Travel / Misery /PRL era tourism in Warsaw [25]

@Porky: you wrote (sorry I don't want to go through all your messages, someone else will do it ;)) that you live one month per year in Poland (Warsaw?) and I meant someone who resides 12 months a year. Well, I suppose if you own a place (= pay some tax), you can consider yourself a resident ;). As to "bad" neighboods, there are some in ALL cities around the world so no need to travel much ;). What I meant re ul. Francuska, it may be nice as per Polish or Warsaw standards but nothing special as per western standards. In any small provincial western town, you can find streets with a few cafés and restaurants that put some tables and chairs outside when weather permits.

For sure, Warsaw has developed a lot over the years but it is still very "provincial". I know several people from Moscow for whom Warsaw is a big village. It is still very difficult to buy some things and very often in order to do so, we have to go all over town because nothing or very limited. I often have the situation and I have to ask around when to buy X or Y. Sorry, in the west, we don't have this problem, things are easily available and no big deal to find them. We read many messages here too with people asking where they can find x or y article.

PS: if you shop at Louis Vuiton, I doubt that you can consider this store as part of "normal" shopping in Warsaw. How many Warsaw people can afford stores of the kind? I have never been there and I know only one (American) person doing so (not often though because too expenseive). FYI, the number one is Warsaw (and in Poland) is ... Biedronka so apparently you don't mingle with "average Poles" more than I do ;).

Travel / Misery /PRL era tourism in Warsaw [25]

@Atch: I have made another of your long boring days! ;). I mention Wiatraczna as being one of those neighborhoods and even if if not in Northern part of Praga, it is very close to it ;). Nevertheless, even in Wiatraczna, there are some decent (and recent) buildings but I would not live there. Recently I had a doctor's appointment at Wiatraczna's Luxmed clinic and on my way back home, I stopped at the Simply store (part of Auchan group) and it was disappointed. I love the Simply store at Wilanów but the Praga store is much different...

Even if I don't know the names of the streets, once a week I go to Biała Łęka and I cross a lot of parts that really look weird and rough.

There is "Praga" and "Praga" and Saska Kępa refered to as the "French neighborhood"' (a lot of French expats as French lyceum is there (kindergarten + primary school are in Sadyba)) is not considered "Praga" by Varsovians (and by me ;)). When people say "Praga", they mean the rough areas ;)

Travel / Misery /PRL era tourism in Warsaw [25]

@Porky: in Warsaw, as we say, there is "Praga" and "Praga" ;). ul. Francuska is in Saska Kępa and although administratively speaking Saska Kępa is in Praga, people in Warsaw don't see it as "Praga". Not all Saka Kępa is nice (a lot of communist style buildings with poor retirees), but it is very nice (some villas) especially around French Lyceum and it is often referred to as the "French neighborhood" since a lot of French expats live there (close to French high school and to Centrum).

When we talk about "Praga" we mean the rough neighborhoods of Praga Pólnocy which are very rough, notably around Wilewska, Wiatraczna. In southern parts of Praga, some areas are decent Glocław for ex where a lot of lower middle class families settle because real estate about 1/2 of what it costs on the other side of the river.

I read that you don't live in Warsaw so maybe that's why. As a resident of Warsaw, I can tell you that when here we refer to "Praga", we mean the very bad neighborhoods thereof and we do not include Saska Kępa ;) with its ul. Francuska (yest, it is nice as per Warsaw standards but nothing special as per western standards).

As to Louis Vuitton building, I have never been inside..

PS: Yes, Sezam! The downstairs food store belonged to Społem. They had great products although not cheap....

the bananas! "lol"! . As said, I got them at Hala Kopinska where I often go to when no other choice. They do have some good products but basically it is expensive so 7.49 ZL for a kilo (of not nice looking) bananas is nothing special there but before that at the very most I had paid 6.99 ZL (in various stores).

Language / Polish vs Russian: Which language sounds cooler? [21]

@Dolno: for sure and we can read it in your messages! It is normal and I'm sure it'll take several generations. To some (lesser) extent same for my maternal family escaping from 2 European dictatorships.

Language / Polish vs Russian: Which language sounds cooler? [21]

@Dolno: because of your background, you cannot look at Russian and at Russia in an objective manner. Yes, Russian is generally considered a beautiful sounding language. I personally have never heard anyone thinking the opposite and I have never head anyone thinking thinking Polish sounds nice... It seems to me that Russian is not as "consonant" as Polish is and as a result smoother and more melodious.

