USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


It would do them well to actually live here. Take PennBoy for instance - all he sees is that his family pretend to be poor farmers, not getting anything from the EU and being exploited. Of course, they're not going to tell the truth - after all, they like the expensive presents being sent from the US every year.


Silesian "Slavic"? Errr.... the speakers of Schlesisch might have something to say about that! There's quite the German minority in Poland!

And Ukrainians and Lemkos are not Polish!


Uhhh...by that measure, you could say that Poles although Slavic are also Lithuanian! They're not Polish at all!

Life / $3,000-$4,000 a month - would we have enough money to live in Poland? [273]


Only if they need a visa to enter Poland. If they can visit for 90 days as a tourist, they can just apply for a residence permit in Poland - which is much easier.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


We? You live in America and renounced your Polish citizenship, so less of the "we".

Anyway, since when does the source of the blood matter? Ah, that's right - not only do you hate Jews, but you also hate anyone non-white. Surprise, surprise - you're a bedroom brownshirt.

Law / What does the Indian passport get when getting married to the Polish? Driving license? [8]

Hahahahaa. Sure, it's got nothing to do with the EU passport, does it?

Anyway, you get nothing except the right of residence and to work here.

Law / How can I get Polish citizenship after been married to a Polish spouse [75]

If you don't want to wait, you don't have to have Polish citizenship.

For what it's worth, if they block you from obtaining Polish citizenship, then you need to pay for an expensive lawyer and fight them in the courts. Poland has been putting a lot of obstacles in the path of citizenship for non-EU citizens by marriage, and I know of a case personally where someone had to wait 6 years for citizenship to be confirmed.

And yes, you can expect refusal in the first instance. Poland doesn't have much tolerance for passport marriages.

Life / $3,000-$4,000 a month - would we have enough money to live in Poland? [273]


You still need a residence permit, however. That should be issued for 2 years - and yes, you can work quite legally on it.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


Poles mixed a lot - there's a lot of mixed Polish/Ukrainian marriages from before 1939, and keeping track of Lithuanian/Polish marriages is a waste of time. As I said - two of the greatest figures in Polish history could be claimed as at least partially Lithuanian - and that's just the ones I know about.

Heck, look at Poles today in Western Poland - the ones who were originally from there (not moved after WWII) often have Germanic last names - I know one girl who has a German last name, yet they've traced it back to the times before the partitions. And let's not forget people like the Silesians, the Bambers, Lemkos, Kashubians and more.

Sorry, but Poles are mongrels by blood, just like 99% of Europeans.

Law / GBP to PLN: Best way to get good exchange rate? [22]


There's no such rules for intra-EU transfers - you only have to declare entering/leaving the EU with more than 10k in Euro.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


I doubt many Poles could say this. Given that over the years, plenty of Germans and Lithuanians (including, don't forget, the greatest poet in Polish history and the greatest military leader) mixed in there (Balts are not Slavs, before you even start) - how many people could say that they can actually trace their family back to the existence of the Polish state.

It's just arrogance to suggest that someone is "pure Polish" (no-one does in Poland anyway) - how the hell can you be so sure, especially if you can't trace your family back to before the partitions?

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


How many of them swore allegiance to another country - and with it, declared that they renounce their Polish citizenship?

Anyway, you swore that you renounced your citizenship - so you're either a traitor or a liar. Which is it?

News / Pole-basher Gross up to old tricks [284]

I'm personally wondering why you know about a book considered to be "a bible of the far right".

Betraying your political beliefs, traitor?

So why doesn't a Polish author release such a book? What's the excuse? With Gross, he knows that publishing history books about bad Polish deeds sell very well. Fair enough - I'm sure a book outlining evil Germans would sell well in the UK, or a book outlining evil Russians would do very well in America.

But if you want to use Smolensk as an example - it's the same old story. Poles do something wrong, Poles get criticised, Poles get angry and self defensive. Perhaps following the German example and admitting what you've done wrong could be a start?

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


I imagine the vast majority of Poles would rather die than renounce their allegiance to a free Poland.


The thing is, you've assimilated into Polish life. You know what's going on, you understand how the Tusk-Kaczynski rivalry has been tearing the country in half, you've taught yourself the language to a passable level and so on. You're a credit to Poland - and I see no harm in you passing observation on the country. It doesn't matter one bit if you're American or Polish - the point is that you know the deal and you live here.


