Work / Native Speaker Translation Charge (Polish<>English) [12]

The industry standard is around 30PLN per 1800 character page (inc. spaces). He should get a volume discount. Another idea is to get a good Polish translator to do it with native English proofreading. More expensive but easier to find and more accurate.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]

I wonder how the courts would see a situation like that, when the police rigidly adhere to the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. Don't Poles say that laws are made for people, not people made for laws? I have witnessed similar acts of cops not wisely using their discretion and acting like brats. I'd be tempted to test this but I've had my fingers badly burnt once already this year.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]


Either you didn't drive in very many countries or you had bad luck. In my view there are far worse countries in which to drive. Some of them have better stats in terms of road deaths, but there are several reasons for that.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]

How many points? I'm just about to lose six of my current eleven.

Life / Where to buy a hat (for men) in Kraków ? [3]

Why not buy online? You'll have much more choice, and unless you have a really weird head the measurement is easy. I bought a couple of these on allegro a few years ago.

allegro.pl/kapelusz-slomkowy-meski-damski-lato-letni-57-cm-i4273355017.html

Panamas go for 249PLN on the same page.

Life / Driving Offences in Poland - How Fast can you go without being arrested? ;) [56]


That used to be the rule of thumb in built up areas only.


Anyone doing that speed will make motorway police wonder about the sanity of the driver. Don't expect sympathy from guys who have to see mangled corpses as part of their job.


Probably down to getting laid that morning before work.
Bottom line, don't take a chance with Polish traffic cops. They are usually very polite and professional but ruthless, especially now that they are required to use new technology which makes 'negotiation' more difficult.

Law / How many years does it take to get citizenship of Poland through marriage? [12]

You've just got here. You can't expect automatic citizenship. Unless they've changed things you'll also have to write an application stating why you want to have citizenship. Then your application will be considered and the powers that be will decide whether they want you as a citizen or not.

Life / Need an English speaking dentist in Warsaw? Avoid this place! [6]

My dentist always writes my ap time on a card and gives it to me. I thought they all did that.

Travel / Will I have any 'Issues' visiting Poland (Bialystok, Lublin, Biala Podlaska & Warsaw)? [9]


Keep in touch via this site and I'd be glad to help if I can.

Travel / Will I have any 'Issues' visiting Poland (Bialystok, Lublin, Biala Podlaska & Warsaw)? [9]

Quincy. You would no doubt be stared at by people in rural areas. This is still a very pink country, and even in the cities people with different skin colours are rare in the east. In Białystok there are a few black medical students. Unfortunately, Białystok has earned itself a bad reputation for racist hooliganism. There is a small but dangerous group which is extremely intolerant. If I were you, I'd come with a friend, preferably female.

As for being gay, times and attitudes are changing, but it is a conservative country and Gay Pride Białystok is some years in the future. As you say, nobody can tell unless you tell them. Your biological mother may shun you, but that could happen anywhere, couldn't it?

When are you thinking of coming? If it's during the academic year, I might be able to hook you up with some uni students.

Law / Setting up small business in Poland? [191]

If you start selling Indonesian food in Białystok, I'll be your first and best customer. However, as you may know, the restaurant business there is very hard. Just look at the number of cafes on Lipowa that have come and gone in the last few years, including an excellent Turkish place and a fast noodle joint. I wish you the very best of luck but you need an experienced Polish business partner with a sound head.

News / Poland, The Starbucks report. [42]

It used to be the case that whatever else McDonalds sold, you could always be sure of a half decent cup of filter coffee. However, I've noticed that in Poland Mack Shack coffee is often dreadful. I thought franchisees were bound to serve the same stuff everywhere.

News / Car theft in Warsaw (the most popular cars among car thieves in Poland) [54]

"Surprisingly, the Eastern provinces of Poland are not that 'popular' among car thieves (in theory they should be because the stolen cars could be moved to the Baltic / Russia countries)."

They used to be, but now that these borders are EU borders corruption among border guards has fallen to negligible levels. I live in these borderlands and I remember when there was a very lively trade in, e.g. petrol from Belarus. Not now.

