History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

I also think your stories are very well-written. Keep up the good work!
I came to Wałbrzych first time in 1989 and still remember the typical smell of browncoal hanging over the city.

Life / Cheapest car spares in Poland? [23]

To be honest, I do not have the energy to shop around for spares. My Pan Andrzej is servicing by car since years and I am satisfied with that. I am sure his bills are more expensive then if would search the www for parts. But he is reasonably honest, stocks my tires in the right season...

And yes I am sure I pay let's say 30 PLN more for maintenance compared to when I would buy all filters, oil etc. myself. But I do maintenance twice per year, so....

History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

I still do not fathom why they decided to move to Poland. After all, moving from Belgium or France to the PRL in the years 1945-50 was a fairly drastic move.

For sure there were some "socialist idealists" between them. But the rest?
This is a kind of fascinating history - history within the bigger picture as it was -. What I do know, was that the miners who emigrated to Poland after the war (and emigration it should be called because a lot of them were born in Belgium or the North of France) that their "Western pensions" gave them a position ahead of the locals. (and of course the locals were not exactly "local"). Belgian or French francs went a big way these days.

History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

Gierek also worked in Belgian mines before the war - though I do not know whether he spoke French
I know that the Polish miners who returned to Poland after the war bitterly regretted that move. But reaching retirement age, their Belgian/French pensions gave them a kind of compensation.

History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]


I have friends in Mieroszów whose grandparents also still speak French - miners.

History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

Before the war the European elite considered French as their second language. In international relations French has been since ages the language of use. Although probably now not anymore.

History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]


In the Wałbrzych region quite a few actually - miners who lived and worked in Belgium and France and who returned to Poland, lured by PRL promises.

News / Who controls Gazeta Wyborcza?? [216]


This means that for you being Polish is a blood-related condition. The blood has to be pure...
I wonder what the Kashubians, Silesians, Mazurians and Górale make of this?
How does this make you different from a certain moustached fellow from before the war? And we all know where his ideas lead to.

Genealogy / Coats of arms of Polish cities [51]

How do I copy images to the forum?

History / Janusz Korczak Year in Poland - a genuine Polish hero versus the namiotists [20]


I am actually a good example of the Flemish education system, having spent my early years in Jesuit college...:)

Korczak is a genuine Polish hero. The duck is a pathetic joke.

Genealogy / Coats of arms of Polish cities [51]

I always thought Warsaw's is a bit cheeky :)

News / 1.3% birth rate = Poland's slow death [221]


You are a hardcore antisemitic, and your ideas about women...welll....

By the way, do you live in Poland...and do you have children?
I do fulfill both categories actually :).

Travel / Bored foreigner in Warsaw, any advice? [13]

In my opinion, and judging from my 22-year old daughter, 18-years old think the BUW roof garden is very boring.... I think it is very interesting, but hey, what does her very old dad knows? Btw the roof garden is now in renovation. They are replacing all the vegetation by winter-proof ones. They should have thought about this before :)

Life / Cheapest car spares in Poland? [23]

Spares for Japanese cars are always expensive. I am driving Nissan since 26 years so I can testify to that :)

Language / The most effective methods to learn the Polish language? [56]

Slightly connected question. What are currently the best language schools in Warsaw? I did Polish at Antwerp University initially, but when I came to Poland many years ago, I did some follow-up at IKO. Which are the best outfits these days?

News / 1.3% birth rate = Poland's slow death [221]


I was considering for a moment to think you very common to Mussolini's way of thinking. But then, Mussolini was definitely not an antisemitic (the Italian Army, to its eternal and lasting honor protected the Jewish population in its areas of occupation against the Nazis).

News / Józef Szaniawski, - Tragic death of patriot from Poland [12]

And which paper was writing this? Any references?
Maybe TOPR did it?

History / What do nations of the world owe to Poland and Polish people? [58]

Pierogi ?

News / Who controls Gazeta Wyborcza?? [216]


He cannot give an answer because he does not have one.

News / Józef Szaniawski, - Tragic death of patriot from Poland [12]

My guess Nazi flying saucers did it.
Maybe TOPR is a secret PO agency?

News / Józef Szaniawski, - Tragic death of patriot from Poland [12]


polska the times is not a reliable source, it is a smolenkist mouthpiece, specialized in inventing the wildest theories - even the Grimm brothers would scratch their head at the fairy-tale level of their stories.

USA, Canada / Who is better informed, the expat or the Polonia crowd? [144]


Yes, the Polonialandists live in their PIS-ghetto, longing back to the good old times when everybody in Poland "knew his place".
I.e. kowtowing to the local aristocrat, putting a blind eye when the local priest was getting close with the girls in the village, beating a Jew or two in the process...

Unfortunately for them this country has moved on.

News / Who controls Gazeta Wyborcza?? [216]


But then, your treat Polonialand as a religion....
How do you observe the Polish scene?

USA, Canada / Who is better informed, the expat or the Polonia crowd? [144]


That is why 70% of the people vote non-PIS ?
I thought that the ones leaving Poland, are doing this for purely material reasons. Do not tell me you are living in the UK because you are afraid of the Polish Prime Minister. Rather to earn a lot of money perhaps?

Life / Political correctness in Poland [210]


As we all know the Catholic Church is plagued by pedophilia scandals everywhere in the world, but surprisingly enough this stopped at the Polish border.

Language / What do you say in a doctors surgery to ask "Who is next in line?" [19]

You have to be aware of the queue-barging tactics employed here in Poland. (and polished - no pun intended - into perfection)
1. Pensioners think they have the god-given right to skip any queue because they are over 60. For example in my local pharmacy they always go in front of everybody else and start "I only have a question - do you have this medicine in stock?" and expect to get served immediately

They also go to the post office for example by preference between 16:00 and 19:00, when all working people have their slot.
2. People pushing prams. They use this as a weapon to defy any queue.They push the pram in front of them as far as possible, expecting (rather demanding) that the people patiently waiting will give way.

USA, Canada / Who is better informed, the expat or the Polonia crowd? [144]

Why the Polonialand sect votes overwhelmingly for PIS (70% if I can trust the figures on this forum), whereas the Poles vote 70% against the smolenkists?

News / Who controls Gazeta Wyborcza?? [216]

Rz is a PIS mouthpiece. They are more civilized as GP or ND, but still are a duck outlet.
One thing I admire in them, is that their Polish is very clear, easy to read and understand (I do not mean simple, but very readable)

Also the layout is nice.

Language / Is it possible to learn Polish while not living in Poland? If yes, how? [37]

This has to be a question from a genuine simpleton. In every civilized country there is a network of evening classes / weekend courses to do everything from pottery to learning Chinese. Google?