Wow. Bang on the money :)

Given that those of us who have lived here for years barely understand some things no matter how hard we try, how can the average Polish-American hope to understand it? They simply can't.

Work / Advice for a worried English stranger / Native speaker who wants to move to Poland [23]


Yes. For one simple reason - there are very, very few women in Poland teaching English, and even less who have some decent experience in life. The industry is dominated by male native speakers - which will make you stand out, especially in a place like Torun.

It's worth pointing out that while knowing the grammar is good, many people aren't interested in being taught grammar from a native, but rather connecting with the language itself. You're in a really great situation - you won't be perceived as a "kid" by ageist Poles who feel that age = respect, and you're also very sellable as a female native.

Also - unlike male native teachers, you'll have the great ability to persuade parents to sign up for lessons with you, especially with younger children. You can make a hell of a lot of money from parents of youngish children :)


The fact that you had the guts to do this tells me that you'll be a great success in Poland. :)


And in all honesty, that's what works for me. I'm not a great grammar teacher (I don't like it, don't have any passion for it) - but I seem to be able to help people learn new things. Everyone is different - you really don't have to be a great grammar teacher in the beginning in order to be a success.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


A dull Scot with possibly some very diluted Norwegian blood in there somewhere.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


It's strange - why are all these vile mouthed Americans on here ruining the good name of Poles by constantly making such remarks?

Anyone would think that Poland was some sort of barbaric, backwards country on the basis of what these Polish-Americans say constantly!

At least we know the truth, huh? ;)

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


Have you ever considered that our views reflect Polish society - that most Poles simply do not consider 3rd/4th/5th generation Polish-Americans to be Polish, especially when they can't speak Polish?

For what it's worth, I can't figure out how you can claim to be a certain ethnicity if you can't speak the language! Many Poles have told me how awful Polish literature is in translation - and if you can't read the literature, how the hell can you be Polish?

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


Given his constant insults towards real Polish society, I think it's quite justified in making it clear that he's not Polish at all, despite his claims otherwise.

USA, Canada / Things that Polish-American should know about Poland. [168]


Aha. I thought as much - you're not actually Polish at all. Certainly figures from your la-la imagination when it comes to Poland.


The French routinely ridiculous Quebecois French. Nothing new there - they don't speak French as it's spoken in La Metropole, therefore it's wrong.

And Chris - I think you've summed up beautifully what I'm talking about.

History / My Great Grand father took part in the Battle of Warsaw! [90]


Ah, come on. Afghanistan fighters were willing to use almost any tactic necessary to drive out the Russians - I can't imagine Poland ever fighting a war on such a level.


In all fairness - Poland has no history of this. Even during Communist times, terror wasn't used - it's just not in the Polish mentality to do such a thing. Poland's spirit is still broken - I cannot imagine Poland having the will to fight back when the aggressor executes another Katyn to break the will of the people.

I'm still convinced that Poland should have adopted the Swiss doctrine of defence.


Give it back to who? I don't think the Poles will be too impressed at being told to give up some of their land.


I wouldn't call it that, but I'd say that the borders should be much easier to defend than before WWII ;)

Work / Working as a Spanish language teacher in Kraków. Wages, living cost, etc. [5]


Blimey, why do you want to waste your time with Poland? The money and prestige here will be much lower than elsewhere - unless you can find a university job. My advice would be to try and see if you can land a university job from outside Poland - it's not going to be easy, but with such a strong resume, you might just have a chance.

But - there is such a thing as the "professor trap" - meaning that universities don't want to hire someone that won't become a professor in time. Trevek on here can tell you about this particular issue.

I wouldn't waste my time with private schools, unless you can find someone willing to give you a full time job. Even then, it's unlikely to be a genuine offer.


The problem isn't so much the qualified part, as the fact that Polish schools will tend to hire anyone and everyone. If someone like you turns up, they're also going to have the choice of hiring some "hello ladies, I'm just off the plane from the beaches of the Costa Brava" type for 20-25zl an hour.

Is there any specific reason for choosing Krakow? You might have much more luck in Warsaw - or even some of the other cities where there's a lack of qualified Spanish teachers.

News / Polish cleaner blows the lid on 'dirty' Germans [124]


They're certainly not beautiful. Expensive, yes - but not beautiful.

The current trends in Polish housebuilding are utterly shocking and will leave a horrific scar on the landscape in years to come.

