Life / POLISH TEENAGERS TURN TO PROSTITUTION... [77]

First, its bizarre to say this is about respect. It has nothing to do with respect, it is about economics. Many young women can earn a large amount of cash and very quickly by using sex as a commodity. They are not all drug addicts either.

Second, it is unfair to say this is limited to Polish people. There are a number of Eastern European and African communities in my country where the women frequently act as prostitutes.

It was quite shocking to me when I encountered it first, as we did not tend to have this in Ireland in the past, but I'm quite sure that some Irish young people must be doing the same nowadays.

And I don't think this is so much a shame for one particular country, just a sign of the times really.

Sex is a tool that women can use to push themselves forward, the same as strength and violence are tools which men can use to propel themselves.

It is simply more socially acceptable to use sex as a commodity, and it always has been.

UK, Ireland / English teenager refused service at Polish shop [87]

tried to buy cigarettes i guess

Genealogy / Vintage Photos of Polish ancestors [144]

Its often funny in old photos to see how little men and male fashion have changed but how much women & female fashion have changed :-)

Great photos btw

Food / Your favourite Polish foods! [180]

Milona - The food of kings, preferably stuffed with Polish mushrooms

Chicken soup with noodles

The smoked goats cheese you buy in the south

The warm Polish beer in the winter, Harnas or whatever,

Cielbasa

Turku Cheese

Polish bread

....forget it, it would be easier to pick the foods I don't like
1) Pierogi 2)Greek Fish (was nice at first but I overdid it 3) The pasta/raisin dish served at XMAS.

All other Polish food is delicious and of a better standard than a lot of the food produced in the west, hence the low incidence of hypertension and obesity among the Polish population.

As Western foods and farming methods move in, this is unfortunately changing :-(

Language / Use of Kochanie in Polish [37]

I would certainly not like it if my partner called someone else kochanie apart from her son.

If it were a little bit of flirting, I would get over it, but on an SMS, no way - I would not feel comfortable with that.

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

I love the snow in Poland, we rarely get snow in Ireland, so the first time I was landing in okecie, I was gobsmacked.

Reminded me of Star Wars 2. :-)

Language / Calling a person a 'potato' (ziemniak/kartofel/burak) [37]


LOL, wozzy my girlfriend often calls me that!

She burst out laughing when she discovered by star sign was Aries.

Very informative replies guys, thanks

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

good intelligent, balanced replies, thank you

Language / Calling a person a 'potato' (ziemniak/kartofel/burak) [37]

Yes methatron, thats the one I was talking about, pyra.

Do you what the english equivalent would be?

If you called someone, rolnik, would that be considereb derogatory?

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

Good reply Amathyst, thanks

Language / Calling a person a 'potato' (ziemniak/kartofel/burak) [37]

Its quite common in Poland around WielkoPolska I believe, and also around Krakow.
I don't recall the exact expression.

We have a similar type of word where I live, if an outsider used it, everyone would die with laughter.

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

Merged: Which city is better - Warsaw or Krakow?

It can be better at anything, overall which is the best and why?

UK, Ireland / Polish Beer In The UK [98]

budejowicky from budwar, thats the name of the czech beer.

Its heavenly.

UK, Ireland / Polish Beer In The UK [98]

Used to like Polish beer the most until I tasted Czech beer.

There is one particular one, dlugo-something, can't remember the name.
Anyway, its great beer.

I rarely drink tho so I wouldn't exactly be a judge

Life / Prices of cars in Poland? [88]

New Cars are far cheaper in Poland than in Ireland.

Second hand cars are far worse value in Poland than in Ireland, and you also have the problem that a lot of them may be stolen from Germany, especially as you move upmarket e.g BMW.

Due to tax, its very expensive to import cars into Ireland. If you are caught evading tax, you pay even more.
Due to poor secondary irish roads, its dangerous to drive a left hand drive car in the countryside, overtaking is very dangerous. Many Poles have been killed in Ireland due to differences in driving.

Poles have long straight roads and overtake like maniacs. A lot of Irish drive like grannies.
Normal driving like you see in WielkoPolska would get you pulled over by the Police here.

I have been sweating driving with my GF's family in Ireland due to the risks in overtaking.
They have been sweating driving with me here in Ireland due to the narrowness of some of our roads.

One thing we have in common is that our secondary roads are like swiss cheese - full of holes.

Travel / Which city is better to visit: Warsaw or Krakow? [169]

I like Warsaw, my gf hates it, thinks its too industrial, she prefers krakow.
I only passed though krakow on my way to zakopane so i can't comment.

Language / Ways of Learning Polish (courses, lessons) [21]


Thats a good start
golem.umcs.lublin.pl/users/ppikuta/lessons/less0.htm

This is very good imo

apronus.com/polishlessons/lekcja01.htm

Download the free BYKI polish tutorials - I bought the full version.

A word of warning, Polish is magnificently difficult due to cases, think latin with difficult pronounciation for a beginner

Language / Is it too late for me to learn Polish..? [65]

20...too late....your still a child!!!

Life / Are you too selfish to leave Poland? [22]


I hope so daffy.

Given some of the comments I've seen on other areas of the forum, I think a little spin & perspective may be a good thing.

More than 1 way to skin a cat!

UK, Ireland / Cheap calls to the UK from Poland [30]

Hi mate, sorry but I don't really understood what you just wrote there

UK, Ireland / Cheap calls to the UK from Poland [30]

Check out PlanetPhoneCards bro, almost positive they can be used from within Polska.

News / What's the stupidest question asked about Poland? [414]

One american asked me, since the Polish do not have internet access in Poland, is it true that the Polish "spies" go to Western Europe or the US, print off the entire internet on sheets of paper, put it in suitcases and fly it back to Poland to study and store.

I laughed in his face and walked away.

A common one we get in Ireland is foreigners looking for leprechauns.

Law / Tax in Poland? [57]

Jesus! And I thought Ireland was bad!!
Now I understand why so many people are leaving,I've heard it, but never saw it that well explained before.

I know the costs of living are very low, but relative to the wage the average pole is earning, even the the most unskilled, unemployable person would be better off in Ireland.

Life / Do Polish People steal a lot? [330]

Most of the Polish people are very honest and very hard working, but unfortunately I have also encountered a few Polish criminals here in Ireland (99% male). A lot of the Polish people, in particular the women, are very good and hard working, but there are always a few bad eggs to spoil it for everybody.

Mostly fraudsters and wannabe-gangsters, but also some former army people involved in crime. Nearly all of the people involved in crime have come from LODZ and POZNAN.

Unfortunately, they are worse to their own (i.e. other Polish) than anybody else. Making people pay protection money and making people pay fees for getting them a job.

Here is 1 example
ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2005/0614/1118359085715.html