News / Have PO (Platforma) operatives in Poland fallen into a panic? [332]

@Delph! : beware of the unemployment rate because 1. a lot of unemployed don't bother to register (in Poland logical since only a few hundreds ZL help at best and for only a few months) and 2. in case of Poland, many people leave Poland for abroad. In a lot of areas in Poland, unemployment is officially 40-50% and should we add those unemployed not registered and all those who have left and who are still leaving for the West, it would be at least twice as much...

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

Am just back from some shopping in Warsaw Centrum area and there is now in front of Centrum metro station a petition to be signed against State funds for religion in school. It's about time to stop financing kids' brainwashing.

@Atch: when I say "a lot" considering the 2 some thousands of years of catholicism, yes, it means "a lot" of nuns. I am not taliking only about 2015 ;). And how many priests are fathers? Taboo does not change facts.

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

@Harry: 2% according to ... Vatican!!!!! ;). In reality how many? And how many more are not reported because kids are manipulated, threatened?

They see "evil" everywhere but "evil" is with them!

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

there is no pro-homo propaganda in any Polish (or other) school but unfortunately there sure is pro-catholic propaganda in Polish schools and more generally in Polish society.

Religion (and sex) should be a private matter.

Yes, Delph, they are most obsessed by sex. A lot of them are paedophiles, a lot of nuns get pregnant and abort.... and they would like to "teach" the rest of us their socalled "morals". It beats me...

Hyptocrits!

Although in those days, it was difficult and risky to do so, back in the 18th century, Molière wrote "Tartuffe" and Diderot "La religieuse" (which was made into a movie and of course the catholic Church complained but nevertheless could not stop the movie to be shown and people to go to the cinema).

Religious fanatics in ALL religions are very dangerous.

In my opinion, they are no.1 threat.

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

of course, there is no "pro-homo" propaganda in schools, whether in Poland and elsewhere. It is as sure as there never have been police dogs protecting the rainbow ;).

When shall the bigots stop imposing their backwards views to others? Instead of being so obsessed by homosexuals, they'd better clean their filthy Church.

To hate people like bigots hate homosexuals (+ of course everybody different) is not normal.

Homosexuality has existed since the very beginning of the humanity and always shall be so give the homosexuals a f...ing break!

when will the homosexual organizations stand up and one for all tell bigots of all creeds to simply f... off?

@Delph: of course, it is extremist catholic propaganda and not the reality.

These extremists are obsessed by sex.

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

@Pol3: please give us concrete examples of pro-homo sex education in Polish schools! I have been personally connected with several schools in Poland and I have never seen, never heard anything of the kind.

Once more: medias are very dangerous as don't report the truth.

PS: "Polish parents"? No, a handful bigots don't make "Polish parents"

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

@Dougpol: 13% no way! Do you see 13% gays around you? In any European (including Poland) type society, they say around 1.5 to 2%.

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

@Pol: max there are 2% homosexuals (in Poland like in any other country), how the h...ll can they infiltrate everything? Considering the adult population in Poland, homosexuals may be a few thousands people only and not all homosexuals work in such fields (many are hairdressers, interior designers...).

If homosexuals in Poland were so powerful, they would have obtained same sex marriage.

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

@Delph: some teachers, like you say, unprepared try to give kids some info while in biology classes but what I mean is that there are no formal sex education classes like in a lot (if not most) of European countries.

I have been told by several people in Poland that before marriage, would be couples need to attend "lessons" for a whole month given within the Church ;).

And as to "pro homo" propaganda in Polish schools, I would like Pol3 to give us concrete examples. Most probably he got this piece of info from the same source thru which he was informed of the police dogs guarding the rainbow ;).

I remember that during last PiS government, they had decided not to hire homosexuals as teachers because obvioulsy they mixed up homosexuality and paedophilia...

In terms of paedophilia, the RCC does not need lessons from others ;)

USA, Canada / For my dad... "free Steve Wlodarz" He is serving life without parole in a United States prison [32]

@Sdennis: of course, I have never been in a situation such as yours and I hope that I'll never will be. However, when I have a - big - problem, I check everywhere and with everybody I can think of in order to try to find a solution. Thanks to the net, you can make your dad's case known and I am sure to find help should he not be treated right (unfortunately it does happen and the USA is among the very worst countries in terms of justice.....)

