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Posts by DariuszTelka  

Joined: 4 Oct 2009 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 6 Dec 2010
Threads: Total: 5 / In This Archive: 4
Posts: Total: 193 / In This Archive: 145 		From: Norway
Speaks Polish?: yes

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DariuszTelka   
8 Dec 2010
History / Christopher Colombowicz: America's discoverer Polish not Portuguese, claim historians [60]

Thanks for the info! I actually find it very interesting, that so many "facts" that we grew up with are being questioned, and in many instances have to be revised. We had a very bold and brave explorer here in Norway, Thor Heyerdahl, who set sail over the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands in a self-made raft, to show that people there also were descendants from South America and not only Asia as previously thought. He also built a raft and sailed between the old South America and Africa and the Middle East to show how trade and interaction between these areas could be possible as far back as 3 000 years ago. He tried and failed, then tried again, and succeeded on rafts built from materials used back then. Before that, nobody thought it was possible. And so the historybooks had to be changed/altered, to show that indeed was possible.

One of the few points worth mentioned is that he was ridiculed, his theories were seen as "adventure-tales" and many "real" professors and historians did not take him seriously. They had to swallow their pride considerably when his rafts hit the shores of his destination intact with everyone onboard alive.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Heyerdahl

Anyone visiting Norway must visit this exhibition, it's in Oslo. They have the raft and everything on display.

One of the last things he worked on before his death was the fact that a people living close to the Black sea by the river Don, were the Scandinavians forefathers as mentioned in the chronicles of Snorre Sturlasson famous Folk Saga writings, who people mostly have believed were a mix of folk tales and imagination. Heyerdahl though had other ideas, his theory, combined with excavations and relics found in a city named Azov, was that these people in the old folktales were real and migrated up north as the Roman Empire grew bigger, and settled in todays Norway, Sweden and Denmark. "The hunt for Odin":

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakten_p%C3%A5_Odin

These are quite fascinating theories, and if one has an open mind, some are logical. But again, most professors and historians are sceptical, but also mocking him openly again. Maybe they will stop one day.

So, if Christopher Colombus really had a Polish father, then let the people following this do their work, and see what they come up with.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
7 Dec 2010
History / Christopher Colombowicz: America's discoverer Polish not Portuguese, claim historians [60]

The remains of a viking-type settlement were found by archaeologists in Canada (1963). These remains are believed to be around 1000 years old."

Does this mean Norwegians get to take over the Indian casinoes? Instead of Tipi's and Totem poles with ornaments, we'll have "Valhalla Casino and Gambling" and "Valkyrian Roulette"...with humongous statues of Thor and Odin at the entrance...hmm...

I read about the Kennewick man....9300 years ago....maybe he was Andrzej Kennewicki?

Ah, history is funny nowadays with the whole DNA and carbon dating thing going into overdrive....in the end we probably didn't come out of Africa, but Siberia.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
18 Oct 2010
UK, Ireland / Why Manchester rules over Warsaw :) [65]

Northmancpolak:

I have som good memories from Manchester. Especially staying at the Castlefield hotel next to the museum you posted a picture from above, the hotel is brilliant with a football hall, running track, swimming pool, squash halls, weight rooms, snooker rooms and a bar next to the football hall. More hotels like this, please! But the weather, man..the weather, how do you cope? Waking up and seeing the whole year pass by in one hour outside your window. I'm not kidding, it had all four seasons in just one morning. Sunny, cloudy, rainy and in the end..snow, before the sun came back again. Finding out what to wear was a b*itch. English weather at it's best...

I went to Manchester about ten years in a row up until 2005 or so, to watch Manchester United play at OT and a fair amount of away games. I do NOT remember Manchester from the pictures you posted here...something serious has happened to the skyline...I remember they took away our favourite pub at the intersection where Sir Matt Busby road starts..but this is crazy.

My biggest experience there, apart from watching Manchester United, was when they bombed the Arndale center...(I believe it was the IRA). And being told NOT to go to Moss side after eight o'clock at night. Otherwise we had a great time in Manchester, nightclubs were good, restaurants also, although I got a bit sick of the lack of trees and grass in the city centre after two weeks...

On the other hand, the same gang of friends stopped by Warszawa for one evening this summer, and we were very impressed with the old town. After a night out, we walked for quite a stretch along the old city centre and the buildings were magnificent. To think that all of that was rebuilt after the war is mindboggling. Now, why couldn't they have made ALL of Warszawa like that? What we saw outside of the old town is better not spoken of.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
13 Oct 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

That is not what we are talking about: we are talking about the inability generally displayed by Polish people to accept any comment, no matter how it comes up, that anything about Poland or Poles is in any way less than ideal.

I just said English, but could just as well said, Swiss, Finnish, Maori or Vanuatuan for that matter. It's about the big picture, about how people react when you critizise them in their own living room or talk about their country. Like the way you simply cannot write a sentence without either "stating a fact", calling somebody a liar or insulting someone. How about it Harry, why don't you try and be a little more people friendly, huh? Being so confrontational has to wear you down?

Englishmen are a one-of-a-kind breed, I'll give them that, but that's why people love them so much too. Unfortunately for them, they are emigrating en masse every year to the States and Australia because of the political insanity that currently runs their country. Over 100 000 brits leave the Island every year:

I can't remember ever saying anything of the kind. But I suppose it is a bit much to expect you to actually address what I say, much easier for you to rail against what I do not say.

I don't really have the time or energy to sit and read through all your posts, but I remember that you haven't exatctly been the promotor of diplomacy and level-headedness here on PF. If someone could sit down and count how many times you wrote something derogatory or personally insulting, it would take them an entire evening. Or two. And I remember people gave you back as good as they got. You don't find this kind of debate tiring? (It takes two to tango...).

I have no respect for people who have proven that they do not deserve it. Holocaust deniers are one group of such people.

I don't deny the holocaust. I question certain aspects of it. Don't worry Harry, I have enought respect for the both of us.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
13 Oct 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

You must have noticed that criticising Poland is a game that only Poles can play! If any foreigner says anything which could in any way be interpreted as negative about Poland, it is the duty of all Poles to criticise that foreigner and to 'defend' Poland (even if they themselves have in the past made precisely the same observation about Poland as the foreigner made).

This is basic human psychology 101...

This is not really a "Polish" thing! I really think you would experience this in any other country in the world.

Just try walking into an pub in England and start complaining to people there about their food, their culture, their history. And then travel to Germany or Denmark and do the same thing. They would ask you pretty quickly to go to hell! They themselves can of course critizise themselves, their culture and their history, but you can't! Not like some of you do on this forum. This is basic social intelligence, and applies to all aspects of human life, wether it's work, family or your country. This also works even on the highest of levels. Just read international political news, and you will find dozens of articles about prime ministers and presidents of different countries arguing to clean up their own sh*t before they critizise others'. Sweden vs Denmark in the recent elections are fine examples of this.

