News / Russian air traffic controllers ignored communication protocol of Polish pilots? [194]


And here begins the blame towards Russia and the spread of misinformation.

If indeed, the crash was caused by an inability of Poles to understand Russian - then it's almost certainly going to cause resentment towards Russia, even where it's not their fault in the slightest.

A flight operated by the Polish Air Force, talking to Russian military air controllers are hardly going to be bound by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, are they?


It has nothing to do with it. It is Poland's obligation to ensure that their pilots understand the language used by the Russian military - not Russia's obligation to speak a language that Polish pilots understand.

It's worth noting that ICAO appear to have only mandated the use of English on international routes.

News / Will todays tragedy effect the economy of Poland? [34]


Jaroslaw Kaczynski alone knows the answer to that question. If he runs, then he could very well snatch it with an emotional campaign against the robot Komorowski. PO's choice in candidate may very well turn against them badly.

News / Will todays tragedy effect the economy of Poland? [34]

Won't make a difference, because no real decision makers were on the plane.

Work / English qualifications to start Teaching English In Poland. Is degree of some sort needed? [123]

Generally, I think it's fair to say that beginners prefer American English, while more advanced students tend to move towards British English. But really, it doesn't matter - as long as you have an open mind about the language. I know there is a perception that British English is superior though - I suspect our superiority complex has rubbed off on Poland ;)

One problem with American teachers is that they tend to be very ignorant about British English - I've always thought an "ideal" teacher would be American, but brought up in the UK.

USA, Canada / Getting a VISA to USA by a Polish person nowadays [339]


They absolutely bombed in the UK. I suspect it's just another American gimmick - all hype, little substance.

Their CEO"s attitude towards health care leaves a hell of a lot to be desired - and they're hardly friendly towards trade unions as well. For a company which caters to the liberal point of view, they're quite disgraceful in some of their actions.


Don't get me started on the idiocy of countries like the UK growing organic food. Poland? Fine, there's the space to do so. But in the UK, where premium farmland is already lacking? Come on.

Polonia / How long to deliver a package from France to Poland? [5]


UK-Poland (and vice versa) seems to be very good, to be honest. I've just had a parcel delivered from the UK - dispatched Tuesday, arrived today. That's not bad at all!

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

If I'm reading this right - you entered Poland 2 years ago on the Schengen 90 day tourist stamp and haven't applied for residency?

If so, you haven't got a hope in hell of legalising your stay, business or no business. There's absolutely no way that they're going to show leinency towards someone who has overstayed by that amount - in fact, you should count yourself lucky that they haven't caught up with you yet.

Yes, there is the possibility of legalising your stay after starting a business here - but only for those who have time left on their legal stay.

Travel / Driving to Poland from England - any tips? [264]


Jeez, what's the point? The section nearest the Berliner Ring is dangerous and should have a 120km/h limit on it, but the first bit after Swiecko? Pointless!

If anything, it would make sense to slap a 140km/h limit on it. But I guess they realise that Polish drivers will do 140km/h on the A12 anyway, so maybe it's not so stupid.

Any idea what kind of tolerance is applied in Germany in regards to the 120km/h limit?

UK, Ireland / Female health in Britain - Polish view [105]

Or like what happened here in a pub : they ran out of water in the toilet!

That was a first...

UK, Ireland / Female health in Britain - Polish view [105]


No, and many Poles have problems in the UK understanding why the system doesn't let you see specialists without referral. It's even worse with pregnancies - they simply cannot get it into their heads that a qualified midwife is more than capable - because she doesn't have papers saying that she's a doctor, therefore she cannot be any good.

It's partially this obsession with specialists that causes the NFZ to struggle - they would go a *long* way by requiring GP's to do their jobs properly. It's even normal here for GP's to simply refer you straight away to a specialist rather than trying to at least try a diagnosis themselves.

UK, Ireland / Iphone blocked in England. Would it work in Poland? [9]

Stolen, then.

UK, Ireland / Iphone blocked in England. Would it work in Poland? [9]

No. IEMI blocklists are shared internationally.

The phone is stolen, isn't it?

Life / I'm British in Poland and I think that it's time to go back to the UK! [240]

But at least the dentists are good, eh? :P

Law / Polish car insurance and how it compares to England [29]

It sets off a lot of alarm bells! It's almost certainly going to be a cut and shut wreck for that price - the average price on Allegro at the minute is 20,000zl.


It's not so much a loophole, more simply the British aren't interested as long as the car is legal somewhere in the EU.


