News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@@Dolno: some people are paranoid and love to feel "victims" whereas noone gives a sh@@@ about them ,)

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

I was this afternoon at Warsaw airport (to see someone off)! Nothing unusual! Business as usual. We could walk around, sit down to eat and no control whatsoever. It is fortunate that Polish authorities are NOT as paranoid as people in PF (who are not even in Europe ;)).

PS: Johnny Reb: find ONE message in which I said that I would take in a family! ;).

PPS: Yes, contrary to racists, including Johnny Reb, rozu and Atch: I do make a difference between "muslim" and "islamist" but I suppose the only ones you have seen were on ... tv so case closed!

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Rozu: don't start again! I have realized that Atch (not to mention others) doesn't make the difference between "muslim" and "islamist" and as a result cannot understand the situation.

Well, argue with someone else! I'm going to work

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Atch: you don't make the difference between "muslim" and "islamist" ;) and that's why you don't understand situation. By the way, have you even mingled with muslims? I bet the only ones you have seen were on tv ;). Even in western Europe, the biggest majority of Muslims are NOT islamists. Islamists may be around 1 or 2% of said population but they are most dangerous and fanatics and they need to be neutralized. There were only 10 of them in Paris attacks and only 3 of them in Bruxelles. Do you know anything re Molenbeek? I doubt it. Molenbeek is the center of terrorism in Europe. Islamists in Molenbeek aslo benefit from war weapons smuggled from ex Yugoslavia through former Yugoslavs who have settled in Belgium.... Salah Abdelsalam (I suppose you have no idea who the guy is so use Google ;)) who was arrested on Friday was able to hide in Molenbeek for 4 months and during that time he was able to walk around neighborhood, to do his shopping for ... French fries (that is ... Belgium ;) (use Google again since I assume you don't understand re Belgium ;)) because of STRONG network. Where do you have such a situation in Poland or in Warsaw???? ;).

Now I get it, you don't see the difference between "muslim" and "islamist' and that's why you imagine some possible attacks in Poland or Warsaw... "lol". Since you have time, maybe through Google, you could learn a lot because obviously you confuse everything ;)

PS: Rozu: for once 100% ok! London in those days cannot be compared with cities like Paris and Bruxelles of now. In Paris and Bruxelles, now, it feels like a war and people are scarred every time they get outside of their homes .... So whoever dares comparing with "situation" in Warsaw is not only ignorant but also insulting victims.

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Doug: absolutely! A lot (you can read a lot thereof in PF) don't make the difference between "muslim" and "islamist" ;).

PS: while I was in London (was there several times) I went through IRA's bomb alerts but trust me, life in London in those days had nothing in common with life nowadays in cities like Paris and Bruxelles. In Paris since the mid-1980's bombings, all bags are checked in all public places and in all stores, people (= anybody, even people like you or me;)) can be controlled any time. A few days ago, the French government decided to have security guys in stores armed. Believe me, it looks like a country at war (and so does Belgium) and upon arrival at any airport, anybody can feel it ;). This week, they had a bomb (no damage fortunately) at ... Toulouse (I have a brother, his wife and my 2 nieces there )airport . When I say, "bomb", I mean a "bomb" not a bag forgotten by their owner like in Warsaw metro... and for Poland it's the "news of the century" ;)

In other words, comparing Warsaw and major western cities is like comparing potatoes and cherries....

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Doug: check the alert scale and you'll see! Poland is among the least threatened! France and Belgium are now in "state of war" with measures such as in the US after 9.11. In France for over 30 years, bags are systematically checked in all stores and all public places and you bet now it's even more so... In Belgium now it must be same too.... Bruxelles was closed for 4 days in late December and tanks were in the streets. Anything like this in Warsaw lately???? May experts on terrorism put life in Paris and in Bruxelles at the same level as life in ... Tel Aviv.

Have you been to Paris or Bruxelles recently? I don't think so and you would realize that putting Warsaw on the same level is completely stupid.