Language / Polish vs Russian: Which language sounds cooler? [21]

Of course, Polish is not ... ugly (no language is) as Doug says but Russian does sound very nice. Russian sounds like bird's chirping and sounds smooth whereas Polish sounds "harsh". Russian is one of the languages sounding nice to almost everybody no matter their native language. Polish may sound nicer than Russian only to Polish speakers.

Travel / Misery /PRL era tourism in Warsaw [25]

No, now, they have a construction site! That store was really the first in which we could buy a variety of good products in the Center. Sure, it was expensive (I mean by Polish standards) but I used to go there once a week for food. Upstairs they also had linens, some furniture, and a lot of products to clean homes. Their products yes were expensive but of great quality and not to be found anywhere else.

The underground Carrefour is slightly bigger than regular Carrefour Express shops. It is very basic but in terms of Carrefour downtown stores, which are nicer and nice and very close by (within walking distance), there are one at Zloty Taras Mall and another at Rondo NFZ. Stores of same company are different from one area to another. A client this morning told me that even Biedronka stores are different according to areas....

PS: I mean Rondo ... ONZ and not ... NFZ as I have written ;)

Travel / Misery /PRL era tourism in Warsaw [25]

@Delph: that store was not "dreadful" as over the years it had developed into something very nice (and expensive) but was demolished some 2 years ago (as well as the next door McDo). It was a great store right in the center, to buy very good products, including linens, for home. Downtairs, they had a supermarket, where I used to go to once a week to buy food: they had a wide range of good foods (unusual at the time in downtown Warsaw) including a lot of organic products. They also had a huge variety of cheese at their delicatessen section. Yes, it was expensive (so not crowded) but it was great. Downstairs there were also pastry, sweets and alcohol stores. When the store was demoslished, I was very disappointed and for a while I was missing it but of course I have moved ahead. Basically, as I used to shop there so often, I can confim that the store was absolutely not ".... dreadful" ;).

Law / Change of a company (visa) in Poland [9]

Yes, the whole process should be started again as a work permit is per employer and per job (also if new job in same company, new permit is necessary). It may sound tough but it makes sense (to me)...

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

@Dolno! I know ;) and I know that you are among the very best here! ;)

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

@Dolno: you see that I'm not bad! ;). I thought about you while there on Friday. You know, at Piotr & Paweł, of course they have very expensive stuff (mainly fruit and vegetables, which I don't buy because I'm not stupid) but they also have things that are reasonably priced. They also have their own brand "Piotr & Paweł" offering a wide range of items (dairy products, cereal, tea, coffee.... ) and they are all very good. I shop there often (it also suits me because it is more "human" sized, sometimes big hypermarkets exhaust me).

Yes, very sad that even bananas are considered luxury for many Poles. Honest, it is the very first time I heard that. All my life I had all kinds of (even exotic) fruit and vegetables and no big deal to buy. Polish authorities should be concerned about making the poor less poor but this is another story..

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

Even if only ONE German, most interesting!

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

I don't know whether you have received my mp but never mind! For those who live in downtown Warsaw, the place is Hala Kopińska in Stara Ochota. Well, it's their official price so why being so discrete about it. Saying it in public is no crime ;)

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

Sorry, Dolno, but a piece of fruit costing as much as 1zl, is it considered a lot in Poland? The only supermarkets were I think fruit and vegetables are overpriced are Alma and Piort & Paweł and I usually don't buy any (often it is min twice more than in the other supermarkets). On Friday, I was at Piort & Paweł and I thought about ... you ;). They sell neetle "Herbatka ziołowa" for 1.99 (20 bags, their own brand).

@porky: mp = private message. If you check the top part of the screen, you'll see "unanswered", "archives" and "mail" and you'll see 1. Do click on "mail" and you'll get my message. I have told you name of the store but if you live in the US, who should you care? Yes, a couple of days ago, you bashed me but in fact 1. if I'm bashed, it's because I'm important so I should be greateful ;) and 2. when insults are so low best not to pay too much attention. But never mind!

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

@porky; although you insult me, I can tell you by mp. I suppose you may check on their site if they do have one ;)

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

"luxury"? It is the first time I hear something like that (for me, bananas are basic food) In some hypermarkets in Warsaw, they were 3.99 or even 2.99 when in promotion.

News / How would Poland change for the better (or worse) under a PiS government? [257]

An hour ago, I bought bananas at ... 7.49zl/kilo (in a regular shop in Centrum Warszawa). Lately I paid up to 6.99 but never as much as today. Yes, I have noticed too that food prices have gone up a lot but I don't know whether it has been so since January. Although I don't count "groszy", I am spending much more than what I used to. For me, it is no tragedy but I am concerned about all those who make much less than I do, those who are poor and have kids. Eating properly and healthy costs money....

