News / €80 billion for Poland new EU budget [166]

Any link to that, BB? Yeah, I think legend would have been working really hard to contribute to that state of affairs ;) ;) There's your link :)

Law / Thinking of opening up a Greek restaurant in Poland, bad idea or good? Jenkei [45]

They like gyros and some like moussaka

News / Poland's Kaczynski blames Russia for brother's death [30]

I'm not anti-EU in some ways, BB. I just dislike the power brokers. Choosing a politician and political party is overly simplified. I may agree with him in some areas and disagree in others.

News / Poland's Kaczynski blames Russia for brother's death [30]

JK orchestrated a foul PR campaign. He is such a false little twat! He will blow with the wind and such politicians have no place when clear stands need to be taken. He has some element of practicality but, as a complete package, he comes up short in more ways than one :)

Life / I was cursing Poland daily, then returned home, but now thinking of going back.. [39]

I think a lot of Polish life is about avoiding pitfalls. Fall into traps and you may come a cropper but you need to be able to duck and dodge. Keep your nose clean and the administration won't bother you. Also double check before making a transfer or reading paragraphs. They will hold you to it later. It works both ways. I don't like the pedantic means of enforcement but they do maintain order at the same time.

News / Insulting Catholics in Poland can get you 2 years in jail? [67]

That's reassuring, Monia. I thought the Sharia Law model was being copied for a moment there :) Would I be looking at 2 years for calling a nun a penguin? I've always wanted to do that but I respect their work to a certain extent.

News / Dumbing-down in Polish schools and the Matura [185]

All this big fight to get into uni and then dubious salaries. I'd dumb it down too to alleviate the burden.

News / Insulting Catholics in Poland can get you 2 years in jail? [67]

What an absurd situation. It is not an offence for jailing people for. Context plays a major part.

Love / The age of consent in Poland is only 15 [147]

They will do as they will do anyway ;)

Life / I was cursing Poland daily, then returned home, but now thinking of going back.. [39]

Sometimes it's not so easy, Monia. I mean, have Poles forgotten WWII? I don't think so ;)

The reality of life here is harder for some than for others.

News / Poland's Kaczynski blames Russia for brother's death [30]

Yeah, he has lost the plot well and truly. He needs to put some excellent policy proposals forward that address realities here. If he doesn't do that then he is always going to be the barking little dog in the background that has no chance of getting into power.

Life / I was cursing Poland daily, then returned home, but now thinking of going back.. [39]

She joined to discuss her experiences, Monia. What do you think a forum is about? It's also called getting things off your chest and sharing what you encounter in life.

News / Poland's Kaczynski blames Russia for brother's death [30]

We see a total lack of ethics in JK here. The level of ruthless opportunism is staggering. Maybe he has conducted his own investigation with somehow more experienced personnel? ;) Russian ineptness combined with Polish cockiness was an obvious recipe for disaster. JK should stick to honouring his brother rather than looking for political gains.

Life / I was cursing Poland daily, then returned home, but now thinking of going back.. [39]

The feelings of the OP are typical of many Poles and it stems from romanticising their own country too much. They return from the UK to see Poland how they'd like it to be but are disappointed in the reality they are confronted with. The grass is always greener on the other side, they say.

Life / I was cursing Poland daily, then returned home, but now thinking of going back.. [39]

Horsey, it's quite true that they don't care much for their citizens but Poland very much has a 'lesser of two evils' political set-up. PO are here to stay for quite some time, I'd say. Taxes are ridiculously high, that's true. To think that Tusk gave this a lot of consideration, lol.

Living is really difficult here for many people. They point to salary increases but they are minimal, truth be told. Nothing compared to spiralling inflation. Also, your money is forcibly swiped through insurance and DSS payments. I'd rather save 890PLN a month but I've been reliably informed that I'm contributing to my pension here. Will I ever see it? Who knows?!

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

Isthatu, I was referring to Polish women here in Poland. I have already said that people get looser away from home, denuded of all expectations and Polish judgementalism.

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

Rebirth, that's crap. Many Polish women are not confident in foreign language use so many stick with their own. I'd say that Polish women stick with Polish men a lot.

Love / The age of consent in Poland is only 15 [147]

Bognor Regis at about the same ;)

15? Hmm....

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

It can take a while before they let you in. Many are too busy for dates. If you get a date with one, you may find that you don't have their undivided attention.

The type that can loosen them up, I'd say.

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

They tend not to be so malleable in my experience.

Love / Hopeful to date Polish woman [39]

Polish women are not easy at all. They tend to go for certain types. The key is getting them interested in you in the first place. Look for compatibility.

News / Poland's Kaczynski blames Russia for brother's death [30]

What a twat! He was nicey nicey with the Russians in a carefully calculated speech after Smoleńsk but now he has the gaul to have a dig at them :( I researched the catastrophe and found fault on both sides. True, the Russians could have done more but they were not solely to blame.

Work / The Goal: 3000pln a month, Lets make it happen! [13]

You can direct people to the nearest toilets for groszy :)

Travel / Which bus from Poland to London via the Eurotunnel? [27]

I think even the cloudiest of crystal balls could have foreseen that, wildie. I hate rowdy buses, not much worse!

UK, Ireland / The number of Anti-English Poles... [228]

Aloe vera aftersun, David. It helped me out and I'm milk skinned.

Love / The age of consent in Poland is only 15 [147]

Most have it at 14/15, yes. Spain is highly Catholic yet sets it at 13. Interesting! 16 is, for me, ideal.

Work / Advice on Teaching in Silesia [23]

Needless to say, Rybnik is a bit cheaper than the bigger cities but inflation has really hit Poland. Shop in Biedronka and you'll be fine. They have a Tesco there if you are interested. Rybnik is a good place to get started according to my friend who lives there.

Work / Advice on Teaching in Silesia [23]

Sorry, he used "while". That's a slap from the grave :)

Great point about holidays. All those deductions add up and, rather than work, you can spend the day shopping or drinking which leads to further losses. Good point for the OP to know.

Work / Advice on Teaching in Silesia [23]

Ah, ok. Good beer there :) Silesia has many foreigners and the competition is stiff. It isn't the most environmentally-friendly region of Poland but it has its places :)

Life / Homosexuality in Polish Culture [231]

Pol3, with your extensive experience of being gay and living in Poland, we bow down to your wisdom. Bow down, yes, not bend over ;) Don't get too hopeful :)