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Posts by Sylvio  

Joined: 4 Mar 2016 / Male ♂
Warnings: 1 - T		 Last Post: 1 Jan 2023
Threads: Total: 19 / In This Archive: 11
Posts: Total: 154 / In This Archive: 79 		From: Inowroclaw
Speaks Polish?: Does
Interests: finding work

Displayed posts: 90 / page 3 of 3
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Sylvio   
22 May 2018
Travel / Starbucks in Poland? [149]

Merged:

Hurrey! Well done, Starbucks!



Starbucks announced a new policy over the weekend to let its employees know that anyone may sit in its cafes, or use its restrooms, even if they don't buy a thing.
Sylvio   
19 May 2018
Life / I'm British in Poland and I think that it's time to go back to the UK! [240]

My ability to speak both languages had not made teansition back to Poland any easier.2 years into living back in Poland after 32 years absence, the worst thing is the lack of respect for customers everywhere. I guess for full foreigners it must be a formidable challange. Communism had taught Polish people,falsly that the best way to assert themselves and gain respectful social position is by making things difficult for others. They do it in shops banks and public offices. Making someone elses life easier is equal to public humiliation. Unless you make them like you by some extra means, to start with. A Polish person rarely derives enjoyment from helping someone. Such negative attitude often makes their job (serving customers) unpleasant,.making them look pissed off and bored. Which has the effect of turning the problem into a viscious circle. Gentle humorous pointers which would work wonders in UK. or US, here dont amuse, and dont register. In spite of all that I do see the young slowly making things change for better.
Sylvio   
2 May 2018
Work / Diary of a Teacher in Poland [181]

Hi Delphi!! Can i have another episode from your Teachers Diary? hope u r writing it all down elswhre cause if you ever publish it'l sure make a great flight read. Keep it up.
Sylvio   
1 May 2018
Study / Any (inexpensive) English Schools in Krakow? [60]

Hello, Listening in on your talk, a year ago I made similar enquiries in Bydgoszcz. Dont know about elsewhere. And was suprised to find as many as 3 private schools, one to GCSE certified exam primary and secondary programs. All in English. The best one called Socrates seemed flexible, easygoing management,good facilities. They charged 800zl per month. Must say looking at forums Bydgoszcz has certainly sprang forward. It has big IT business base, maybe thats why.
Sylvio   
19 Feb 2018
News / Polish embassy in Tel Aviv vandalized [15]

This forum is full of props fishing for genuine readers to express their views? just had that strange thought. I must be wrong, right? :).. All Jews are exceptionally nice people.
Sylvio   
1 Feb 2018
News / Road deaths increase in Poland [43]

Pedestrian fatalities in Poland are down to a combination of things: a) being safety conscious is still seen by many as being " pedantic" b) drunk men walking along narrow unlit roads at night time c) many pedestrian crossings have no illuminating lamposts over them. d) most people wear only dark, mon reflective clothes top to toe, and then get told they have the right of way at crossings. Lethal mix.
Sylvio   
28 Dec 2017
Real Estate / American whinging and whining when buying or renting property in Poland [30]

Americans are bound to complain when they come to Poland. In US all is geared towards making everything that you may ever want a simple and quick transaction. US productivity ,as amount of USEFUL work each employee does a day , dwarves that of Poland, disposable income in us is huge compared to Poland. Things like hooking up all amenities, insurnance etc. in a new apartement can be done within an hour over the phone in US. In Poland its a project streched over many months and numerous visits to dingy offices asking for truckloads of forms, where employees basically treat customers like pests, make mistakes, fail to keep basic verbal promises. I love Poland because I was born here, but having lived in US for several years, have a lot if sympathy for them feeling miffed by the way we do things over here. In a nutshell communism taught us Poles that making an effort to bring joy to another person is a mark of a fool. That is totally opposite to how Americans are brought up to think.
Sylvio   
16 Dec 2017
Law / What a "factura" is a factura? Car repair cost in Poland. [5]

