Work / How is the living standard in Poznan? Does 5200 PLN enough for a decent living? [32]

If you're still wondering.
5200 is a good salary, especially for someone without much experience. It should be enough to live decently.
What kind of job it is? If it has something to do with IT, I wouldn't say it's not probable.
There is a new school of digital art etc. starting up in Poznań, so it sounds pretty legit. I guess they would offer a foreigner a higher salary if they can't find anybody from here to do that job.

Renting a room from an English speaking landlord? A bad idea if they offer you such unfair prices. Just ask some Pole who can speak English to do you a favour and speak with a landlord in your behalf. I can help you if you decided to take that job and you still need help. You can also ask the company who wants to hire you for help with renting a flat or a room.

UK, Ireland / Is the UK referred to as the Islands in Polish media back home? [62]

Hm, don't Brits refer to the rest of Europe as 'the continent'? So, from continental point of view, they are 'the isles'. What's strange or offensive in that?

Anyway, in Polish language there are a lot of such terms, because it's considered poor style to use the same term all over one article or piece of TV news, so they would probably use all the names they can think of, even 'Albion' etc. It gets quite kitschy sometimes and it's even laughed at, for example there is a legendary term for skiing 'białe szaleństwo' (white madness).

Nobody refers to Australia as an island in Poland, as it's considered a continent.


Who Cares what they are Superior at, if they live on an Island, surrounded by Wet, Cold Sea, full of Fish, Seaweed and other Stinky objects, ugh, Disgusting!

Work / Why is Polish workmanship so bad? [52]


Either you have bad luck or bad attitude when looking for a service.

Another mystery is being seriously underpaid, for many works like pavements etc. people aren't paid enough or aren't paid in time, so they loose the motivation.

With services like plumbers - they are very popular and in fact I often hear the best plumbers, builders etc. are booked months ahead, so that it's usually the most crappy ones who are ready to come when you call and they usually offer lower prices. Best thing to do is to ask around if somebody knows a good, trusted worker. It's just like with a dentist or hairdresser.

If you have a feeling that a worker you hired isn't doing a good job, you have to be firm or just kick them out straight away. I sometimes meet a 'I can't do this today, I forgot/run out of ...' story, then I just have to be firm and logical and suddenly they can do it. I don't know if those people do it for some reason or out of sheer stupidity, but they remind me of big babies. How can anyone go to work of this kind without preparing tools and materials?

Good workers exist, but it's harder to get them as they have plenty of work, as I mentioned.

And anyway, I don't think it's a Polish problem. From what I know it's a problem in most places. A lot of people have a bad attitude towards work, also often it works both way, people try to abuse each other and in the end everybody becomes sly and untrustworthy.

Language / Why are Happy Easter & Merry Christmas the same in Polish [26]


I wouldn't recommend using those words. 'Jajka' (eggs) have similar connotations as 'balls' in English. Also I don't think anyone wishes 'Merry Eggs (or Balls)'. It's 'smacznego jajka' but as a part of longer greetings. Anyway, it's best to just forget about mentioning eggs unless you're prepared for sex-related jokes.

News / POLES FEEL LIKE JEWS HAVE TOO MUCH CONTROL IN POLAND - TRUE? [209]


I knew it, I knew it!
Eh, they are so sly those Jews, they must have trained him in some Mossad camp until he learnt to speak perfect local dialect.

Language / Wołu & bawołu? [8]

I think they are exceptions. Traces of some old declination forms, I guess.

USA, Canada / If America is so bad, why move here? [254]


Dunno, they want to go there for some reason? Not necessarily because they want to work or stay there. I know some people are really annoyed when they want to go and visit someone in USA and do some sightseeing and they can't get a visa. Several years ago there was a case where parents couldn't go visit their terminally ill daughter in USA, as far as I remember, because they couldn't get the visa.

Your posts looks like you assumed that every Pole want to move to USA. That's not true, it's not even a good place to go to work any more, UK and other European countries are much more preferred. They are closer, cheaper to get to and the pay is better. And you usually don't need a visa.

I don't think you would be considered rich in Poland if you hadn't own for example many real estates or stuff like that, the difference in salaries doesn't matter that much, you know. You would have to earn like you do in USA, live in Poland and then I guess you would be considered well-earning.

I think your statements are rather naive, I don't know - you are trying to provoke a discussion or what... Have you really never encounter such attitude before? When people criticise other nations or just complain thoughtlessly... or is it just because you haven't heard people criticising Americans?


I'll tell you why:


So have we.

Funny enough, I read and heard many times Americans doing things you mention, like overly criticising other nations without even knowing basic stuff about them, believing in Jewish conspiracies, criticizing obese people. I guess some people just behave like that and their nationality doesn't play a role in it. That's all.

Work / Average monthly salary in Poland is around 1000 PLN (few hundred bucks). [387]


Because it is. Unless it's a luxurious place where it would be mean to not tip. Anyway it's up to you, some people always tip, some never, some only tip if the service is good. In some places I meet with not so good service almost every time, so why should I tip them if they obviously don't give a crap about giving good service? I understand they might just not care, but then I guess they don't expect a tip.

