Language / Learning Polish, good for beginners? [29]

Totally agree with SzwedwPolsce. I have never had a formal Polish lesson, mainly because I lived in the countryside for the first couple of years and didn't know of any tutors. I am self-taught from books and courses and from having lived in Poland for a while now. I also found this forum a great help for answering my grammatical questions.

UK, Ireland / CAN'T ACCESS THE LLOYDS TSB WEBSITE FROM POLAND [8]

If you want access to the BBC iPlayer (and any other UK web TV services) then you can join up for the British In Poland VPN Server for a tenner a month:

Law / Polish Citizenship for a foreigner whose parents was born in Poland [174]


Yes agreed, I am not saying that his mother's citizenship will not need to be confirmed - it will, just like my father's must be too - but I don't believe that means his mother has to do an application herself. It just means when he does his application they will first have to check his mother. I am sure it would therefore be more convenient for them if his mother does an application but I don't believe that is a requirement.

I don't believe either that the different districts can interpret the rules that differently either, and as I say, my application is going through fine (albeit very slowly).


again, agreed.

Law / Polish Citizenship for a foreigner whose parents was born in Poland [174]

Possibly, but I think unlikely. Doesn't make sense that his mother has to confirm her citizenship in order for him to himself. This would mean he is denied his citizenship in the case that his mother doesn't want to do her application.

However if they were both going to do applications anyway then it would make sense for the mother to do hers first.

Law / Polish Citizenship for a foreigner whose parents was born in Poland [174]


I don't think that is necessary. I am in the process of claiming my Polish citizenship from my grandfather, but my father has not claimed his (nor has any interest or intention to do so).

I applied in Krakow about a year ago with what they said should be a relatively straightforward case and am still waiting....

Love / What do Polish girls think about Gypsies? [116]

Ha ha just caught up on this thread. Looks like I don't need to bother posting a reply to our gypsy friend Joland then.

Love / What do Polish girls think about Gypsies? [116]


So who are those beggars that hassle me in the street when I am in England or Poland? They look Romanian to me, not Indian.

Language / I need advice - how long does it take to learn Polish? [70]

I have been pretty well immersed in Polish (no English speaking friends/colleagues/neighbours, no English TV) and in my case I would say about 3 years. The first two I was actively learning and studying. The last year or so I haven't studied much but just look up new vocab here and there.

My brain hurt for probably the first 18 months - hang in there!

Language / The Polish language - it's bloody hard! [210]


And because we have had so many influences on the language - old English, Norse, German, French, Latin...

Plus nobody says words the same way anyway. For example "house" as said by a Londoner and a Scotsman is totally different, so which way is "correct" anyway?

Love / Foreign Men and Polish Girls for Citizenship [59]

is that a slang form? I thought the plural form of polak was polacy...?

Life / Tips on tipping in Poland [45]


When I was last back in London our waitress happened to be Polish (no surprise!) so we got chatting. She said that at that chain of pizza restaurants (called "Ask!") they have the choice of being paid less but they get the tips, or being paid a slightly higher hourly rate but they don't get the tip that's left. So she said there was no point in tipping for our meal as it would just go straight to the owner/management.

Thus my tip for you back in the UK (no pun intended) is to ask the waiter/waitress if they get the tip if you leave one.

Life / Tips on tipping in Poland [45]

My experience is that Polish people don't tip in restaurants and the staff don't seem to expect it.

This might be different in more touristy areas such as Krakow or Warsaw or where they are used to more foreign customers.

Life / Tips on tipping in Poland [45]

Poles generally don't tip, the total opposite of Americans who tip everyone for everything.

Language / How to pronouce Szczygieł last name? [26]

Nothing like seagull. I think Tu_Ania has got the best description.

Law / Buying and legally using second hand car in Poland; I'm EU citizen [27]


whether you need to change the plates depends on whether the old plates are from the same district as where you intend to register it. For example if you buy a car from Bielsko Bialy it will have an "SB" plate. But if you want to register it in Nowy Targ they will give you "KNT" plates. Normally you have a grace period of 30 days to sort this stuff out. If for some reason the car doesn't have plates or you want to export the car to say Germany (anywhere out of Poland but within EU) then you can get temporary plates. As you say you already have plates then you won't need to worry about that.

I presume they are local plates in which case you normally pay just to update the registration rather than issue new plates. You can drive on those plates while you wait for your registration. Just make sure you carry all your documents with you (such as temporary registration, sale contract for the car etc..)