News / Polish Parents protest against Poland's pro-homo sex education [75]

they are as sick as putin with his socalled 'homosexual propaganda" law. It is about time that Poland gets out of the darkness, treats homosexuals properly and also teach school kids about sexuality. In most European countries, schools offer sex education lessons.

USA, Canada / For my dad... "free Steve Wlodarz" He is serving life without parole in a United States prison [32]

@Sdennis: good luck! Do check into the Hank Skinner's case (it is in Texas). His wife got and gets a lot of support from anti death penalty associations in the US. Thanks to them, he has not been exectuted and could get a DNA tes (strangely results were not released...). If you Google, you'll find appropriate associations and even his wife, Sandrine (she is totally fluent in English so do not hesitate to contact her). Obviously all media coverage you can get may help.

You guys for sure have been through hell!

All the best!

Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

@Melis: the problem is that you do need a work permit to work in Poland and unless you have exceptional skills no employer will go through the hassle to apply for one.

In order to teach, all the serious schools demand diplomas (a lot of them demand Master's) (teaching is a real job, it's not because you are a native speaker of a said language that you can teach it and also a lot of natives make mistakes in their language ;) and there are (too) many qualified natives of English and also of Spanish who come from EU countries and may work without work permit. Same goes with call centers, a lot of natives from EU countries.

Unfortunately your only chance to grab a few ZL. is to get private lessons but here again don't expect more than peanuts: a lot of natives already and private lessons are normally not reliable (people cancelling all the time for whatever reason).

Sorry but I don't understand why before coming to Poland you did not look into conditions. The lack of air conditioning is no big deal since this summer is exceptional but the work issue is important so I am surprised that you did not get informed.....

And yes, life in Poland (as per local salaries) is very expensive. I am sure that for instance clothes, shoes... are cheaper in Canada.

Good luck!

Travel / Car Hire in Gdansk and trip to Kaliningrad [14]

Do Russian authorities deliver tourist visas in a few minutes at the border? I doubt it.

Life / Advice needed on Dental implant in Poland [119]

@George: Absolutely! :). People need to look at it in a longer term but unfortunately most do not. In case of serious problems, difficult to return where treatment was made. I've heard several difficult cases. Same goes for plastic surgery.

Unfortunately so much propaganda through the net. In PF too! ;). They all advertize their clinics: all great, all cheap, they all speak English + a dozen other languages, pick up at airport, provide accommodation, food, entertainement, (spending money????), take back to the airport and all this for 1/3 of what would be expected in richer countries but what about the ... AFTERCARE! Of course, normally the dental work will last for several months, for a few years and then????

To be sure: more problems and more money than doing it locally!

Travel / Car Hire in Gdansk and trip to Kaliningrad [14]

Hi! I seriously doubt that you can hire a car in Gdansk and take it to Kaliningrad. Obviously you need a visa too and I know that all Rusian visas are hard to get and costly. You'd better forget about the idea to drive to Russia and make other plans for the week-end ;)

Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

@Atch: I don't know if it is in August but I have noticed that every year, there is a whole month (between May and August) when it rains every day and all day. As I am very sensitive about weather (I hate rain, cold (but for me rain is worse), snow, and when it's grey), I do notice for sure ;). It seems that all the Poles I know say that this year, the summer has been "not normal" for Poland (their very words). If the weather was nice this summer in Poland, it was so everywhere in Europe so nothing particular about Poland.

The summer is normally so short in Poland that I have taken the habit of not buying a lot of summer clothes since I don't wear them often.

For me, the ideal: 25-30 the whole year, by a warm clean and blue sea ;)

Life / Living Expenses in Krakow [42]

I'm always very amazed when reading such posts. What's the point of crossing half the world to end up counting coins in a far away obscure land? Unless there is a war going on where we are and/or we starve to death, I don't get it. Settling elsewere completely strange to us to end up in lousy 1 or even 2 room flats, shopping at cheapest stores, cooking at home because can't afford to eat out and counting each coin does not make sense to me.

Why going abroad to be worse off than at home? I can understand when there are wars and in case of some bi-national couples but not otherwise. It can also be ok for a 22-year old who wants to travel and who won't stay long but not for a family...