I was in London during IRA and I was in Paris in the mid 1980's when bombs exploded at several occasions in metro (Saint-Michel Station, for instance) and other public places. I mean REAL bombs killing and wounding people, destroying buildings. When was last bomb attack in Warsaw?

Sorry, you cannot compare Warsaw and Paris, Bruxelles, London, Berlin ... and Warsaw. I am from Paris so I know and please have some decency to victims and to people who risk their lives 24/7.

For sure, Americans (+ Britons + Germans) are heavily threatened (and hit) just as the French as (most problably Americans are no.1 target) but please don't put Poland and Poles in the same league!

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Atch: do you do it on purpose? Do get informed and do travel in order to see the world! The muslim "community" in Warsaw and in Poland is very very small and more important there are NO islamist networks! Don't you tell me that you don't see the difference between "muslim" and "islamist" ;). Is there anything in Poland like .... Molenbeek in Belgium? NOPE! The Paris attacks were organized in Molenbeek....

If you dared getting informed, you would understand that Warsaw, or Wilnius, or even Budapest or Libonne are NOT on the target lists. France, Germany and UK are because they are big players in the international scene. France has ALONE decided to bomb the area (and is also at war in Africa, Sarkozy has organized the huge mess in Lybia while having Khadaffi killed because Khadaffi was starting to give proof that he had financed Sarkozy's campaign..;). UK and Germany are big powers who also play big roles in world politics. Belgium although a small country was 1. a colonial power (yes in "black" Africa but a colonial power) and 2. Bruxelles is now the seat of EU and of NATO and it is no coincidence that the metro station bombed is near the EU's headquarters ;).

Islamists don't attack at random (what you don't want to understand) but have clear targets; Poland plays no role in world politics (and economics) so no threat to them and no interest whatsoever in Poland.

Poles are unfortunately paranoid. It is just like the Smolensk thing. It was an accident but because of their paranoia, (some) Poles want to believe that the nasty Russians have shot the plane down. Russians don't give a sh]]t about Kaszynski, Duda and consorts. Poland does not risk any islamist attack. Saying the opposite shows ignorance and also paranoia.

It reminds me of Jean de Lafontaine's fable: "la grenouille qui veut se faire aussi grosse que le bœuf", in which the little guy wants to show his muscles and pretend to be a big guy and this is exactly the situation now with Poland in view of current situation in Western Europe. They for sure know that there are no bombs in Warsaw metro but they mean to examine each bag as it makes them "important".

Believe me, I have myself lived through several (REAL) bomb alerts in Paris and also in London Victoria Station (bombs from your brothers) and since Nov. 13 and March 22, all travellers in Paris and in Bruxelles metro systems are scarred to death each time they travel so please don't compare apples and oranges! I know that compared to your small island, Poland is a big boy but Poland and Warsaw are completely ignored by islamists.... Poland is no more than a mere regional power and Warsaw no more than a provincial town (all the Russians I know say it's a "big village").

Well, comparing "possible threats" in Warsaw and in western capitals not only shows your stupidity and also your insults to real victims! In the western main capitals, people risk their lives every time they get out of their homes.... Obviously your catholic Church has not taught you compassion!

PS: I took metro this am and nothing special! People are not any different!

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Atch: Wake up! Poland is not and has never been in high alert! ;). They have simply overreacted BECAUSE of what had just happened in Bruxelles. France and Belgium are at 4 (maximum), Germany and UK must be at 3 point something on the scale of terrorism threats and the others have no risk. Many experts now compare situation in Paris and in Bruxelles with situation in .... Tel Aviv. Sorry, but Warsaw (and also Dublin) are millions of years behind that! Of course, the (Warsaw) police have reacted (especially now) but a bag left behind does NOT mean a terrorist attack ;). So, in Warsaw, they have closed the metro for a little while and so what? Have the decency not to compare a small incident and a terrorist attack! In Paris there are victims who are still in hospitals. Of course, I don't forget about the dead not only there but also in Bruxelles.

