Language / Frustrated Polish Learner -- people in Poland try to speak to me in English [31]

I find it annoying when people hear me speak English, I speak to them in Polish and they reply in German!

History / Poland in WWI [38]

Just chucking in an example of the chaos of WW1... Bronisław Malinowski, the famous anthropologist, was doing research in the Antipodes, accompanied by his friend Witkacy, when the war broke out. Both were Polish but as Witkacy was a Russian citizen he was considered safe. Malinowski was born in Austrian Poland and was therefore an Austrian citizen and an enemy alien. Rather than be interred, he agreed to sit out on the Trobriand Islands and do research far away from anywhere he could be a threat. The fact he had a lot of influential friends helped!


I believe it was partly destroyed by the nazis themselves as they grabbed Hindenburg's body and scarpered. In Warmia-Mazury there are still quite a lot of intact cemeteries in varying states of upkeep. Interesting is that in Olsztyn one of the Russian cemeteries and one of the German military cemeteries were destroyed and recently renovated (possibly because the German one also had WW2 graves). However, in a different part of town the WW1 cemetery has German and Russian graves and is right next to the Red Army cemetery.

What have been destroyed are memorials in a number of towns and villages. As I mentioned earlier, the ones which seem to have survived most are those with a significant number of Polish/Warmiak names on them. Presumably the de-Germanization and the influx of people from Kresy etc meant that not only were the memorials "unnecessary" but were probably targets. In some villages there have been recent renovations of some memorials and bilingual inscriptions put on them (although I heard in one village the Germans funding the renovation were advised not to put the names back, just a dedication).

History / Interesting memorial about 212 Polish soldiers [18]

Perhaps because the British trained a lot of them in England. They were under the SOE, however they were the only "foreign" branch of SOE to come under local control (the AK) when in the field.

History / Poland in WWI [38]

In Lidzbark, the local community had been starting to clean up the cemetery a few years previously. There is a monument built by the Russian prisoners (the camp was international and contained several thousand at its peak) which is still there. The CWGC asked the Belgian govt if they'd like renovation done on Belgian graves but there was a lukewarm response.

On the rededication and in November, a squad of Polish soldiers stood guard and fired a volley. There are 5 CW cemeteries in Poland and the UK/Canadian military representatives tour them through the week.

Like yourself, I was shocked to see so little done in Poland regards WW1, particularly in the Warmia-Mazury area. There was a reenactment of a 1914 battle (where that photo I posted was taken) and a few lectures but amazingly little. In 2018 there will be commemorations for the Centenary of Independence but I imagine a lot of people will think it just appeared out of nowhere.

History / Poland in WWI [38]

Reports on the Lidzbark Warminski cemetery:
westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-people/cemeteries/3665-the-heilsberg-39-a-new-british-first-world-war-cemetery-in-poland.html#sthash.SaERrNUC.dpbs

bbc.com/news/uk-england-27323196

Atch, most of the soldiers would have been serving in different armies and were probably just buried accordingly. It is interesting that around Warmia-Mazury there are still some villages with German memorials. Quite often these are ones with a number of Polish names.

This site has a list: denkmalprojekt.org/covers_og/ost_gebiete.htm

History / Poland in WWI [38]

The first couple of months of the war saw a lot of action around Warmia-Mazury and there are quite a few cemeteries still standing. As well as this there was a number of POW camps. In 2014 the one in Lidzbark Warminski was renovated and rededicated:

• 
  WP_003585.jpg
  

UK, Ireland / London's POSK smeared with anti-Polish grafitti [150]

You have to bear in mind the mentality of the average british racist... they tell Asians to "F-off home cos we've left the EU"... They don't seem aware that India and Asia aren't part of Europe.

History / Interesting memorial about 212 Polish soldiers [18]

Merged: Cichociemni Polish guerilla fighters honored

Senior officers and veterans from Polish and British special forces are to gather in London to mark the 75th anniversary of a little-known chapter of the secret war against the Nazis.


theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/10/honouring-poland-silent-unseen-fighters-resistance-nazi-british

History / Polish Air Force 1939-45 [8]

I have a friend whose (Polish) dad was in RAF. He has a log book. I'll ask if he has anything.