News / Poland's Archbishop Wesolowski trial starts [28]

I don't know of course but I would not be surprised that it was a suiccide. He could also have had a heart attack because of stress. Isn't it strange that so many paedophile priests and nazi war criminals die just before their trials???? I just observe.

The guy will never face trial so we'll never know and too bad for his victims, if any. If it (in Italy?) works the same way it does in French justice for which "suspect always benefits from ANY doubt" ("le doute profite toujours à l'accusé"), the guy will be considered not guilty.

News / Poland's Archbishop Wesolowski trial starts [28]

Very "convenient" indeed! All paedophile priests and nazi war criminals always die before justice can deal with them. According to what I read, the guy was only 61 and not sick.

USA, Canada / For my dad... "free Steve Wlodarz" He is serving life without parole in a United States prison [32]

If you dad is innocent, it is a true tragedy not only for him but also for whole family. There are needless to say counterless judicial 'errors" in all countries and unfortunately in the US it's much worse than in all so called civilized countries. How many innocents are killed? How many spend years in jail for nothing? Simply disgusting.

What about lawyers? Do you think your dad's have been "good"? I guess not otherwise he would have received a softer deal.

If I were you, I would try to publicize the case through the medias. Do you think you could bring new evidence that could change the situation? When new clear evidence is brought, I believe they do reopen the case.

I don't know whether Hank Skinner's case if famous in the US. He is from Texas and in jail. He was about to be executed 3 times and every time at the very last minute, authorities stopped the execution. The guy exchanged letters with an anti death penalty (female) French film producer and a bit later they got married. Skinner's wife has ever since raised hell in favor of her husband, who was allowed to have a DNA test previously refused.

What I am trying to say is that do get in touch with anti death penalty associations (they would help you). Maybe you can find the ones helping Hank Skinner and his wife, Sandrine.

I am NOT saying your dad is innocent because I don't know but if you think he has not been treated "right", do fight as much as you can. Of course, lawyers (especially in the US) cost an arm and a leg so do try through media and through anti death penalty associations.

Do fight!

Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

@Atch: I spent 16 summers in Poland so believe me, the weather you had this year is exceptional. Very often it rains a whole month almost every day (for instance August 2014). I understand that you are from Ireland so I get the idea but since I am used to very mild winters (rarely below 0) and very hot summers the Polish climate is difficult.

Love / I'm a Polish girl (my boyfriend is British) and I'm proud [58]

@Jon: the problem is that such people never want to hear/read from people who live, work, are.... from given area.. Re the curtains, of course, it's no big deal but in some situations, it can harm a reputation and it is terrible. It is just like those claiming the ... Rainbow is protected by police and dogs 24/7 when everybody living in Warsaw can say it is not true ;).

It could be that people do remember the first piece of info they have read/heard, whether serious or BS. Could be but if they were intelligent, they would check among people who really know....

Well, no way to change this way of thinking and acting! ;(

Life / Advice needed on Dental implant in Poland [119]

@Jardinero: No, I meant "what to do" when problems further to treatment ABROAD???? We cannot travel back and forth and also our local dentists are not too happy to repare what foreign dentists have done wrong ;)

(for the past few months I go to a great clinic in Warsaw using ... gas :))

Life / Canadian Moving to Poznan, Poland - what to bring over, areas to avoid, school for a child. [54]

@Melis: why in the world do you want air conditioning in homes? At most it's hot 2 weeks per summer in Poland. I've been here for ages and it's the best summer I have seen in Poland (elsewhere in Europe it was even much hotter). A 40-year-old client of mine who has spent all her life in Poland told me a few days ago that it was the best summer she has ever experienced in Poland. This year has been exceptional.

Bear it, it's been hot for a couple of weeks but very soon you'll complain that night comes early, that it's grey (lack of light is terrible) and cold (but not as much as it is in Canada).

Don't worry! You won't be very hot in Poland ;).

As to the prices of things, it is sure that with respect to local salaries, they are very high but if you eat like Poles do (pork, chicken, sausage, potatoes, cucumbers, onions ...) you'll make it ;)

Have a nice day!

