Love / Why Poland and Indian Sub-Continent? [30]

Interesting topic. I have a Polish friend who is currently engaged to an Indian woman. He comes from moderate catholic family, not rich but not poor either. She comes from a Sikh family. They gave her a hard time about her relationship with him at first, but loosened up later. Also, some people from his town made bad comments in his face and behind his back.

Regardless, they have been together for more than 3 years and they seem to be happy.

I don't think it is specific to people from Indian sub-continent. I was once at a Christmas dinner, and there was 5 Polish people with spouces from 5 different countries (Australia, Syria, Mexico, Germany and India).

I believe many Polish people have spouces from different countries due to the unusually high net migration out of Poland. When people travel they meet and get to know new people and the rest is obvious.

Law / How deep is the Gloom in the Poland's Economy [84]

I disagree with the notion that Poland's economy is in any kind of gloom.

Poland's GDP scored a real growth rate of 3.8% in 2010, and GDP per capita grew from $17,800 in 2008 to $18,800 in 2010, both values quoted in 2010 dollars (sources: CIA - The World Fact Book).

Furthermore, Poland's economy is the only one in EU that continued to grow from 2009 to 2010 (source: Wikipedia)

Also, according to IMF's 2011 World Economic Outlook, Poland's GDP (constant prices % change yeah on year) for 2010 is 3.8% and for 2011 is estimated at 3.81% and will not go below 3.6% by 2015. This is better than the following countries:

USA: 2010: 3.03%, 2011: 1.53% (est.) and 2015: 3.43% (est.)

Germany: 2010: 3.56%, 2011: 2.73% (est.) and 2015: 1.3% (est.)

UK: 2010: 1.35%, 2011: 1.14% (est.) and 2015: 2.65% (est.)

Canada: 2010: 3.22%, 2011: 2.08% (est.) and 2015: 2.39% (est.)

Czech: 2010: 2.35%, 2011: 1.18% (est.) and 2015: 3.19% (est.)

You cannot compare these figures to countries dependant on Oil/Gas (like Persian Gulf countries and Russia) or 3rd world countries with an average per capita income of less than half of that for Poland (such as China and India).

It all depends on which data you look at and how you look at it. But even IMF can be (and has been) wrong.

Law / How deep is the Gloom in the Poland's Economy [84]


Exactly :)

Law / How deep is the Gloom in the Poland's Economy [84]

Of course it is a chain reaction and nobody is 100% protected from it. However, in this world everything is relative, and "relatively speaking" Poland's economy is doing better than most nations. Of course, several decades of "communism" need several decades of therapy to fix the damage, and according to numbers Poland is on the right track. It takes years and decades for this to become evident in the daily lives of people living in Poland, so I can appreciate that many won't agree with me and I fully understand why.

However, for the foreseeable future, Poland will not have a debt crisis (like Greece or Ireland or Portugal or even Italy for that matter). Also, the Polish treasury did not drain itself in order to rescue large and inefficient corporations (like USA, Russia and Italy did) so they are better off for it because only financially sound and properly managed corporations can survive - in theory.

I am sitting here and eating an apple right now. This apple is imported (incidentally) from USA. It was not expensive to buy. The price was similar to apples from Chile and New Zealand. However, there is a fundamental difference between these apples. This American apple actually cost the American tax payer money because the American farmer receives very heavy subsidies from the government. So by eating this apple, I am practically eating money from the US treasury.

The Polish farmer does not quite have it as good as the American farmer. But that is why Polish apples need to be a lot better to compete. And they are better... Got my spin?

News / Poland could emerge as new European and world power. If? [116]

I was looking up older topics and found this very interesting thread...

History has a habit of repeating itself. Poland was a formidable regional power and used to have borders with the Ottoman Empire and shores on both the Black and Baltic seas.

Geopolitics worked against Poland when Russia and the Austro-Hungarian empires wanted to expand, and again when Russia and Germany wanted to expand. The specific geography of Poland makes it difficult to defend against an invasion from BOTH East and West at the same time.

The biggest historical problem for Poland over the last few hundred years has been Russia. Poland only got weaker when Russia got stronger.

However, this is set to change. While Russia might look strong, she is getting weaker from inside, because the very fabric that holds Russian society together is dissolving with the sharp and rapid decline in Russian population, in addition to problems that were introduced during the life of the Soviet Union but were not (and are not likely to be) resolved now. Russia is going to implode, and it is only a matter of time. Since Eastern European countries like Belarus and Ukraine are too weak and too unorganized at the moment, it is in my opinion (and in the opinion of analysts like George Friedman) likely that Russia will lose strategic superiority and eventually strategic parity with Poland within the next 20-40 years.

When Russia falls, Turkey and Poland will inevitably compete for influence in Central & Eastern Europe and in the Balkans - which is not historically new. Germany is likely to stand with Turkey against Poland (surprise!). However, it is logical that other nations (Western European nations and the US) will be significantly less tolerant to German movement this time around and this will backfire at Germany very quickly and very decisively. The US will already be annoyed with Turkey because Turkey will be (and has in fact already started) trying to spread her influence in the oil rich Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia. This is a big no-no for the US and she will go as far as she has to to defend her strategic interest in the region, even if it means falling out with Turkey or outright war with Turkey.

So just like Western European nations are not likely to allow Germany to move, the US is not likely to allow Turkey to move. Which pretty much allows Poland to spread her influence (uncontested) throughout Eastern and Central Europe and in the Balkans.

I think that WWIII will be mainly between Poland and Turkey and will take place between 2030-2060. Eventually, most of the Western world will stand against Turkey due to religious xenophobia.

So in answer to the original post, yes, Poland is rising again. But the ride might be quite bumpy...