Whoever quoting you that price is quite frankly lying through their teeth. Second hand cars in Poland are at least 20% more expensive - I've just had a look now on Allegro and found the average price for a 2002 Volvo V40 to be in the region of 20,000zl, or about 5000 pounds. You do see "bargains" in Poland - but these are almost certainly written off cars that have major structural failings, yet have passed the technical check because someone knows someone.

Even my own example - a plain, dull Astra, is worth about 30% more here than in the UK.

Can you say "scam"? :)

It's hard to even get a pre-2000 Ford Ka for 5000zl in decent condition!

Travel / Krakow a safe and friendly city for foreigners? Read this! [161]


Of course - come on, who's going to admit that they got beaten up in a brothel for not paying, or for treating the girl badly?

Travel / Krakow a safe and friendly city for foreigners? Read this! [161]

I think most people here know that in the vast majority of cases, when something bad happens to a tourist, it's usually their own bloody fault.

Travel / Krakow a safe and friendly city for foreigners? Read this! [161]


From what I've heard, Spanish guys are coming to Poland in droves, trying to get laid. Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me if these guys actually went to a brothel and were beaten by pimps for not paying (or worse, for treating the girls badly).

Spanish men are hormone filled macho men at the best of time - it wouldn't surprise me if one of them actually tried pulling a knife on someone and then got his arse well and truly kicked for it. There's countless incidents in Spain where Brits have got involved in fights with locals, only for the Brit to end up stabbed by a cowardly Spaniard.

Let's be realistic - no Spainsh guy is ever going to admit that he got a beating for doing something wrong. Spanish guys, by nature, are even worse than Polish men when it comes to not accepting that they can be wrong in any way.

Life / Are people in Poland 'made' to give money to their parents? [25]


I'd be interested in any concrete details about this - because it seems frankly unbelievable.

Law / Polish car insurance and how it compares to England [29]

Not necessarily so - it depends on the circumstances.

(you also need valid Polish residency to buy a car - as he's British and presumably without Polish residency papers, he can't register a Polish car anyway)

Law / Polish car insurance and how it compares to England [29]


Why on earth? Car prices are significantly higher here!

Life / Are people in Poland 'made' to give money to their parents? [25]


Of course not. The Mother is simply attempting to scare her, or alternatively, she's using her mother has an excuse for something.


Nothing. The fact that you now live abroad doesn't change anything, you're still registered to the address and that's that. If you no longer wish to be bound to the obligation to have an ID card, you can de-register your address - but no-one does this.

Work / Teach English or Swedish in Poland [16]


Not Swedish, but Norwegian could be useful - I know the two languages aren't the same, but if you can teach beginner-intermediate Norwegian, you could be laughing.

News / Sikorski or Komorowski for president? [32]


Not a bad choice, given that Tusk wants to change the constitution to make the President all but ceremonial. I suspect that Komorowski also fits the job perfectly - not likely to rock the boat, stable, uncharismatic, reliable. Look at the German or Italian Presidents - does anyone even know who they are?

Life / Polish TV licence (abonament) - almost no-one I know pays [36]


True, Poland doesn't pay out to people that don't live or work here.


See also : hideously expensive universities which require taking stupidly large loans, no state healthcare system, most states have high property and sales taxes...you really can't compare.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]

It was run by "Polish Patriots". What did they do, apart from isolate Poland and make her the laughing stock of Europe?

Anyway, when you stop being a plastic pole, we can talk.

History / Why will Poland always be the puppet of America? [159]


Of course it won't, Schengen has far too many benefits for Poland - even now, it amazes me.

Travel / Why some travelers hate Poland? [45]


You've never been on an EIC train, have you? :)

I wouldn't call over 100zl for a 180km ride "cheap" - but the quality is excellent. Even the ride is exceptionally smooth, even on the wrecked track between Leszno and Poznan.

Overnight sleeper trains (especially the Szczecin-Przemysl one) are also of a very high quality.

Polish trains are very, very much what you pay for - if you pay for a cheap ticket on PKP PR, of course the quality will be rubbish. But if you pay for EIC trains, you'll notice the comfort, even down to the at-seat service.

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]


Stay away from Krakow and Warsaw then, both of them are hardly unique.

If you want something interesting, try Jelenia Gora in Poland or Lwów in Ukraine.

Travel / Why some travelers hate Poland? [45]


Ugh, don't say zloties, it sounds terrible!

(I'm from the school of thought that says Zloty is like Euro)


Not clean? If you pay for EIC tickets, the trains are usually spotless. Even the worst PKP PR trains are no worse than some in Western Europe.


Most do if they can.

Life / Parking Fines in Poland [26]

Is it a legal space to park? If not, then there's no defence.

The fact that you can't find a place is neither here nor there.