Obviously there are a lot of things people don't like about Polish people and Poland. But how about for once (especially on the birthday of RP) we focus on the things that are great about it.
I mainly miss my family and speaking Polish on everyday basis, but when I compare Poland to the US there are a few things that make Poland superior in my eyes:
1. People don't fake their feelings. Some can complain that Polish don't smile enough, but I prefer the genuine smiles over the American fake grins.
2. I like the grocery stores at every corner.
3. I like that Polish people actually shop in the corner stores and not only in the supermarkets.
4. I like that the Polish version of small talk is complaining, not some nonsense about weather and counting blessings.
Not sure if this is what you were looking for as it doesn't pertain to me actually being in Poland but the Polish glider Puchacz has brought me lots of joy in the years past...
(not my pic)
Otherwise for me it's mainly family traditions, food, history, etc...
Otherwise for me it's mainly family traditions, food, history, etc.
The word "tradition" is an ugly one; it's used to put anything your forefathers did into a place beyond criticism. Racism and homophobia are traditional, after all...
I like the Polish "won't lay down and take it" attitude; they'll always fight back. And I like the "no fake emotions" element of the national psyche too; if a Pole sees something idiotic, he points it out to the idiot immediately, with no softening words.
Aside from the stunning geography and weather (which Poland shares with its neighbours) I'm not too sure if there's anything specifically Polish I like about living here. Most probably, it's the feeling of watching a country grow up and work its way through an enormous identity crisis. This blossoming maturity makes me feel a bit like a distant relative seeing his niece go off to high school (for want of a better euphemism).
About Poland specifically? Dunno. Poland, like any other country, is a blend of its neighbors. It has a nice balance structured Germany, and let it slide Ukraine. Some Poles are incredibly hospitable, but the same can be said for any nationality. Some Poles are intolerant assclowns, which can also be said for any nationality.
I like it here, nice balance. Close to everything, there is still a feel of forward movement, that something is changing (albeit a bit slower now), the mix of brand new high end luxury of the cities mixed with the basic amenities of the countryside.
Mmm, the first couple of Polish people I worked with in the UK turned out to be the most two-faced people I've ever met! 'Best friends' for as long as they could use you and then they moved on to using someone else. Other Poles I've met also seem to think ******** about people, making racist or bigoted comments about minorities is ok as long as you dress it up as straight talking.
Fortunately I've met plenty of Poles subsequently who aren't like this at all but I think there are plenty of the former to make the idea that Poles are any more straight or honest in their dealings with people than any other nationality untrue. Good and bad in every nation so it just isn't possible to generalise one way or the other.
Just a few topics from the top of the home page of PF.
Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? I saw Polish nationalism today Society, Culture Is it me,the Polish people have a strange attitude to cats and dogs
Plus if you read the threads you will find out that Polish people slam gays, they are narrow minded, Polish girls are materialistic ******, Poland is the worst place on earth to start a business, the customer service is horrible, etc. That's what I mean.
Heh, so people dislike Polish bigots, Polish nationalists, Poles who don't like cats and dogs, Poles that are homophobic, Narrow minded Poles, materialistic Polish girls, bad Polish customer service, bad Polish business practices....
People like controversial topics, can't help that. They feel strongly about it, they post. I think if you read the topics, you do find reason (might have search long and hard), but there is plenty of pros and cons thrown out there.
Anyway, painting all those things as solely "Polish traits" doesn't hold water...but, it's an interesting view of how other people see the country, for whatever reason. Surely some of it is just to get a response, some of it is genuine criticism, and some of it may just be worded in a manner that you find offensive, but it wasn't the posters intent. All of the posts are relative to the poster.
You make a very valid point here. However, at the same token you let your own distaste for America for example shine through. Was the "fake American smile" comment really necessary? Also, the very first word - "obviously" - is pretty accusatory.
Remember that all we see here are some posters voicing their opinion, they are not representative of the majority of the Polish, or British, or American, etc population.
My point is that the tone of your initial post was somewhat negative and yet wasn't that what you were trying to get away from?
The fact that i don't really understand it. But i get a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling when i'm there (that may be the wodka).
Poland is just so... so very Polish. In the south anyway, it's 50% highland hunter, 50% decadence. It is a beautiful part of the world, and the people have an inimitable elegance.
I mainly miss my family and speaking Polish on everyday basis, but when I compare Poland to the US there are a few things that make Poland superior in my eyes:
Because my husband doesn't want to. He does not speak Polish (and all methods of teaching it him have failed so far) and claims that the industry he is in is non existent in Poland.
well, no hard feelings, but Americans don't like to learn new languages, they are lazy that way.... they don't like to get out of their state neither... maybe they are afraid they won't found themselves in a new reality... hard stuff... :)
