PolishForums LIVE  /  Archives [3]    
   
Posts by rybnik  

Joined: 16 Jan 2011 / Male ♂
Last Post: 2 Nov 2013
Threads: Total: 18 / In This Archive: 14
Posts: Total: 1444 / In This Archive: 1147
From: new jersey
Speaks Polish?: yes

Displayed posts: 1161 / page 7 of 39
sort: Latest first   Oldest first   |
rybnik   
19 Sep 2012
Life / Typical for the Poloniandists [171]

And Pawian is either a really sarcastic or, insane

or an insane sarcastic! LOL
I love you Pawianku!
rybnik   
19 Sep 2012
Life / Typical for the Poloniandists [171]

Shame that the whole organisation exists to pursue a dubious right wing agenda.

There was nothing dubious about those shipping containers.
rybnik   
19 Sep 2012
Life / Typical for the Poloniandists [171]

You mean like how they rushed to Poland post-WW2, pre-September 1st 1939, mid 1989 and all those other times?

That's not fair!
I know for a fact that the Polish American Congress shipped many, many containers FULL of medicines, xray film, bandages, IV poles, tubing, etc.
I helped load them during the '80s.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

It would have been better to follow the German example.

How did the Germans do it?
All out in the open; lets the chips fall where they may?
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

Yes, those were strange times to live. But definitely not as bad as in DDR.

very interesting Boletus.
Maybe I was so naive or just too concentrated on finishing school, that I did not notice anything amiss.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

The hard currency was in such demand by that time that they wouldn't wanted to have upset you ;)

not just us but a lot of Poles would've been upset! lol
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
Work / Job in Poland Bydgoszcz - Is there an Indian community here? [26]

I have a blog that talks about us living here so it could give you an insight of what it might be like for you it is called neveradulldayinpoland.com

I too enjoyed it.
I wish there were blogs in my day.
I would have had a field day! lol
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

right lol he did ok
the only one that I know of that got into trouble was a guy named Lance. He was the direct antithesis to PT. He dove head-first into the culture. So much so that he joined the Student Solidarity, began marching and was deported! He finished his medical studies in France.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

depends on what you mean by ok. Sure, he finished school and has a practice in Pensy but his time in Poland was non-stop "on guard". He could've gotten to know some Poles/Polkas, immersed himself a bit and lived among them. He chose to remain stiff, on-the-ready. I feel he missed out on the best part of the journey.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

believe you me. most of us were very paranoid about that especially my roommate P.T. But after a while you just get on with it.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

good point p3undone!
Obviously, if the spying was done well, we wouldn't have known.
I'm just assuming since none of us were summoned anywhere to answer questions, that we weren't spied on. Clearly, we still could've been.
rybnik   
18 Sep 2012
History / Surveillance in Poland during communism [29]

Can anyone inform as to the estimated number of spies there were, what happened to the files in Poland etc. It would be also interesting to here of any anecdotes people have about such activity that went on and the people involved.

My friends and I, Americans studying abroad during the PRL-days, never had any problems in that regard.
rybnik   
13 Sep 2012
Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

Having a few beers in any decent major Rynek right bang smack in the middle of a sunny day is an absolute necessity IMO.

Oh God Yes!
rybnik   
13 Sep 2012
Food / Favorite Pierogarnia in Krakow [5]

Hi Catsoldier!
My favourite city is Wrocław, seeing as I spent 6 of my 7 years in Poland.
During my time there were no pierogarnias that I knew of. But there were plenty of hotels with pretty decent restaurants.
Oh but that was man years ago :)
rybnik   
12 Sep 2012
Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

was referring to what have often been long-.awaited, once-in-.a-lifetime pilgirmages to the ancestral homeland. Visting the old family homestead and seeing one's Polish urname on family graves can be a moving experience

I remember the first time I saw my surname on a gravestone in Rybnik. It was of my paternal grandfather. It was a very moving experience one that I will never forget. All those things you alluded to were very true in my case when it all went down in 1978 - very deep, very real, deep-in-the -gut emotions.
rybnik   
12 Sep 2012
History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

I share you experience. My Dad too fought in the war. He won some military honors et we kids know nothing. I agree with you regarding leaving a history for my daughter. I sure would have liked one from my parents. I've constipated my memory flow by insisting I remain chronological. You may have a point in my just letting the memories flow and writing them down as they come. That just might free the logjam.

Thanks Cassandra!

btw what do you mean when you said you sensed "a healing"
This interests me your choice of that word :)
rybnik   
12 Sep 2012
Life / Do Poles drink before noon? [95]

There were plenty of cold meats, sausage, pasztet, things in aspic, pickled mushrooms and plums, ćwikła, jaja w majonezie, , maybe herring and naturally a ruby-red nalewka in a crystal decanter poured into crytsal shot glasses

Your reference to crystal reminded me of my recent return to Poland where I met some cousins for the first time. They were very particular in their decanters. When I presented them with their bottles of scotch, they immediately transfered the liquid into bright shiny crystal decanters. They told me that that's how it should be done :)
rybnik   
11 Sep 2012
Food / Favorite Pierogarnia in Krakow [5]

I love your description regarding the ordering process. I admire your candor. It brought back for me early memories of my Polish days. I know exactly what you mean by it being a test. :) (you got your pierogis and that's what really counts)
rybnik   
11 Sep 2012
History / An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story [142]

Thank you cassandra. Writing them took a lot out of me believe it or not. This thread is starting to nag at me again. All I need to do is just sit down and write...........nope, no book yet. btw, do you think I should continue chronologically or should I just serve up the stories as they come to me - from different years?
rybnik   
11 Sep 2012
Life / Latest urban art in Łódz - what do you see? [20]

After someone said that he sees the guy as trying to rescue the girl, pull her into his world

I'm afraid I saw initially something a tad more organic shall we say.