Language / More than one type of love (linguistically speaking) [11]

you don't really need to have a special keyboard layout installed, unless you want to type in Polish all the time.

Sometimes I need diacritical signs from other languages for my translations and I simply use the Microsoft Word toolbar, but I know that other programs, like Open Office for instance, have these options too.

So, in order to type a Polish word, you need to go to the "insert" option on Word toolbar, then to "special symbols", or "symbols" option, and pick the letter you need from all possible alphabets unfolded there. I guess the list only lacks Sanskrit.

Unfortunately, if you need to type a long text in Polish, this technique is time-consuming :) I only use it for single words or sentences..

Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]

The amount of sexism and racism in this thread is unbearable.

Fact one: you all are, permanently or from time to time, in relationships with Slavic women because you couldn't afford British/American women. If not, why aren't you in relationships with women from your own countries?

Fact two: those of you who married "materialistic" Polish women did so voluntarily and now whine like puppies about having to exchange old windows. Am I supposed to assume that British people do not usually exchange old windows and instead let their butts freeze off in winter?

Fact three: those of you who pay for Polish women's clothes/shoes/accommodation - you are their partners and do so in exchange for sex. It still pays off, apparently, if you wish to continue the experiences. If it isn't worth the effort, go celibate or come back to your native countries where women expect just the same, only the prices are higher.

Fact four: if Polish women had sex with you in exchange for absolutely nothing, you would swap the word "gold diggers" for *********" and complain that they have no self-esteem and you would still feel sorry for yourselves for having sex with inferior creatures from the third world who don't realize that no pleasure in life is for free. The golden rule in business is: a man never respects the things he gets for free, be it the goods or the services sector.

Fact five: if you invite a woman to a restaurant, you are supposed to pay. Tea and a cake is a fair price for the obvious gratification you expect in the long run. If not, hookers are available, just like in every other country, including the country in which rat-eater was raised.

Fact six: a man who is desperate about having to pay for a woman's meal had better not get anyone pregnant, because children are very expensive. Dates often end with sex. Sex often ends with pregnancy in most unexpected cases. Obvious conclusion for a woman: get good contraceptives before you have sex with a man who whines about having to pay for your meal, because you won't be able to earn money for a long time once you have a baby.

As for myself: I have about 50 pairs of shoes. If I want to, I will but 50 more. I have always paid for all my flats, all my clothes, all my shoes, all my holidays, all my entertainment by myself.

I have only allowed men to pay for my tea. I have occassionally allowed my boyfriends to pay for my dinner, but, on the other hand, they often ate at my place for free. The same goes for other Polish women I know, so if you foreigners pick up strange women in bars and start desperate relationships with them either to escape loneliness or simply to have sex , don't be surprised they are after your money and, most importantly, do not make offensive verbal generalisations on the Internet. They are simply painful to read.

Travel / Would I have to worry about organ thieves when traveling into Poland alone? [36]

Cheery, if your appendage is short, you have nothing to worry about in this country.

USA, Canada / Polish people in Columbus, Ohio? [30]

I am Polish and I moved to Columbus and lived there for one year about twenty three years ago. I escaped after one year. The experience was very difficult, people kept asking me questions like

"So, is Poland a Russian Republic?", "Is Poland in Europe?", "Is your native language French or Spanish?", " Do Polish people have cars?", "Have they introduced TVs to Poland yet?". I could already speak good English, but I had to prove at every step that I had not come straight out of the Amazon Jungle and basically had to apologize to some people for carrying around a good quality, trendy leather handbag, as they expected a Polish person to be dressed in rags or maybe parade half-naked, like a member of an Amazonian tribal community. My American boyfriend woke me up one day to show me a garbage truck as a way of introducing me to the gifts and wonders of the western civilization....

Still, I don't want anyone to take it as criticism, as I also met many helpful and friendly people. However, generally, I felt totally isolated and lived among people who had no knowledge of Central Europe whatsoever.

I had a work permit, but it was useless, as in most places they would not offer me a job because I didn't have a social security number for some time.

As for the Polish community, I met just a few Polish people there, as far as I can remember the group was too small to form any meaningful community. We are really lucky nowadays to be able to enjoy the benefits of the Internet and get in touch with the people from our native countries living abroad. Good luck!

Love / Too late for a serious relationship? or not - I'm 39 and looking for someone Polish [27]

I find your opinion quite offensive to Polish women. In spite of earning less money than men in Poland, we work very hard and are ambitious. No woman in my family has ever taken advantage of a man. The single mums you have mentioned don't get a penny from the children's fathers.

Your statement most probably points to the fact that you don't mix with the right people in Poland, I'm sorry to have to say this.