Polish way of life?

American way of life has been a buzzword in the USA as long as anyone can remember. Today Merkel speakinn about cyber-surveillance said it can be used to counteract 'threats to our way of life'.

Is there a Polish way of life? If so, what does it entail? Any thoughts?

American way of life is a load of propaganda created by corporations and big businesses that are worried Americans will stop buying their products. It is a joke and a farce. And anybody that disagrees with the "american way of life" is a communist. It is freaking pathetic.

You mean your Polish way of life?

There are many. It is a plural society.

Traditionally it has meant life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as well as mother, the stars & Stripes, apple pie and baseball. Also the rags to riches theme -- a land where anything possible. Also New York'a biggest Pole, Stasiu* Liberty, welcoming Europe's huddled masses, the human refuse of your teeming shores...

*That's a little joke -- is should be the Statue of...


So you would be unable to present a synthetic encapsulation of the most typical Polish values and lifestyles. I reckon functioning in an alternative, counterculture world makes that rather difficulłt. As I said once before, many expats do not have a 'feel' of the country even after years of physical presence.

If only there was somebody to whom we could turn with all of our questions about Poland.

Any such 'synthetic encapsulation' would be at best subjective and reduction all, no matter where it came from. Trying to create something that isn't there.


I wouldn't know. Though I doubt it, since there are many 'alternatives' in Polish culture.


Likewise since I'm not an expat. However you yourself have lived here for some time while, if most of your posts here are an accurate reflection of your views, developing a fairly limited understanding of what's around you.

There are many alternatives in every country, and yet, as my thumbnail sketch of America shows, there is something, a certain climate, consensus, ambience, call it what you will that covneys the flavour, and spirit of a given nation. Not every American likes baseball, some may be allergic to apples and Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to salute the flag, but there nevertheless exists that certain something indicative of the overall taste and texture of things. That's all I had in mind.

That thumbnail sketch is a bit like cutting up body parts from various American morgues, sewing them together and calling the grisly result a typical American. A kind of cultural Frankenstein's Monster.

Imagery is not a way of life.

Was there another Jon-soetmhing (also some numners, if i 'I recall) I'm confusing you with. Anyway you seem to send out the same kind of expat vibes as our Fearsome Foursome. Also you use English colloquial expressions not typical of a Polish national.

You assume anyone who isn't of Polish ethnicity is an expat. Many are not and some with Polish roots are.

I am just waiting for the ranting about popculture to come around. And about the clubbing of course.
But let me give you an idea about the average life of our average friends here in Warsaw (us included)
- Getting up very early to beat the traffic jams to work (and kicking the daughters out of their bed to go to university & work)

- Corresponding with your partner mainly by e-mail / sms because no time at all in the morning
- In the evening trying to remember what shopping to do on the way home because your wife will kick your *** if you again forget to buy toilet paper and she is again working late

- Acting as a private bus service ferrying the kids to ballet classes, music classes, buying kebab because nobody was at home to cook
- Weekend: cleaning the car, meeting friends for a beer, going to an exposition, strolling on Krakowskie with friends, emptying the local Auchan, being frustrated that my wife as a journalist again has to work Sundays. Daughters going out with their friends and treating father as a walking ATM (surely the one studying)

Life as it is, like almost everywhere in Europe. No big deal.

I can't say I can see any Polish way of life. We are alldifferent ppl withdifferent views and values/

In fact you mean that the Polish way of life is to build a duck statue on the local taxpayers' costs, sit in church all day, do not have outdoors fun at any cost and adore maybach?

And do not have any understanding of the female part of the population.

All crass materilialism, creature comforts, pure physiology, animal-like activities devoid of spriitual susbtance. Homo sapiens or homo ludens?

I don't believe there is such a thing as "<insert country of choice here> way of life". No matter where you are, it always boils down to the same basic things that are important to people: peace, family, secure job and enjoying life.

Meaning that the majority of the Poles lead an animal-like life?

sobieski
If they act that way you describe...

This is by far the best encapsulation you will find:

youtube.com/watch?v=V2sedTLIRWU

So tell us, what is for you the Polish way of life...care to give some "afterthoughts" ?

America has a deep culture which is what Polonius is explaining. Canada has a very superficial culture. As an example you yourself refer to yourself not as a Canadian but as a North American.


More angry Roman Catholic rhetoric. You should attend mass less and read the Christian Bible more, you'd feel better.

WHAT!! I have never ever ever referred myself to being North American. I have said "in North America" or similar but I have never and will never refer myself as being North American.

And there is superficiality in ever country. give your head a shake. but America has the market on that one. including as far as saying that it boosts the economy. and people believe it.

DominicB
Just shows that many expats are Pole-bashers. If they don't like Poland, who's keeping them here?

Pointing out the realities of Poland is not bashing it. I have lived here for over 10 years, married to a Pole and I am raising two very proud to be Polish/Canadian children.

I also point out the problems with Canada but seeing as I haven't lived there for over 10 years some of my points are out of date.

Putting your head in the sand does nothing to fix the problems that exist here. Discussing them is a start to finding a remedy. And the most bashing in my experience comes from Poles themselves. Probably why I am asked on a daily basis why I live in Poland.

So you regard the mock-prayers adn chants in that video to be Polish reality, eh?

Given that you clearly hate so many things in Poland and the Polish way of life, one does wonder why you are still in Poland.


Anger is one of the main things which keeps him alive. That along with hate, bitterness and envy.

Only the non-Polish alien intrusions brought in by expats rtrying to contaminate the true Polish soul.
Hate and bitterness towards the soul of Poland, its relgious faith, its charismatci leaders such as JP2, Father Rydzek, the Kaczyńskis, etc. is what keeps many expats going.

Polish way of life?
Based on the experiences I've had or witnessed over the last 10+ years:
Live and let live (for some things).
- Eat drink and be merry.
- Any surface can and will become a dance floor with enough alcohol and music.
- No harm, no foul (not a Polish phrase but I've seen it in practice here a lot and it's by far my favourite aspect of life here)

- In the end, it doesn't matter what you wear.
- If you can buy it for 20 gr. less somewhere else then go somewhere else.
- Go to church.
- Drink with the relatives after church.
- Argue with relatives when drinking with them.
- Being loud = Being right
- Forget about the stupid thing you were arguing about.
- Get married. Have children. Have multiple affairs. (in that order)
- Taking needless risks which jeopardize you and others is generally the best practice.
- Admitting fault or blame is tantamount to proclaiming oneself a heretic, baby-hating faggot.
- Break rules, break them now and break them often.
- Showing off whenever possible but especially when operating a vehicle of any kind.
- Queuing is for suckers.
- Take a short cut because the pavement never goes where it should (but watch out for droppings).</li></ul>
It's never boring:)

Pretty much spot on :-)

I'd be astounded if you knew what a soul was.


Two of those can't lead anybody, owing to them being dead. The other two are jokes and it is part of the Polish way of life to laugh at them.


Fewer than four in ten bother these days, and that number is going down down down.