Posts by Cipher

Cipher

5 Jun 2012

Life / Require a few pointers on Do's and Dont's in Poland [25]

Thank you, Paulina & Strzyga for giving me an insight into the handshaking paradox :)

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that next week I will be in Warsaw but i think I will err in the side of caution though. It will be a good break to go into warm weather from all this snowing ...... :)

Coming to this site after a while so thought I will update the people who helped me out (regarding polish customs) about my trip to Warsawa and Skierniwisa (where her parents live). :)

It was interesting to say the least. People were very friendly and no....people were actually ok to shake hands :). There were two times I felt a bit odd. One was in Skierniwisa when some old people walking down the street kept totally staring at me. So, I just smiled and waved at them. I think they were quite shocked to see that :).And the other was in Warsawa (near the place where they had the dancing fountains), when a drunk guy wanted to shake hands with me, but my friend told him something in Polish and after that he went and banged his head against the wall. I was quite shocked about that but she told me he is kuku...I think he had a pint too many though.

All in all, it was a fun trip . So, just thought I will pop by to say Hi and thanks for all your inputs :)....

Cipher

31 May 2012

Life / Require a few pointers on Do's and Dont's in Poland [25]

Thank you, Vincent. That thread was quite interesting :)

Hahaha....Jason. the way you narrated the handshaking incident bought a smile to my face :). You, Sir, do have a gift with words :)

And, I will keep what you say in mind, Paulina, when I go to Warsaw in June. Am looking forward to the trip :)

Cipher

31 May 2012

Life / Require a few pointers on Do's and Dont's in Poland [25]

Hmmm...that is something I learnt now. Thank you, Jason, for that pointer.

Do you think it might be better to get the Lonely Planet Book to have a read through about Poland before I travel on its customs & socially acceptable behaviour since what seems socially acceptable here (Like the handshaking you mentioned) might seem rude or offensive.

Cipher

31 May 2012

Life / Require a few pointers on Do's and Dont's in Poland [25]

Just meant that she kind of listened to what the taxi driver said and never told me anything till we reached home. Thats what I wanted to convey :)

And thank you, Paulina and Trevek.... Since here in Alberta sometimes we refer to Poles as Pollacks. I assumed it was alright to refer that way. Thank you again for clearing up my misconception :)....

Cipher

30 May 2012

Life / Require a few pointers on Do's and Dont's in Poland [25]

I am planning to visit a very good friend of mine in Warsaw. I heard from one of our mutual friends here that she wanted to hold my hand when walking in the streets of Warsaw. Since I am of East Indian descent, I am not sure about how the locals will view it.

I had an experience in China, when one of my friends held my hand and she was verbally abused by the taxi-driver in Chinese on why "she is holding the hands of a foreigner". The poor girl took it and never told me anything till we reached home. Since I didn't understand Chinese, I thought that the taxi driver was just having a conversation with her. Basically I don't want a repeat of the same incident in Poland.

I don't want to ask my polish friend about this because I know what her response will be "that everything is ok in Poland". And I know that she will say that coz the Pollacks I know in Alberta are very hospitable, have a very warm generous spirit and are quite polite, to say the least. But I don't want a few bad apples in Warsaw spoiling the trip by being rude to her since she is with me. That is why I am asking it in a forum since I hope that all you guys/gals will give me a totally unbiased opinion based on your experiences of living in Warsaw

And any other pointers on do's and don'ts in public too will be highly appreciated.....

Thanks in advance.