Meantime, maybe try these chaps: pism.co.uk/home_en.htm

My friend's dad was 317.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Polish+RAF&go=Go&searchToken=7jw897gtcnjhrbfy6d4mzr6uo

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Air_Forces_in_France_and_Great_Britain

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

Try rich Russians and Arab kids at summer school!

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

I usually teach teens and adults, at various levels (not usually so low) . Currently teaching a couple of total beginners, engineers, and have to use some Polish. We're all comfortable with it.

The thing is that I do theatre shows, puppetshows etc for kids. Usually in English but sometimes in basic Polish and if I don't get some of it exactly right then they don't get it at all.

Thanks Delph. We're scouting around to see what is out there. Might need to travel unless there are correspondence courses.

Yeah, these kids were false beginners to intermediate, I was told. Some were actually a lot better (one spoke Icelandic!). problem was I couldn't always explain things and they couldn't either. Sometimes I'd get annoyed with them when they honestly didn't get my instructions.

There was also a bit of culture shock as I offended two kids by trying to mix the class (after I'd had to speak to one girl about her attitude). I put the girl with a boy and they both turned their backs on each other and went into total sulk mode. I didn't get it. Later my wife explained it was once common in primaries to sit boys with girls as a kind of punishment... not something I'd know :-)

I think my character was more used to stroppy teens with smart mouths and not people who just came over my hip height.

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

My bosses in a private school once gave me A1-2 kids (10- 13) and were shocked when I told them it was a bit of a silly idea giving someone with my level of Polish such a low level group. They argued that one of the other native speakers managed. I pointed out he has kids of his own (and I suspect he also has much better Polish) but I was told both these points were totally irrelevant!

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

It depends. I can understand a lot and converse but more complex sentences and vocab get a bit muddled (to say the least). My teacher gave me a diagnostic test which put me at B2, which I am skeptical of. However, he is encouraging me to study towards a B2 exam.

A lot of it is just laziness, I must admit, but also cos I don't use it at higher levels.

The problem is that teaching primary kids actually requires a pretty good level as they aren't always as sure about their own Polish language enough to work out what you might be trying to say.

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

Thanks everyone.

Delph, great advice, thanks.

I currently have MA(hons) in English and Theatre, MA in Social Anthropology and MSc (by research) in Soc Anth from UK unis (which don't include teaching unfortunately).

As well as this I have the CELTA.

The teachers have checked out whether it is possible to hire me (and it seems it is) but it limits my ability to earn and function in the system. Hence the need for a course. Thanks Chemikiem, I'll have a look.

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

I love you Lyzko... nobody ever calls me young these days ;-) (finished my first half century).

Am having classes with a proper teacher at the moment.

Thanks.

Study / Pedagogical studies taught in English within Poland? [22]

[Moved from]: pedagogy qualifications

I've been offered a job in a Polish state school teaching English. Apparently it is possible with my CELTA, however I am pondering trying for higher pedagogical quals which might also enable me to teach other things or work more in education. Some local state schools in Olsztyn already offer other subjects in English.

Could anyone advise me as to what kind of quals are required in Polish educational institutions and whether UK certificates can be accepted?

My Polish is basic so I'd also be interested to hear of any English language run courses in Poland.

History / Free Poland Forces in Great Britain - Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire 1939-45 [6]

In Shropshire, not too far from Newcastle under Lyme there was a resettlement camp for "displaced persons". A lot of Poles and Yugoslavs settled there. Even now there are two Serbian Orthodox Churches.

Law / U.S.C. Requesting birth, death and marriage certificates. Any laws or restrictions? [7]

There are some restrictions but not sure about them now. This was my experience a few years ago:

Things like land records are very closely guarded (or were until recently) and you have to provide a lot of proof before you can see them (especially post 1920, I think). Access to some records in state archives depends on who is looking and if they can prove any family connection. Church archives are sometimes a lot more welcoming and helpful.

History / Free Poland Forces in Great Britain - Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire 1939-45 [6]

There was a lot of RAF around that area, wasn't there? I've heard of Polish bomber pilots in the area.