If one thinks that critizing and pointing out other peoples' or countries' shortcomings is normal and should be accepted on any level, one would find oneself really alone, really fast. Or in worst case in the emergency room with a tooth or two in your hand. This is NOT exclusive for Europe, just try it Nigeria or Japan for that sake. I think you will find that all people's of the world don't like it when foreigners start complaining or pointing out their weaknesses to them. Especially IN their own country. These weaknesses might be true, they might be obvious, and most people are aware of them, but it's a difference of acknowledging them and being told about them in a rude/forward way from some stranger who visits/lives your country.

Do not mistake this for legitimate and contstructive critizism, which I have seen very little of on this forum. From what I've read here it's mostly unpolished, blunt and not really well thought through opinions. With a few honourable exceptions. (Seanus and BB for instance).

If a foreigner living in Australia went on to a "Australian forum" and started threads like "Are all Australians dirty?", or "Why do Australians drink so much?". And then keeps this up, day after day, week after week, month after month, just constantly slagging every aspect of Australian life, wether it's everyday things or the country's history....would you expect the Australians on that forum to go, "Yeah, it's true, we suck", or would you expect them to tell you to go f*ck yourself? Also try this on a personal level with your friends, and see how far that will get you. On the other hand, if there were some meat to this theory, some facts, some statistics, and then use this with a civilized tone and not a suggestive or derogatory tone, I would think the level of debate on this forum would be where it should be! (On these kind of topics).

If you used some of the threads here that have shown a poor choice of words and switched the words "Poland", "Polish" and "Poles", with let's say, "African", "Homosexual" or "physically challenged", people would call it for what it really is, bigoted and unfair. But since it's "Poland" we talk about, well then, the gloves are off.

EVERY country has something that is bad, either it's the red tape in government, bad roads, religious intolerance etc. Most people in here are not Polish by birth, and I would think if I asked them to point by point write down what they would like to improve in their birth-country, this list would be rather long, well into double digits. No?

I know some of the debates here have been about historical events, and both Polish, German, Ukrianian, Dutch, American, Serbian and even people with the possiblity to hold 7 different passports (Harry) have slugged it out. But to say that "all Poles" or "Poles" share the views of half a dozen of posters here on this forum is a bit disrespectful and untrue. Now, if a professor of history from a Polish university started to lie openly on this forum about an established fact, one could broaden the terminology a bit.

And Harry, you have the diplomatic skills of a 10 year old boy, maybe tone it down a bit when you critizise people? It's amazing how far one comes with a bit of humility and respect! (Two way street).

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
12 Oct 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

It saves electricity and the environment. In short, you're a bit of a nob if you leave the lights on everywhere - they don't need to be on if you're not in the room!

Well, my thoughs were that Polish and German housing areas look a little bit darker than i Norway, not so many lights on in the windows or outside. Almost like nobody's home. But you can see the lights from the TV flickering in the living room...

About the enviroment, I don't think either poles or germans use that as an excuse not to light up their homes. Maybe in the last 5 years, but in the 80's and 90's?

Besides, I buy those new long lasting bulbs...which saves electricity AND the enviroment...so no nobbing of me, please!

Another thing I just remembered was the usage of water. My wife always turns off the faucet when brushing her teeth, while I keep it running...she does it because her family were very particular of not showering too long or leaving the water running for longer than necessary. I know, I know, enviroment. But I also have water-saving shower heads.

My thought is, is there a line here between the old west and east? Westeners more likely to keep lights on and letting the water run, and old easternes preserving and turning off every light as they leave the room?

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
12 Oct 2010
UK, Ireland / The more subtle differences: Ireland/Britain v Poland [310]

I just have to put in a thing, that I don't think yet has been adressed. Lights in the house/apartments, both inside and outside.

In Norway, most houses are lit up outside with lamps in the driveway and on the actual house..and almost all the windows in the house, especially the main rooms are lit too.

In Poland and Germany, from what I remember, there are almost no lights outside, and inside one only lights up the room someone actually uses, and turns it off when one leaves. (Doesn't that make the bulb burn out faster?) In my opinion it makes the home look sad and abandoned.

And watching TV with no lights in the living room ruins my eyes!

My wife kills me with this. I come home and immidiately turn on almost all the lights in the house, excluding the bathrooms. She walks behind me and turns them off...if I haven't been in my office for about 20 minutes, somehow she manages to turn it off....arrrgh. Stop it!

I personally hate dark rooms and dark house areas. And if someone comes visiting, it would be nice if they could actually see the path up to the house and not have to look like blind people entering a room for the first time, before they locate your front door.

Sometimes if I come home after my wife in the wintertime, and find her on the computer, while there are no lights on...I always ask her if Osama Bin Laden is around somewhere in this cave, or if she forgot to pay the electricity bill.. But for her this is natural, and something her Polish family did her whole life.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
28 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

There's no small Arabic/Moorish influence on these in European culture in the early Mediaeval period - and we've not yet mentioned the spice and silk trades.

Sorry, everything I mentioned came from the "white man", the Hindus, Egyptians, Persians, Mesopotamia and European culture. The Moors and arabic culture never had anything they didn't conquer, kill and overtake by brute force. What happened to the islamic "golden age" after islam conquered all these great places? It all stopped, rather quickly.

You can equate it a bit to how the Christians took over heathen Europe. Over all the religious places of worship, there were built churches, all the nice and accepted traditions like yule celebrations, traditions like santa claus, the christmas tree, summer and winter solstice, all these were stolen/taken/incorporated into Christianity so to not upset the locals too much.

The same happened with the muslims in Persia and other places mentioned above. They came in, took over what was there, like math, science, algebra, litterature, and made it "arabic", translated much of it and then passed it on as "theirs". Tody, sadly, there are few remnants of those great civilizations, and only islam in it's pure form remains. Oppressing, non-democratic, homophobic, sexist and religious intolerant to other faiths and their lands former history and knowledge.

But as all these sciences and technology slowly ventured up north, to free havens like Europe, and our continent started to blossom! Today one can clearly see the difference in our ways of life. This is not a coincidence.

Arab conquest of non-muslim lands after 600AD:

everything2.com/title/Chronology+of+the+Arab+Conquest

This one is a bit long, but very informative on how the muslim took over Persia and ruined it;

"The Arabs those days knew nothing about art, architecture, mathematics, astronomy and chronology. Arab conquerors were even surprised when they robbed their first coins. So after four centuries of Islamization in Persia the light of science and knowledge had slowly faded away".

historymedren.about.com/library/text/bltxtiraq4.htm

How Mesopotamia as it was called under Greek rule was conqured and today is called Iraq;

"Most of the Iraqi tribes were Christian at the time of the Islamic conquest. They decided to pay the jizya, the tax required of non-Muslims living in Muslim-ruled areas".

onlydemocracy4iran.com/2010/09/05/the-golden-age-of-islam-another-theft-of-persian-heritage-and-history/

And last, my favourite, "What arab civization?"

