Classifieds / Any (semi)-regular Expat meetings in Poznań? [8]

Vaasa - there's a regular meeting every Thursday at that restaurant mentioned, but I'm not sure if it's going to be on when you're here. If you have facebook, search for 'Language exchange club Poznan' - you'll find out all the details there :)

Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]


To be honest, what drives me nuts is when Polish Americans start making all sorts of generalisations that they've heard based on a couple of conversations with people and what they've read in the press. Like this nonsense about Czech being "funny" - the guy doesn't speak Polish, how can he possibly know? It's just insulting to Poland, especially when people start claiming that they will "stand up for Poland" and yet do absolutely nothing to help here. That, and their talk of "IM POLISH" gives Poles a bad name - I mean, if you read this forum, you'd think that Polish people were all racists. Yet - you hear very little racism from actual Poles on this forum - I think only Sokrates actually says anything dodgy? And that's the Poland I know - PO/PiS voter, doesn't matter - there's really not much racism here.

For what it's worth, Czech is very difficult to my ears - much more so than Ukrainian. I had terrible troubles in a supermarket in Nachod (just 200m from Poland!) trying to communicate with someone working there - and at least for me, it's sad that the people in border areas don't (or won't - I don't know which) speak each other's languages.

Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]


Yes. I'd like to say that the one interesting thing for me is that Czech/Polish hasn't merged in border areas.

Czech pronouncation seems much harder to understand than Ukrainian pronouncation, at least for me.

News / Polish journalist's "show trial" Belarus [40]


But...this isn't the Ironside I know :(

I totally agree with you again though - it's no good sitting there, talking about how the Polish minority can overthrow Lukashenko and so on. Better to improve the conditions of the Poles there - while also encouraging them to take part in the Belarusian state. It's their homeland - making things better for them should be the #1 priority.

As I recall, exit visas are now abolished in Belarus - so there's no reason why Poland can't invite them here to build links between the communities.


I suppose one problem is that if they do that, the trouble makers will just do more to draw Poland's attention.

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]

Ironside, what the hell got into you tonight?

I totally agree with this - if you rub it in people's faces, you can expect a beating. But if you just act like - well - any normal couple would, no-one is going to care less.

Poles are pretty tolerant people, all things considered - I have a friend who saw (after the last gay march in Poznan, along with the protest) hooligans and gays at the same tram stop - and no-one was bothering each other.

News / Polish journalist's "show trial" Belarus [40]

Waaa...Ironside...what's wrong with you?


The problem with that is that the Polish minority in Belarus would be dead against anything that would be seen as supporting Lukashenko - even as you say, it can make a difference.

News / Conservative-liberalism (Laissez-faire liberalism), another utopia for Poland? [99]


The internet fawns over him, but he's pretty much on the fringe of American politics. He's the Tea Party darling - but their time is already over.

News / Conservative-liberalism (Laissez-faire liberalism), another utopia for Poland? [99]


Shows how little you know.

Need I remind you that Polish politics since 1945 has been dominated by socialist parties - indeed, do I need to remind you that Solidarity was a trade union with some ridiculously socialist programmes?

Even the current political landscape - three out of the four big parties are from socialist origins, with the ruling party being a mix of socialists and conservatives.


Hahaha. Common mistake made by those who can't speak Polish. It's a socialist country that adheres to Catholic teachings on social issues.


They're not Polish, dumbass - they're Americans.

Most Poles wouldn't even have a clue who Ron Paul is or indeed care.

Language / Czech language sounds like baby talk to most Poles. Similarities? [222]


I find it stranger that a non-Polish speaker tries to comment on such a thing.

Seriously man, you don't speak Polish, so you've got absolutely no clue how Czech sounds.

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]

Apparently it's the reason why him and Walesa hate each other so much - Walesa was making jokes at his expense for being gay, and thus war started.

There were rumours about him and a few women, but nothing was ever made public.

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]


Including the leader of the opposition.

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]


Lies.

From your profile -


In other words, you're not Polish.


I wonder where you're seeing such things? It certainly doesn't happen in Poland.

Perhaps you need some medicine, too?

News / For all Americans worried about Schengen in Poland, dont worry about it. [142]


Tourism is massive - look at Royal Deeside. It would be a hellhole backwater if it wasn't for the Royal Family - yet because she's nearby, tourists spend an absolute fortune.

Just how many Americans buy the crap on Oxford Street, for instance? :)

History / Pieces of Real Polish History [60]

Typical polaczek arrogance - telling Poles how to live in their own country.

