UK, Ireland / Changing Polish Documents - Moving from Poland to UK [11]

Yeah I meant passports, sorry I didn't clarify. They wanted to bring out European ID cards in UK but that's been scrapped. However they are accepted here as valid proof of ID, at least they should be. I was asked for ID in a supermarket a couple of years ago and when I presented my Polish ID card the foreign Asian assistant refused to accept it. So I said that this is valid ID and I never had problems with it, but she was still not convinced and called her English supervisor. After scrutinising the card, the supervisor informed the cashier that it is alright, because "they don't have passports over there". True story.

Life / Fashion and Style in Poland [174]

I noticed that if you browse through small local clothes shops, you can find some knock-off branded items, but that mostly applies to men's clothing. I got this jacket a couple of years ago for maybe 20zl and apparently it has logos of at least 3 different brands on the pockets, the zip etc. I'm oblivious to that kind of stuff but my colleagues pointed it out.


It has been a pretty warm Christmas considering that bit of frost (shock horror haha) at the beginning of December. Still, I think it's inappropriate, desperate and just laughable that young females dress in hotpants all year round like it was normal. It's asking for a bladder infection and all other chill related female problems haha. And I'm not even gonna start on little primary school girls wearing full on make up and provocative clothing...

Food / What made in Poland produce would you recommend [110]


you beat me to it, best mayo on the planet :))

and a few of my favourites:

addictive chocolate rum truffles

Polish truffles available in Tescos

barszcz

it's pretty much a Christmas dish but I'm a big fan

draze

love these chocolate coconut drops

I get these in bulk, it's an acquired taste (and apparently smell too lol)

prazynki

my grandma used to make these but you can buy them in the shop

UK, Ireland / Changing Polish Documents - Moving from Poland to UK [11]

When I had to renew my passport I've done it in Poland but only because 1. It is cheaper than going through an Embassy in UK 2. I am still registered at a Polish address. She doesn't have to go back to Poland to get her name changed on her ID, an Embassy in England will do it, especially that she is marrying a British citizen. If she decides to go to Poland, then yes she has to come in to apply and then again to sign for the documents in person, and also provide finger prints for a new passport, relevant documents etc. I can't tell you for sure if a person who is no longer a Polish resident (as in have a Polish address) can actually get their documents in Poland anymore, your partner will have to check that.

Travelling to Poland is not exactly expensive, it's only 2.5 hours away on a plane and if you collect air miles (I do with BA) your return flight will cost between £30 - £80.

I also find it pretty shocking that in UK documents like passports and driving licences are sent by post. Even if it's special delivery, things still go "missing".

Life / Fashion and Style in Poland [174]


That reminds me, years ago when my sisters were in that teenager/young adult age group, they would help themselves to any tops with visible logos I dared to bring with me when I visited them. I always preferred (and still do) clothes that are feminine/pretty than clothes which are branded and somewhat trendy because of that. I see that markowe ciuchy still rule ;-). And it is true that brands are more expensive in Poland so it is always a very good gift idea. In UK it's all about brands and the same style worn all year round, just yesterday I saw dozens of very young girls wearing fishnets or some other thin tights with denim hotpants, their bum cheeks hanging out and everything - in December!! They wore the same stuff all summer!! It also seems to be the norm wearing shorts and t-shirts no matter what time of year, and you don't get a lot of shorts & t-shirts weather in UK as it is. At least in Poland they dress appropriately for the season and weather.

Law / Maintenance & Rights: Polish mother & child in Poland, Irish father in the UK [57]

Shame there was no update on this thread from the OP since last year, I wonder what happened in the end...

UK, Ireland / Poles 2nd to Indians in UK [23]


I moved to England on my own rather than with friends or family and to be honest I never felt the need to cling onto other Polish people just because we came from the same country. I was in my late teens back then and it was nice socialising and making English friends, using my English everyday rather than just at school etc. My then Polish flatmates frowned and disapproved that I was mixing with the locals, we were supposed to stick together because we were Polish and that was that. I mean I can understand why some people feel more comfortable spending time with their fellow countrymen but there's no need to be so close minded about it. I'm sure there are plenty of Polish people out there who enjoy and embrace being part of the English/British community, as well as loads who make a point of not being involved whatsoever. The language barrier is always a problem but in my honest opinion, the English language is so easy to pick up - especially if you live here - that after a couple of years there really should be no excuse.


