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Posts by Cardno85  

Joined: 11 Jul 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 4 Aug 2017
Threads: Total: 31 / In This Archive: 9
Posts: Total: 971 / In This Archive: 399 		From: Kraków, Poland
Speaks Polish?: Rozumiem ale nie mówic dobrze.
Interests: Cocktails, Cooking, Rugby, Shinty, Reading, Watching Movies

Displayed posts: 408 / page 4 of 14
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Cardno85   
7 Aug 2014
Life / Poland no Unemployment benefits after paying taxes for 20 years [41]

His £120,000-a-year salary

So, roughly 600,000PLN a year for 20 years. That's a total of 12,000,000PLN. You are saying that after earning that much, he really needed to go on the dole in Poland and there was no savings? To most Polish people that's more than even a lottery win and they would happily live their lives never working again. What the hell was this guy spending on?

ZUS doesn't work and doesn't support the people like it should, but it's the same in the UK. Would this guy have been happier going back to the UK and getting £76 a week?
Cardno85   
5 Aug 2014
Food / Is it possible to get dehydrated Suet In Poland? [3]

[Mods: Feel free to move this to UK if you think that's more appropriate]

I know you can buy fresh suet in Poland, however it's rare in the UK and most people use Atora Dehydrated Suet. Is it possible to get dehydrated suet here or is someone able to give a bit of advice on how to substitute the two? I had a look on British cooking sites, but it seems that, due to the lack of available fresh suet, there's not much available.
Cardno85   
5 Aug 2014
Real Estate / What does a traditional apartment in Poland look like? [8]

While in certain cities the old fashioned flats are really nice, they come with a whole host of problems. They cost a fortune to heat due to poor insulation and those high ceilings you like. Also, unless they have been very well refurbished you could be in for a lot of trouble with leaks, damp and various other maintenance problems, you can make sure maintenance is covered by the owner in the contract, but it's a real pain. Also sound insulation is not always very good and so you can hear people going up and down stairs late at night and early in the morning.

I have stayed in old and new flats in Kraków and I would very much reccommend the new ones. Perhaps they may be "soulless" to the OP, but home is what you make it, and it's easier to do that when your house is warm and dry.

Another thing to note, a lot of the old buildings are close to the city centre, this brings up rental costs almost exponentially. Newer builds are often more out of the city and so costs are more competitive. Also much easier to give your flat some character if you have a few extra Zloty in your pocket.
Cardno85   
16 Jul 2014
Travel / Trips around Wrocław and in Lower Silesia region [11]

In geography, "lower" means "down river", not "south".

I am aware of that, however, being Scottish, the Highlands are North and the lowlands are South. I also got confused in New Zealand when the Highlands are in the far south of the country.
Cardno85   
3 Jul 2014
Classifieds / English cuisine week in Lidl shops in Poland [203]

majority (probably all) British cheeses were suitable for vegetarians

This is very true for almost all cheeses you can buy in the supermarket, as they cater to a much larger audience and it would be stupid to alienate a growing group of consumers. However if you head to a cheese shop then a huge number of them will still contain animal rennet. I am not to fussed about the rennet issue, but I can't say I can tell a huge amount of difference between a really good cheese made with rennet and ones using vegitarian alternatives.
Cardno85   
1 Jul 2014
Life / Public Transport Woes in Poland [11]

From this morning's trip to work, why oh why do schools taking kids to the cinema demand to use standard public buses to transport an entire classfull of screaming brats during rush hour??
Cardno85   
28 Jun 2014
Life / Public Transport Woes in Poland [11]

Yup, again, old people are bad offenders for this. Screaming into their phone like it's a long distance call in 1902 and not realising that, just because they can't hear so good, they don't need to shout!

I have no problem with people picking up their phone on public transport, but don't disturb everyone else. Keep it brief and quiet...
Cardno85   
27 Jun 2014
Life / Public Transport Woes in Poland [11]

As inspired by Pam:

There is nothing wrong with starting a new thread as the result of interest generated on another.

I have decided to answer/moan about the topics mentioned:

1.2.3.4.5.

1. In their defence, the open spaces on buses and trams is there for wheelchairs and prams. I do get annoyed when it's filled with bicycles, if you have a bike, why don't you cylcle it instead of taking up a load of space on the bus/tram??

2. I hate this...seriously, because you're old it means you can't follow common courtesy and your bag somehow needs a seat because, what, it's got a pension pass too?

3. In Kraków they have combatted this by only offering hour tickets for sale by the driver, which means if you can't use the machine or don't have a ticket you need to pay 5PLN for one off the driver. Although, in saying that, sometimes the automats are out of order and I think they do that on purpose to raise funds so people have to buy a more expensive ticket.

