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Posts by SRK85  

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 / Male ♂
Last Post: 13 May 2011
Threads: -
Posts: Total: 72 / In This Archive: 23
From: Philadelphia area
Speaks Polish?: a little bit
Interests: Studying

Displayed posts: 23
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SRK85   
15 Jul 2009
Genealogy / Any Polish Tatars here? [95]

I am so confused is there anyway someone can prove tartar ancenstry without a DNA test. My dad is full Polish-American(second generation) he has olive skin and often gets mistaken for an Arab or Latino. My little brother has dark skin too and many people think he is cuban. However on my dad's side its all Polish. For me well I got most of my mom's genes she's mostly of German heritage. I have light skin, brown hair, and look like a typical European.

But what is this mysterious birth symbol everyone is talking about? I have a form of lines resembling a lightning strike on my high thigh.
SRK85   
18 Jul 2009
Study / Is Poland a good place to study for Black Africans? [90]

Yes theres racism its more sub-concius though. Last time I was in Poland the black people in the airport had a harder time at passport control. Also when going to clubs bouncers tend to check ideas of minorities more often then whites. However in bigger cities the people tend to be more welcoming towards different races. You should be fine if you stick to Warsaw or Krakow. I guess its more of an exotic thing, there are not that many people of African descent in Poland.
SRK85   
25 Jul 2009
Study / Is Poland a good place to study for Black Africans? [90]

Yesterday a russian girl told me that in her town a black man can hardly walk 5 steps before he gets beaten.

Thats weird considering this
en.rian.ru/russia/20090722/155584997.html

Anyways every country experiences racism its horrible. Poland should be fine like I said stick to the bigger cities.
SRK85   
26 Jul 2009
Study / The reputation of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow. [52]

What program are you looking at. I am currently enrolled in the Centre for European Studies but I believe the deadline to apply has passed. Anyway heres the info on that. ces.uj.edu.pl

Also Trans-Atlantic studies is still accepting applications, information is here. transatlantic.uj.edu.pl/main.php

Email one of these people for more questions and answers.

uj.edu.pl/ISOffice/index_en.html
SRK85   
29 Jul 2009
Study / The reputation of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow. [52]

I wanted to do European Studies. The only school I could of gotten into in the US was LaSalle. So then I looked abroad, everywhere in Europe. I already been to England, so I wanted to study in continental Europe. But no schools really had English programs other thn Charles University, University of Riga,or Moscow State. Since I have Polish ancestry and family living in Poland. I choose Poland, I choose Jagiellonian because its get rated the best. Plus Krakow is an amazing city.
SRK85   
6 Aug 2009
History / WWII - who really was the first to help Poland? [900]

No one unfortunately, the soviets said they helped Poland but considering they killed the majority of the intellgensia and intellectuals. Poland was betrayed by the rest, given to Stalin in order to help defeat the axis. Its a shame I talked to holocaust survivor when she spoke at my school. She left Poland for London because of the communist rule by Stalin. However if Wilson was still president at the time he would probably of pushed for more self-determination in communist controlled areas.
SRK85   
21 Aug 2009
Study / The reputation of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow. [52]

OOps I forgot to mention the I looked at the only available e alumni report I could find, and the only American that graduated from CES did not get job. But got accepted to get his doctoral in history at harvard. I guess that shows that Jagiellonian does have pretty decent reputation with America or at least Ivy League universities.
SRK85   
31 Jan 2010
Study / The reputation of the Jagiellonian University, Krakow. [52]

I'm in the TransAtlantic program, I'm glad I chose it over the European Studies & the other english-language programs because it's a more marketable degree with regards to employment. There aren't many of us though, about 30 since the program is pretty new. But it gives you an opportunity to get to know the profs well and everyone is pretty tight knit...