"You state, "its architects designed buildings that defied gravity." I am not sure what you are referring to, but if you are referring to domes and arches, the fundamental architectural breakthrough of using a parabolic shape instead of a spherical shape for these structures was made by the Assyrians more than 1300 years earlier, as evidenced by their archaeological record".

ninevehsoft.com/fiorina.htm

All the science, the numbers, the astronomy, astrology...it was already there, Alexw68. Just look at the nobel prize winners list...how many muslims do you find there in math and science? The ones with arab sounding names are mostly Christian arabs, educated in Europe or the US. So still today, the arab/muslim world cannot keep up with us...something to think about?

DariuszTelka

Mod: Sorry, off-topic again....last time, I promise.
DariuszTelka   
28 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

Monoculture makes soil barren and impoverished, you cannot say this about multicultural societies.

Well, it depends on what we put in "monocultural" and "multicultural".

In this aspect I meant monocultural as "European", and multicultural as mixing christanity with islam.

The first one works, and has given us the western world as we know it through art, science, technology, litterature, democracy, womens rights, workers rights and freedom of speech.

The second one has given us terror, hate, fear, religious intolerance, racism, homophobia, bigotry and reduction of womens/childrens rights.

One can of course interpret these differently, as Europe being multicultural, as mixing German, French, Spanish and Russian cultures too. But in today's political climate it's mostly "us" versus "them", as in christian secular world against the islamic world.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
27 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

Not really, but there ain't much point arguing with irrational racists. (Is that a tautology?)

See, now you go back to your happy life calling people medicated, irrational, racists, bigots, haters, nazis, rightwing...you know, the typical left wing, marxist, islamic debate techniques you learnt in the labour union class you took. Tautology is your stongest forte, jonni.

monocultural?? A term borrowed from farming and just as unnatural.

Then how natural is multicultural?

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
27 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

Yes - it moved me to correct the deliberate untruths.

That's in the eye of the beholder....

Apart from tme "monocultural" thing (in a country of 60 million people??!?) I largely agree with that statement.

White brits will be a minority on their own land in the not-to-distant future if todays immigration policies continue. The US has gone from 90% white, to about 60-70% in just 50 years. Tick tock.

This is largely the point - you have accused the man of being a Marxist, you posted lies about his family, you impugned him on the grounds of his ethnic background - this seems par for the course, however some people reading your nonsense may actually believe it. This is how ugly rumours start.
You also claimed he held the political views of his ancestors (maybe transferred by some sort of osmosis), and when questioned, evaded the issue.

You have described the political debate and climate in the EU perfectly! (Just take out "marxist" and exchange it with any other political label, especially right wing).

Can you back any of that up? No. It's obviously your "own words"!

If I had the time and energy, I would read through all your posts and sit here and copy/paste until my fingers were bleeding. You just have to trust me on this one.

To hate only hatred itself. Though I'll remind you of your comment
DariuszTelka:
you see, I don't just go after muslims but other third worlders too

I go after ANYONE who plan on ruining my ideal western world. Including white people. Actually I go after them MORE, because they willingly allow their culture and heritage to be destroyed and even advocate this!

This is clear - by the way, can you categorically state that you despise every point of Nazi ideology?

That was a very serious question, that I would like to answer yes to. Although I would like to keep the Beetle, the Autobahns etc, but I think you are specifically thinking about their race/extinction/warmongering/landgrab policies. But from their rise to power, and as a result of their policies until the brutal end, the CRAZY left that got into power in the western world with their open border policies as direct result, make our future look rather bleak. Since you found one of my posts about the third world commentary, you should also have found the one where I said I would shoot Hitler in 1933 if I had the chance. Good enough for you?

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
27 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

Listen jonni, I don't have to show you anything. I posted my info, and it obviously made an impact on you. I don't really care about Miliband, but put in my 5 cents on the subject. From the superficial information I got in my 30 minute web-browsing on him, he fits nicely into the new mold of "leftists", who come from shady backgrounds and who are going to continue to ruin our western world with their seriously fekked up policies.

I'm for less govenrment, monocultural societies and restoring the old ways of honesty and integrity. It's what built up our great civilizations.

I don't see that in Miliband. I don't see that in any politicians in Norway either. I only see more regulations, draconian laws, CCTV, scanners, microchips and big brother. What has this political view done for our culture?

I kind of put everything out there from a personal aspect, while you just sit there and attack, without really contributing or putting any personal opinions out at all. Why should I care to sit and answer you sentence by sentence, when you write one-liners about things you didn't even read correctly and cry like a little baby, demanding answers from me? Get a fekking life and put your own words out there!

I have written hundreds of answers to people here before, mostly to get crap and wishwash back, like your posts. I'm sorry, I just don't care what you think. I put out my view, and you may like it or not. Hopefully someone else will indulge your insanity. As I remember, you inquired into me being banned from this forum once, without actually saying why or proving what could be used against me to back up that claim...that shows your true colours, jonni. (More regulations, less freedom, you know...leftist, marxist, islam politics that you seem to adore).

You're the real hater, and you know it.

Now bugger off.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
27 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

Any proof of that? Thought not! Nonsense from a diagnosed nutter as usual.

"From his Marxist-Jewish background, David Miliband has emerged as a passionate advocate for action against climate change. We meet the Environment Secretary, one of Labour's rising stars".

"he is far from being a Marxist, but he respects his parents' values"

/lifestyle/interviews/6090/david-miliband-red-green-a-generation

That is obligatory press-BS, he openly says his party is "Red", he acknowledged that "terrorism" is acceptable under special circumstances during an interview with the BBC, but nobody wants to explicit say they are marxist, for not to scare the voters..

"In 1965, the year David was born, Ralph Miliband bought a house in Edis Street in London's Primrose Hill, not far from Euston station. David Miliband still lives in the house today.

Edis Street became one of the great London meeting places for Marxists and socialists from around the world. The family's basement dining room was open house, and the scene of high-minded and often heated discussions between major figures on the Left.
"The key thing about the Miliband household was this belief in argument and debate as the way to arrive at the truth [...]

news.bbc

"In August 2009, Miliband was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Great Lives programme, choosing South African Communist Party leader and anti-apartheid activist Joe Slovo.[44]"

"In an interview with CNN in 2009, Miliband stated that he has a Jewish background, grew up in a secular setting, and describes himself as an atheist with a "huge respect" for people of faith".[1] Atheist Jew = Marxist

And as usual, they don't practice what they preach;

"DAVID MILIBAND is living in a £1.5million London townhouse at the centre of a complex inheritance-tax avoidance scheme Gordon Brown has pledged to ban.

highbeam.com/doc/1G1-162434630.html

AND he runs around telling countries that fight against militant islam terror-groups that they should relax and let them have what they want. As he did in India and Sri-Lanka....until they started burning effigies of him in the streets, and he went home to his tax-free mansion in England...

And considering his family history....

"The online biography of Adolphe "Ralph" Miliband says he was born in Brussels of Polish-Jewish emigré parents and that both his parents lived in the Jewish quarter of Warsaw, before his father, Samuel "Sam" Miliband, joined the Red Army in the Polish-Soviet or Bolshevik War (February 1919 ­ March 1921).