I agree with that, while some stuff is reasonably priced, magazines and books still have their Polish price tag on and they charge the same but in GBP haha (1.5zl = £1.5 ;). Still, they offer more choice so I shall be making a list for Christmas :).


Exactly right!

Life / If you are Polish abroad or of Polish descent, do you celebrate St. Nicholas day? [33]

"Mikołajki" is just for kids really, Mikolaj stopped leaving presents under my and my sisters' pillows when we stopped being kids :). It's up to the parents I guess if they want to carry on with this tradition when they move abroad with their children. On one hand it's nice an a fun treat for the kids, on the other hand, how do they explain to their foreign friends why they got extra presents from Santa and other kids didn't? ;)

UK, Ireland / Do Polish Immigrants in Great Britain hate each other? [60]


Don't like it when people prove you wrong and you have nothing to say in your defence? Smooth ;)

UK, Ireland / British + Polish relationship experiences [16]

It's not the Polish men I have a problem with, it's the things they say :) but that's not the point I was making. Some Polish women want to go back, some don't, I'm still deciding but for now I have more reasons to stay in the UK. That might change in the future though, who knows. If you must know.

UK, Ireland / Do Polish Immigrants in Great Britain hate each other? [60]


And it doesn't bother you that this SCUM will continue to breed and pass on their "culture" and foul language onto the next generation?? It really doesn't bother you? Are you insane? If it was my country I would be livid, I would worry that this is the kind of "British" that will live on and bring this country down, not a foreign minority who in majority pay taxes and make a living in this country whether they decide to stay here for life or not. You should get your priorities straight and have a good think about what is really damaging your country's economy and reputation.


I find it amazing, ignorant and arrogant that some people in Britain think this scum is still higher on the 'ladder' than foreigners. It offends me.


I see more chavvy single mummies with multi-coloured children than Polish single mummies. Most Polish women who have kids in the UK are married.


that's the chavvy British mummies, get knocked up at 16 - life's sorted


I would like to see those figures before I comment

UK, Ireland / British + Polish relationship experiences [16]


I think that these are very reasonable and sensible things to ask yourself and your partner (and both your families) before you take the next step. Just because this poster is not a Pole or in a relationship with one doesn't mean they can't make a valid point.

Isn't it just typical that Polish men on this forum are not happy and start making personal attacks because someone dares to even point out (in a very civilised, informative manner) that the idea of marrying a Polish man in the UK might not always be a good idea. This kind of reaction is so predictable and laughable. Just because he is living in the UK now and willing to marry an English woman doesn't mean that he wants to stay there forever. Chances are, he will expect her to move to Poland with him once he saves up enough money to buy a house there and/or is missing his family. That's why the questions above should be seriously considered before making any future plans together.

UK, Ireland / Do Polish Immigrants in Great Britain hate each other? [60]


If you hate the fact that Polish people are on benefits then why the hell do you help them with it?? Are you that sad that you only give advice to people to have something to whine about on a different forum? This really must mean you have no life. The benefits system is totally screwed up in the UK, if you give advice on it then you should know.

When I was job hunting the job centre told me they won't help me to find work unless I'm unemployed. When I was in-between jobs and just walked in and asked if they could help me, they said I have to make an appointment over the phone (!) to come in and fill out forms, so I did that and on my appointment I was given more forms to fill to record that I am looking for work and where I am looking for it, and call a number to apply for job seekers allowance. I said I don't need the allowance, I just want them to look in the system and send me to an interview because I wanna start working asap, and they said it doesn't work that way and if I don't call the number my registration will not be complete. So I did and there was a very condescending woman on the phone, I haven't heard anything about work from the job centre for a week and by then I already found a job on my own without their help. So this leads me to believe that people don't come there looking for work, they come there to get free money and if sponging off the state is encouraged this way then why are you shocked and disgusted that people do it??? Plenty of chavs are on the dole and have been for GENERATIONS now, but you throw in a few Poles into the mix and that's intolerable. I've said this before and I'll say it again, blame your government, not the people.