Have some respect to real victims!

Well, stay inside! ;). I'll be going all over town today again using public transportation and guess what: ZERO fear! ;)

PS: not to confuse being "paranoid" (Polish reaction) and really threatened + hit ;).

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

ps: @Atch: do not compare a bag most probably forgotten by an old lady or a bezdomny guy (once I forgot my bag full of groceries on the tram) and an act of terrorism!!!!! Have a minimum of respect to victims of terrorism!

Yesterday, I also was even at Sejm (I go there a few times every week) and nothing different!

@Atch: of course, it was NOthing but because of the psychosis, people and police have overreacted (normal). How many bags are forgotten by their owners every day in public places? If you could think for 1/2 a second, you would understand that Poland is one of the least concerned countries. Poland is no player in the world scene and has no islamist networks. They also opt for "mediatic" targets...

I know that newspapers like to write any bs in order to sell their papers but I personally prefer to rely on experts on terrorism and the police ;)

Yes, Warsaw is a quiet provincial town .....

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

@Atch: I took the metro several times yesterday (as I every day do) and nothing!!!! You must be "joking" if you think that Poland is at risk. Obviously you don't know anything re situation since you don't understand that (muslim) terrorists do operate from areas where they have communities to rely on. Do you think that without strong network, Sahal Abdelsalam could have walked around for 4 months whereas his picture was everywhere?

As to Hitler, what's the connection with today's (muslim) terrorism????

I also suppose that coming from your small island, you have never seen any "muslim" so do stick to what you know!

Poland (and also Ireland, not to mention others) are among the very last in the target lists. Islamists don't care about tiny fish.

News / Poland directly threatened by ISIS. Do Islamists planning terrorist attacks in Poland? [390]

completely stupîd to think that Poland can be attacked! (Muslim) terrorists attack places which have large (muslim) communities as they expect to rely on some of their members and in which they have strong networks. If Salah Absdelsalam (or whatever his name is) who was arrested last Friday in Bruxelles could hide for 4 months and walk around (in Molenbeek), it was so because of his strong network to help him. Also because of very strong (and radical) networks, all attacks in European soil (and probably elsewhere) are organized from Molenbeek. As there is no muslim community in Poland (or even Warsaw) and thus NO network to rely on while preparing attacks and in order to be protected from police, how the h..ll could terrorists "work" in Poland (or Warsaw)?????

Inspite of what has happened in Paris and in Bruxelles there has been NO particular police protection whatsover in Poland (yesterday I was once more at Sejm and everything as 'usual" ;)). Poland (just to talk about Poland) cannot be threatened (not only because not important in world's politics and economics) but ALSO because terrorists have nothing and nobody to rely on while in Poland. In places like Bruxelles and Paris, there are tens of thousands of cops + the army with rifles 24/7 in the streets (around Xmas, there were even .... tanks in Bruxelles) and public places. Around Xmas time Bruxelles was closed for 4 days. Anything similar in Warsaw? In Warsaw, any more cops than usually, any soldiers in the streets??????? NOPE!

Bruxelles was attacked since although small city and Belgium a small country because it is EU's and Nato's capitals. Warsaw is no more than a regional capital and Poland no more than a regional power so NO interest for terrorists. Sure Poland has participated for instance in war in Irak but Poland was no more than a mere follower. Poland has never decided to bomb any place, has never been a leader.

In conclusion, Poland is no big fish and as a result not a target. Saying the opposite like some here say show deep lack of knowledge. (Muslim) terrorists don't give a sh... about Poland. The only European countries that could be attacked are: France, Belgium (because of EU and NATO), UK, Germany, maybe also Italy because of Vatican and the others can sleep tide.

PS: since attacks in Paris, I have listened to and read many experts on terrorism and none of them has claimed that countries likes Poland could be attacked but of course 20-year olds in Michigan or Illinois know better ;)

Travel / Old town Krakow, is it dangerous during Night time? [42]

@Grzegorz: True! As a consequnce sh.... is to be expected....