Travel / Do I need an invitation to enter Poland as a tourist? [53]

To answer the original question, if you have a valid Schengen short stay visa (type C), you can visit any country within the Schengen zone (including Poland). However, if your point of entry into the Schengen zone is Poland, you may be asked about the purpose of your visit and your address while in Poland. If your point of Entry is another Schengen country, then it is up to the passport control in that country to admit you or not. In general, your purpose of entry into the Schengen zone should be to mainly to visit the country that issued the visa to you. If you have a visa issued by Germany for example, and your point of entry into the Schengen zone is France, and when asked about your destination you state Poland, you might be asked more questions, depending on the individual passport control officer that looks at your passport. He or she has the power to make the final decision on whether you will be permitted to enter the Schengen zone or not. Regardless, I never heard of anyone being issued a Schengen visa and denied entry. Just don't lie to passport control and everything should be fine. If they catch you lying they have the power to revoke your visa and ban you from entry, without possibility of appeal.

By the way, all this information is available online and at embassies and consulates of every Schengen country, world wide.

I am irritated by the number of people offering to pay for invitation letters or even begging for them. First of all, where is your self-respect? Second, this is illegal, and if you are caught you are likely to receive an entry ban or even be deported after entry. The embassy that reviews the visa application is likely to ask about your relationship with the person that provided the invitation letter, and documentation to prove it. Also, the person that provides this letter remains legally accountable, since these letters are notarized and registered in the relevant government offices.

Law / Difference between an expat and a immigrant (or permanet resident) in Poland [41]

Expat (short for expatriate) is someone that goes to another country specifically to work, with no intention to stay there permanently. That is what I am today.

Immigrant is someone that moves to another country with the intention to settle there for good. That is what I am going to be very soon.

Law / Polish Citizenship, do I have to travel to Warszawa (Warsaw) to get it? [13]

If you are 18 + you can file an application at the embassy first. They should have a special form for this.

Travel / Social Culture - Confused - good place in Warsaw to make new friends [19]

Howdy! Sent you a PM.

Love / Help me understand the different mannerisms and mentality of men in Przemysl area! [28]

Be brave and take a leap of faith :)

A few years ago I was in your shoes, and I was afraid too... Now I am happily married :)

Food / Where can I buy cast iron pans (żeliwne patelnie) in Poland? [19]

Cast iron pans are the best, and worth the cost, weight and added cleaning effort. Nothing delivers heat as consistently and evenly as cast iron.

It makes even fried eggs taste special :)

Food / Where can I buy cast iron pans (żeliwne patelnie) in Poland? [19]


Is this the part of the street which is torn up for the new metro project? I think I need to give this a look...

Food / Where can I buy cast iron pans (żeliwne patelnie) in Poland? [19]


Lucky catch eh!

Food / Where can I buy cast iron pans (żeliwne patelnie) in Poland? [19]

Thanks PWEI...

Life / Poles - what do non-Poles just "not get" and why? [23]

What I wouldn't do for some kaszanka right now :)

Life / Poles - what do non-Poles just "not get" and why? [23]

I could eat it every day, no problem, with pepper or without :)

Life / Poles - what do non-Poles just "not get" and why? [23]


The food is too good to talk about other stuff :) I miss the summer strawberry and cherry stands :)

Life / Poles - what do non-Poles just "not get" and why? [23]


It depends, does talking about death turn you on? Is blood the new cream? And is the crypt the new playboy mansion?

Food / Where can I buy cast iron pans (żeliwne patelnie) in Poland? [19]


That is walking distance from me... I never noticed!

Life / Ideas for constructive Immigration methods for Poland. [30]

Very well said!

Some promotions wouldn't hurt. American, Canadian and British (not to mention Australian and even French and German) universities send educational missions all over the world to introduce people (particularly from developing nations) to their educational systems and opportunities...

You gain immensely when an intelligent human being comes to your country to learn and then becomes an active part of your society.

People tend to underestimate how far this goes towards helping their own nations develop and prosper.

Life / Poles - what do non-Poles just "not get" and why? [23]


Dude that is nasty!

It sucks when people queue on top of each other, but believe me, queues in Poland are MERCY in comparison to some other countries!

Travel / What are some of the "must do" activities when visiting Poland? [43]

Go check out the wolves in Masurian Lake District :)

Life / Ideas for constructive Immigration methods for Poland. [30]

And Canada was not built by immigrants? You just gotta love the rednecks on web forums EH.

Love / Help me understand the different mannerisms and mentality of men in Przemysl area! [28]


Very good insight...

UK, Ireland / Disgusting, fat and lying Polish women and Illegal immigration in UK [73]

The title used for this thread insinuates that someone has a problem with Polish people (particularly Polish women) regardless of context.

UK, Ireland / Disgusting, fat and lying Polish women and Illegal immigration in UK [73]

Why Poland though?

UK, Ireland / Disgusting, fat and lying Polish women and Illegal immigration in UK [73]

I can think of many places where it is a lot easier for a foreigner to claim state welfare! Plus the language barrier... Something doesn't add up...

UK, Ireland / Disgusting, fat and lying Polish women and Illegal immigration in UK [73]

Entry into EU. I will not argue with that, but why would an Australian want to enter EU? It cannot be welfare because they have a very strong welfare system over there, no?

Maybe someone fell in love with someone from Poland? :)

UK, Ireland / Disgusting, fat and lying Polish women and Illegal immigration in UK [73]

The grass is always greener on the other side eh!

News / Poland 39. in Human Development Index 2011 [7]

Seriously this scale is not really representative of what things are like...

There are countries that are ahead of Poland on this scale that have an artificially inflated HDI due to the fact that their populations consist of 80% or more foreign workers... If you remove these from the list, then other countries (including Poland) will move up a few spots on the scale...