UK, Ireland / Domestic arguments caused by differences between Polish and English culture [109]

I always thought that salt goes into the pot with more holes and pepper into the pot with one hole - because we use more salt than pepper.

My family are obsessed with salt, they sprinkle it on before they even taste the food. I try to avoid salt because it's unhealthy and if used in excess, it totally kills the flavour. A little bit of salt on fries, mashed potato, slice of tomato on a sandwich, popcorn (never tried sweet popcorn before I moved to the UK, I still find it weird lol) etc. is perfect, but not spoonfuls of it. Polish food is so nice but to someone who is not used to salty it might not taste so nice...

Love / I live in Holland and i never meet a good polish guy. [33]

not interested in the local cuisine then classygirl? beware of the married men going abroad for work and pretending they are not married haha

UK, Ireland / 50 babies a day born to Polish mothers in UK [81]

Thought it was White British and White Other? Depends on the form but yeah, I saw that they list the British people according to their skin colour. What does it matter to a doctor what skin colour you have, will some of them refuse to see a black or white patient? Are there any British doctors in Britain left anyway, even my dentist is Italian ;).

Life / 'Turkish' Conmen on the A4/E40 Krakow-Wrocław stretch.... [25]


don't imagine they make that much out of scamming people like this over there...

Love / I like a Polish guy - does he like me - what are Polish men like to women [18]

dignity should always come first! lol

Love / I like a Polish guy - does he like me - what are Polish men like to women [18]

it's better to be alone than with someone sh*t

Love / I like a Polish guy - does he like me - what are Polish men like to women [18]

This might be a lost case I'm afraid, you had a fun time and it's all it was, expecially to the guy. I don't think this story would turn out any different if he was not Polish. Of course he told you a lot of nice stuff when you were both drinking and having sex for 2 days, it doesn't get much better than that lol. Take the booze away and the reality kicks in. Not many guys will take you seriously after sleeping with them so early on, whether you were attached at the time or not (which as you yourself realise is not the right thing to do under any circuimstances). TRY your hardest to put this behind you, he's given you enough hints to let him be. Be polite to him and don't act hurt or offended around him, definitely DO NOT confide in anyone at your workplace (!!!). Put it down to experience and move on, try being single for a while, going from one bad relationship straight into another is never a good idea. Take care!!

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


exactly, people should be aware of the dangers and take a proactive approach against any potential danger instead of being blissfully unaware. there is so much evil in this world, just becaue it seems unthinkable to an average, decent person doesn't mean it can't happen. those creeps live and breathe around us.


not necessarily if there's a big crowd and nobody's paying attention, the parents will be minding their kids, not looking out for potential perverts. covering up your children is common decency, we live in a civilised society and there should be no genitals, adult or not, on display.


in a nutshell: lets give each other the benefit of the doubt. BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER! E.L.E. ! :)

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


their parents should! if having kids run around naked is alright, then soon enough the peado's will think it's ok to stand there and look or take pictures

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]

ha ha hardly but i wouldn't want my kids running around naked for god knows who to see, they're not animals just little people and they should be dressed in something

Travel / After 7 Weeks, why i loved Poland =) [22]


that's not true we love to queue! any reason to queue and we're there forming a line ha ha. perfect example are departure gates at the airports. even if they announce very clearly that they want people with children or people who are sat in the back rows to board the plane first, everybody's lining up anyway :D. most of the time there is a queue before boarding is even announced! as for shoving and pushing, i can't recall anything like that happening to me, you must've been shoving your way through yourself for people to elbow you out of their way. there are always people out there who wanna be first but there is nothing you can do about someone like that, it's either bydło przodem - or sh*t before the shovel ;)

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


yup, seen that at a train station couple of days ago but truth be told there is no toilet there as it's only a small station. still! and yes it's notorious at the beach in most places but i also noticed a lot of small kids still run around naked on the beach in PL and hell knows who's watching them apart from their parents, there are perverts everywhere these days :/.

