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Posts by patrick  

Joined: 3 Aug 2011 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 26 May 2012
Threads: Total: 6 / In This Archive: 6
Posts: Total: 113 / In This Archive: 95 		From: Poznan
Speaks Polish?: Yes

Displayed posts: 101 / page 4 of 4
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patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]

if you go back to Poland your kids will benefit from an excellent education

That's my question LK; what's so great about it? I know my kids' heads would be packed with information in Poland, but what good is it? Again, is a Polish nurse so superior to an American one? Is a Polish cab driver so superior to an American one?

I know it's a feeling of accomplishment to work hard and see what you have, but what does it mean in the end? Is a Pole a better person? Does he have better sex? Does he make more money? Is he more willing to help people in need???
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Polish or American Education? [180]

First of all, let's try to keep this from sinking into a hissy fit. Uspokój się!

My Polish wife, two kids (4 and 6) and I are living outside of Europe and the States, and have to return in a year to one of these places. Taking my kids' education into consideration, I choose the States.

Here comes the barrage of "Are you stupid?" and "Americans are rock heads!" and the like. Okay, okay, okay.

I agree that your average Polish high school graduate has much more information in his head than your average American graduate, but what's the value of knowing the capital city of every country in the world? Do Polish doctors, firemen or janitors carry out their duties in a far superior way? Are Poles more cosmopolitan or empathetic to the citizens of the world? I want my kids to enjoy their education and not have it rammed down their throats.

I would ask that this question be addressed within the confines of the Polish and American systems. I am not talking about European education. I consider Polish education different than the German, British, Swedish, etc. systems.

I taught at a Polish university for eight years, so I do have some insight about how Poles are taught.

Again, let's keep the pathology down to a minimum as I am genuinely curious about the pros of the Polish system, and am not saying that Poles are stupid or their system is useless.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Moving from United Kingdom to USA. Is it worth it? [136]

Got to go with pip on this one. I am much more for a safety net system as Canada has, not because I am a freeloading loser, but because I would sleep a little better knowing that I wouldn't lose my house and all my money if my family or I got sick.

Americans are addicted to having choices and there's enough people with money to keep the current healthcare system going.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
Life / $3,000-$4,000 a month - would we have enough money to live in Poland? [273]

I doubt they know anything about history of Europe as we are taught

To tell you the truth Mona, I doubt they know much about American history.

However, I really have a hard time believing that there is really any tangible difference when it comes to people doing their jobs. I am not saying that Polish doctors, teachers and etc. are less qualified, hell maybe you're right that they are more qualified, but what difference does it make? Do you really think that you'd have to worry about the competency of an American pilot, electrician or dog catcher because he doesn't know the capital city of every country? I am not advocating that ignorance is okay, but what's the sense in beating kids' brains in for 12 years? By the way, I taught at a Polish university for eight years, so I have some insight.

Maybe I should start a new thread as this seems pretty far off topic from the original post.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
Love / American marrying Polish woman in Poland - Church problems [79]

the local Polish priest was very unhelpfull and rude.

Imagine that; somebody was unhelpful and rude.

The Polish marraige classes were a hoot

Do you speak Polish? Did you understand when they were teaching you about sex?
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Moving from United Kingdom to USA. Is it worth it? [136]

Yeah Fuzzy I know, but I am taking my kids (6 and 4) into consideration. I see the upper midwest as being much more family-friendly with my family in the area, good schools, low crime, positive environment. Yes, to each his own.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Moving from United Kingdom to USA. Is it worth it? [136]

Fuzzy you make it sound so simple. I am planning on moving back to the States with my Polish wife and kids and am tempted to move the desert southwest. Prices for houses are ridiculous, but I just can't help but wonder where the dark shadow is. You can't tell me the atmosphere of those communities with whole streets that have been foreclosed on is exactly positive. I just imagine urban decay. Am I watching too much network news?

I am originally from Pig Knuckle, North Dakota and even though things are very stable and wholesome there, the isolation and cold kind of take the luster away from it. My family is still there, hence the draw. Minnesota is a good second choice and houses are cheap there too.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
USA, Canada / Moving from United Kingdom to USA. Is it worth it? [136]

This is so darn subjective. Of course Europeans are going to say "Don't go!" While Americans are going to say "It's great!" I've lived in Poland and the States and am now on a third continent wondering where to settle. And the answer is......the States. It comes down to familiarity. I am sure that Poland has some wonderful things to offer, I just haven't discovered all of them. Besides, I'm not Polish and therefore don't know how to survive and be satisfied/happy. Of course I can be happy with my family and friends, but day to day life? Forget it. Gasoline - $7/gallon. Teacher - $4-500/month. Western European prices. ??? salaries. I don't even know what to compare it to.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish opinion of England as a country and the English nation [64]

You know its true yanks. America has the best and the worst of everything and i mean everything!!!!

I like that, and I'm American. Very well put and so true.

I lived in Poland for eight years and had really great "mates". The lads from the isles were really super. However, in Saudi Arabia I can't say the same. I only have one word to describe them, arrogant. I think the Brits in Saudi can't deal well with life without a pub.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
Life / $3,000-$4,000 a month - would we have enough money to live in Poland? [273]

Monia my wife is Polish, my kids were born in Poland and I lived and worked there for eight years, so yes I think I can say a thing or two about it. There's no way that I would say "Poland you suck!" I had some really great experiences there. Whenever I'd go home to the States, I'd also get irritated at things there. Six of one, half a dozen of another.

The discussion about education is too subjective, really. All Poles I talk to prefer their system, and all non-Poles prefer their own system. Hard to have a good discussion. The one thing that was annoying about having this discussion was, though, that it was next to impossible to get a Pole to give the advantage of knowing the capital of every country. Yes we can cite stupid Americans on YouTube and of course George Bush, but is your average Polish doctor, teacher, policeman more capable in their duties? I've been looking for the answer to this question for years.
patrick   
4 Aug 2011
Love / American marrying Polish woman in Poland - Church problems [79]

I'm curious if coppermouse is going to have to go through the church's "marriage classes". You know, learning about sex and that people who use contraceptives hate children. Maybe it's an afterthought since he may already be married as this thread is a few months old. I really had to grit my teeth sitting through those classes, but I did it for my wife's Polishness. It had nothing to do with belief in God.