4. I will always give my seat up to someone that I feel deserves it, however, I am not going to feel like a terrible person because someone who's just turned 60 (or whatever age it is, it's a long while before I need to worry about it) and got their pass wants my seat.

5. I don't want to single out the older people with their little shopping carts, but people with huge backpacks that refuse to put them at their feet and go wandering about bumping everyone and taking up two people's spaces on a crowded bus deserve to pay double!
Cardno85   
26 Jun 2014
Life / Is Polish parenting traditionally very laissez faire? [4]

I think it very much has to be taken on a case by case basis. I know my family in law don't take their infant out to restaurants because they want to enjoy time with adults.

As a former waiter in a fine dining establishment I can say this is certainly not a Polish thing, but a consequence of modern life where Parents think that their children don't need to be dicsiplined. I remember carrying hot soups about and having to dodge little brats playing tag in a fine dining room because heaven help me if I was to drop soup on them. I think there needs to be constraints with kids in public areas.

In saying that, I don't think it's a big problem in Poland as opposed to the UK.
Cardno85   
22 Jun 2014
Food / Which Polish milk brand is closest to UK supermarket style milk? [31]

But never raw milk which is dangerous.

Raw milk can be dangerous if not treated correctly. For the Mlekomats, the milk is instantly chilled from the udder down to 1.5 degrees C which inhibits the growth of bacterial cultures. Provided you keep it cold and drink it within a week, which is not hard because it's so tasty.

I found, when I first arrived here, that fresh milk was really hard to find, but now there is a good selection. I would also reccommend Zimne Mleko or the Mlekomat (the latter being possibly the best milk I have every tasted in my life). But you will also find "Swieze Mleko" in white (not clear) PET bottles which is good for keeping the milk for quite a while.

Don't touch UHT with a barge pole. Unless you are living on a submarine...
Cardno85   
22 Jun 2014
Work / Salary and cost of living information - Krakow [257]

That's true, on top of that, because you are using a real estate agency there will be their fee too. I think you should be confident on paying close to 2000PLN for that.

4500 PLN Gros enough for a single person?

Take out 30% of that to take into account the tax. You should look at about 3150PLN take home pay and so after rent and bills you should look at having 1150PLN in your pocket for a month. This is perfectly manageable however it's not a huge amount and if you are thinking of going out every other night and shopping exclusively in Alma/Kuchnia Swiata you will be out of cash in about a week or two.

sodexo meal vouchers

There are quite a few different types of sodexo vouchers. I know the most common is the Podarunkowy Pass which is accepted in all major supermarkets and a large number of other shops. It would be worth checking the exact type of voucher you are getting from them. If it is Podarunkowy Pass then you can pretty much add the value of your vouchers to your wages and get a pretty good idea of what you will have in your pocket for the month.

If it is a different type of voucher then it would be worth checking to see where that type will be accepted. On
dlaciebie.sodexo.pl/kupony
you can enter the type of voucher in the section RODZAJ KUPONÓW and then Kraków in the MIASTO and search to see what kind of shops/restaurants are there.
Cardno85   
14 Jun 2014
Life / What's the family life and culture of families like in Poland? [14]

should i take my shoes off?

Yes, it is expected in Poland that you would take off your shoes when you enter someone's house. I think it's only really a western Europe/US thing to keep your shoes on in the house. I grew up in SEA so I have always done it as habit, don't really get the whole dragging your dirty shoes through other houses they do in the UK.
Cardno85   
10 Jun 2014
News / Poland one step closer to visa waiver by US Senate [59]

Btw I am mystified why anyone, anybody would like to go to the US voluntarily.

I agree, if you are looking for money then go to the UK or Germany. Why try the US where the risks outweigh the rewards?
Cardno85   
10 Jun 2014
News / Poland one step closer to visa waiver by US Senate [59]

Someone in the office thinks I may overstay- it's his opinion and is an assumption so it can be harmful

That is a problem with the system. I used to work outside the US Consulate in Kraków where people would queue all day to find out if they could go and visit family. Most of them were respectable enough and it was at the whim of the consulate to grant them the Visa. Most people got it, but they had to pay 800PLN for it, and if you failed, you needed to pay again. Considering the statue of liberty states "bring me your poor and unwanted" (paraphrased) it's a bit funny how strict they are. Keep in mind the Polish were one of the countries that helped build that nation.
Cardno85   
10 Jun 2014
News / Poland one step closer to visa waiver by US Senate [59]

