Language / Is fluency in Polish for an English speaker possible?! [30]

don't worry about it. just speak. I can't roll my r's either but in my experience after living here for 7 years, when you speak Polish- no matter how bad it is, the average person will be flattered and tell you that your Polish is very good. The thing is- the placement of the tongue when speaking is different- this is something that is learned when you are a child- as an adult teaching yourself to use your tongue differently when speaking is difficult.

it is the same thing when Poles try and say "th" they can't do it.

Food / Is Polish food still more natural than in the West? [142]

Polish people ate healthier during communism?

This is an obsession of mine, I am interested in what others think.

As a Canadian, I have watched my country get fatter and fatter -catching up to our American cousins. Living in Poland for the past 7 years I have noticed that Polish people have caught up to the American fat at an alarming rate. Seems that when Poland joined the EU- this point was the beginning of it all.

Kids are fat and often with black teeth. Men have now got the North American gut. Are Poles not aware of what happens when you eat over processed heavily refined garbage like McDonalds, KFC etc etc?. Every time I go to a shopping centre there is a massive line up to any of these garbage restaurants.

I haven't eaten fast food in over 7 years, maybe this is why I notice it more, but I think that Poles ate healthier during communism. Everything was home made and grown locally. Now, supper comes in a box and over farmed fruits that come from Spain are available all year round.

Polonia / Polonia in Siberia!! Any siberians please post. How is live for a pole in Siberia? News? [13]

the weather sounds like where I come from in Canada.

Food / Is Polish food still more natural than in the West? [142]

I just wanted to add that my post was moved- I had actually posted in another place- but I am new so whatever. My post wasn't in reference to the initial post- I intended it as new.

I was actually making reference to how fat Poles have become since joining EU. Of course I am generalizing- but there are a lot more chubsters since the joining. I have lived in Poland both before and after the join and I can see it.

Yes, it comes down to choice, but a friend of mine said that Poles are eating this food because they have never had it before. Also, Poles are still accepting that a frozen pizza is a frozen pizza and not a bunch of chemicals and over processed garbage.

News / Tusk drops Chinese COVEC building the A2 motorway in Poland [83]

They should have just let Skanska do the entire road- then we can all be certain that it will be done correctly.

Language / How can i teach my child Polish language? (I'm Russian, my wife is Polish) [35]

If you speak russian, your wife polish, german to each other and english at school your daughter will learn all languages. One will be dominant. Children can learn 6 languages before the age of six. the key is consistency. she will learn which language to speak with whom. the best time to learn is now- when she is young as her brain will adjust, it is much harder to learn as we age.

my kids are completely bilingual polish/english and they have french in school.

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]


this is absolutely correct. The only problem is that Poles want everything American. Been to a KFC, McDonalds or Pizza Hut lately? Walmart will take over Real and set up shop- get away will paying sub wages etc, etc and the place will be packed.

And this is when I start up "people of walmart polish version" and cash in on the stupidity.

Real Estate / Buying a property in Poland to rent out from the UK [82]

it is not that difficult. are you buying "shell and core" or has the fit out been done already? I would suggest somebody to take care of it- doesn't have to be a company, you can probably find somebody in the area to tend to things when necessary. Payment can be made directly into your account and you need a good rental contract.

btw (I am a Canadian interior designer working and living in Warsaw- I have an amazing carpenter who can fit your apartment out from top to bottom if necessary)

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]

no they won't. There are enough people in Poland to accommodate Walmart coming. Walmart is looking at Buying Real- so that point doesn't matter.

Real Estate / Buying a property in Poland to rent out from the UK [82]

the problem in the link you provided is that the mortgage was in swiss francks. property in Poland is a good investment- if you know what you are doing and if your contacts are honest.

we have a rental property in Puck and have zero problems maintaining it.

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]

you are right. Poland B wear mustang and big star

convex
Sorry, I don't understand- you are saying Walmart doesn't have the equity?