Sam Miliband is said to have left Poland after the First World War, which ended in November 1918. He supposedly became a leather worker in Belgium and then returned to Poland to join the Red Army under the command of Leon Trotsky (born Lev Davidovich Bronstein) in 1920.".

Dead corpse of Poland....what a nice grandfather.

And your point is?

That if Tony Blair said the same things Miliband said, just exchanges "Jewish" for "Anglo-Saxon", then he wouldn't have become the Prime-Minister of Britain.

As for the "regulations", the more regulations, the more CCTV society you will have, the more control the governement will have over you. What kind of evils tried to implement these kind of societies? Communism and National Socialism. And today, the left side, with the unions, the global warming brigades, the immigrant policies that they openly stated they set in effect, so to keep in power. These are all actions of madmen!

Less regulations, less governement equals freedom, jonni. But maybe it's hard for someone who admires more rules, more control and defends islam?

And I'm a diagnosed nutter huh?

Why don't you read the articles before you defend your marxist hero.

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
27 Sep 2010
UK, Ireland / Ed Miliband, new Labour leader, talking about Polish immigrants yesterday [62]

"Being Jewish must have an influence on the way I think. I am the child of Jewish immigrants and that is a very important part of my identity. It would be wrong to pretend that I was brought up as part of the heart of Anglo-Jewry, but if you ask, do the community's values speak to me? Yes they do. My commitment to equality, social justice, freedom of expression and solidarity must in so many ways reflect my origins. If you try to analyse where I stand politically, it would be very hard to explain that without reference to my roots."

Now exchange Jewish with "White" or "Anglo-Saxon"....tomorrow's headline; "Miliband resigns after racist language".

thejc.com/lifestyle/interviews/6090/david-miliband-red-green-a-generation

Leftist, marxist, jewish, red, global warming, regulations = Speculations in the press of being future prime minister!

DariuszTelka
DariuszTelka   
2 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

France definitely.....

Haha, you love France the most, the country that "everyone" else in Europe hates..hm...or is that only on TV shows and something the Americans invented because France opened their country to you in 39 and didnt' resist? I've read that France had a real "upswing" during the war in cabarets, prostitution and alcohol sales...oh well, somebody has to love the French besides gays and young female students of the world.....j/k...eh... (I feel like a bigot now). My wife is a French teacher, so I'm writing this in absolute secrecy..

I'm all dizzy now....who doesn't like what and why can't whomever like whatever wherever? :-@

Sadly yes, it IS a problem...not only some hyped prejudice!

This is very sad, and I am for stronger sentences for these people who exploit and give Poland a bad name outside her borders! They should have a special law that adds to the sentence if you "with malice or without recognition that you are a diplomat of the Polish state have put the glorious state of Poland in a bad light". Extra lashes will be given at any time during your stay at the specially built prison called "Breakback motel". I'm almost serious....

I really have hopes for the future! :)

I understand this, and it would probably look the same if busloads of Poles went into Lviv or Minsk and walked around with old brown handwritten papers from the beginning of the last century, notepads and cameras talking about "their" houses...the locals there would probably tell them to go somewhere pretty warm. But as you said, after the EU, the Schengen deal and now that Poles feel more at ease things should come into a new era. As Poles are now allowed to travel freely over Europe themselves, hopefully they will open more up to the Germans and vice versa! The governments must make deals and figure out what to do with the people who lost property on either sides of the borders. The next generations have to move on.

Thanks for the input BB!

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
2 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

Sadly Poland does just not happen to blimp on the german radar besides if something negative happens

That is sad. But this is pretty normal in Europe between countries like Norway/Sweden, Holland/Belgium, England/Ireland etc. Right now, Denmark is attacking Sweden over some political party and it just looks like a circus. But that's how it is. It doesn't matter if it's two small countries with the combined populace of 14 million, or like in Germany and Polands case almost tenfolds, a whopping 130 000 000 people. It's the same bickering, the same low journalistic integrity. Why they do this, and why the media goes along, only they themselves can answer. How about France, Denmark or Austria, would you say they get more time or are talked about in more positive light in your media than Poland? And if you have the time and energy, would you rank the countries Germany borders with and tell us who you rate highest-lowest in your opinion (good-bad neighbour).

Is the problem with "Polish crime" really that big in Germany BB? The thefts of cars and so on? And why would Polish politicians use anti-German rhetoric? I would think they would like to expand on the trade, open for companies to establish themselves on both sides for increased markets and profits, having police and authorities work together cross-borders and going after the thieves! I know they do to a certain extent on the borders, where the border police actually learn the other countries' language to better the co-operation. I've even seen documentaries on this. (Fritz talks in broken Polish to Jacek on the Walkie-Talkie, that he has seen a rather modern looking Audi with 4 suspecting looking men coming over the border with broken tail-lights, and Jacek, replies in broken German that they are going to stop and question them.) ;-)))

Of course Poles blame the Germans for it but I'm not so sure...

Which is an interesting fact.

I was actually a little surprised when I visited Poland many years ago, that many Poles don't "hate" the Russians, but listen to their music and follows what happens there with some enthusiasm. When you think that the Russians were at least "as bad" as the Germans in war time, and even after, why would there be any "more" hate against the Germans? Germany has more to offer Poland today than Russia has. Maybe because there is no "real" border with Russia? (The one by the Baltic sea is more provincial and is from what I know completely broke). Besides all the bordertowns with Germany should inspire trade, culture and inter-marrying...hm. Now I'm talking from a Nordic perspective, and here mixed couples like Norwegian/Swedish or Norwegian/Danish are very common and the trade, the culture and the tourist industry are investing heavy money into making us come over the borders. One of the most known tourist slogans we hear in Norway is "It's good to be a Norwegian in Denmark!". I guess from your comments, you don't find to many "Visit Poland" brochures and posters hanging in the local travel-agency then?

And would one not think that considering the millions of Germans with Polish sounding names, and millions of Poles with German sounding names, all the inter-married familys, the fact that many of the regions are populated by people who don't really see themselves as "Germans" or "Polish", but as Sileans for example, that all this would make it EASIER for our countries to blend together rather than bicker and moan about all the bad stuff?

I also think that the upcoming football European championship can be a huge chance for Poland to become better known in the West. Germans will look at Poland/Ukraine very closely for a month..

I really hope they step up the plate and do a good job at this event. They will never ever in a million years have anything like this again, so attracting the west to Poland through this one-month window of opportunity is immensly important. Hopefully they will fix the roads, paint a bit on some grey buildings and improve customer friendliness, which I've read many here on PF complain about.

My hope is that time will heal most wounds, and that the next generations will see above past grievances and look to the future and not to the past. I understand the older people who still remember what happened or have strong stories that can not be forgotten. But the last people who were there are soon gone, and it's our task to build for the future. So, hopefully I'm not the only one who is ready to take the step in building another bridge across our borders. And one of the things I see as most important is to learn the language and master it. This shows that one really cares and opens more doors than if one just learnt the basic and stopped there. I know some Poles in Norway, who still after 30 years do not master the Norwegian language, and it just infuriates me.