Yeah European Studies sucks I should have done TransAtlantic program instead :(
SRK85   
8 Jun 2010
History / Questions about Polish borders, Galicia and Cossacks. [50]

I am learning about the cossacks now. Its interesting, in fact the Poles employed the cossacks to defend the country. But then screwed them over by not paying them, so they went out to Ukrainian land and settled there. Not to mention there are plenty of different cossacks.

As for why Poland is a lot smaller. Well it all has to do the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov-Ribbentrop_Pact and the Yalta conference. Instead of giving Poland its territory which it had during the interwar years, the Soviet Union pushed the borders of Poland westward which was German territory.
SRK85   
18 Mar 2011
Genealogy / Korab - Polish coat of arms? [6]

Easy the Korab coat of arms were used by the nobility. The ship probably has to due to with the legend of a Slavic tribe that would raid the ports of the Byzantine empire. Its good to see some other people are interested in the Korab coat of arms. :)
SRK85   
25 Apr 2011
History / Civilian life in Poland (Krakow) during the WW2. [30]

As for Krakow during the war it was sparred from destruction obviously. The Germans claimed that Krakow was an ancient German city. Krakow was the capital of the general government. Hans Frank was the leader of the Nazi imposed government and worked out of Wawel Castle. Although he lived in PrzegorzaƂy. The Nazis required everyone to reveal their family history. People of German heritage were given better food rations usually 2000 calories or above, Poles received between 500-1500, and Jews received less than 500. Jagiellonian University was shut down and some of the professors died as a result of Sonderaktion Krakau. The professors who were not sent to death camps set up an underground university to educate their fellow Poles. There is a lot more but instead of writing a long post I will point out the two best sources for information. One is obviously God's Playground 2.amazon.com/Gods-Playground-History-Poland-Present/dp/0231 128193. The second is, bookadvisor.eu/A-history-of-Krak%C3%B3w-for-everyone;s,book,id,38 6. Which has a chapter dedicated to Krakow during Nazi occupation.
SRK85   
10 May 2011
History / Why did Russia attack Poland in WW2? [178]

A few reasons.
1. Revenge. The Poles were able to beat the Bolsheviks during the brief Polish-Soviet War. In 1920 which is often referred to the miracle of Warsaw, the Poles where able to beat back the invading Soviets. Eventually the Bolsheviks under Lenin pushed for peace and thus the Treaty of Riga was agreed upon. The Treaty of Riga extended the Polish border and Lenin looked like a failure. So its obvious that Stalin would want to regain these territories and even more once he had the chance.

2. The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was agreed upon during the Spring of 1939 in which the Germans and Russians planned to carve up the Second Polish Republic. So essentially the Soviets had invasion plans drawn out and just needed to wait til the Germans invaded.

3. The Russians have always meddled in Polish affairs, and at one time much of Poland was under the Russian Empire. So for Stalin why not extend the Soviet borders while gobbling up more land.

Also the Germans only allied with the Soviets briefly so they could invade Poland and invade the West without having to worry about a second front.
SRK85   
1 Jul 2011
Study / Need advice on MA programs in Poland [13]

I would have to agree with what has been already said. I went to UJ for my masters but the level of education was not as high as Britain or America. Of course that was for programs in English. Now programs offered in Polish will probably be better. The transatlantic studies program seemed well however I heard negative things about it. University of Warsaw is the top rated Polish university but their English language programs are lacking and the classes are at night. I would also look into Collgieum Civitas many of ex-Polish politicians teach there. civitas.edu.pl/english
SRK85   
29 Nov 2011
Study / Poland student visa interview [27]

Your school should help you with obtaining a visa. You need a letter stating the reason for studying in Poland usually produced by the school. As well as bank account statements, proof of health insurance, and statement of intent for living in Poland.
SRK85   
30 Nov 2011
Study / Poland student visa interview [27]

The program's director should have mailed you a letter stating the nature of living in Poland. Unless that is included in the admission notice. As for the bank account the Polish government wants to make sure you have enough money to cover medical expenses in case of an emergency. If you have health insurance that covers international trips you will be fine.