News / Conservative-liberalism (Laissez-faire liberalism), another utopia for Poland? [99]


Funny you should say that, yet claim to be Polish.

We all know that Poles love socialism, after all.

(and before you go on yet another rant - the majority of seats in the Sejm belong to socialists)

News / Polish journalist's "show trial" Belarus [40]

True, but who fancies even a day in a Polish prison?

I think it's quite sad that the Sejm hasn't managed to even unite against Lukashenko - if anyone can put pressure on him, Poland can - but without a unified front, what hope is there of that?

History / Pieces of Real Polish History [60]


Which, to be fair, I think is absolutely absurd.

(the block on youtube is particuarly grating, especially when you find that some things like Communist propoganda films get blocked)

News / Polish journalist's "show trial" Belarus [40]


I dunno what's so shocking - people get arrested all the time in Poland for insulting the President.

Incidentally, this guy's case is being ignored by a large section of the Polish media because...because...he works for Gazeta Wyborcza and therefore must be a Communist spy.

Work / I'm Algerian and I need information on finding work in Poland [8]


Fast food places are about your only hope.

I know someone who will give you a job tomorrow - 800PLN/month salary. Interested?

News / For all Americans worried about Schengen in Poland, dont worry about it. [142]


Actually, it doesn't bother Poles. What bothers them is when foreigners come in and ignore the rules - which is fair enough - who wants outsiders coming in and ruining things for you?

Poland is very neutral towards foreigners - they don't embrace them, nor do they hate them. Which is nice, really - you're treated as being equal to them.

History / What was it like in 1989+ in Poland when the Soviet house of cards fell? [237]

In terms of successful, non-violent change where everyone benefited, it's hard to see anything between the Wielkopolska uprising and 1989.

(okay, so the uprising was violent, but only a little bit)

Language / Ukrainian language similar to Polish? [236]


I know this :D

It's especially amusing when it's liberally used alongside the K-word - I nearly died of laughter one night in the pub after some old man shouted "kurwa, tej!" at the TV :)

News / For all Americans worried about Schengen in Poland, dont worry about it. [142]


To be honest, I've always thought from the American point of view - it was better to have the world divided in two.

You can see the problems America has now with being the sole Superpower - problems that didn't exist when the USSR was there to even things up.

Language / Ukrainian language similar to Polish? [236]

No way - "bimba", "banna" and other such nonsense definitely eliminate Poznań - tej?

I was once utterly bewildered by some old man speaking to me, using a lot of the local dialect - I didn't have a clue :(

If it's any consolation, I get mistaken for being either Czech or Ukrainian. Czech by those living in Wroclaw (on account of lousy grammar but reasonable pronunciation) - and Ukrainian by people in Poznan because I have a really soft accent in Polish, combined with the same lousy grammar.

News / For all Americans worried about Schengen in Poland, dont worry about it. [142]


And what then?

It suited American, British, Russian and French interests to have things exactly the way they were.

News / Poland Parliament elections in October 2011 [944]


Will anything really happen between now and then?

Must admit, I'm not a fan of them holding the elections in the middle of the EU Presidency - I can see why, though.


Usual modern European social democrat stuff. They really don't need anything concrete - everyone knows what they stand for already.

News / Poland Parliament elections in October 2011 [944]

That poll is a disaster for PiS - PO would almost certainly get the 1% extra from the disqualified votes (due to the 5% threshhold requirement) to give them a majority in the parliament. And in all likelihood, between them and the SLD, they'd also get enough to pass the amount needed to enact constitutional change.

PiS absolutely must get 33% of the seats in the Sejm or they're going to be in a world of pain.

Language / Ukrainian language similar to Polish? [236]

It's certainly much easier to understand than the hyper-fast Poznan Polish :(


Really?

I can't tell the difference between parts of Ukraine, but for me, the way Ukrainian is spoken in L'viv is hauntingly beautiful.

History / Symbols & Signs in Polish History, Culture & Life [89]


That's really, really odd - look at this -

/tiffin-1.jpg

Hugely popular in India - they're called "tiffin". I'm amazed that Poles had the same idea, too.

Work / Price per day... private painting and decorating in Poland [23]


One thing that's worth telling you - in Poland, the usual practice is to quote a very high price, then go down a bit. Many people will also pay for something that they think is high quality (because the price is high) - so don't be afraid to ask for something really ridiculous.

I'd actually recommend trying to get away with UK prices if they look wealthy enough - don't be afraid!