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
2 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

Yes, unfortunately this is the truth. When the economy goes down, peoples' circle of trust get smaller and smaller, until the end when even the neighbour is your enemy.

In the article i linked to in the OP it mentiones that when the mayor of Görlitz Michael Wieler, addressing the fact that they didn't have a public pool, and proposed that the Germans could go to Zgorzelec to use their public pool, since it wasn't that much in use. Well that didn't go down well with some of the older people in Görlitz: "When Görlitz was debating the construction of a new swimming pool and Wieler procured figures showing how underused the pool in Zgorzelec was and recommended sharing it, one reader wrote a letter to the editor blasting the "delusions of an uprooted West German".

Now this is another discussion, maybe for a German forum, but the Germans are still getting over the whole "East/West" thing, and feeling close to Poles across the river may lie a bit into the future...first they have to work on their own history. And if things are as bad on the German side of the border as you have pointed out, then of course anyone that stick out just a little bit will get the stares.

Maybe BB has some input on the German/Polish relations in Germany or he has a story he wanst to share?

I'm just hoping that the resentment or differences that may lie underneath are just skin deep, and that actual life is possible on the whole. Here in Norway lot's of people have opinons about other Norwegians, depending on where they come from, and it may even be used in a negative way, but it's not the decisive factor by a long shot. Up here in the north, the Finns, Swedes and Danes are not exactly the best troika you could have in bar if you don't have insurance on your interior! So it depends on how deep the distrust or "hate" actually is between the Germans and the Poles, is it just an evil eye, or could a beer at the pub later if you get to know eachother solve it all? Or is it some DNA thing that you just don't mix? Like the English and Germans.

Here's a quite interesting link about Europeans and who they hate.....(humorous, but with some truth to it?).

"The Poles - Not much seems to register about Poland and the Poles except that they're quiet. They are a relatively big country (40 million people) so the supposed scare of being overrun by Eastern Europeans when a bunch of Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2005 focused in on the Poles. The Germans really don't like Poles, and among Germany's 9 neighbors, are disliked the most. Poland is considered a country of car thieves by the Germans. Really, the relationship between Germany and Poland is similar to that of the United States and Mexico [...]".

All the other countries are listed there too...

dailycandor.com/what-europeans-think-of-each-other/

(And read the commentaries too, some really good stuff there!).

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
2 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

I have the Norwegian passport. It's nice and red and let's me through most security checks more easily than my wife's american green one. I always make fun of her, rolling my eyes when she has to stand the extra minute at the passport security checkpoint, while they flip through her pages. She could use her Polish one, but it's out of date, and I wish she had updated the Polish one, when we went to Egypt once...somehow showing the american passport down there made me feel a little bit like a potential target...

My family background is a bit split, I was born in Poland (Mikolow), but my grandmother on my mothers side is Norwegian, and she took me to Norway when I was a small kid, and I've been here ever since. (36 now). Some of my family on my fathers side is mixed Polish/German from before the war, and I have seen the way they used write their names both in a Polish and German spelling, like my Telka, used to be Toelke, and I know my grandmother was born in Gdansk, under the name Raschke. I guess people adapted and changed their names according to who ruled what area at that time. My grandfathers were forced(?) to be in the German army, but afterwards settled in Poland without any problems and were accepted by the new government and were as far as I know just ordinary soldiers. (I also have family that were shot by both the Russians and the Germans during the war). So it's a big mixup of people and names across the borders, but I guess that's how it was back in those days.

Anyways, I feel more Polish than German, but I know because of this "mixed" background, I could probably apply for German citizenship, which would make it a bit easier for me if I choose to settle in Görlitz.

Is it possible to hold two passports now a days?

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
1 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

I know my post could easily be looked upon this way, but BB, be sure my intentions are honest!

If you buy a flat/house in Görlitz, you first pay tax on the property, then electricity, water and everything else that comes with it. Then you also pay tax to the local government from your income, you need insurances on everything and this will all be paid to the German side. And probably 8 out 10 times you will buy your bread locally. But then once a week or so, you go to the Auchon in Zgorzelec and fill up on polish kielbasa, pierogis and beer to stock up the fridge. Maybe even see the dentist and save a hundred Euros. If the work the dentist did sucks, he will not see you again! Again, competition is great, and the consumer is the winner! I don't see this as a big problem to either side. In the Norwegian/Swedish border saga, the car-repair shops have begun to pop up on the Swedish border too...getting your car serviced for half the price, while you are inside shopping for half the price, is somewhat an incentive for the ordinary man with an ordinary salary. (Gee, I wonder why).

Right now Görlitz only has about half the population it once had, which is very sad, when you think about all the beautiful architecture, the history and the possibilites a town like this can have. For people like me, who dream of a new future, a city like this can be the answer. I can buy a property that I would not have a chance to buy elsewehere, and hopefully experience a beautiful and exciting part of Europe, having safety from the German social system (While of course paying for it through taxes), but also being close to and able to experience Poland every day if I choose to. Hopefully, Zgorzelec will pick itself up and start to upgrade it's buildings and parks and become a duplicate side to Görlitz, visually.

My comments about living in one place and doing everything at the other place, was more a way of saying you "can do it", you have the freedom to do it. A trip over the river to get a special product or visit family is not the same as investing ones whole wallet on the other side of the river, leaving the other side behind to fund it. That goes for whatever side one chooses to settle.

Competetion is great and capitalism is even greater. If your competitor does something good, you have to outsmart him. Both the Polish and the German sides have to accept this, and the fact that Görlitz now offers free vacations and stays for Polish youths to attract them over the river is a testament to exactly that! Now ball is in Zgorzelec' half...

I fully agree that if someone solely took financial advantage of the situation and milked both systems for personal gain, that would be unethical, and I have no such aspiration. Although I was born in Poland, feel quite Polish, and even have a Polish name, I (secretly) admire Germany and what she represents on all aspects of life. As most people here know, I am a bit of a European patriot, and when you look at what Germany (minus the wars of course) have achieved, built, invented and what they stand for in regards to work ethic and quality, I have no other choice but to bow down in humbleness. Poland, not to be forgotten in this respect has her own achievements and glorious history. The pride one can find in Poland is a rarity in Europe, and the fact the country still exists if one reads her history, is a testament to how great she is.

Now if there is a possiblity for me and my family to experience both, or as I said, to get the best of two worlds, I'm going to grab it! (Cue Queen song "I want it all").

Dariusz

Hopes BB accepts my offering of coming down in my Viking ship filled with loot...eh I mean quality tapestry.
DariuszTelka   
1 Sep 2010
Travel / Hospitality, Scenery, Food, Clean Streets: My POSITIVE experiences in Poland (!) [39]

Polish beer sucks

You have obviously NEVER tasted Norwegian beer. Polish beer is like liquid gold...and I'm constantly reminded of this as I run out of it and have to drink Norwegian beer until the next batch comes from xxxx-back trunk after a trip home.

And I'm still in awe after the 3D movie experience at the Tyskie factory in Tychy a couple of years ago...

Are you serious? Polish beer is exceeeeeeellent!!!!!