Life / What don't you like about Poland or Polish People? [117]

No, the (some 70-year old) guy was Polish and it is not rare among older Poles. This is just one example to show that Poles are not any better. Dolno: I won't mention those vomiting in public;).

Bon appétit, Dolno!:)

Life / What don't you like about Poland or Polish People? [117]

"sophisticated"? Just yesterday, I had an old guy just walking near me, blowing his nose with his bare hands and the whole crap ended up on the ground with needless to say some particules in the air have ended up on other people's clothes, skin.. (including me, I suppose). In Poland and anywhere else, there are people who are sophisticated AND a lot that are not. If you hang around the upper crust, they may be (or look) sophisticated but upper crust is never the majority in a population ,).

Poland is no different!

News / Cameron's EU reform good for Poland [95]

@pew: check what countries pay the most and yoI'll see that the Netherlands are "well behind" big European countries

@Pweeg: get facts right ;) Germany: 19.90%, France: 17.76%, Italy: 13.57%, GB: 10.70%, The Netherlands: 3.78% (Poland: 3.07%) and some others: Ireland: 1.27% etc etc ..; so how the h... can the Netherlands pay the most money to Poland when contributing so litle to the EU's budget????? These are the figures for periods 2007-2013 but I doubt that the situation has changed a lot within the past 2 years ;)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_the_European_Union

Study / Primary school education for children (PRIVATE) [14]

@Luke: yes, the problem of homeschooling is that the child won't interact with others. Maybe what you can do, it to mix small private school (an easy way to figure out whether school is good is to look at turnover among teachers and directors) with homeschooling based upon UK (since you are from there) education.

Another problem with Polish schools is the pressure on kids who are exhausted/depressed. Kids have tons of homework.

You are great parents so I am sure that you'll choose the very best for your child. Even if kids have to receive an education, best to do it in the most pleasant conditions and sorry, but having kids getting up at dawn (I have a 14-year-old around me who gets up at ... 5.50 everyday to be in school at 8 since he needs to leave home at 7 and of course he's not alone doing so), memorizing stuff, not being able to think and to express personal opinions and to be depressed and unhappy; obviously the worst!

Have a nice day!

News / Mass protests needed in Poland in front of American embassy [60]

@Delph: of course, no mass demonstrations to be expected in front of American embassy in Warsaw (athough I have seen a big one in the past, against war in Irak) but be objective and realize that they are not the purest "white doves" and as a consequence, the whole world, including Europe (= us) pay the consequence.

Do remember that Al Qaida, the Talibans, Ben Laden and consorts were American made and now we all pay for that!

News / Mass protests needed in Poland in front of American embassy [60]

@Ktos: Bingo! :)

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@ziemo: Where do you see "attacks". She goes through my hundreds of messages (obviously she has a lot of time) to copy-paste tiny bits of sentences (NOT whole sentences/paragraphs) OUT of context and sorry, this is not honest. As to saying that Polish TRADITIONAL diet is not healthy, what is wrong with it? Even Polish dietecticians and doctors say it and that's why more and more Poles eat "international".

PS: I'm also fed up to be bashed upon my passport! Do I bash others re their passports? As to your country (whateve it is) I'm sure it is not perfect ;) so please be intelligent enough and stop your xenophobic remarks. And as to "French forces", I would like to know where they are because I'm alone and have to fight against prejudices and xenophobia from racists. You guys have NO "cojones" if you need to be so many of you against one!

PPS: when I am "attacked' based upon my nationality, do you intervene! Que nenni! Dépourvu de ... "co###illes! ;)

News / Mass protests needed in Poland in front of American embassy [60]

@Pweeg: Russia TOO (and it finances populist/extreme right parties in EU ( France's FN OFFICIALLY recognizes it)! UK and also post communist Europe (mainly Poland) have often been considered as America's Trojan horses in the EU. The US have also pressured EU so hard to let Turkey enter EU. Why should EU include Turkey? What is the logic? Of course, EU is seen as a threat by the US because EU are seen as "big fish". EU was a great idea when Germany and France decided to start a union with 4 other countries (Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg) in 1957 and as soon as they have let others in, it was the beginning of the end but thanks to Mrs. Merkel, EU is close to death and the sooner the better).

As to Nato, it was to protect the West against communism. There is no commism any longer in Europe so what is the need for Nato now? It only benefits military lobbies and their warmonger friends.