Imagine your car breaks down. Turns out it needs a new alternator. You want to shop for best quote. 2-3 garages give you written quotes. You take it to the cheapest. Work is done. You get an invoice with a breakdown of parts, labour, tax, etc. After you pay you get a receipt of payment. ...Have you noticed? As you drive off you have 3 pieces of paper: a quote, an invoice, and a receipt. Each reads the same price. What country are you in? US?...UK?. Thats right!. Alas, not so in Poland. Here, we have a factura. Which to all tradesmen means either of the three, depending on who you talk to. Unfortunately, apart from saving paper the idea of one piece of paper doing all three things has no advantages. As I have noticed having moved to Poland last year, tradesmen are all given to the most annoying habit of hiking the final price when it comes to paying for the job. No ones gives written quotes, and without any remorse you get told, time after time, " Oh an extra piece of pipe, extra 3 bricks, extra can of paint " are to blame that you now have to pay 50, or even 100% more than what you had been told it would!!!. No written quote, no sense of keeping to the agreement. What is the way to prevent being gazumped like this? Does any one know of any way to deal with this? Where does the law stand on that? And above all, what in the world is a role of a factura? Thanks for any tips..Sylvio
Sylvio   
14 Feb 2017
Life / Good furniture shops in Poland? [11]

Having ran out of many a furniture shop,... screaming!!! I had finally settled for having my furniture made to order.
Basically, a carp. local to my town in Kujawy makes any piece of furniture I show him on internet, and out of any wood I want. You must remember Poland has fairly low labour cost. A French rustic queen bed, or a mock Edwardian writing table. All solid wood of your choice. He wins with Ikea in looks and price. If you are interested private msg me. will send you photos.
Sylvio   
15 Jan 2017
News / The first PiS led government in 2005 lasted just over 2 years in Poland. [129]

So, I am new to Polish political scene. And very much desire to gain an objective view of both sides. I look for a manifesto, a program of reforms, Oposition's proposed 5 year plan for infrastucture development etc. etc. to compare it with what PIS is doing.... where are such things to be found? And why are they not presented and brought under discussion?! If indeed the plan consists only of "bag of anarchic tricks and will spring them on th Polish nation when parlaiment re-convenes" then there is NO opposition. Not in the parlamentary sense, at least. Am I missing something?
Sylvio   
24 Nov 2016
Travel / Requirements for bringing a Dog into Poland [30]

Merged: Bringing a dog from Canada to Poland

Hi, Could anyone please share any knowledge on what it would take to bring my dog to Poland from Canada?. Me and my wife are in two separate countries now . She has my dog, and can no longer look after her due to job change. The dog is only 3 years old, very healthy, weighing only 7lb. A Dachshund. Fully vaccinated. Not chipped. Could wife take her on a plane and bring here. Is there any quarantine in Poland for a dog moving from Canada to Poland? Appreciate any advice, Sylvio
Sylvio   
23 Nov 2016
News / Jesus Christ is Now Officially the King of Poland [164]

Was glad to hear, for the first time, the hymn "Praise to the Lord" sang with Polish lyrics. This is a 17th century German hymn by Joahim Neander. Its English adaptation was once polpular in US and England, but sadly not often heard in those countries these days. Its nice to see Poland trying to preserve their musical heritage for them. I hope it catches on. Another thing,I am in my 50's having lived in 4 countries at different times, I dont think Ive ever seen as many people in one spot, as in Lagiewniki last Saturday. Must be more than 200,000. Plus those on hills aroundned. And it rained. The people we are, eh?
Sylvio   
10 Jul 2016
Life / Should I expect racism as a 'black' woman in Poland [149]

To moderate this thread a bit, having lived in uk us and canada 30 odd years, when you come here there is a cultural downgrade. Hate to use the word, being Polish myself. Polish folks are not cosmopolitan by any measure. They shy away from anything unhomely. After initial cheerful chitchat you wont detect desire to make you any part of their life. Even I, with near perfect Polish have difficulty making new friends. The only comfort I can offer you is that Poles are not openly sociable or curtious to themselves either. So if you hear them making startlingly rude comments or patronizing instructions in public,rest assured they are part and parcel, unrelated to your race. The way to ease your way into the system is to join some kind of church group in a large city. You are likely to find more affable ambience there.
Sylvio   
26 Jun 2016
Life / Poland after one year of living here [105]

