Life / The most dissapointed with Poland are those who have Polish origins. [35]

There's truth in both and sometimes we just need to meditate and stop commenting as it always comes back to the same thing. Some are and some aren't (in a nutshell).

Renouncing is also not good as it's usually based on one fragment of the broader whole. It must be remembered that Poles have made great inroads in 21 years and heed must be paid to the stifling effect of communism. Why renounce when many here are moving forward?

Life / The most dissapointed with Poland are those who have Polish origins. [35]

It could be that hard times in America have forced them to rethink their options and explore Poland instead. However, it's not always easy to get into positions here and that may turn people sour. The most important think is to judge Poland against reliable yardsticks and not against America when it was in its heyday. That would just be unfair!

Life / The most dissapointed with Poland are those who have Polish origins. [35]

It seems to be that way, yes. It does linger within some expats that they have failed in some way by living abroad for a long time. There is a tendency towards romanticism of their home country but the grass is always greener on the other side.

The person that enjoys Poland the most is he/she who sees the good around them and isn't afraid to enjoy themself. Too many are repressed and look for the negative. Old people, naturally, are the masters in this dept.

Zeti, based on what I've seen here, it seems to be that they are more disgruntled.

Genealogy / Do you think all Slavs are white? [178]

Oh, it's still quite common now. They look like those noble gents on bottled water labels :)

Are all Slavs white? No because I know a Polish guy with no discernible Asian roots but he looks Mongoloid and is ever so slightly yellow. It could be the jaundice ;) ;)

Genealogy / Do you think all Slavs are white? [178]

The most Slavic looking are those middle-aged men with their long moustaches. There are many around here and they look fairly noble. All white men.

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

Polishmama, that could well play its part. There is certainly an undercurrent of paranoia and suspicion at large. The only reason I don't get the Spanish Inquisition every time is that my face fits.

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

I think the ruggedness that came with communism has stayed. Things which are basic to most Westerners seems to elude the older generation here. I held the door open for 7 elderly folk today and only one said thanks. They just don't have a clue how to behave in the modern world.

History / Effects of Living under Communism in Poland [58]

One effect now is communism as a benchmark. It has very much become Now Vs Then for a lot of old people that haven't made the transition to the modern world so easily. I heard it even today in the bank where an old woman was telling me that too many people are scurrying about in the rat race and that things are far less certain now.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Well, one might say that it prepares you for the PhD defence if you do one early days in your uni career during your Bachelors. However, another line of thought says that you should be able to rise to the challenge of a PhD anyway without significant prep. I was surprised that I didn't have one during my LLM but the profs were no doubt encouraging independent initiative and dispensed with the panel requirement. Any which way, as long as the format and expectations are spelled out to the student, they know what''s coming :)

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Good post from yuaelt above. I thought it was sth more than a mere formality as many students often fret over it. It is a very important component of the overall programme.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Aha, it translated badly then as you have to sit in front of a panel of experts in a PhD and be grilled on your findings. I didn't fancy that and also don't see the need for PhDs in most cases.

Mine was esoteric but not the most practical. Still, it furthered knowledge in one sphere so I guess it served an educating function. Some professors just churn out articles for the sake of numbers and that's just wrong IMHO.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

Well, the following is not a joke but reads like one. 2 Polish wannabe electricians were forever trying to outdo each other. They were arguing over the voltage measurement of a bell. One was telling the other that it was such a minimal charge and that he'd prove it. He proceeded to lick it, only to get an electric shock more than he bargained for :)

Don't give up your day job Seanus:)

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Education in Poland? Ok, it's interesting that you guys defend your Master's paper. I didn't have to defend my thesis, only to give regular updates to my professor. Much the same as my dissertation but the supervisors demanded more. It struck me as being like a viva voce for PhD students. Avoiding plagiarism is key there.

I think a good question would be the motivation for doing such a paper in the first place. Too many papers submitted are like leaves in the breeze. I remember the ridiculous situation where I couldn't even get access to my own paper as it was just confined to the archives. Does the paper have to demonstrate any practical value?

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

I really wouldn't mind as long as the joke wasn't totally distasteful in the sense of paedophilia or death etc etc. Standard jokes against jokes? I have no problem with those.

I really wouldn't mind as I know what I know about Scots. I don't jump to defend my home country's people either. They can do that for themselves.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Well, it's good that the singer of Myslovitz educated himself in how to sing in English. Hats off to him for that! He sounds really proper sometimes. Much better than that moron who sang at the Pudzian Vs Butterbean fight. He didn't even know the words at all.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

Zeti, it all comes back to the fact that Poles only ever wanna hear good things about their country to boost their frail egos and justifications are given to mask defensiveness. I joke non-stop about the Scots being stingy but I always remember to throw in the truth at the end.

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

No, stinginess is a negative feature. Thriftiness is the positive equivalent. Then there would be a fair bit of truth in the stereotype :)

Exactly right :) There's your truth :)

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

If you know and are happy with the truth, what's the problem? I know many Aberdonians are mean and that gives other Scots a bad name. However, I also know that many of those stingy ones are from the oil&gas business which houses many foreigners. Some Poles are dumb, some aren't.

News / WikiLeaks Reveals Tense Foreign Relations Amongst Poland. [22]

Let's have Borrka and Nathan step up to the plate and outline the tense foreign relations with Russia. Yup, Medvedev being treated like a king and Putin hugging Tusk certainly shows their animosity in no uncertain terms ;) ;)

Life / What is the reason for POLISH jokes ? [486]

Dave is right here, Zeti. People will say as people will say, you have to let it slide. Many Poles seem to constantly need to prove themselves which implies that they are not content letting others judge them.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Spot on, Delph. Wikipedia sums it up in a nutshell :)

I strongly agree with that, FUZZY. The exception would be the engineers I used to teach. They were quite creative but most other graduates from other disciplines really come up short. It just stems from dull minds. I think education might have been better in the past. Guys like my father-in-law are really capable when it comes to creative solutions around the flat.

Poles can be sharp but the system crushes them with non-stop long essays and a lack of meaningful incentives. They are like oranges waiting to be squeezed dry.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

My point is simply that more emphasis needs to be placed on speaking activities so that Poland can catch up with Scandinavians and Benelux countries. Poles do come across VERY strongly as being book based. If it isn't in the book, it's of lesser status or doesn't exist at all. That's retrograde thinking! I've tussled with many over the dubious content of some books. Poles need to get out of their 'book being the Bible' approach to learning and shake it up.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

It does come across that way at times. Too much mindless memorising of things rather than practically applying them can be detrimental. Just look at the Japanese and their system of rote learning. They have their heads constantly angled at a board without having much opportunity to speak. That's where private schools stepped in and gave them the chance to use it. Poland might be the same to a certain extent.

Language / Polish guitar chords translated to English [13]

You'd be bald in no time through labouring on it ;)

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

That value gets lost by many somewhere along the line. How is that experience helping you in your present life, Zeti?

Language / Polish guitar chords translated to English [13]

Aha, that must confuse the hell out of people! Simplicity is genius!

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

It's only according to the vision of the teacher but so much I've learned in the past is basically useless and redundant. It's, yet again, people giving themselves work without really explaining the significance of what is being taught.

Language / Polish guitar chords translated to English [13]

Cześć and dzięki :)

Translating chords? They are as they are on an international scale, right?

News / WikiLeaks Reveals Tense Foreign Relations Amongst Poland. [22]

True enough, Delph. There was actually talk of America helping Russia out in their War on Terror but it wasn't viable.

Work / Education in Poland - system and structure [118]

Everyone takes it, hmm.