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
1 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

Oh no, my masterplan already has holes in it....:-( Who asked for you opinon anyway?? J/k..

I did read that Görlitz have a massive 22% unemployment rate, and that child poverty is among the hightest in the country there. These are ofcourse red flags! But at the same time I see this as an opportunity to invest in property, as Görlitz will not remain like this forever, and if one finds oneself a niche or something one can do that is still attractive, one can survive. I have yet to look into the other cities mentioned above, and only know that they share the same fate in being border cities. But since my wife has family in Zgorzelec/Wroclaw and would like to be near them for obvious reasons, that's what I'm looking at right now. But if the Germans, as you say, are even looking for work in Poland in that area, that is some serious s*it... :-o

btw. great topic and first of its kind here, iirc.

Yes, all these things have to be adressed. I would think living in Görlitz, and paying for German health services, while having Zgorzelec across the river for "pleasure", as family lives there and I can get my Polish foods and keep on practicing my language skills, would be the "sanest" thing to do. But right now, I'm not to educated on the state of things there, so I will keep on reading and take a trip there next year to see and hear for myself.

My wife was born in Zgorzelec, but moved to the U.S when she was ten. (34 now). But she has kept her language, and visits her family there every year, so she knows a little about how things are. Of course living in Norway for 5 years has given her a new outlook on life, as she get's things even the U.S. couldn't give her, like 1 whole year at home fully paid after childbirth, free healthcare etc. But since she is fluent in Polish, English, French, Norwegian and knows basic German, we were hoping she could either find a job in a private language school or do some private teaching. On either side of the river.

But I would think the German health care and social security system is step up the ladder from the Polish one, even on the eastern-most part of the old DDR. So from a personal safety view, having a family and living on the German side, partaking in the Polish side more as a permanent tourist would maybe be the solution. But right now I'm talkin out of my a**, since all my information has come from the internet...

Here in Upper Silesia, football fans almost kill one another. In the interests of international relations, I don't think it would happen in border regions.

About the football hooligans, I'm too old for that, hehe, besides if confronted, "AI KÅM FRÅM NÅRWEI", I just need a bench and a cold beer..

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
1 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

Oh no, I don't want to roll any dice... :-@ I'm too scared to loose...hehe.

I know, having one foot in each camp, could be more strenuous than rewarding, but as the borders are now only on the maps, and cities and governments seem interested in inter-city activities between their inhabitants, as with Görlitz-Zgorzelec, I got this really good "European" feeling over me. If it's possible to somehow manage a life like that, well, that's what I was hoping to have some input on from people actually living there or knowing something about it. There are a couple of things that work against it, like language, the German and Polish languages are miles apart, and the fact that Germans are a bit richer than their neighbours, but I'm hoping the positives would outweigh the negatives. Like possibilities for more employment, student exchanges, financial possibilites with increased trade, co-working on big projects like the tram-line etc.

It's just the fact that it used to be ONE city, so working/shopping/living across the river should not be to much of a stressfull ordeal if one knew both languages (Which I do, to a lesser extent), seing both are in the EU, which opens many doors in the official offices that used to be burdened with tons of paperwork for the smallest thing, and the financial incentive that both cities want from exploiting (In a good way) their common populus' and the financial gain that can come from such a partnership.

Now if the Polish and the Germans that live there see it such a positive way, is another matter...

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
1 Sep 2010
Life / Best of two worlds - Poland and... Germany [29]

I'v been thinking about relocating to Poland for quite some time now, which I have mentioned in a couple of posts earlier. And in the beginning you kind of have a "rosy" look of Poland, you know, from your childhood, spending countless evenings playing with friends, coming home for dinner, before heading out again. No real problems, no worries as childhoods usually go. But of course, one day you grow up, and have to seperate the two, and realize that visiting Poland as a child, and actually living and working there would be two different things.

Moving from Norway, a country with a well established welfare system, a good and clean health system, low crime (compared to other countries) and being just a nice and clean place to be in and exchanging that safety and known world with Poland, who is an "Up-and-comer" on many areas of life, could pose many challenges. I know the economy is up, the roads are buing built, city centres refurbished (I saw Bialystok this year, and loved the way they fixed up their city centre), people are getting a higher life standard and things are generally improving om most areas.

There are many threads on this forum to read on about those topics and challenges about people who either moved from Poland and then back again, or people who came from other countries and started a whole new life in Poland. My love for Poland, and being able to "start over" in a country which is yet to be multi-cultural in the "negative sense", is something I really want. (There are of course many positive sides to cultures coming together, but the european way of importing millions of 3rd worlders have not worked that well, unfortunately). So after 30 years of living outside of my birth country and "armed" with my Polish wife, who was raised in the U.S, we plan to go back. Somehow, somewhere.

As one does one's research about the how's and why's, one just get's swamped with all the information, the stories, the facts. The rose-tinted window that your original thought seemed to be, has been smashed by reality and challenges you didn't think about at first. Some of these are what kind of jobs that are available, and what they pay. What is the safest city? Where are the best schools located? The list is long. Again, many a thread here on PF discusses these topics too! What about clean air and peace of mind? I scroll through hundreds of sites and blogs about Poland, look at dozens of real-estate sites, correspond WITH real-estate agents about prices and value of houses and properties. And then sit on PF too much and get sucked into whatever is todays topic...too many times a bit too anti-Polish for me, but at least I'm not going to be let down when the day comes to leave, after reading one hundred "Why Poland sucks"-posts, things SURELY WILL be better than what I've read by posters who troll these forums, you know who you are.

But recently I got hit with a thought, Poland borders to 7 countries, Germany, The Czech Republik, Slovakia, The Ukraine, Bielorussia, Lithuania and Russia. As one is looking for the highest quality of life, in whatever aspect one feels is important, the Polish border with Germany has caught my eye. I rememeber when I visited Zgorzelec, the birthplace of my wife, and we walked around there in the summertime. A typical, nice, but not too well kept city on the border with it's former half - Görlitz. We walked over the bridge, and lo and behold, the other side was extremely nice looking! The parks were kept, the streets were clean, the shops had nice signs, the trams were modern and the town squares were taken straight out from a postcard. Looking back over the bridge back to Zgorzelec and seeing the still grey buildings, the overgrown grass by the roadsides was a bit sad. That was my family's side and I loved it, but I'm not blind either. There would still be a long time before the Polish side caught up with the German side of the river. What would be the excuse for Zgorzelec not to paint and fix up their buildings, while Görlitz, which lost half their population in the last 20 years, and lies out of everyones way, even by east-German standards, looked like any other German city? Anyways, I'm ranting. Back to the point.

How would it be, if one bought a flat/house in Görlitz, which is realtively cheap by German standards, and in abundance because of the population-flight, but had one's life on the Polish side? Going to the dentist, shopping, visiting family, going to restaurants and speaking Polish. But at the same time living in Germany and having the safety of a controlled bureaucracy, better health care and maybe other things that "work" better in Germany than in present day Poland.