Love / What do Asian boys think about Polish girls? :) (and vice versa) [150]

a-san


Sure, why not? It's just that exotic thing, a lot of people are attracted to people who look exotic to them. It doesn't have much to do with beauty stereotypes. I've seen Asian men attracted to all kinds of Polish girls - or none at all, ha, ha. The beauty is in the eye of beholder.

Don't believe in those stupid myths that Asian men are particularly attracted to super Western blondes only, they are just like other men :D usually they are more or less attracted to anything female, besides love walks mysterious ways. ;)

Language / Question about podoba sie [23]

It's like 'me gusta' in Spanish ;)

Seriously - I don't think there is much sense in overanalysing it for the start. Try to find any way to memorise it, with time you'll get used to this construction and it will look more natural. Various languages have various constructions, often a lot of similarities can be found, but those differences can be real fun.

My comment: "podobać się" is not necessarily about physical attraction, it can be also used to show appreciation. You can say "Podoba mi się, jak to załatwiłeś" (I like the way you dealt with it.) or "Podobał ci się ten film?" (Did you like that film?). It's just "lubić" is usually more emotional when talking about people, but when you talk about things, it's considered neutral like 'Lubię pływać, lubię jabłka, lubię swoją pracę" (I like to swim, I like apples, I like my job". "Podobać się" is also more about appreciation. It's just talking about people when they get tricky. Just remember 'lubić' somebody in Polish means friendly feelings and "podobać się" about a person means finding somebody alluring.

Food / Polish "kremowka" dessert question [29]

Without the puff pastry it wouldn't be the same.

I found identical cake in M&S, UK under 'cream slice' and it was perfect, just the shape was wrong :) and I know something about it, because I'm from Cracow and I was literally raised up on perfect kremówkas. ;)

It's basically a variation of this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mille-feuille

In Poland they are called 'kremówka' in some regions, 'napoleons' in others. The name "kremówka" was poularise after famous Pope's comment. Watch out in Cracow - under 'napoleons' you will most likely find a completely different cake with a kind of pink marshmallowish cream.

A proper Polish kremówka should consist of two layers of puff pastry, preferably made with butter (it really affects the taste). The cream should be vanilla custard cream. There is also a variation called 'kremówka wiedeńska' (Vienna-style) where you put a layer of custard cream, then a layer of whipped cream and cover it with pastry. (the layers should be visible from the side). The cake should be dusted with sugar powder on top (not iced) and cut in squares. That's what I can tell you about truly orthodox kremówkas. Stuff with other kinds of cream, like all whipped cream or suspicious yellow super stiff mass are mere imitations and are not worthy of name 'kremówka'.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


Oh LOL, I just have to answer this.

Undeserved pride - I think you nailed it. However, when the pride is deserved? hard to tell. Anyway, I know that Posnanians usually think of their city as a very clean and well-organised place which I don't think has much to do with reality :D But well, people on many places are very proud of their cities, town etc. and for a newcomer this pride may seem totally undeserved, so I wouldn't get so excited about it.

About your other questions - it's clear you're rather ignorant, it would be best to try and gather some information first, then accuse the whole city of sheer stupidity.

-Buttons on street light - a rather old invention, I believe and a popular one. I've seen it in soem other places, too - UK, Japan, so I think there is a reason behind it, frankly I don't give a damn, if there's a button, I just press it and wait.

-Traffic light - I don't drive but I think you're mistaken, it's not the matter of light change but traffic rules. Anyway, you just have to get used to it. Nobody will change the rules so you feel safer, everybody here knows that a car may turn when you're crossing the street. I usually just step right in front of them as you put it because I'm that badass. :)

-Simultaneous road works - well, if you like fast construction and good organisation I must worry you - you probably chose the wrong city, lol. The reason they do it all at once is Euro 2012. Actually some other cities are doing their train stations etc. last minute, too.

-Tickets - yeah, it was a nuisance for years, actually it's much, much better now. I advise you memorise where you can buy tickets (dispensers, night shops), and try to buy some in advance if you don't have a transport card.

About your last question - you should know it by now. Because of the pride, of course! And yeah, most people seem to not be very bothered. Apparently you chose the wrong city. I wonder why? Probably the med school, eh? :D

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


Like a whole system? Really? I meant it as a useful tip. But maybe it's out of place? Impolite maybe? More than ranting on a public forum how things in a foreign city are not how you're used to and how they should be instead? And how local people are awful? :D Oh, and then being surprised by negative response of the locals.

I allow myself to give another piece of unwanted advice: nobody likes it, no matter what place one goes to.

Language / Hejka / Nara - a trendy youth greeting in Poland? [26]

'Tera' and 'zara' are dialectal forms of 'teraz' and 'zaraz'. 'Siora' is slang for 'siostra', 'herba' is a funny abbreviation of herbata. I guess your mother-in-law just speaks like that for fun or she has an inclination for catching some slang.

Language / Question about podoba sie [23]

Exactly. It's not such a strange construction when one compares it to other European languages. :)