UK, Ireland / Why are Poles in the UK complaining of racism when you are racist? [73]

From my experience of living here it is not super tolerant country. It is like any others...

That is true this is small minority of ignorant yobs plus small group of 'little Englanders' with big 'chips on their shoulder'. Unfortunately these racists behaviours are picked by local/national press and brings very negative feelings.

I think in Poland racists behaviour is often effect of ignorance. Let's be honest except big cities there are not may foreigners in Poland ( don't count Ukrainians as they are very assimilated)

In UK it is sometimes just pure nastiness of some people.

It also does not help that for the last few months British press was banging on and on all the time how Polish /emigrants work for minimum wages ( drag them down) use NHS, schools..... Daily Mail or rather Daily Hate was a master at it. So we can partly thank press for these anti immigration feelings here.

Plus as I said before - with 1 million Ukrainians in Poland do we attack them? Does Polish press bangs on how they take our jobs, their children go to our schools, doctors,.... NO.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Obtaining licence and meeting hygene and safety demand's doesn't mean 'home cooked food' served :-).

Of course they are busy , after few drinks and if someone never tried anything better it is what it is.

Of course there are lovely country pubs ,well advertised and well priced with good proper food. But there are few of them. majority pubs serve have processed and cooked food brought from some factories which is just warmed up on premises.

Yes, some servr nice Sunday lunch but only some of them cook it on premises.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]


That is true that in UK there is bigger choice of dishes but it is slowly changing in Poland. You can easily find lamb/game in bigger towns like Krakow/Warsaw.

But....saying that most pubs in UK serve home-cooked food?- I think that you live in 'dreamland-cockooland ,- Most pubs in UK serve awful processed food as most of them don't even have proper kitchens.I would say that most people working there don't have much idea about cooking except warming dishes in microwave.

UK, Ireland / Curious about differences Polish people see with the British? [95]

To be honest I don't quite understand purpose of questions asked in the shops 'How are you today'? 'what are your plans for the evening' ?- I find it bizarre and someway patronizing.

Wouldn't be enough to smile and say 'good morning/afternoon' 'How can I help' ?

Luckily it doesn't happen very often and from my observation these questions are usually asked by young /cocky boys :-)

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

Not a big novelty. It happens in UK a lot...

UK, Ireland / Curious about differences Polish people see with the British? [95]

Polish bar or English pub...you gave strange example of place for historical/political discussion- do you try to say that polish are rude there but british to contrary behave there like real gentlemen ;-) ?

I general it is is cultural difference- many europeans ( not only polish) can be blunt, direct maybe appearing rude at expressing their opinions ( especially after few drinks) BUT English for a change can be sarcastic , laugh off everything and you don't really know their opinion about anything. It is nothing wrong with sense of humor and some distance to themselves but some people can find it fake....

UK, Ireland / Curious about differences Polish people see with the British? [95]


Ha,Ha-I thought the same :-)

'deliberate process'- time changed and they had no choice as occupied countries wanted to be free.

UK, Ireland / The Poles in Britain - a history by BBC Magazine [25]

Effect of reading Daily Mail and daily express.......

There is certain group of people like that- usually working class roots , not very good at their job, with big attitude,( big fan of union trades and strikes) and in general bitter.....

I met few of them.....Even had pleasure to work with one of them. In the end we got on well as surprise, surprise, I could do my job much better than he expected and when was need for it I could stand for myself too.

Life / Polish vs British vs American - Clash of cultures [390]

Ha ,ha where I was reading it 'what surprised me in Poland'- One comparison made me smile- bacon sandwiches- it is so BRITISH ( american too?).

In my previous job ( upmarket Legal company) daily training session in hotel - and surprise, surprise what welcomes you after arrival- bacon sandwich and cofffee.

In Europe you would get small ,smart open sandwich, sweet roll, croissant..maybe tiny canape.....

Why would I want greasy bacon sandwich first thing in the morning???

Life / Going to Poland in a hijab - Polish people and Islam [154]

It is true what you wrote and it is just RADICULOUS and very sad if you look from women ( who lives there) point of view.

Life / Going to Poland in a hijab - Polish people and Islam [154]

I think that covering head for women is not as unusual - as you said ( especially in the countryside) older women wear scarves. I think it is the same in some countries in the south (Greece...)- I think it originated from old custom that women cover head when they are married.

But let's be honest Burka, Hijab.....whatever- it is not sign of modesty for me but alienation.

Life / Going to Poland in a hijab - Polish people and Islam [154]


Ha, Ha quite understandable as in Poland all women wear skimpy clothes and bikinis and have advanced anorexia so yes, your modest clothe can raise a few eyebrows :-)

USA, Canada / Why do Americans (and Canadians) hate Polish people? [226]

It is amusing that American consider polish to be unintelligent. I always had impression that this description quite matches lots american. Except North with lots money, universities south of USA is rather poorly fed and educated speaking with awful accent.

If you asked average German, French, Italian....If they find average american intelligent - What would be the answer?

USA, Canada / Why do Americans (and Canadians) hate Polish people? [226]

I have family ( they are legally) there and paradise it is not.All taxes, paid healthcare...

Why anyone would go to USA if they can go to any European country now?

I was on holiday in USA and I wouldn't like to live there.

Is comparing property prices absurd?- it is very normal procedure.Have you ever read any financial paper ?

USA, Canada / Why do Americans (and Canadians) hate Polish people? [226]


Maybe 20 years ago, not now. With low value of USD, lots areas with crappy boarded houses, unemployment - USA is no paradise any more. Maybe that is what is painful for american? They can't feel superior any more.

Excluding places like Washington, New York.... property prices in USA are not different that in Poland.It is so easier to emigrate to any Eu country now _ and always easier to come back.