One could also put it the other way. Buying a property in Zgorzelec (or any of the other cities on the border with Germany like, Kostrzyn nad Odra, Slubice, Janiszowice etc.), and working in Germany, receiving German pay, but using it in Poland, as German Euros will go further than Zloty at the Biedronka. These are now real possibilites for thousands for people on either side of that border, but I have yet to read a thread about it here on PF.

Here in Oslo, Norway, we are only 1 hour + away from the Swedish border, and man can I tell you there are some serious traffic over the bridge to the shopping malls on the Swedish side on Saturdays and Sundays! It's called "Harry-handel"(!), you know, the people who live in a van down by the river-people, but in reality are every-day "Joe and Suzy", who go there to stock up on food and other items that are cheaper than in Norway. One can easily save hundreds of Euros on one such shopping trip, and it's a billion euro business which is expanding every year. To the grievance of Norwegian politicians, who don't understand why people don't want to pay 1.50 Euro for a litre of milk or 10 Euros for a small package of meatloaf, in a Norwegian shopping mall, when you can get everything for half price in Sweden. But again, I digress...

Now, my question is if anyone here have any experiences of this kind of living, or any thoughts about this kind of life, on the bordertowns of Poland and Germany, or the other countries that Poland borders to. If one was dropped in Zgorzelec with no information about towns or borders, there would be hard to tell that the bridge represents a border, and that Görlitz and Zgorzelec used to be seperated by barbed wires and guards with machine guns. The only thing that could give it away is maybe the lack of colour on the Polish buildings and the slightly longer grass in the park compared to the German side...The city of Görlitz even openly invites Polish youths to come and stay for free in nicely-furnished apartements, hoping that they will stay permanently and contribute to their city. Which according to some newspaper articles, some have chosen to do.

presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3591-glourious-goerlitz

There was the Zgorzelec-Gorlitz bid for the 2010 European city of culture competition, that was only beaten by Essen. And the new project now is called "Culture 2020" i believe, which is supposed to bring the cities closer together, even going as far as having a tram-line across the bridge taking germans and poles back and forth across the border for shopping, work or anything else.

As I see it, this is a very exciting proposition, living in either, but getting "the best of both worlds", depending on how one looks at it. I could have Polish language, Polish food, Poland itself, but I could also have German efficiency and a proper way of conduct in government, a "brighter" and more western place to live, as not to shock myself too much when leaving Norway. (It must be admitted that I am eligable for both Polish and German citizenship, and will by that have the entitlements that follows with them).

Moving to the Bielorussian border on the other hand will make Poland the "richer" side, and whatever city it shares with on the other side the "affordable" side...and since I do not qualify for Bielorussian citizenship, I will stick with the german side. But if anyone has some thoughts about or experience with this, it would be very interesting to read.

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
31 Jul 2010
News / POLAND LEAVING WHAT COUNTRY FOR A BETTER LIFE?? [73]

I dont know why people are always saying its a stuggle in Poland, it isnt. Rent is cheap, food is cheap and you will be able to get something

I have a cousin in Germany, he's been there for some 20 years, since his mom took him there after his father died back in Poland in the 90's. (They had more family in Germany). He's been talking about moving back his whole life, maybe as a "dream" or just to have something to think about. But the other day I talked to him on the phone and he said he was giving up Poland and staying in Germany. Mostly becasue of the kids in school and that he just "outgrew" Poland after so many years, but he also claimed that Poland was getting too expensive! Now, I don't live in Poland or Germany, so I can't compare. But he says only a few things in the shops are cheaper, like sausages, bread and milk, but the rest was cheaper in Germany...his wife mentioned a piece of garlic for 7 zl, when they went there this summer (maybe an import?), which she really was upset about. And I remember he mentioned that electronics were also more expensive in Poland than in Germany. Now, if they earn less, but things are more expensive...I don't see that working out for a normal Polish family..

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
24 Jul 2010
Travel / Poland-My 9-day experience [239]

The so called Old town is so small and insignificant that you can walk through in 5-10 minutes. The rest is just a dump. Most houses and buildings there deserves to be condemend and bulldozed.

Do you seriously mean what you write here, or are you just in a state of hate and bitterness? As other posters in here mentioned, your level of debate is of an high-school student. I even think you have to search a bit to find one THAT unhappy and tormented.

This is not a my country/your country debate, AussieSheila, I would LOVE to go to Australia. I know for a fact the people are friendly, the food will be great and the sights will be awesome. IF I GO THERE WITH THAT ATTITUDE. If I go there with your attitude, then the people will be miserable, the food will stink and everything will be too close to the water. I'll get bored after the first day!

This HAS to be your first country outside of Australia, and the cute guy at the restaurant just left you, after breaking your heart. And then you decided to log on here and use your valuable time at the POLISHFORUMS.COM, to tell everyone that your vacation SUCKED!

We can't help you. You will encounter this everywhere you go. In every European country you visit, you will find crappy parts of town, run down houses, small old towns and girls who look like hookers. I'm really awaiting your report from countries like England or France! They should be really fun.(Please come back here and post a link to them from other debateforums after your visits).

You actually went to Chorzow, but did not go to Crakow??? Who the hell was your guide???? It's like saying, hey let's go to Australia! Where do you want to go? Sydney or Melbourne? No, let's go to Adelaide!! (More crime, dirty, nothing happening etc).

Is this your sister posting here?;

"Reasons why Sydney is the worst city in Australia"....

au.messages.yahoo/news/localnews-nsw/272/

What about this poster a bit down on the above site;

"Yo dude, so your out of there. Now we have to ask where are you going to go? Melbourne - a cold wet Sydney wannabe but with better cultural icons?

Adelaide - the people aren't so rude but they speak funny and the water is pretty bad.
Perth - a hot sandy Sydney wannabe, but the public transport is great. Darwin - its got its charms and the people are friendly, but from the sound of it your a bit xenophobic, so perhaps its very multicultural nature will challenge your limited outlook. Brisbane - you might fit in in Ipswich but the place is full of Victorians and Mexicans from below the border so they might be rude. Canberra - its safe and souless and the infrastructure's great and the housing's affordable, but its only 3 hours to Sydney so perhaps you won't be safe from the gangs! Maybe Hobart, not many jobs but its pretty white and insulated? Then again perhaps you'd be better off in the country? Wherever you do go though, you need to learn to accept diversity and if you do want to change things get involved in the community you belong to".

See, it's not all peaches and cream in your backyard either, so maybe you should just say, "I'll open my eyes and my heart and accept whatever I find in the world, and I will not go on forums and post bullc*ap about other peoples home country!".

Anyways, bless you AussieSheila, I hope you will go back to Poland and VISIT CRAKOW!!! Especially in the summer with festivals, carnivals and concerts. Who knows, maybe you'll have a good time and meet another cute boy! Then go to any of the 13 places in Poland on the Unesco world heritage list, like the historic centres of Warsaw, the old town of Zamosc and the salt mines of Wieliczka to mention a few. Even outside of that list, you will find medieval towns with amazing history and architecture, over 500+ castles spread all over the country (You can even spend the night in many of them!), the snow covered mountains of Zakopane with amazing folk music and dance all year around, all this in the space of a medium sized European country! Hey, why am I even writing all this down for you...you can do this yourself! Just please stop pissing in our well.