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


naaa ;) i think people around here know that i don't say stuff about anyone out of spite, just sharing my experiences. i'm sure there are plenty of nice Polish people here who will befriend you unconditionally, if i find one i'll let you know ;). it's natural to help each other out when you're friends but it's not right to be friends with people just because you wanna use them and i seriously had enough of that... i've been really good friends with another Pole at my old workplace and a couple of months after i moved because i got a better job she stopped replying to my txts and when i tried to contact her husband about her whereabouts he said her phone was 'in the shop' and she'd call me when she gets it back. it was all rubbish excuses, she never called and i just left it. i should probably accept that once they can't think of anything else i can do for them i have been rendered useless and therefore - invisible ;D

since the letter incident the Polish neighbour is not having as many screaming arguements with her kid and sister outside as she used to lol

Life / Have many Poles had enough of one another? [198]


it varies and i am happy to see it is getting better and people are getting friendlier. a lot of times yes, you will be treated like any other customer, take your shopping, pay and you get a dry "dziękuję zapraszam" but if you smile or make a joke there are high chances you will be met with a positive response. i have to say that everytime i go, year after year, there seem to be more and more positive people around, smiling and welcoming you into their stores, they will be very helpful and try to say something funny. you just have to encourage them. best thing you can do is have the exact change and offer it before they ask ha ha. in my local Polish shop the lady is ever so friendly and she actually doesn't shut up and talks to everyone who's in there :).


like honey bees? ;) let me put it this way, if you have the honey or they think you have the honey (in place of honey put anything such as money, ability to help out with a job or English documents etc. etc.) they will swarm to you and seek you out and be your best pal. once the honey runs out or they find out there's no honey here they'll act as if you have never met before and like you don't exist. so basically, no gain - no love. this may sound bitter but it is my experience of meeting Polish people in UK and in 99% it proves to be true. i leave 1% for a friend who's been there for 6 years and never let me down. as a rule i am very careful about meeting Polish people around here, I even have a Polish neighbour and as soon as she found out I was Polish (mail delivered to the wrong door) we kind of avoid each other, guess she had some crap experiences too. i am happy to chat and get to know other Polish people but it so often leads to a hidden purpose, a question that you know they will ask about something to do with their agenda that really, most of the time i just don't bother. i can't recall if i ever met anyone British, Asian, European where one of the first questions they would ask about me was 'how much do you earn?' and Polish people ask this notoriously, as if it's a competition. if these Polish people arrive together or are related they will stick together like glue and only let other Polish people in if they can be of any 'assistance'. i would really appreciate not being attacked for this paragraph, i am willing to bet that most Polish people living abroad will have similar sentiments.

UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]


no bones to pick, seriously? ;) i live in the Rushmoor district area, to narrow it down a bit, but planning to move to Surrey next year to be closer to work

Love / Don't want others to join us at a table - is it normal for Polish girls to get angry? [161]


if the date was sh*t and one of my friends happened to be at the same bar then HELL YES i would invite them over ha ha. seriously though, if they just come over to say hi and are gone within a few minutes then it's perfectly fine but 2 hours is kinda pushing it. nevertheless, the person you should've complained to about this situation should have been the girl and it would have to be very polite, saying you'd love to arrange a meet up with her friend on another occassion to get to know him better. threatening her friend is wrong on every level, if her friends don't like you then they'll do their best to get you out of the picture. if you are seriously interested in that girl then I suggest you apologise to her friend and to her and say it will never happen again - and make sure it won't. her friend was rude for staying so long but she made him feel welcome, she should have been the one to tell him to leave, not you. you made yourself look like a control freak.

UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]


during the riots or in general lol? i never experienced any animosity because of where I'm from, had some problems with fellow Poles living in the area (long story) but the local people are nice, most of the time they don't really pay attention to where one is from. if they have a problem with it, they won't show it or say it to your face (not many tend to be direct), they'll write to a redneck newspaper or log on this forum lol. if the thread author has a job offer, speaks English and is familiar with all the paperwork they'll need (WRS and National Insurance) to work legally then I wouldn't discourage them and wouldn't let them be discouraged by peed off Londoners who seem to be the minority in their city now. the money is still better here and the standard of living, even on a minimum wage, is comfortable. plenty of Polish food and shops, people are familiar with some Polish phrases (mainly swearwords lol) and they'll be friendly as long as you're not being an ignorant ass. less bureacuracy (unless you're applying for benefits I hear), only a short flight away, give it a go.