Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


It can't be amber and I've seen something very like it. Recently.

is it ceramic?

Work / Teaching English in Wrocław - TEFL, fair pay? [40]


Don't. Those things give you a bit of a taster which doesn't mean much but might help if you're off to Bangkok (where nobody cares about paper qualifications much anyway). Do a CELTA if you are serious about it.

Delphi's advice is right about smaller towns. Some of them aren't bad and they have one advantage over Wrocław - there are fewer people chasing work.

As a rule of thumb, if a European city has tourists and a resident or transient foreign population it is hard to get teaching work. If it has a leaning tower, gondolas, a triumphal arch or a Gaudi cathedral - forget it.

in some ways Wroclaw is the new Krakow. Too many foreigners wanting to teach English.

Life / An Indian wants to convert to Christianity in Poland [60]

Christianity is a religion that stresses the importance of being part of a community and acting together for the common good.

Love / Any Polish Muslim girls living in Poland? [103]


Quite practical even now in very hot countries.

News / Amber Gold and other Poland's suspicious institutions [139]


I suspect a lot had to do with the selling. Personally of the people I know who have said they are in trouble, all have foreign currency mortgages.


This is true. In Warsaw, there was almost a mania for buying second properties as buy-to-let which is financial speculation. The people I feel sorry for are those who only own one flat and were missold mortgages in currencies they don't earn.

News / Amber Gold and other Poland's suspicious institutions [139]

Somebody recently described the phenomena of people Poland getting mortgages in a currency other than the one they earn as a case of collective insanity. I know a few people who are in serious trouble because of this. Worth mentioning that most of them have mortgages on more than one flat. They were speculating and obviously greed played its part.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


There's a display of skulls in the Museum at Płock - I wonder if that's one of them.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

I dont think it's Władysław III, so that only leaves Waza. The costume looks the right period too.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Warneńczyk!

I thought it looked a bit too recent for £okietek, though I know less about Warneńczyk and more about £okietek. After a weekend in Wiślica last year.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Władysław I £okietek and Zygmunt I Stary

;-)

Travel / Winter clothes for trip to Warsaw? [13]


Those too. Men anyway.

Travel / Winter clothes for trip to Warsaw? [13]


I don't usually either, but friends consider that to be a bit strange. I find that most people wear a hat from the late autumn to the early spring.

Travel / Winter clothes for trip to Warsaw? [13]

You'll need good warm clothes and several layers. And a hat with something to keep your ears warm. Don't worry too much about bringing a hat - there's a good choice in the chain stores. Coats though are probably cheaper in America. Also decent boots since it will probably be snowing by then.

If you really want to blend in, Puiffa jackets are quite popular in Poland; the ski jacket type. Long Johns are also a good idea in winter.

Travel / Winter clothes for trip to Warsaw? [13]

Remember you'll be in the capital where people dress in quite a diverse way so you shouldn't worry too much. As for dressing warmly - when are you going to be there?

Off-Topic / "Curiosity" Lands On Mars! Huzzah! Poland's Mars Society Must Be Ecstatic. [77]


No.


The Earth won't last forever. Eventually we'll have to be able to get past the edge of the solar system. This will take a heck of a long time and we have to start somewhere.


If people in the developed countries, especially the US stopped consuming so much life in the developing world would be easier. Are millions dying a slow death, by the way?

Real Estate / Cousin stole my dads home in Poland... [49]

Something tells me we've only had part of the story here. I wouldn't be so quick to wish him luck.

Language / Interesting inconsistency between Polish and Russian [71]

All humans share 99.9% of their DNA. With mice, we share 98%; 35% with algae and 11% with yeast.

UK, Ireland / First proper "Polish" School in the UK - The Next Stage of Ghettoisation [283]


Not that there's any problems with that.

I wonder if you're old enough remember how bad corner shops were before the Pakistani people started running them.Like 'Open all hours' but with half the range of products.

In any case, if Poles see a gap in the market, good luck to them. Their idea, after all.

UK, Ireland / First proper "Polish" School in the UK - The Next Stage of Ghettoisation [283]


Plenty have done that.

History / You Know that Poland Was "Polin" and "Polinyah"? [6]

The same with the word British. Sounds like 'brit ish', meaning 'man of the covenant'.

A moderately interesting co-incidence, but nothing more.

Real Estate / Cousin stole my dads home in Poland... [49]

There's something in that.

I wonder if he realises that nothing will actually happen at that court date he's got.

History / You Know that Poland Was "Polin" and "Polinyah"? [6]

The origin of the word Poland is obvious to anyone who either understands the Polish word 'pole' or as Polishmama says knows who the Polanians were. The name of the country, Polska, creatively translates as 'Land of the fields', a pleasant and accurate description.


I second that. Reading it all is like a bad acid trip.

Life / How much does it cost to live in Poland? [42]


Just about, but you'd have to be frugal. A lot depends on how much you pay for accommodation etc. You certainly won't be on the breadline but equally won't be able to save on that. Also remember Warsaw is the kind of city where a lot of people choose not to run a car.

UK, Ireland / First proper "Polish" School in the UK - The Next Stage of Ghettoisation [283]

Agreed 100%. Expats (like Poles in the UK) network with people from their home country just like anyone else. It isn't 'ghettoisation', just normal human behaviour.

Work / Finding work in Warsaw / Poland as an English private tutor [63]


Experienced teachers in Warsaw are chasing lessons at the moment, so a new arrival doesn't have much of a chance.

Travel / Traveling around Poland - our photo stories with very personal commentary [225]

Szydlow is amazing. A long history and a romantic feel - nicer than Kazimierz. I got the feeling though that the heart had been ripped out of the place, probably when the Jews were taken.

News / Poland at International Mathematical Olympiad [13]


Yes. Occasionally I've needed to spend time in the Mathematics section at the Polish Academy of Science (very interesting old pictures of past members) and have noticed some very unusual behaviour. Absolute geniuses, but very very strange.

Travel / House clubs in Warsaw? [18]


Yes.


By no means all of them.

Then again, if you really must hang around pick up joints like Paparazzi off season, you can't expect to find top totty for free.

Travel / Eating out - where to have my first Polish meal in Warsaw? [10]


You'll probably spend half that, even eating out well.

Travel / House clubs in Warsaw? [18]

Clubs come and go - that's what you get when you're looking for cheap highlife.


Probably partly. That and it being the holiday season in general, plus just before payday.