This is what I think will happen. Walmart will buy out Real. Once Walmart is in they will set up in areas of the country such as Radom- where there is a large population but very little retail.- I mean big box retail. And they will welcome it with open arms. If Walmart can survive in Canada where there is a vast land mass and small population- it would stupid not to invest in Poland with a larger population and smaller space.

I got your point- but don't kid yourself. If Walmart sets up shop in Poland- people will flock to it. It is American and Polish people want their piece.

Ever been to tkmaxx at Blue city or centrum Warsaw. I have. It is packed all the time and people buy buy buy. In Canada I can go to any Walmart and hear a conversation in Polish.

Retail in Poland is an enigma. Why is it that in the 90s Burger King was here. Then it disappeared. Now it is back. Why is it doing ok now but not 12 years ago. Why has taco bell disappeared. Why is Starbucks opened through AmRest?

Walmart didn't fly in Germany because they are a socialist country that takes care of its people- Walmart doesn't want any part of it. Because a crap job at Walmart is better than no job- people will apply because it is an American company- and their uncle who lives in Greenpoint tells them how great Walmart is. Lets face it- those who work the cash at any Walmart, Tesco, Real- whatever, are not rocket scientists.

Real Estate / Buying a property in Poland to rent out from the UK [82]

we bought at the peak also, but went against the banks advice and stayed in zlots. (my husband is an economics major) that is the difference. you can ride out a peak and a dip if your in the local currency- if your mortgage payments quadruple it is a bit more difficult to ride out.

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]

I am not anti Germany at all. And socialism is not a dirty word in my world. I wish Walmart would get the h*ll out of Canada, but unfortunately we seem to be following the neighbours to the south.

Real Estate / Buying a property in Poland to rent out from the UK [82]

this is a very important point.
And don't take a mortgage in a foreign currency like the swiss frank.

News / Wal-Mart coming to Poland? [146]


so would you consider Poland central european? Walmart will succeed here. I will bet my car on it.

Life / How do Polish people in Poland respond to Polish people abroad....? [17]

I think you fall under the term "polonia" --and there are millions just like you

UK, Ireland / Brits dislike freshwater fish? [11]

carp is a disgusting fish. it is a bottom feeder and that is what it tastes like. generally speaking, when eating, people tend to go with what they know.

Genealogy / What is the real Polish name for: Fineman, Feinman, Pireoshkier, Piroskier, Pirozkier? [3]

you need to try jewishgen.org it has a lot of information for those trying to find their roots. good luck, it isn't easy.

Real Estate / Gdansk/tri city Rental Market [15]

I don't know if this helps- the article is almost a year old.

globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Poland/Price-History

maybe a better option would be to buy an apartment from an existing owner who mistakenly got their mortgage in swiss franks. ;)

I have 3 clients that have swiss frank mortgages.

If you are looking to buy in the tricity area, specifically for renting- you may want to consider something like Rumia- which has a lot of construction and big box stores. We have a vacation rental on the seaside in Puck. It is more work because people rent it for weeks at a time- but we do have a person that meets them with keys etc. There are lots of high end osiedle's being built- what is your target market? (my husband comes from Sopot- I know the area quite well)

Real Estate / Gdansk/tri city Rental Market [15]

well, In my humble opinion- I am not in real estate I am just an interior designer- it is the old cliche location location location.

There is a market for rentals but it has to make sense. Close to major roads, close to shopping and entertainment, depending on your clients needs, public transport, parking needs.

Most importantly is cost of rent. Poles want to buy their own place- this is why they often settle for smaller spaces -that is only what they can afford but it is at least their own.

Unless you target the expat community that is in town for a two year work stint- you are probably going to have to make your rent attractive. Another thing, smaller apartment are easier to rent. I mean like a bachelor, one bedroom. You have a larger target market- students, bachelors, retirees. (this I know from experience in Warsaw and from my work mate.)

