a year) whereas their stores in France are from good to almsot excellent. I have also seen French supermarkets in Portugal, Turkey (namely Carrefour) and Prisunic (bought up since by another French chain) in Tunisia and the standard was much lower (especially in the store in Tunisia ;)) than it is in France.

Well, not hard to understand: where people have less money stores offer cheaper goods..(same stores also vary according to neighborhoods).

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

For sure, Delph, to base one's "opinion" upon a handful of people from Polonia just as some here just on YouTube BS, is really "serious" ;) "lol". Yes, Johnny who has NEVER been to Poland and who does NOT speak a word of Polish has a couple of Polish penpals (I imagine the bigotted buraki from some obscure one pig sh@@@hole ;)) so he is a real "expert" on Polish things just like Levi who has NEVER been to Western Europe because all his visas were (fortunately) denied is a real "expert" on European affairs and who should keep his anti-Muslim tribune for his Muslim employers and like Mafketis who has NEVER been to France and does NOT speak French is also a real "expert" on French affairs....

What a bunch of jerks! How can they be taken seriously????? It would be just like me talking about the breeding of snakes in New Guinea or growing pineapples in Cuba....

Johnny and others: stick to what you PERSONALLY have experienced if you want to be a tiny bit credible!

Oh boy!!!! What Mickey Mouse "experts"!!!!!!!!!!! "lol"!

I understand there are quite a few crypto-gays in PF. Why not getting out of the closet? You'd feel better and be happier;)

UK, Ireland / A new mayor in London: opinion of Polish people in the UK? [317]

@Rozu: maybe he is not religious but he was born ... Jewish. Same applies to Khan who was born Muslim but who is not religious.

Either way, a big slap into fascists' faces (including in this forum) tonight and I like it ;)

Well, I need to go

UK, Ireland / A new mayor in London: opinion of Polish people in the UK? [317]

You don't know????? The guy is Zac Goldsmith (billionnaire's son) vs. Sadiq Khan (45-year old guy of Pakistani origin and bus driver's son). In the French media, it's been a big "thing". Khan is the favorite (but polls are never 100% accurate) and if he wins, it would be a big signal to fascists (anyway, fascists have big mouths so we hear them a lot but they are minorities). According to what I have read/heard, S. Khan is ... liberal, feminist and pro same sex marriage ;). I imagine hard dilemna for Poles living there ;). "lol"

Anyway, London and I believe more generally UK have always been tolerant and open and that's why I respect them. Also, what proof of maturity among voters since they are able to go beyond "that"!

PS: as to Boris Johnson, he is as Jewish as the Pope is ;).

(Well, leaving for work and I'll be following results tonight and honestly what a big slap into fascists' faces!!!! (high time to do something against them!)

Law / Do foreign students graduated from Polish university need work permit before finding job? [24]

As it takes two for a tango, aren't those "students" also to blame? They are so naive that such jerky schools take advantage of them. As all these jerky schools have hard times to recruit among Poles as their studies and diplomas are useless, they simply fool naive guys from Africa and Asia selling them BS.

This is as old as the world, just making money out of the naive and feeble!

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

Although I am very shocked by this Polish "tradition", which I found most vulgar, but as they say "when in Rome...", I would give minimum 400 or 500 ZL. I have never come across something like that in the west (= all the countries I personally know). Where I come from, people getting married often put "wedding lists" to some store(s) and everybody who wants to financially contribute gets a look at said list. Couples inform their guests about it and as a result they won't end up with 10 things of the same kind. Nowadays most people getting married have lived together for years so their homes are equipped and some marry for 2nd or 3rd times so they may not even bother to have wedding lists and family, friends, colleagues may get together and buy nice trips... Hence, NO CASH (considered very vulgar in our culture as gifts although now a lot of teenagers receive cash for Xmas and their birthdays because not easy to buy gifts for them) and married couple does NOT know how much X or Y has given.

As to the price of a wedding, everybody should do according to their wallets. I did not have big weddings and should I marry again (who knows? ;)), I would prefer to spend (owned and not borrowed) money on a intimate and original ceremony on a nice beach in some exotic area.... No need to invite crowds, including a lot who don't care but do come because of the booze and the food and whom the couple does not care about!

Well, if people want to have royal weddings and have to get themselves into debts for years, let them do!

(in GW today they have articles re people putting themselves into debts for upcoming communions ;)).

Well, in my culture, we have a saying about such attitude: "péter plus haut que son c#l." ("to fart above one's a##s"). To be more polite, I had a friend from America whose mother used to say (now she is no longer): "Champagne taste but coca cola purse" ;)

I suppose no more than "nouveau riche" attitude even if people have no money! I was like that in the West in the 1950 and 1960 so most probably Poles will change too ...

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

@Ironside: check with French embassy if you don't believe GW. GW is right to report physical agressions that take place in Poland against "looking different" foreigners. If you don't believe GW, you may Google.... Of course, for people like you, this is perfectly alright.