Study / Primary school education for children (PRIVATE) [14]

@Luke: and what about homeschooling if legal in Poland? You will not find anything like in UK (except for the British School in Warsaw) in Poland and also beware of most of those small private schools. Most of the time they are staffed with low paid low qualified teachers who are not motivated and do not stay long. Although classes can be crowded, I believe that public (= NON private ;)) schools are usually better in Poland.

However, as everybody knows, Polish schools do not teach kids how to think, how to criticize (no philosophy for instance in the upper grades). Kids memorize stuff and that is all.

Don't the British authorities offer homeschooling programs? I am asking because French Ministry of Education offer such programs (if I remember right, called CNED), through which kids (when sick or abroad) can work at home with materials regularly sent and checked by teachers. Parents pay a fee (don't know how much). I suppose that UK may have such programs. If so, you could enroll in said programs and if you have no time you hire someone from UK for a few hours a day (or week). You could even hire Atch, as she has plenty of time and is bored....... The only problem is that the child does not leave home and does not meet any other kids.

I hope you'll find something satisfactory! :)

News / Mass protests needed in Poland in front of American embassy [60]

Unfortunately, the US need to have EU destroyed and will do it by all means.

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@porky; why personal insults?????? Have I ever insulted you? Have I insulted your country? I am family connected to Poland and should I go back to "godless devilish" France, I could even get some 1,000 EUROS/per month in welfare in the worst situation. When I retire, I will get French benefits. Also,I spend ALL my money made in Poland in Poland as I don't send it OUT of Poland and I do pay much more in tax to Poland than the average Pole (normal since I make much more money. This applies also to ALL westerners living in Poland, we don't need to be in Poland to have food on the table. We have or had (my case) spouses/partners in Poland and we westerners contribute a lot to Polish economy.

For your info, there are 1 million Poles living in France (the huge majority of them have been there for 3 generations) and around ... 2 to 3,000 French in Poland (over 98% are . expats working with French companies and don't stay long in Poland and the others are (well off) Franco(usually of Polish origin)-Polish couples. Do don't compare apples and oranges and also the forum is not ABOUT me.

PS: I have not LIVED in (around) 50 countries, I have VISITED around 50 countries (some of them only for a few days but I have added them up) but I have LIVED in altogether 7 countries (= 6 foreign countries + France). Bg difference!

PS: according to what you said, you "live" in Poland only once a year, with your American money! Well, you for sure really kno about Poland! ;).

@Atch: stop being so fascinated with me! I am saying again in public that you copy-paste ONLY parts of my messages OUT of context. Atch, when someone is honest, they do not do so. In your catholic schools, didn't they teach you not to be dishonest??? Yes, re diet, any dietetician and doctor will tell you that the traditional Polish diet is wrong: only starches (potatoes, flour and noodles), pork and grease . I suppose you eat the same way and that's why you don't see anything wrong.. A lot of Poles know it too and now eat more "international".

I eat white meat (chicken breast, turkey, veal) and (fresh) fish. I never eat pork. I eat a lof of and a big variety of vegetables and fruit, I use the best extra virgin olive oïl (I'm genetically Mediterranean) and don't use grease and articifial "vegeta" and the like. I also buy a lot of organic products. I suppose you eat mostly potatoes at all meals ;) - I haven't in fact in ... months.

Well, now off to your church to pray with peadophiles! You Tartufffe! (Google since I suppose that you won't know) ;)

Life / Polish culture versus rotten West [279]

@Szalawa: so why more Poles abroad than in ... Poland? And why do so many Poles continue to move west? Obviously they love it in the west and disagree with you. I'm sure that you have relatives in the west sending you western money or you are mad because they don't send you as much as you would like ;). Easy to spit into the soup once you have eaten it!

History / Teaching our kids about Poland's History [57]

@Lyszko: I'm just being ironic ;). To leave Chopin's father out does not make sense, does it? As to Marie Curie, she became a French citizen. Sorry, it cracks me up as here there is so much French bashing and I notice that among the great Poles 2 were also French (not to mention POLISH NATIONAL ANTHEM praising a ... French guy). How could they humiliate .... themselves and associate with the ... devil? As written in hundreds of PF posts, the French are the worst kind of people, completely stupid, pure garbage, subhuman, even lower than rats, Or most probably Frédéric's mother, Marie Curie and Poles in general were more intelligent than PF's trolls (no doubt about that ;)).

Thanks for the good laugh!

Have a nice evening! :)