I don't have a link or statistics on this - just local experience. I just completed a project that was done in an old communist block. We gutted the place, fit it out with rather inexpensive materials- it looked good, and it sold in four days for the asking price. (and I am not joking about that!!) we staged it to sell.

So anyway, long story short- do your homework. Is it a new block or pre war? Next to a university, next to the old town, near roads, near transit, parking, public parks, next to a forest (Polish people love to walk in the forest)- then once you pin point your location, start small- with a bachelor and offer good rent.

Real Estate / Gdansk/tri city Rental Market [15]

it will be worth the hassle. The biggest problem I went through was the notary. I wanted to die. Because you are not Polish speaking you will have to hire a translator. It is like a full day of reading the buyers document, signing and initialing- it was a bloody nightmare.

Make sure you find out what materials and brands they use for the fit out. That I can help with. I know what is good quality, high end and what is crap.

As for the money end of it. Take out your mortgage in zlots. You might want to investigate the euro also. We have our mortgage in euros and it is working out for us. My husband is an economics major and works in commercial real estate so he is confident in what he is doing. something to consider- Poland is going to adopt the Euro- what are the banks offering when the switch is made?

Real Estate / Gdansk/tri city Rental Market [15]

I will let you google it for yourself. It should happen before 2015- or this is what the goal is, however in the terms of a home mortgage this is relatively short- especially if you take a 25 year mortgage.

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

Easily the best place to live in Poland is the tricity area. But, alas, I live in Warsaw....

UK, Ireland / Is UK the new cradle of antipolonism? [161]

about a year and a half ago I watched a sky tv program here in Poland. We used to get Sky- then cancelled because it was all crap. Anyway- this program was about immigration and specifically targeting Poles- claiming that Poles undercut their business, offered for cheaper, they set up ghettos, churches etc etc.

The funny thing about this show was that the majority of the people commenting that were British- were of a visible minority- being black or east Indian. These same people were claiming that Poles are changing their culture.

I dunno, I have never lived in England- my grands immigrated to Canada from England- but as far as I know- a curry is not a British food- yet there is a window selling it on every corner.

UK, Ireland / Is UK the new cradle of antipolonism? [161]


I don't think I was picking on England, I was just describing the program I saw. I thought it was funny that in this program there were people being interviewed claiming that eastern Europeans are changing the face of England- yet these people were of an obvious visible minority and spoke with an east Indian or Jamaican accent. pot meet kettle, if you will.

as a side note- I am not here to pick on any country- I am just one Canadian girl, living and working in Warsaw, married to a Pole- sometimes a different perspective is nice.


Poles born abroad are considered Polonia- not the same.

In America, the melting pot, you are American first. ex. and American of Polish decent etc etc
In Canada you are Polish-Canadian or Jamaican -Canadian etc etc- we are a cultural mosaic- and very proud of it.
I imagine that in England it is probably similar to Canada.
In this case we are mixing ethnicity with nationality.

Work / Close Protection (Bodyguard) - popular line of work in Poland? [19]

so you don't speak Polish?

Work / Close Protection (Bodyguard) - popular line of work in Poland? [19]

so your best bet would be to start the company and not work for it. and of course pick up the language as much as possible.

Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

I am really sorry this happened to you. I don't understand it either. I would have thought that with all the people that have left Poland and immigrated to multicultural countries- Poland would be more accepting of other cultures.

Where do you live? Perhaps this has something to do with it.
There are ignorant stupid a**holes everywhere- maybe you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]

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that is a real dickish thing to say.

unfcuking believable. is everybody on this site a bunch of racist pigs?

ell, have you ever thought about going to the media with this?

Life / Racism and for what? (story of Egyptian guy's living in Poland) [149]


I don't think your quote is racist- I edited my post and it came out that way. I meant the guy with the Polish mafia statement.

I just have a huge issue with Poles not wanting foreigners in their country but they are completely exempt when it comes to moving outside of Poland.

Poland for Poles is a bunch of crap.