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Posts by bombelku56  

Joined: 9 Dec 2009 / Male ♂
Last Post: 18 Oct 2010
Threads: Total: 1 / In This Archive: 0
Posts: Total: 20 / In This Archive: 10
From: USA, NYC suburbs
Speaks Polish?: learning
Interests: Photography

Displayed posts: 10
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bombelku56   
30 Dec 2009
USA, Canada / REFUSED A HOLIDAY VISA TO THE U.S CAUSE IM POLISH [323]

brother outstayed his visa by a couple of years, which means if we want to visit the US to see my sister who lives there (or her brother) my girlfriend would possibly be denied a visa on account of her brothers' behaviour if US immigration keeps such records

From what I have been reading - they do not keep such records for anyone who overstays their visa. There was a news article recently about trying to keep better track of who comes and goes. The claim was that over 90% of foreign nationals visiting this country are never recorded as leaving, because almost no one "turns in the stub" upon departure. I do not know what this "stub" is about, but it sounds like a simple paper trail that is not enforced.

Unless you are discovered to be an "overstay," then they have no idea if you left or not!

Personally, I hope it stays that way - or they drop the whole visa thing completely. The laws are archaic, discriminatory, and often seem quite arbitrary in their application. I hope it is easier for me to visit Poland than it is for Poles to come here. This is truly a sad state of affairs!
bombelku56   
30 Dec 2009
USA, Canada / REFUSED A HOLIDAY VISA TO THE U.S CAUSE IM POLISH [323]

Oh, lovely - thank you for the information. If this system is "about as effective as the stub system," then I understand it is not very effective, just expensive?
bombelku56   
2 Jul 2010
Love / How do I make a Polish girl cry? [107]

how can you be 'heavily in love'? what does it mean?

Married! (note ball-and-chain attached firmly to ankle) ;-)
bombelku56   
12 Jul 2010
Language / Site I've been using to learn Polish--what do you people think? [18]

Oscar E. Swan - yes, I agree. His writing is quite useful.

This is handy for working on pronunciation. It does fairly well for a computer.

livemocha is down at the moment

Site maintenance is scheduled for today. It should be back up soon.
I met many very helpful people on LiveMocha. Some of us use Skype, and our interaction there has been very helpful to me, and to them.

Polish In A Nutshell

Freely available book in "pdf" form, the prototype for his printed book: Polish Verbs & Essentials of Grammar Oscar E. Swan.

This is an excellent reference - 138 pages full of useful information

Also, the "Michel Thomas" (sometimes "Michael Thomas") CD courses were helpful to me, and at reasonable cost from Amazon. Also in Barnes & Noble.

"Immersion" is a key concept in my learning plan. I listen to Polish radio, music, watch Polish television (dropped all my American channels for Polish-only on satellite), read newspapers and books. Try crossword and other word games - these can be very challenging!

Some claim "you've arrived" once you can say this well:

Chrząszcz
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrz%C4%85szcz

and have a look at this, too: sciaga.pl/forum/9/watek/712241/zemsta_logopedy/ - Polish tongue twisters
bombelku56   
12 Jul 2010
Language / Site I've been using to learn Polish--what do you people think? [18]

I have done this, too - most recently, with Kosmofski's "Dzień po dniu, od lat" from "Tytułu BRAK." Unfortunately, I could not find the lyrics online, but a friend helped me:

Dzień po dniu od lat, oglądam TV Świat
i dzień po dniu co rok widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc,
wśród objawionych praw, ku słońcu zwracam twarz
pośród pustych świąt widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc

Kiedy już nie będzie nas i nie będzie zła
Czy będzie tam ktoś, kto opowie ten świat

Dzień po dniu od lat, gdzie nie wypiera tak
a ogień traci moc widzę jak dzień zamienia się w noc

... I think he did a good job with this (any typos are mine!), and I like the song for several reasons, including that fact that it moves slowly and is clear enough to hear well. It also fits the register of my voice - very low.

I was also cautioned by the same friend that listening to music has limited value for learning Polish, because the constructs are often poetic, and pronunciation may be different than usual speech. I understand this, but still find it useful.
bombelku56   
30 Jul 2010
Love / Are Polish Women cold and aloof? [249]

how many guys here got completely ignored by a polish girly then after knowing them for some time? i'd love to know those statistics!

Yes. Just once - so far! You mean it's not just me? good grief....
bombelku56   
31 Jul 2010
Love / Are Polish Women cold and aloof? [249]

They are cold and aloof til they want sth.

Fascinating, and much too true to life. Thanks for the tip; I will check out the series.

thinks . o O ( perhaps it is time to rethink my strategy )
bombelku56   
10 Jan 2011
Language / iPhone / Android - Smartphone apps for learning Polish [12]

"Byki" can be useful, depending on your level. I use a "Collins" dictionary, which I find very helpful.

sites:

ang.pl - for vocabulary. intended for Polish speakers to learn English, but works both ways.

Livemocha.com - very good! This requires flash, however, so may not work with your iPhone. (I use a Motorola Droid)