And if you are serious about experiencing a nice country again, then please check out this link: staypoland.com/poland-attractions.htm

Again, Chorzow...really??

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
24 Jul 2010
Travel / Poland-My 9-day experience [239]

I noticed some people are riled up, i have no intention of offending anyone.

What if a person went on an Australian website, and read this before going there for a two-week journey;

"The advertisements feature Australians preparing for visitors to their country. It begins in an Outback pub with the barkeeper saying, "We've poured you a beer." Further imagery to a similar effect is then shown, including a young boy on the beach saying, "We've got the sharks out of the pool," and partygoers watching Sydney harbour fireworks saying, "We've turned on the lights". The commercial ends with bikini-clad model Lara Bingle at Fingal Spit stepping out of the ocean and asking, "So where the bloody hell are you?"

The campaign received massive press coverage, but it was soon deemed a failure and withdrawn".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_where_the_bloody_hell_are_you

"'We are much more than a nation of great people and great places,'' Mr Crean will say at today's launch.

''We have won 10 Nobel Prizes and we are a nation bursting with creativity and ingenuity. The Australian way is to underplay our achievements but this kind of modesty only surrenders the edge to our competitors.''

Oh really, what about "Aussie Sheila" then...if she is "modest", then I don't dare to think about a real Aussie talking...

By the way, Poland has 23 nobel prize winners...(Not that it's a competition...).

pl-nobel.prv.pl

So, what does Australia have to offer, besides having to take a plane to visit any other country, or even any city! 90% of the landmass is unsuitable for living (you can only see so many beaches before longing for something else), poisonous creatures of all sizes and effects..including very deadly, shark infested waters, lebanese gangs that gangrape women and beat up everyone they feel like, including at beaches, restaurants and public streets (youtube it), an appaling treatment on the Aboriginees, skippy the bush cangaroo, crocodile dundee and a dead Steve Irwin (God bless his soul). Nobody bloody(!) cares about Australian rules football, cricket or whatever you play down there. The boomerang? Who the hell came up with that idea? And 100 feet long trucks that treck your desert highways....yeah, compare that to Poland, with it's 1000 year old history, castles, dynasties, old town squares, lakes, the possibility of visiting half a dozen countries with your car within a days drive, including cities like Berlin, Prague, Lviv, Budapest. How about skiing, sunbathing at beautiful beaches that stretch for miles and miles, filled with nightlife and modern hotels, snorkling, canoing in any of the thousands of lakes, visting vast protected wild life parks with fantastic fauna and animal life, nightclubbing, concerts, prime cuisine, all connected by modern highways, with cities with millions of people...how far do you come in Australia in the same time? How many different places, sites, cultures, food and people do you encounter there on a daytrip? What's your thing, besides the Opera and the bridge in the harbour, that occupies 90% of all your postcards?

"Aussie Sheila", shows a typical version of the "western" style of demanding things. My wife, born in Poland, but grew up in the U.S, has the same "problem". Everything has to be "immidiate", wether it's food or shopping. If the tower is not the highest, it's not worth seeing, if the street is not the longest, it's not worth walking. And if something takes more than 10 minutes, the restless leg syndrome kicks in...it has taken her 5 years here in a remote city in Norway to "calm down", and accept that beauty is found everwhere, and is not always like portrayed on TV or in magazines with enhanced colours or music for effect. I suspect "Aussie Sheila", is smitten by this and it has blurred her vision a bit. She needs more than a week or two to really understand a place, its beauty and how things should be seen.

This is NOT an attack on Australia, which I KNOW is a beautiful place, or "Aussie Sheila". But you can find faults in every country, like a poster mentioned earlier, it's how you perceive it that is important. For "Aussie Sheila", to actually log on this site, take the 20 minutes it took her to write the, mostly, negative aspects of her journey, shows that she is not the most tolerant, open-minded or positive person that should be visiting another country.

Dariusz

Who can tell similar "bad" experiences from visiting France (Top of Eiffel Tower is SO overrated), England, (The asphalt jungles they call cities gave me psychological trauma), Germany, (talk about dull landscape while driving), Spain, (Someone ban the mopeds...pleeeease).
DariuszTelka   
20 Jul 2010
UK, Ireland / Con Air UK: Flights take Polish criminals home - the cost to you is £25million [30]

I think this is a fantastic thing. Why should GB pay for other countries criminals? Back to Poland, and share a cell with 4 others! I have no respect or mercy for people who have been given the opportunity to work and improve their lives in other countries, just to break the law there. Now, let's hope the same will apply for all the other countries in Europe, and include non-european criminals returning to their countries as well. We will soon be be closing prisons and laying off police officers here in Europe.

Dariusz
DariuszTelka   
20 Jul 2010
Life / As EuroPride visits Warsaw - is it the start of overdue social change in Poland? (homosexuality promotion) [144]

you are 1 paranoid hombre.. the thing is that people are fighting to be accepted.. you don't see that? hmm

Maybe, but do you think that what I wrote was that out of touch with reality?

Why "fight"? Why is it so important to stand out and be "special", to expect preferrential treatment? Why not keep you sex-life to yourself and get on with the rest of us? The black/gay/whatever minority population have been so whipped into a frenzy that they believe everyone is against them. And the left side have to be the ones to blame for this. They see ghosts everywhere. In Norway they are unfortunately a big force and have the media's ear and the governments money. "Fight for you right!", their posters claim. Who are they gonna fight? I don't give a f if your bi-gay-like pink bubbles. Just don't stuff it in my face.

If you are gay, and go into a business meeting, nobody will will know, unless you openly show it to them. Nobody at my work knows anything about my sexual preferences, why would they care in the first place? I could love to put on a hat and army boots to be happy...so what, I don't walk around with it, showing off. Gays can be gay when they are with their partner. To paint it on your forehead is no solution. I know, I speak from experience. I used to be a skinhead. After a couple of years among those people, "everyone" was out to get us, we were being followed, stalked, refused entry at pubs and bars, our schools fought us, we were kicked out of our jobs and many other things. We felt "outside" and that we had to "fight" to be ourselves. Of course, it was all just in our heads. I can perfectly function, have my opinons and live a normal life without being a skinhead. So, if gays just "tone" it down a notch, stop wearing womens clothes and makeup publicly...hey, nobody will care and they can be "normal". If I shaved my head, put on my flight-jacket and boots...just to "be who I am"...well, then that comes with a price. It's called living in a society. Gays need to know where and when to tell people what they are. Being gay doesn't need to be "an upward battle", if you choose for it not to be. And if you HAVE to be VISIBLY gay, then move to a predominantly gay area...

yup, that is all paranoia.. figment of your imagination

Again..do you think all/many/some of these things would exist in Europe without a 100 000 000 non-european immigrants amongst us? None of the examples I listed would exist, so there would be none of them..I know, it's a radical thought.

Dariusz