Often the previous owner's insurance policy is still in effect on the car. Again you have a grace period to contact that company and transfer it to you, or cancel that policy and arrange your own. Check when you buy the car what the situation is.

Law / Buying and legally using second hand car in Poland; I'm EU citizen [27]


Don't know as never done the court way that inkrakow suggested. But getting a copy certified at a Public Notary is very easy. I would check at your local office just to be 100% sure that they will be happy with this though.

It will take a couple of weeks to get the registration - but you can get temporary number plates immediately if you need (although you have to pay extra for them). If I remember correctly the temporary plates last for 1 month and include insurance.


Don't worry it's not too bad - just go to the traffic department to register the car. You need ID and your zameldowanie. Couple of weeks later go back to get the documents and number plates. Insurance is cheap and easy to do.

I wrote a few articles on cars that might be of use: buying a car in Poland - Polish car insurance

Law / Buying and legally using second hand car in Poland; I'm EU citizen [27]

another option is that they could go to a Public Notary where they live to get the copy signed as a true copy of the original

Law / Buying and legally using second hand car in Poland; I'm EU citizen [27]


Sorry to tell you, but you won't be able to do anything unless you have the proper papers.

You can't register a vehicle in Poland unless you have a registered address. If you are only temporarily registered then this will be noted on your vehicle document.

So I recommend that first you see if your friend will register you at her address. If not, or you can't find anyone who will do this for you then you are stuck.

If you can do that then buying insurance is cheap and easy. The vehicle inspection is easy too.

Life / "Londynczycy" - new Polish soap [62]


well they showed an interview with the producers/directors etc before the show and one of them said that they would show the ups and downs of living in London and there would be some dramas but also some happy-endings.

Apparently some of the crew spent one year living in London themselves beforehand to try and make the show more authentic.

Given that I am from London (and my Polish wife worked there) we are very interested by this programme and curious to see how they portray life there etc...

But maybe it's just a sad indictment of my life that my highlight on a Friday night is sitting at home watching TV.... I must be getting old!

Ooh hang on - it's Saturday today - that means it's 'mam talent' tonight!

Life / "Londynczycy" - new Polish soap [62]

Well it's the first episode so really they were just introducing the characters and setting the scene. There is a girl who has gone to London to be with her boyfriend who turns out to be a drug dealer and already is getting her in trouble, there is a guy who has moved with his son to be with his wife (who's already been there 6 months). There's a couple who work in a bar (although they had a bust up). As you can imagine most of them live in Ealing and there's lots of shots of red buses driving about...

Life / "Londynczycy" - new Polish soap [62]

I watched it with curiosity. Personally I enjoyed it.

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]

I have heard of insurance being invalidated because there was no MOT, I have never heard of insurance being invalidated because your address wasn't up to date on your licence.

If you are that paranoid then go ahead and change it.

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]

why should you change your licence if there is no obligation or requirement to do so? Like you say there is no incentive either...

yeah those stickers might peel off....

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]


doesn't that dazzle oncoming vehicles? Have you not got those stickers to convert the beam that you can get on the ferry for a couple of quid?

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]

sometimes being a foreigner has its advantages :-)

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]


Yes of course.


I don't think so. I don't believe there is any requirement as a foreigner to carry anything except some ID (e.g. British passport) and your driving documents.

In reality I have been stopped a couple of times and once they see a foreign driving licence and think I don't speak Polish they don't bother to ask or check for anything else...

Law / Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally? [34]


It is perfectly legal to drive in any EU country with any other EU licence. There is no requirement for you to change your UK licence to a Polish one just because you are now living in Poland.

Travel / Motorcycle tour of Poland [137]

I rode from London to Krakow and back in 2004. Motorway all the way to the German/Poland border at which point the motorway simply stopped (although they have built it now).

My only advice is do it in summer time because wet and cold on a bike for so many hours isn't fun. Plus choose something comfy rather than sporty.

Hiring vehicles in Europe is generally very expensive (relative to the US from what I have seen). If you have the time to buy something before you start and sell at the end that would be most economical, but you will have to jump through a few hoops to be able to register your motorbike if you want to register it in somewhere such as Poland or Germany.

Law / Polish Citizenship for a foreigner whose parents was born in Poland [174]


Are you totally sure? It gets complicated if your ancestor left Poland before 1923 due to technicalities about whether Poland officially existed or not before this date (given that it wasn't always an independent country etc..)