Language / Polish - Absolute Beginner Questions. Study plan. [75]


Very much so.


In my experience, doing that can create a block in people's minds.


Very, very true. Just start speaking, don't worry about mistakes and the language will come!

RealPolish, your post is one of the most sensible I have ever seen here on this subject.

Life / Differences in Polish, American and British mentality [237]

You do seem to have some deep and complex issues about this.

Life / Differences in Polish, American and British mentality [237]


So in effect, you're saying that because everybody was doing it it somehow isn't as bad.

Travel / Traveling From Warsaw to Berlin - train? [25]


Yes. If you want to speak English, you don't need to queue at the ticket window - go to 'Anna Travel' in the gallery above (you'll see it easily). They have English speaing staff and sell the same tickets at the same price.


Yes. The taxi prices mentioned are accurate. Also there is a direct bus, number 175. Buy your ticket at the machine at the bus stop and cancel it as soon as you get on.


Yes. Warszawa Centralna - it is Warsaw's main station. The train also stops at Warszawa Zachodnia, but if you don't know Poland that's only for the adventurous.


Don't bother. By road it is a long and unpleasant journey, and the train fare is cheap.

Life / Differences in Polish, American and British mentality [237]


Corruption is a vicious circle - each link in the chain is as guilty as the rest.


In a sense yes, if that person played their part.

News / Does Poland live up to its freedom rights? [23]


They can't be prosecuted while in office, either. Some nasty stories surface from time to time about politicians getting off various crimes like causing accidents whilst driving under the influence.


A cow at Poczta Polska once told me I pronounce my own name incorrectly. In the UK she'd be fired for saying that to a Pole.


I'm gay and haven't really had any problems like that from Poles, either physical or verbal. Oddly enough, the only nasty comments about my sexuality have come from British expats in Warsaw. I have lived in PL for 11 years.


This bit is also untrue - the Polish police aren't great, but they're improving and will pursue anything that is likely to lead to a successful prosecution. I am speaking about Warsaw - the story out in the boondocks may well be different.

Work / Best TEFL course to take in Poland? [3]


That's right. Only CELTA/CELTYL or its Trinity alternative. There are others but they aren't known by employers (or for that matter recognised by some overseas governments for work permit reasons).

Language / Pronounciation of the name "Rafael" [16]


That would depend which part of the English-speaking world you came from, wouldn't it...

Life / Polish dentistry cost - 230 zl for one tooth cavity filling [99]


Think how much 8 fillings would have cost you at a private dentist back home. A hell of a lot more than 1150zl. I remember here on this forum you asking for (and people helping you find) an emergency dentist who speaks English.

We thought had toothache. People were helping you. But 8 fillings? Eight!! Now it seems you only wanted to get something cheap.

We should have charged you for the advice, cheapskate.

Off-Topic / An English Version of Gadu-Gadu? [105]


They want you to pay.

Language / Pronounciation of the name "Rafael" [16]

A pleasure! You've got me wondering now if there's anybody in PL called Rafał Rafael... I used to know a Michał Michalski ;-)

Language / Pronounciation of the name "Rafael" [16]

It isn't a Polish surname. There is a Polish first name Rafał pronounced Rafau (raf + ow as in town, slightly longer a than cat, accent on the first syllable ). But it is a first name only.

If a Polish person had Rafael or Raphael as a (foreign) surname, they would pronounce it pretty well as you suggested.

Off-Topic / Penn and all I owe you an explanation... ref to Polish vs. British vs. American [38]

The nasty PMs threatening violence didn't help. And it wasn't just the row about the collaboration/lustration/prostitution stuff, there were issues on other threads too.

Some of the stuff he wrote was twatty, some wasn't.

I almost feel sorry for him, really.

Life / How to instigate a row with your Polish missus. [15]


Exactly. Some Poles even still believe JP2 was Polish!!

Off-Topic / How would Poles react to a visit from Queen Elizabeth? [72]

I suspect it had quite a bit to do with party politics in NY and Boston.

But no matter how much people (on either side) fan the flames from the outside, common sense and decency usually prevails in the end. It just takes a bit of effort.

That and Mo Mowlem taking her wig off and throwing it at the hotheaded politicians.

Off-Topic / How would Poles react to a visit from Queen Elizabeth? [72]


Donations to terrorist organisations were banned straight after 9/11. A scandal they were allowed in the first place.

Work / Multinational companies in Warsaw [7]

Why do you ask?

Life / Strange laws in Poland [39]


Why not check out the link? It's about blue laws.

Off-Topic / How would Poles react to a visit from Queen Elizabeth? [72]


There were huge crowds last time - it seems a lot of people are interested in her.


She's going there soon. It's an issue because some people in Ireland have strong views about historical injustices, and The Queen has had family members, including children, murdered by the iRA.

Life / Strange laws in Poland [39]


I knew that - I was just wondering about the origin.


A farmer I knew used (according to him) do something with calves. Not in public or cruel, just very distatsteful. I wonder if it was illegal too.

Life / Strange laws in Poland [39]

Well, it's on the internet so it must be true! And no doubt Zbigniew Ziobro, down in Krakow, would be well up for it.

I wonder if they just dreamed it up, or is it an exaggeration of the truth?

Life / Want to watch BBC iplayer in Poland? [59]

Whereabouts in Poland are you? The further east you get, the bigger the dish you need. And beyond a certain point, you're outside the satellite's reach.