What would attract average polish person to emigrate to USA now ?????

I think that is

UK, Ireland / Why are Brits so left-wing? [60]

Of course crime is a crime and criminals are all over the world - any nation any race. My point was that these kind of crimes seems to be 'overdue' like smelly egg as everyone is petrified of being labelled 'racists'- It is wrong and I don't want to sound like feminist but when I try to imagine what these poor young girls endured- disadvantaged from the start as they mainly came from broken/dysfunctional houses. It is all just disgusting.

UK, Ireland / Why are Brits so left-wing? [60]

I think that in general British are quite tolerant Society comparing to other nations. It it is tolerance and democracy not left-wing views.
But....on the other side political correctness gone mad and everyone is petrified to be labelled 'homophobic', 'racists'.

Effects:- Gangs of Asians men raping and exploiting young girls for years before it was 'discovered' and investigated by police....another one - radicalization in some state funded school in Birmingham- Am I correct that both were investigated after big articles appeared in the paper? Any single reports submitted before were just ignored and brushed under the carpet.

UK, Ireland / Have the British become the worst enemy of the Polish? [45]

I think that Polish sense of humor is ok- we have quite a few good comedies but unfortunately I think that lots Polish people lack any sense of humor.

Surprisingly I seem to meet many Polish who don't really miss Poland that much.Maybe it is effect of globalization, cheap flights.World is getting smaller.

UK, Ireland / Have the British become the worst enemy of the Polish? [45]


I think that you are over sensitive and very sorry for herself. Everyone is different. Some people would never leave their/town village ( the same for English and Polish) and some travel and adjust easily to living in different countries. Part of emigration is to get used to local culture. English can be sarcastic, like understatements in general take themselves with some distance and sense of humor.On the other hand Polish take themselves sometimes soooo seriously, any stupid remark take as attack.

I have been living in UK for 12 years- and maybe I was lucky. It happened to me only twice - mildly racists attitude ( both at work) which I cut very bluntly with sharp words. It never happened again.

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]


I know someone not only 50- obese- walking with stick, huffing-puffing all the time. I bet in a few years she will end up in mobility scooter. When someone is fat their joins give up, so yes there are lots health issues but caused by stuffing your mouth all the time.Sorry, not lots sympathy from me.

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]

I think that fat in USA/UK is the same as obese in Poland. I didn't see any obese people in Poland just some of them fat.

Mobility scooters- designed I guess for old people are used by obese in UK/USA so they can eat more be fatter and fatter and don't bother walking anymore.

USA, Canada / If America is so bad, why move here? [254]

I wonder how many Polish apply for american visa? I guess it drastically dropped within last 10 years.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

There is some true in it.I live in Cambridge. It is beautiful in spring,summer, autumn but winter ( especially as it is so green) is so dump. Awfull. I miss crispy,frosty winter days.But English ( in majority) are always cold , live in overheated houses so if colder day comes they moan, moan and miss dump :-)

Life / Food wastage in Poland households [6]

I have noticed that in UK people treat supermarkets labels ( use before...use by...) like bible :-).

It is reasonable with fresh fish, meat but with other products like bread, fruit, veg.....it is just ridiculous.

My grandma had small farm in Poland and potatoes? She picked them all in autumn and they were to keep her till spring.During the year any in bad condition she threw out or gave to animals. it is all about common sense.

News / Little statistics about immigrants in Poland. Employment and job prospects. [25]

Immigration has lots positives if it under control and if people try to integrate. I suppose it is the same for newcomers from Ukraine in Poland like for Polish in UK. Second generation will turn to be native. No difference except surnames (sometimes) :-).

Language / Polish regional accents? [141]

Ha,Ha I have more sensitive ear since moved to England. I also try to catch what accent polish people speak....Always looking for my local Krakow one.

But in general I don't think that accent differences are as strong as in UK.

There were few episodes of crime stories 'Shetlands' lately and lots English were moaning that they couldn't understand.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Why not? It is good for sandwiches but it doesn't fit in your square lunch-boxes and toasters :-)

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Maybe there is something in it- When I visited Lake District there were more nice cakes there , cosey tea-shops.Is it Grassmiere famous if its ginger breads?

When you move south everything is getting more 'clinical-pocessed'.

I go sometimes to Waitrose and yes some things as very good there (deserts ,fish, meat...) but sorry bread is very well presented and rather pricey but not great in taste.

I don't know maybe I am fussy and particular about it.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Can you give me example of town ( not city) in UK with few bakeries with freshly baked bread on premises?????????

Many supermarkets bake bread on their premises???- yes already delivered there full of chemical and who knows what baked later in the shop. I mentioned tesco as their bread is just awful.

Greggs?- sausage rolls ( with who know what inside ) plus white cotton wool bread.that is the choice.

I don't know why but the only place where bread is not bad and tastes fine is Coop.But again they have more european products, baguettes, small crusty rolls.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

What do you mean by shops ? Tesco in Poland and UK sells the same crap. I mean proper bakeries.Sorry but I don't agree with you,there are hardly any proper small bakeries in UK and if they are bread is not great. I don't want to sound nasty as I live here and would be happy if there were here- I am lucky as in Cambridge market there is bread stand with wonderful choice- proper fresh breads.

When I am in Krakow there are bakeries everywhere with big choice fresh rolls, breads, cakes,....I love 'drozdzowki'- fresh cheese cakes, polly seeds cakes, apple pies,plum pies....

Maybe next time in Poland you need some stronger glasses to notice them.:-)

I have noticed one more thing: in some way breads in UK and USA are similar - majority 'cotton wool'. excluding Poland now- In Austria, Italy, France,Germany- breads are more like polish ones harder, with thick skin.

I exclude London from this comparison as with big food markets it is everything there.