Absolutely awesome forum! Wonderfully wide opinion spectrum with 50%Polka and swawek.. Lukes experience is a standard reaction to Polish culture of someone who is not very assertive by nature and tends to assimilate socially by emmulation and value judgements. This personality type will succeed moving to Poland but has to do at least one or two yo-yo moves back and forth in order to make up their mind and learn a few uncomfortable truths about their own character disposition. I am born in poland moved to uk at age 20 returned at 50. Also US and Canada. There is no denial that polish people are all those vile things you describe. But for me for all the warts i prefer to live in a country with strong christian identity and where most people are still of sound mind in terms of right or wrong.
Sylvio   
2 May 2016
USA, Canada / Has anyone with a US or CDN passport recently been subjected to the "Passport Trap" in Poland? [29]

"..but with the current bunch of brain-dead cretins forming a government, nothing would surprise me. The 18% regime (and most of its ever dwindling band o supporters) dress themselves up as uber-patriots..." Harry, perhaps if you and your ilk controled their mouths a bit better you might still have the government you so passionatly want, alas all action leads to reaction. So, until your electorate learns the fine art of civil moderation, put it in your cantacrious pipe and smoke it,mate..!
Sylvio   
16 Apr 2016
Love / What do you like most about Polish men? :) [51]

As a pole returning from overseas, i find the most striking character trait in polish guys here, is their penchant for building dogmatic positions from scanty evidence, and then jumping at every opportunity to fight to death to defend it..
Sylvio   
16 Apr 2016
Law / Laws against "Misrepresentation of Goods" in Poland [3]

Does Poland have laws similar to the UK's 1967 Misrepresentation of Goods and Services Act"? : Example1: Fraudulent/negligent statements -
If you entered a contract as a result of a fraudulent or negligent statement you can cancel the contract. You can also claim damages in most cases. These claims are on the basis of negligence or fraud. The person who made the misrepresentation has to disprove the negligence. So for example, if you book a holiday on the basis that it is a holiday where children are not allowed and find that when you arrive the place is overrun with children then this is a clear breach. In the case of goods sold,such as a herbal tea which claims to be natural and pure when is in fact thoroughly synthetic, a court would judge on nature of misrepresentation and losses suffered, and award compensation for loss plus cost of proceedings.
Sylvio   
15 Apr 2016
Language / An email translated from Polish to English using translator [24]

Merged: Meningitis vs. antisemitism..

Using a Canadian laptop in Poland. Would anyone know why my Hotmail Outlook spell-checker, underscoring an error in my word "menengitis", offers as the 2nd replacement, the word "antisemitism"???!!!. Where is the link between the two ideas? Why, in the Hotmail language support, someone could see these concepts as related? Or is someone having a "easy day" at work? ;)
Sylvio   
8 Apr 2016
Travel / Driving in Poland, are there any rules at all? [149]

My two penny is that driving in Poland is generally more draining than in US, Canada or UK. In US I could drive 13 hours with only breaks for WC and fuel. I doubt that I could manage this in Poland. There are many roads marked with "fat" lines on the map, when actually the tarmac is scarcely wide enough for 2 cars. Vehicles pass each other at breathtaking speed with only "inches" between side mirrors. I drive a lot in wojewodztwo kujawsko-pomorskie, and even today I had to put one wheel off tarmac to let some lorries pass me. I also find that drivers here seem to like making abrupt steering adjustments, basically continually jolting the steering wheel rather than moving it gradually. It is quite scary to cruise beside someone who drives that way. I have learned that at junctions it is important to watch the eyes of the drivers to ensure they even see you. (To think that used to take it for granted).Oh yes, and drivers of high end German cars drive like psychopaths.
Sylvio   
4 Mar 2016
Real Estate / Insuring Owners goods in a Home under a rental agreement in Poland [3]

PZU in Inowroclaw have declined insuring my shipment, delivered to my home, in their local area. The house is under a rental agreement. The tenant is on board with keeping my goods stored in his garage, for the remainder of his lease. Eventually, the goods will be insured by me, same as the building after I move in. Does anyone know of a company that would allow me to to insure my 50ft of freight, while he is still there?

Thank you so much,

Sylvio