Real Estate / How to get my property back in Poland? I left 36 years ago. [59]


you would be surprised how my aunt can't understand any more complicated German while she lives in Germany since 1978 and she has a German husband is surrounded by German people (has little opportunity to speak Polish at all) - I doubt she can write most of the German words actually

History / Resettlement after ww2 (old German houses and buildings still in Poland) [28]

actually Palivec is shocked the Poles destroyed all those Hindenburg, Bismarck, Wilhelm II and Fritz der Grosse monuments on the lands they have overtaken

Travel / Road Trip in Maluch! Best places / roads to go? :) Start - Krakow [12]

how many stops did you make? the maluch isn't the most comfortable car especially for the driver - did you have to use the 2nd gear to go uphill at times???

History / Resettlement after ww2 (old German houses and buildings still in Poland) [28]

looks like: 1) coal was cheap these days or plenty of cheap wood 2) they didn't mind wearing a couple of layers of cloth all through the day inside the house 3) they didn't mind to sleep clothed

a stone masonry wall needs to be more then 2 times thicker then a brick wall to supply equall thermic insulation I guess

btw further west into Germany the climate is different wouldn't you agree - why do you think Poles never bothered themselves with building stone houses (the technology of brick burning was not the cheapest one and very simple) - wooden houses offer much better heat insulation

History / Resettlement after ww2 (old German houses and buildings still in Poland) [28]


living in a stone-masonry house in Poland isn't the thing you would wish for in winter Palivec

boletus - Do you mean Lasówka by some strange accident?

Food / What a typical Polish family eats. How do they prepare food and who cooks at home? [37]

cabbage and similar vegetables are even healthier for your stomach when boiled (stewed) but not drained - actually raw cabbage is pretty difficult to digest

History / Resettlement after ww2 (old German houses and buildings still in Poland) [28]


it can be viewed from different perspectives - on one hand they often received better households and bigger farms that they had in the east (though the soils have often been much worse in those new locations)

on the other hand - these people didn't feel at home in this new lands - there was constant fear (it was constantly rekindled by the Polish communist authorities) that the Western powers will start a WW3 and the Germans will return to take their land back (it was still alive well into the 70's and only became less significant with the new generations born in this new homeland overtaking) - it resulted in poeple not feeling completely at home where they lived and not tending to their households and farms as much as previous owners would

Life / Question about hot water in Poland and the use of water heaters? [52]

LPG gas from a tank is one of the more expensive ways of heating in Poland (coal/wood cost considerably less) - as for water heating such a tank could prove practical - especially if you don't use too much hot water - it's the convenience mostly - but it's also a pretty big investment many Poles cannot afford - it is still cheaper to heat your water with coal/wood burning furnaces - but you need a big isolated tank to hold the hot water - electric water heaters called 'boilers' in Poland are still a popular method - it is a low investment appliance and the cost is acceptable (for a small family who don't use lots of hot water)

News / Polish president traveling LOT? What about POLISH AIRFORCE 1? [23]


the president flew a regular schedule intercontinenal flight - as far as I know chartering is something different to that (in Polish czarter is a plane hired as a whole for the sole disposition of those hiring)

News / Polish president traveling LOT? What about POLISH AIRFORCE 1? [23]

they recently dissolved the military unit that was performing flights for Polish government bodies (36 pułk specjalny) - the leadership of the unit were made scapegoats for the Smoleńsk disaster

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]

butterflylizard

if the people are all black hair, quite swarthy for europeans they probably are Slovak Roma/Gypsies - and it is a completely different culture than the one of Poles or Slovaks (yes they do speak Slovak, but can speak Romani among themselves) - if you can take a couple of picture of these guys an post them here somehow we can tell you with some 98 per cent certainty if they are Slovak Gypsies -

in case they are Gypsies not all advices given here especially by me apply (but then again there may be decent, hardworking Gypsies around be they Slovak or Polish Gypsies but it's not that common)

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


oh my, what do you want from the lady - it's as if other Europeans are better educated - are you sure majority of Poles know where Hungary is or where Wales is? many wouldn't even know where Walesa lives ;) - many older generations from rural areas in Poland could not even tell you where Slovakia is even though it is a neighbour of Poland - after all you don't need most of general knowledge to work and be professional in most vocations -

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


I think it's just 'rogal' - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kifli

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


hmm and well, ok I met a couple of Hungarians in England - and well - the thing is even though there is some traditional historic friendship it does not relate that much to person to person relations on a daily basis - the key ingredient is the language barrier - you can have some communication with Czechs and Slovaks just with your Polish (and it's pretty easy to get a grasp of Czech and Slovak for Poles) - none if it is true with our friends Hungarians

I don't have that much experience with Slovaks and Czechs abroad but there was no visible animosity towards Poles from them that I noticed -

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


I don't think so - you're exaggerating - from what butterflywizzard has written I believe they are not Slovak Romas - (Romas have a very tanned complexion so it's pretty easy to tell them) - if they are not Romas their should not be a real nuissance

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


yes Poles are mostly catholic (95 per cent are registered as such) - but most are only superficially so - and even some of these 95 per cent Poles while being claimed by the Catholic church are actually atheists sometimes openly anti-church who just happen to be baptised in the Catholic church

the turnout for the Catholic Sunday mass in Poland is already lower than 40 per cent and steadily decreasing - younger generations don't find anything attractive in the present day Catholic church and only turn up for major fesivities (Christmass, Easter) - and plenty actually are completely indifferent to the church if not anti-church

so I if you meet Polish people in the UK they can equally be religious, somewhat relgious, indifferent, openly anti-church or atheist - among those religious (those who go to church in England) there are a lot of decent people (especially the younger generations) (in Poland going to church is still a very much a matter of keeping up appearances or just a habit) - but it is not to say you don't find decent (and friendly) people among other groups - quite contrary