UK, Ireland / Information on a Polish children's home near Edinburgh, WW2 timeframe [2]

Try a facebook site called "Scots in Poland: Poles in Scotland" It's a closed group so let me know if you need an introduction.

Also: facebook.com/ScotlandPoland?fref=ts

facebook.com/groups/482005898518323/?fref=ts

News / First Remembrance Ceremony at Lidzbark Warminski [17]

When they had the rededication ceremony earlier this year, they managed to find some of the family of one of the soldiers and they attended the ceremony. Nobody from the family had been able to lay a wreath in decades. It was pretty moving, whatever one's thoughts about the WW1 commemorations.

News / First Remembrance Ceremony at Lidzbark Warminski [17]


There a a few along the road. I think they'll be looked after because this is now an annual event. During Remembrance Week, the Commonwealth defence attaches do a tour of the 4 or 5 Commonwealth cemeteries, such as Poznan, Krakow and Malbork. I suppose for a town like LW, it's quite good to be recognised.

As for some of the other comments about obsessions with the past, the cemetery has been overgrown for decades and many of the graves destroyed. There are over 2000 people of different nationalities buried there. Perhaps doing up a few of these places isn't such a bad idea. In this case the fact they are not "Polish" graves (there may be Poles buried there but they will be buried as Russians) shows it more as an international thing than a Polish one (the "new" cemetery was done by a Belgian team under the auspices of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission).

I have been surprised by the lack of interest about WW1 in Poland. OK, as a single nation, it wasn't involved but as Poles were members of three of the active protagonists (Russia, Austria and Germany), there were a lot of Poles involved. Interesting that of the few surviving WW1 monuments around Warmia and Mazury are usually ones with Polish surnames on them. WW1 was the event which brought about the restoration of Poland in 1918 but the 4 years prior to 11/11/18 don't seem to be that significant to a lot of folk. Considering the first month of WW1 saw the Russians encircle Krolewiec, only to be pushed back across Warmia and Mazury (arguably diverting important German manpower from the Western Front), it seems to have only been commemorated at a few local events, such as the battle recreation at Szkotowo in August.


Except it was more of a Turkish victory...

1968 was the only year a British serviceman/woman was not killed on active duty in 20thC. But at least they weren't in Vietnam.

• 
  WP_003593.jpg
  

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Lidl.

Just bought 3 kinds of cheddar there yesterday (there were 4) and salted butter.

History / Alexander the Great - Macedonski. Poland connection? [254]

Interesting, Nick. Thanks.

History / Alexander the Great - Macedonski. Poland connection? [254]


Isn't this more a result of the Balkan Wars? If Greece and Serbia hadn't joined together, a lot of it would be in Bulgaria now. It's also interesting to consider that in the late 19th/ early 20th century (when the whole region was under Turkey, anyway) that 4 major powers (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania) were all trying to persuade residents that they were those nationalities. To do this they gave away freebies, built schools etc and proletyzed.

A lot of Greeks in rural areas didn't even speak Greek (although they may have had the consciousness).

It was in this environment the Slavic "Macedonian" movement started up, when it was one (dominated) region and a free-for-all on nation-building.

History / Alexander the Great - Macedonski. Poland connection? [254]

Even the Slavic Macedonians now differentiate between the modern Macedonians and the Ancient Macedonians (Big Alex being one). Of course, some of the more strident nationalists still like to make out the modern residents of Skopje are descended by interbreeding with the Ancient Macedonians.

News / Poland's universities go up in world rankings [23]

Having worked with several academics on their articles for international journals and eng-lang publications, I wonder how much is based on the lax attitude some Polish academics have to getting things translated properly. Seriously, some of them don't seem to care what state it's in, as long as they get it in print.

It might also have something to do with young academics having to get their work published in insignificant journals just to get it in print.

Law / Refused credit for having a wrong residency card in Poland [22]


Well, I was cycling home the other day (yes, I finally bought it... my father-in-law just lent me the cash!) and saw a girl who'd been knocked off her bike at a zebra...