Love / I'm a Polish girl (my boyfriend is British) and I'm proud [58]

@Befranklin: Hi! I agree with you. You know, what does basically pi### me off is when I read (or hear) people who don't live in given place, often have never been there or at best for a couple of days/weeks (on top of that most often with no knowledge whatsoever of local language) pretending to know better than locals because they have read it on the net or they had ONE experience.

There are a lot of such people not only in PF but also of course in all fora. I read not long ago about a Western European girl who spent 3 days in Poland as a tourist writing that Poles do not use curtains in their windows (??????), just to give an example of BS to be found on the net. Of course, the curtain thing is no big deal ;) but giving falso info about people and about places can be very harmful. I live in Warsaw and therefore do 99% of my shopping there so trust me, I know what (normal) stores offer ... I don't go to specialized stores (not only for bras but for everything else) ;).

I used to live in the US (in my youth) and basically I loved it but it was looooooooooooong time ago so I would not tell people who now live in the US that it's like this or like that over there ;). Common sense that people who live in an area or who are from there know best.... It is just like some in PF pretending the famous Rainbow is guarded by cops and police dogs 24/7 and when we live in Warsaw, we know it is not true.

Have a nice day! :)

PS: my comments are general. If someone feels concerned, not my problem ;)

Love / I'm a Polish girl (my boyfriend is British) and I'm proud [58]

@Shaman: yes, you are insulting but never mind! I live in Warsaw, I do ALL my shopping in Warsaw so I know what they have in (normal) stores. I admit I do NOT go to specialized shops since I go only to big chains (like most women, not only in Poland but elsewhere) and what do they have? From 75 A to sometimes 100 (for instance at Khapal (a Norwegian store whose name I cannot spell) or Kubus (another Scandinavian store), max. D cup. Their offer corresponds to what most customers buy. In case of very small or very big breasts, need to go to specialized stores.

As far as I am concerned, I mostly buy from Tk Maks where I can find what I want so no need to go on and on ...

For sure, a good bra from a specialized store must be better and more comfortable (like any other piece of clothes anyway) but I am happy with the non padded bras I can buy for max. 60 ZL at TK Maks'... ;). So why bother??? ;) Do you think most Polish women can spend 150, 200 or more on a single bra?

Love / I'm a Polish girl (my boyfriend is British) and I'm proud [58]

@Shaman: thanks for your concern ;) but I can buy from normal stores ;). I just don't like padded bras. Most often I go to TkMax because they usually have nice Italian non padded bras

Why insulting me? No, I'm no expert but I happen to live in Warsaw and buy 99% of my clothes there. And yes, I buy from big chain stores.

@Jon: absolutely! Most younger girls just go to places like ... H&M where they can get a bra for 39zl. Sometimes I do too buy bras from H&M. I'm sure that most Polish (and other) women go to chain stores. When I go to supermarkets, I see quite a few women buying bras.... Unless a particular problem, no need to go to special shops. Well, if some want to spend more, let them but no need to insult the women who don't spend so much...

Love / I'm a Polish girl (my boyfriend is British) and I'm proud [58]

I have noticed too that Russian women are often dressed in a "different" way and sometimes their clothes could not be worn in the West ;). I have noticed that in the mountains Russian women could also be recognized by their shoes/boots. Whereas Polish (and Western) women wear boots suitable for walking in the snow, Russian women wear high heels (mystery to me how they can walk and not fall). This is of course when Russian women keep their "Russian way" because of course some are completely westernized. The client I have referred to buys some of her things in Poland and the rest in Moscow so mixed style ;).

In Poland, it depends upon a lot of factors. When older, in Poland B and also poorer, Polish women are less "westernized". Although Poland is homogeneous as per its ethnicity, the differences in dressing/living are huge as per Poland A vs. Poland B, income, age, education... and that is the reason why it is completely stupid to say "Polish girls" since not a block. In remote areas of Poland B, older (let's say after their 40s') women are dressed (even different hairstyles) in ways not seen in Western Europe and it's amazing what we see in stores even these days. Very ... Eastern (or communist?) indeed! ;)

Law / Poland student visa refusal - 'intention to leave' [51]

These schools are crooks. They exploit their students who at best get useless "diplomas" and they fool Polish authorities.