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

@Smurf: if I am able to talk re Poland and Poles, it is because of my long PERSONAL experience (including spouse). I don't need to rely on BS found on YouTube and consorts to "judge" people I do NOT know, like some of you do here ;)

Anyway, giving cash on such events is rather weird to me but "when in Rome... "

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

@Honest: it was in GW (with guy's picture on first page) max 3 weeks ago. This was ONLY one example but one too many. How can "human" beings insult, spit on, beat up someone just because he/she looks different???? What kind of "education" have they received? They behave worse than the wild animals in the jungle. Being different is not easy so let's not add more to it. When blacks (just to mention them) for instance are called monkeys (very common insult in Poland) or have bananas thrown at them, how can they react? This is plain AWFUL and there is no excuse. Although very few Poles feel the way you and I do, they are still a tiny minority and nothing will change in a near future unless EU intervene.....

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

Should I be surprised???? ;). Nope! Hate speech and of course acts of racism/xenophobia/antisemistim/homophobia are severally punished in western Europe. In France, it has been so since ... 1881 (I have just checked). Re the French black guy who was beaten up and admitted to a Warsaw hospital, I know that French authorities have taken matter seriously.

Completely disgusting but reality!

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

When agressors are arrested and then put on trial, is Polish justice severe or lenient? Of course, racist crimes and agressions can happen anywhere but in some countries justice is tougher in such matters. I remember that at the time there was that football thing in Poland and in Ukraine, non white players and many media in Western Europe rose the issue.

All this is very sad and most unfortunate in Europe but it is the reality and results from lack of education and exposure to others.

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

Yes pure madness!

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

In fact this "custom" of giving cash on such events puzzles me as it seems rather vulgar but as one says "when in Rome..." if I am in such a situation, I would give decent amount out of respect to receiver and also to me ;)

As to socalled French "arrogance" it is another of these urban legends and results from Napoleon's times. I have spent so much time abroad (including USA, UK...) and as a French, I was always welcomed. You British people, you'd better get updated and realize things have changed since Napoleon (to me though the greatest person ever, who is even celebrated in Polish national anthem;)).

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

Thanks for your honesty and your decency, Honest Pole! I personally know quite a few Poles in Poland who feel the way you do but I suppose at least 95% of Poles don't feel same...

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

Rozu: ????? What are you talking about? I was just confirming Honest's mail according to which physical aggressions are very common in Poland against people who are "different" and media such as Gw do report them. What does it have to be with one girl being raped???' 2 weeks ago a French black guy was beaten up and ended up in a hospital in Warsaw (he had his picture in first page of Gw), did he commit rape? If so, justice needs to take care of him, not the mob.

Yes, Poland is dangerous for people looking different and they should not come

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

Rozu: there are a lot of places, even countries, where I would not feel comfortable so I don't go. Poland is not a "friendly" place for "different" looking people so they should know what risks they face ...

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

I don't know re Australia but at my place it is not so . Couples have "wedding lists" with big stores to which relatives, friends, work colleagues may financially contribute (and nobody (including married couple) knows how much X or Y has given). Said "wedding lists" may consist of things for the home (if very young couples starting in life), trips, even deposits for a new home... Apparently in Poland giving cash seems alright but does it not look a bit "vulgar"? I would if in Poland but back at home, it would not give cash as it would look "weird" if not "vulgar"

Wow, Ziemo, what is your problem today???? ;). I believe that gifts must be meaningful to both receiver and giver and as a result, whenever I have a present to buy, I spend a lot of time and energy to find something that would please the receiver and make him/her understand that I respect him/her by offering something "decent". Unfortunately often we have to spend quite some money but not always (for instance, promotions as often the case in expensive stores) and I do. Let's not be hypocritical, when someone gets a cheap sh@@@t from someone who could afford better, they do notice ("ah, celle-là, elle ne s'est pas foulée avec son truc à .... euros!", something the French would say in such situations).

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

@Marsu: I agree with you, there is NO link but I got puzzled when you wrote that foreigners are here in Poland because it is so bad where they come from that they have to put up with Polish hardship. Examples of visitors to Poland being beaten up unfortunately are numerous. I also seriously doubt that Erasmus students, businesspersons or tourists come from places which are unlivable hellholes ;). However, although I think it's disgusting and criminals should be punished, I believe would be vcitims should not go to places where they won't be feel comfortable and problem solved ;)

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

@Marsu: what's the link with visitors to Poland being beaten up because looking different? When a Erasmus student or a businessman gets beaten up in Poland because happening to look different, what's the excuse????? Among others, a black guy from French Antilles Islands (people there have had the French nationality since the 18th century) was severely beaten up some 2 weeks ago, what excuse do you give the agressors?????

My opinion is that Poland is well known all over the world for being closed and intolerant so people looking/being different should not come and that's all.

People who are really desperate don't seek asylum in Poland and you know it.

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

@Smurf: Poles would not understand/accept that a friend of theirs living in Australia does not give more (I would react same way). I don't know where you live in Poland and what Poles you deal with but all the Poles I know (relatives and many others) are extremely materialistic.