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


it's not the first thing to do - to invite yourself into your neighbours' homes - but when you are more familiar with them try to make an effort to visit them - just leave your problems/current issues behind for the moment - and definitely don't deny any invitations from your neighbours into their houses (unless you are actually on the run) - even if you just drop in for a while (a quarter) (because you know you still have so much to do) - but just forget your obligations/home duties for this short moment and try to enjoy yourself and their company - don't decline when offered some food (it might not be your favourite food but if you make an effort of eating some of it you can safely decline any more of it on a short drop-in visit

Food / Coffee in Poland: cheap and undrinkable / expensive and good [89]

economies of scale the other way round - how many Poles do you think ever consider buying Lavazza?? - Poles mostly are satisfied with Tchibos, Jacob's and the like - younger generations don't mind Nescafe instant

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


offer help as often as you can see someone needs assistance - if you feel safe pay a visit from time to time - consider bringing your kids with you - most Poles (and i guess Slovaks too) are quite welcoming hosts (and don't mind people coming in without previous notice) - if your neighbours have children treating them with sweets from time to time is a nice thing and it definitely breaks ice - actually now I think it is most difficult to break the first ices especially with the big language communication gap - so be on the lookout for friendly gestures from your neighbours and try to show your gratitude and return such gestures - just don't push yourself into anything - if it's not natural what you do (you don't actually feel like doing it) it won't work or actually can spoil your ralationships with the neighbours (not that they will be instantly offended but poeple tend to perceive insecurity in other poeple and might think your strange and/or fake)

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]

actually there is one strange thing that people who are in small groups in foreign surrounding curiously are often even louder than they would be in more familiar settings - it's a psychological phenomenon - it is best observed here in Poland watching Roma families or groups - they are very loud and noisy - unusually for the setting you might happen to watch them in - different factors come in play here

another thing people tend to be louder with those well acquainted (family members including)

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


yes both Slovaks and Poles are quite loud when in their own company and our talk is pretty emotionally charged then (it may seem that Poles constanly argue (in fact Poles do argue often (but not constantly as it might have appeared) and are pretty straightforward with any criticism))

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]

I think you got it all wrong Ziemowit - butterflylizzard just moved to a vicinity which is full of Poles and Slovaks in her own country (which is England I presume)

UK, Ireland / Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]


the cultures are very different and the people don't know the English language and culture that much as you have already stated
it is pretty natural that you don't feel safe being a single English family in the vicinity surrounded by foreigners especially such foreigners (think of moving into some urban area in Cairo not knowing any Arabic - i wouldn't feel very safe nor trusted anyoune right away - in fact I would be suspicious just of everyone around)

people of various backgrounds came to England - actually better educated people (especially with the good English) tend to avoid sticking around other Poles, still even the less educated classes can prove to be very decent people (especially trades people), younger uneducated generations can prove to be a nuisance but it's not set in stone

there can't be much socialising if the other side doesn't know English (nice to meet you - OK) - what I think being in your situation you should invest some time in making some Polish friends outside of this particular community first (it takes Polish people with decent English to do that) - I would aim for people who go to church as these are usually decent people - maybe they have some meetings around the church - this is where you can meet and socialize - there can be some old Polonia institution there around to - younger generations of Poles don't join such institutions often (quite contrarty) - but the aim for you is to have good Polish friends or just decent Polish acquintances who care and would be of help intervening on your side if things become tense with your direct Polish neighbours - you just perhaps can need some help translating when you want to clarify some issues misunderstandings

the advantages of this are - you get to learn more about the culture (join some cultural events, even if only culinary) - you can learn to appreciate some elements of Polish culture - you may eventually find nice friendly people with whom you really can socialise even if not on a regular basis - I know it takes some effort and investing some time - and probably seems a very roundabout approach to dealing with your neighbours - but it can prove very difficult and tense dealing with them directly

btw watch your neighbours closely too and figure out who knows the best English among them ( perhaps you have to test them for their English a bit) - then again those who know English better might not actually be leading personalities among them - it takes a bit observing and figuring so you need your cool and not just withdraw into yourself when you're confronted with larger groups

as for offering help (insisting on it) and then chargin for it - it's not a typical Polish thing - even more it could have been the dynamics in their group - someone with a good intentions might have offered help just because felt like it and then other members of the group might have thought they want some money for it and the person who started the thing might have just given in to the pressure of the group or some headstrong vocal member of the group

(this is not to say the scenario they all meant to squeeze some money from you from the very start could not be true - it could)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

I give up and go to bed :)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


you mean that deer's horns are a living tissue (untill some point at least?) - I guess it's clotted blood in the spot of a little broken off hook of deer's antlers

a second thought - isn't it a reindeer actually???

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


the cross is a very flimsy one - would be very unusual for a grave of a man - where I live there are a couple of marked graves (most probably of German soldiers, civilians or Werwolf partisans) lost in the forests - they all look much more solid even though they are not tended that much (no relatives, not much compassion from the current inhabitants)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


I know nothing about the grave - I just can conclude the burial took place in not so peaceful times

or maybe it's not a burial of a human being actually

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


do you come from Germany pgtx??? you have a very German sense of humour :P

I'll tell you what I would do next - I would sat the baby on her/his mother's neck next :) ;) - for a little fun :)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


the most logical answer would be he's gonna put the child into this funny rucksack seat - but then I guest the answer is much funnier or a bit strange :)

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]


do you mean why is he lifting the baby or what is he going to do next?