Work / Working as a Spanish language teacher in Kraków. Wages, living cost, etc. [5]


In respect to Spanish, there's not a huge demand. It's seen as a "fun" language by people - not as a serious language. In this respect, finding one school to hire you is going to be easier said than done - though it depends on your own qualifications and experience. One thing that's certain is that you'll enter at the bottom irrespective of how much experience and knowledge you have. But really, don't expect to be offered a full time job from outside Poland.


For Spanish, about 25-30zl an hour, even as a native.


Depends on what standard of living you expect. But in general, assume that you need to have, as a minimum, 2000zl in your pocket a month to be able to have any chance of surviving.


It depends. You can sometimes find schools willing to pay your social security expenses - though don't rely on it. The norm is that they don't (you can start a business to pay them - works out much more cost efficient to do it this way), though.


Private Spanish lessons aren't particularly plentiful, and there's plenty of competition - don't be surprised if you end up only getting 25/30zl an hour for them. I know in Poznan, with much less foreigners, the supply has pushed prices down to 25zl an hour for Spanish teachers. I can't imagine it'll be a different story in Krakow.

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]


It's a disaster in terms of enforcement - still plenty of places are completely breaking the law. I understand small pubs in the suburbs not paying much attention, but big-ish city centre pubs are doing the same.

Travel / Whats the cheapest way to get around Poland... train or bus? [25]

Definitely not.

Trains are about the same price for osobowy as the set PKS fares.

Law / Any good business ideas - what Poland needs? [114]


I don't have any problems here as a foreigner. Nothing shocking, and quite a pleasaurable experience in terms of things being painless and easy.

History / My Great Grand father took part in the Battle of Warsaw! [90]

Well, Poland only got independence in 1918 because of the defeat/retreat of the partitioning powers - it wasn't as if Poland actually secured her own independence (except in Wielkopolska). And it was reliant on Wilson and a few others to actually agree to it - otherwise Poland would have continued to be a non-State.

It could in all fairness be said that only Germany met any sort of wrath at the end of WWI. Likewise in 1989 - the only reason Poland was freed was because the Soviet Union had lost interest. It wasn't a victory by Poles, but rather a decision by the masters.

(but - of course, history is littered with examples where Poland defeated a fair few invaders!)


Hard to tell really - if the Tsars had fallen without a strong government to replace them, the country may very well have exploded in ethnic violence and there would be no Russian Federation today.

News / Poland's atheist loonies have had their 5 minutes [239]


Who cares if the concerts are drunken and drug-laced? There's still vast amounts of money going to children that need the money most - how it's raised really doesn't matter.


Not a chance. The sheer success of WOSP is down to the fact that it's successfully engaged young people - who are normally apathy-laden!

News / Gazeta Wyborcza of Poland losing readers [301]


The problem is Torq is that people will often swear blind that they saw something, even if they didn't. It's quite a common thing - I can't recall the pyschological term, but it's to do with group compliance and so on. I dare say you see exactly the same behaviour with any sort of minority group.


Oh, it clearly is. It relies on sensationalism to sell newspapers - that's the mark of a tabloid. It could be best compared to the UK's Daily Mail in terms of how it presents itself - it aims to shock and upset the readers with a set agenda.

But there's nothing wrong with that as such - if the audience likes the constant Smolensk articles and obsession with Tusk/Komorowski, then fair play to them. Who are we to decide what people can and can't read, after all?


It was filmed by TVN - but I guess the fact that the boy argued back meant that it wasn't good footage.


Indeed, emotions were running far too high - that should never, ever have been allowed to go on as long as it did. The fact that -


That was the worst part. The crowd of mostly old people actually managed to prevent them from removing the cross was beyond insane - it made a mockery of the police and the entire security apparatus.

History / Silesia occupation [49]


Indeed. The Queen would still be Head of State, the currency would more than likely remain Sterling until Scotland moved towards the Euro (which wouldn't be overnight!) - in fact, about the only thing that would change would be that Scotland would have full self determination.

I actually think that Salmond has played a blinder over the last 15 or so years. He's managed to manipulate the UK parties into giving even more autonomy to Scotland without taking anything "back" - and when in 15 years time, people keep calling for more powers to be devolved (perhaps full and complete tax powers?) - you'll see Scotland more or less independent without actually being independent.

The Scotland Act was step 1, Calman is step 2 - and what next? We even saw Scotland having a small amount of control over immigration policy with the Fresh Talent Initative.

The race is on with Catalonia ;)

Law / Starting a private College in Poland - procedures and information [15]


Cheers, I look forward to it :)