Law / NIP REGON database - business start date is shown - but is that a good idea? [7]

Since August 2006

Law / NIP REGON database - business start date is shown - but is that a good idea? [7]

" someone can see when a business commenced, and that can harm confidence"
I've just used that site to see my own details. Yes, it's all there; the naked truth. That's not such a bad thing though, is it? Unless someone's trying to hide something.

Work / I have 2 job offers, should I choose Lodz or Krakow ?? [9]

irishlodz"For a central 30/35m2 apartment in Krakow I expect you will pay 1700-2000pln"
I don't know how two people could share 30m2 and stay sane. Wouldn't it be better to go a bus-ride away at get something roomier?

Hoggar. When you say customer services, do you mean call centre? Have you got someone working on your work/residence permits?

News / Poles most worried about independence in 23 years - poll [8]

wiadro " I find it a <possible> scenario that Russia attacks Poland and the international community, including EU and NATO, does nothing is done about it until half of the country is taken"

Poland is part of the EU and NATO. If Russia attacked Poland, it would be attacking NATO.

Australia / Grape wine from Poland for sale in Australia? [17]

Not cheap, is it, Monitor? Do you know of any big supermarkets that carry good Polish wine. I'd be willing to risk 50-60PLN but a case would be a gamble.

Australia / Grape wine from Poland for sale in Australia? [17]

I'd also be interested in trying decent wine from Poland. Is there any? The stuff I see in cartons on the bottom shelves of night shops is for al fresco consumption in municipal recreational areas.

News / Capturing the centre-ground of Polish politics [4]

"Would Jarosław Kaczyński step down from the leadership"
Only with the assistance of a size 45 boot placed firmly in the small of his back, which is what should have happened last time he got trounced. PiS will never win a General Election with this man as leader.

UK, Ireland / Polish plane almost kills off UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2010. [24]

The accident had nothing to do with where the plane was designed or made. The banner got caught in the tailplane. It could have happened on any similar aircraft. Are you trying to whip up hostility between British and Polish people?

UK, Ireland / Polish plane almost kills off UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2010. [24]

Neither.

UK, Ireland / Polish plane almost kills off UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2010. [24]

Jon
"the pilot was never the same again"
Topped himself last December.

News / Polish Pope, John Paul II has been canonized today [with John 23rd] [85]

"that wears completely faaaaabulouuuuuus shiny colorful gowns and funny hats. this is evidence of someone SERIOUSLY conflicted in their sexuality."

To be fair, the clothes most priests wear couldn't be more drab. It is, however, a global disgrace that the Church covered up child abuse comitted by its clergy for decades, if not centuries. Even the most rabid Radio Maryja Polish Catholic can't deny that the Vatican has accepted that fact. Then again, Rydzyks's people are loyal to him first and the Vatican a distant second.

Travel / Ryanair flying domestic in Poland? [46]

You talked me into it! 48PLN for a forward aisle seat both ways. Cheers, Jon.

Travel / Ryanair flying domestic in Poland? [46]

Jon "Also think about reserving a seat."
Why? I've got a ticket, and by sod's law I'm bound to be between the whiffy fat guy and the screming baby even if I pay the extra.

Work / Finding English teaching jobs in Poland [19]

It's a pity you have such a low opinion of my profession, Dominic. While it's true that I have never made a great deal of money, I have made a decent living and have got great satisfaction from my work.

szenoa. If you love teaching, stick at it. You'll never get rich, but I guess you knew that already, didn't you.

Travel / Ryanair flying domestic in Poland? [46]

I intend to take every precaution. I read their pilots have to pay for their drinking water. Do they charge for the loo yet?

News / Has the mainstream media in Poland made too much of what 17 year old school girl said to premier Tusk [41]

WP"I wonder if the people you spoke to didn't like Kaczynski? If that is the case, then they would be saying that, wouldn't they?"

That may be how you work, but the friends I mention are educated and have no axe to grind. As a matter of fact they didn't particularly like him, but they wouldn't have let that colour their opinion. Intelligent people know how to separate personal dislike from objective analysis.

"Also, do these people you asked speak English fluently?"
Oh, yes.

Travel / Ryanair flying domestic in Poland? [46]

I'll be flying with Ryanair from Modlin to Bristol in July with no seat reservation and only a carry on bag. How worried should I be?