Real Estate / What are possible price ranges (rent) for studio and 1 bedroom apartments in Krakow? [20]

maybe when they deal with .... North Americans or Europeans but most unlikely with someone from the 3rd world. I doubt that Pakistanis, Indians, Bengladis, Nigerians and the like .. have it "easy" when trying to rent from Polish owners.

I personally know one Polish woman who for instance refuses to rent to Asians because their "cooking stinks". She once had expats from Korea and she says she had to repaint the whole flat because the walls .. stank of their cooking ;). From then on, the (educated, well off and with closest relatives in America) woman only has rented to Poles and to Westerners. Yes, this is one example that I know of but I am convinced she is not the only Pole thinking and acting this way ;)

Travel / Old town Krakow, is it dangerous during Night time? [42]

@Dolno: absolutely! Very soon Cracow will have a very bad reputation and "normal" tourists will bring their money elsewhere ;). Not very smart of Cracow to attract the wrong crowds.

Real Estate / What are possible price ranges (rent) for studio and 1 bedroom apartments in Krakow? [20]

@Riobom: also realize that the no.1 problem you'll have is to find an owner willing to rent to a foreigner. If you come from the 3rd world, it will be almost impossible so I'd advize to seek help from your employer who might be able to assist you in finding something.

Unfortunately people in PF are completely naive or blind (or rather both). They never realize that finding a Polish owner willing to rent to a foreigner is very difficult and to rent to a non white, non catholic is almost impossible.

Good luck as you'll need it! :)

Travel / Old town Krakow, is it dangerous during Night time? [42]

These scumy Brits (and others) are a shame and will give a very bad reputation to Cracow as being associated with their kind. These "tourists" also are not big spenders (reason why they go to Cracow as cheaper than a lot of other places) so not much use for Cracow's touristic "industry". "Normal" tourists will bring their money elsewhere. Cracow authorities are not too smart as they don't see what reputation their town will have "thanks" to all the trash they attract.

Study / French or English or Polish schools in Poznan (for age 9 and 11) [34]

Absolutely check teachers! Big turnover and non native teachers murdering language, no way! I have also met teachers from .... Bulgaria or Ukraine hired to teach English because cheaper than Poles. Very often (underpaid) teachers at such schools barely have the basics in target language. I have often heard "what did you SAW...?", "one foot, two fOOTS", "I must TO write..." and of course "good MORNING" all day long, etc etc ... .. (just to talk re English language).

Based upon my personal knowledge, 99% of so called "international" schools in Poland are pure BS. The school above could be among them or could be among the 1%; I don't know so rather than relying mostly on their site (I'm sure lovely ;)), best to check re teachers ;).

Law / Withdrawing study residence permit (Karta Pobytu) in Poland [5]

Good morning! Why don't you go to Administration and ask them? Don't you think it should be the right thing to do? Most people in PF don't even live in Poland (some of them have never been to Poland) and as to the few of us living in Poland, we are not expert in immigration laws and also we do know nothing about your own situation.

Law / File complaint against Poland's police [97]

@Dolno: so Poles should not own property in other countries too ;). I know several Poles owning flats and houses in London, in France or in Spain (just to talk from personal experience).

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

Not only in UK but everywhere in the "western world" and sometimes even prison sentences for irresponsible fathers. I don't understand how the guy can show his a...ss and provoke Polish authorities. In the meantime his EIGHT (quite a bunch ;) ) kids have to live in hardship because of him. He may be waiting for the 500+ program to feed his kids ;)

@Doug: the others for sure are no saints but be honest, do you think a guy in his personal situation can be taken seriously? I don't expect politicians to be "angels" but there is a minimum of decency to demand....

History / How come Poles like Russians but not Germans? [216]

@Marsu: YOU started to compare Poland and Russia ;). Yes, there is a big difference since Poland has received and keeps receiving billions of euros/dollars from western companies and from EU whereas Russia has and does NOT. Russia is entirely on its own to develop country and developing a country as large as Russia of course cannot be done as quickly as developing a tiny country of Poland's size.