In any way, the OP means to give their Polish friends what they would give in similar situations in Australia and I believe it's the right thing to do and it will be appreciated by Polish Friends.

@OP: you have taken the right decision to give what you would give in Australia in same situation and I am sure your Polish friends will appreciate.

Love / Polish Wedding present - how much money for the couple? [40]

What day is it today? It is not my birthday or anything! Wow, Ziemowit, saying something nice about me ;). For sure, I am NOT cheap and have never been. I know that I am generous but this is my nature. I always give very good tips wherever I am and pay my cleaning lady 100 ZL for 3 hours' work (small, functional and very clean flat ;)). Even if I work in Poland for a (n above average) Polish salary, I would not dare giving a mere 200 ZL (I would minimum give 500 ZL) to a friend getting married. When I buy a present, it is always expensive (sometimes on promotion, yes, but always something worth a lot ;)). Personally I hate cheap people and I really prefer to receive nothing rather than a sh@@ty gift when I know people have good financial means ;)

Since OP lives and works for an Australian income, their Polish friends would consider them as tight and insulting if gving what average Poles do give (based upon their incomes). Poles would not appreciate....

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

Marsu: what about those from western countries coming to Poland for touristic visits? Also when things are so terrible in their home countries, is Poland the best country???? Nope;)

Marsu: 99.99% of such foreigners are temporarily in Poland (tourism, business or studies) so how can they be so desperate to put up with risks to be beaten up in Poland???. Also, a lot of those are citizens of western countries so I seriously doubt that their situation is worse in ... The Us, Canada, western Europe, ,Australia.... To me, they are plain stupid....

Life / Is it safe for Indians, Sikhs living here in Poland? Any Temple / Gurudwara in Wroclaw? [159]

@Honest! Unfortunately true and not only! A few weeks ago, according to GW, several cases of "looking different" foreigners being beaten up were reported in Poland, including a Black French guy in Warsaw.

Without being beaten up (fortunately it does not happen so often but of course it is wrong whenever it happens), foreigners who look/are different are not welcomed in Poland (and in a lot of other countries too) so why do they come in the first place? To me, it does not make any sense to go to a place where people won't accept I am because I am X or Y. Why coming to Poland (or whereever else) when risking bad treatment???? I don't necessarily mean to be beaten up as I also include being insulted, being stared at, spat on... It is needless to say most unpleasant so why coming????? In my close family, there is a black girl and I would strongly discourage her to do so if she ever felt to come over, just for a short visit. Why looking for trouble? I don't get it...

USA, Canada / Has anyone with a US or CDN passport recently been subjected to the "Passport Trap" in Poland? [29]

Ah ok! It costs more when doing it at an embassy. I had not think so but now I understand ;).

USA, Canada / Has anyone with a US or CDN passport recently been subjected to the "Passport Trap" in Poland? [29]

@Kpc: are you sure? I was told by French embassy that Polish passports were expensive. French ID cards too are free.

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

@Delph: ABSOLUTELY! I know some (Polish) homosexuals complaining because as couples, they cannot file as such and as a result pay more tax than they would as couples. They also complain that in case, one partner is sick at the hospital, the other won't be allowed to receive info from doctors. I know that it is so for all unmarried couples in Poland but this is wrong.

It seems that homosexuals are the 21st century"s Jews!

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]


- 100% agree! Some people are against giving equal rights to people because they have the misfortune to be black, jewish, woman, homo, fat, small, have curly hair or flat feet, etc etc etc and it is wrong! No one should be deprived from basic rights because they happen to be different. Being homosexual is not a choice and homosexuals cannot "change".

Granting same rights to all is called democracy!

Giving equal rights to homosexuals will not even take any rights away from Jonny Reb, from Poloonius, from Adrian, from Levy and all the homophobic gang!

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

In Warsaw, this is not and has never been so. Out of the some 14,000 attending every year, maybe there are max a few dozens like those in pictures and of course they are the ones media report about (normal since media want "sensational"). I agree that in America (I have lived there), everything is more ... flamboyant and extremist.....

In Warsaw (and mrore generally in Europe), it is more 'middle of the road". For sure, the very few freaky ones should be dealt with all the more as they give bad reputation to whole event.

I agree with you 100% that the huge majority of Poles don't like homosexuals (and many others ...)

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

@Adrian: Have you seen any Warsaw (or any other city)'s parade in REAL? Nope, since you have to rely on random internet pictures! Like said, every year, I could watch parade from my windows and this year I may even go. In Warsaw, the freaks attending such parade can be counted on one's fingers but of course the media focuse on them rather than on the huge majority of people attending who are hetero people concerned about equal rights and justice for all....

Trust me, PERSONAL experience is worth billion times more what you can find on the net...

@Adrian: these pictures may be real but they only concern a tiny minority of parade attendants. We all know that the media focuse on the "sensational". Most attendants may they be gay or hereo are just "middle of the road" and not interesting for the media. It is like that for anything, media report on the UNusual and that is why only pictures of a few freaks are taken and shown