It's high time Poles stopped being treated like high-risk potential terrorists

It's not the terrorism threat they are worried about. It's the fact that so many Poles come to visit and then stay permenantly, leading to costly (for the US) deportation or citizenship procedures. Although in saying that, Poland are hardly the worst in Europe for that sort of thing and they are still the only established EU country that has to queue for a Visa to go for a weekend in New York.
Cardno85   
5 Jun 2014
Life / Many Problems with UPC Broadband in Poland - Anyone Else? [20]

What city are you in BLS? I am in Kraków and haven't had a single issue since I signed up. There was a 2 hour lapse in TV and internet once, but that was scheduled maintenance that I was informed about before it happened.
Cardno85   
14 May 2014
Travel / Where can I buy alcohol in Poland as a 16 yr old? (is it legal?) [14]

It is quite strict, I have been asked for ID a couple of times in fact and I am nearing 30. I am pretty sure that the charge will definately hit the shopkeeper and their license, however I am aware that it is an offense to attempt to buy alcohol while underage so the person buying could also be charged. It's also worth noting that a particularly strict shopkeeper could refuse you and then call the police/straz mieska with a description and they will be fine and you will be picked up.

Might be better off getting someone to buy it for you.
Cardno85   
14 May 2014
Travel / OK to wear Kilts in Wroclaw on Friday nights? Would it deny us admission to pubs/clubs? [7]

I got knocked back from a nightclub in Kraków when wearing my kilt. I later met a person I knew who was drinking with the guy that knocked me back and I questioned him about it. Simply he said that the kilt was not the issue, it was the fact that the style in which I was wearing it was very casual and their dress code specified smart. As he said, "he can't tell other people that they need to wear a shirt if he lets me in wearing a t-shirt with a kilt. I think that is important. While a kilt can be classed as formal black or white tie, it can also be worn very casually and I think that needs to be kept in mind if you are looking to get into certain clubs.
Cardno85   
1 May 2014
Law / Canadian who studies in Warsaw - Visa, Karta Pobytu and Deportation? [6]

It's hard to say about the Karta Pobytu because of the buearocracy involved. However I would say risking it, while you will probaby be fine, is a risky move. It's not just Poland you need to worry about, if you overstay your visa and are caught then you could risk a full Schengen lock out!
Cardno85   
27 Apr 2014
Life / UPC phone line in Poland [7]

You, sir, are a gentleman and scholar. Many thanks!

I just managed to set it up although my remote was slightly different to the one in the instruction manual linked. With mine I had to hold down OK and Wyjdz until the light came on and then press TV Kanal up until my TV went off, then TV to turn the TV back on then OK to save. Very simple and now I only have one remote lying about :)
Cardno85   
26 Apr 2014
Life / Food wastage in Poland households [6]

I personally find I waste far too much food. It's a hard habit to break, but I buy things from Tesco "just in case" and then it goes in the bin the next week. Shocking really and I should do better. I have found that since I started ordering online, I stick much closer to a list and so don't buy so much extra.

I think that in all Western countries (Poland included) there is a huge amount of food wastage. It's due to convenience of being able to pop down the supermarket and replace whatever you threw out so people will buy everything they might need and not only what they do need. In the days when you had to go to different shops to get things, it was such a hassle that you would stick to what you need. Supermarkets, for all the good they do, have led to much higher food wastage.
Cardno85   
26 Apr 2014
Life / UPC phone line in Poland [7]

Merged: Setting Up Your UPC Remote To Work On Your TV

Hi all, I have noticed there are TV options on my UPC remote which would suggest that I can put away my TV remote and control it all with one remote. However I have had a google and can't find a way to do that. Does anyone know how I could set this up?
Cardno85   
8 Apr 2014
Life / Golden Wedding in Poland, the protocol for giving gift for a wedding? [58]

So you're sending them about two and a half times what a Pole would give if he/she actually went to the party; well that'll certainly stop them from seeing you as a cash cow in the future.

Ditto this, some people are a bit ungrateful, thinking you will help pay for the wedding you're not going to. If that's the attitude...send them a gift voucher of $20 for Amazon
Cardno85   
8 Apr 2014
Life / Golden Wedding in Poland, the protocol for giving gift for a wedding? [58]

If you give them $400 or 1200 PLN it would be very generous.

A bit too generous if you ask me. Keep in mind they may have closer family than you giving less than that. I would stick to what others said 250 to 400PLN depending on your relationship with the couple and your own income. If you are really not going to be hard up then you could push it up to 500 and that would be very much appreciated. More than that and I would feel you were being a bit flashy.