Yes, completely senseless to compare Poland's and Russia's situations.

And as to giving money to other countries, you must be most naive if you believe there is nothing to gain ;).

History / How come Poles like Russians but not Germans? [216]

@Marsu: if Poland has "made progress" over the 20 years, it is only because of western money whereas Russia needs to get by with their own money and also Russia is hundreds of times bigger than Poland so normal that not much progress over the last 20 years or so ;). Don't compare apples and bananas.

News / Demonstrations in Poland in defence of democracy. [2554]

I don't follow the circus (no time and no desire to do so) but as to the jerk not paying his alimonies to his ... 8 kids, I'm most shocked. First of all, when someone cannot support so many (or any) kids, they simply do not have any (so many). Also, instead of spending all his time in the streets, he should rather look for work and in the meantime sell whatever he owns (flat, car...) in order to feed his kids.

Having 8 kids and not being able to support any of them shows irresponsibility. How can such a jerk be taken "seriously"? I'm sure most Poles feel the same way I do. Furthermore, his "look" does not make him very serious either in the political sphere.

Study / Any (inexpensive) English Schools in Krakow? [60]

@Yes, Doug! Alhtough Krakow is the worst, other places, for instance Zakopane or in Silesia are not much better ;)

Study / Any (inexpensive) English Schools in Krakow? [60]

With international school fee (I would recommend such schools also to avoid racism and xenophobia, Polish kids not exposed to anyone different may be very rough to Indian (or other) kid and if you want to buy imported food and live properly, you won't save much ;). As to kid with respiratory allergies, Krakow (no. 2 or 3 in whole EU in terms of pollution), is not the ideal place ;).

It beats me when I read people accepting jobs thousands of miles away from home and then they ask questions as they have no idea what to expect. It seems to me that it would be more coherent to first 1. gather as much info as possible from reliable sources 2. look for a job and 3. take the decision to accept it or not...

Life / Medical / Healthcare Questions in smaller towns in Poland [10]

@Johnny: the work done in the US is still very good and all the dentists I have approached in Poland to make it look it be better don't want to do anything about it as they all have said, it does not need to be changed ;). Yes, it was (close to) 30 years ago (or maybe 25, I don't remember) and in those days I was very very young ;). I wish you and anybody to become very very old while being in excellent health ;)

Study / Study in Gdansk and want to know about foreign student life in Poland and working environment [6]

To work as a waiter, do you speak ... Polish? ;)

Study / Medical exemption from a Polish doctor to justify my absence - Hospital Warsaw. [12]

Best to go along with a Polish buddy and not to count on English (or whatever language)! For sure private medical centers claim on their portals that Dr X or Dr Y speaks X or Y language but when we meet said doctor, it happens in 99.98% of time that the socalled knowledge of language is at best A1 level.

Life / Medical / Healthcare Questions in smaller towns in Poland [10]

@Johhny: maybe in the USA (and also in the west more generally) it is more expensive but the quality is higher. Just in 2015, I had a crown that fell off although I got it done some 18 months before and had to have it reglued and had to have the same filling done 3 times . I have crowns done years ago in SEVERAL western European countries and 0 problem. Better than that, I had some dental work done in the US some ... 30 years ago and every time, I mention to a dentist in Poland that maybe for cosmetic reasons, I could have it redone, they all say that it is very good and nothing needs to be done. It was some 30 years ago!

Sure in countries like Hungary, Poland and so forth, it is cheaper but I doubt that the results will last as long.

PS to OP: 1. Zakopane is not in the .... Alps ;) and 2. the pollution is extremely high especially in winter because of way of heating so most probably not the best area for people suffering from asthma and more generally for anybody.

Genealogy / 5'9" tall is a normal for Poland Male height? [17]

Come on! A lof of Poles are small too, especially among the older generations and it is very common to find men aged 60 onwards who are even shorter than 1.60 m. Just live in Poland and look around!