Maybe they weren't always as cool as the Western but in those times nothing was as cool.
No of course not, Im not silly :) I was speaking generally and offering an explanation as to why a lot of people would think there were no 'discos' etc. People associate communisim with Poland, and most associate communisim with restrictions of lifestyle. I dont have any strange idea of communisim, or the idea of Poland after its fall. I live in Poland and have studied Polish history and culture extensively. I was merely offering up some logical reasons why many people not familiar with your country might think as they do.
So what? What does EU have to do with it, anyway? We already were in Europe 900 years before the idea of EU emerged.
That has a lot to do with it, because Poland is a relatively new member of the EU and people generally associate Europe with the EU.
you needed a little customs clearance, and now you just wave your ID and go.
Im aware of that :) My point being that there were nowhere near the amount of Polish people abroad as there are today. In Ireland for example there were virtually no Polish people here until EU membership, so nobody had ever the opportunity to meet or listen to a Polish person speak. Now of course I and most educated people would have known the Polish people speak 'Polish' but its not surprising that a lot might not as they had no exposure to the language or pupulace.
As far as I know, during the 80s, there was a lot of stuff about Wałęsa in international media. And, of course, there was the pope.
I for one never remember anything about seeing Poland ever mentioned in the international media. Other than of course the Pope, whos picture still hangs in every Irish home today :)
but I know that in Korea they speak Korean and not, e.g. Chinese.
Thats a valid point, and while ignorance is never excusable I do try and understand it.
while Poland has been there for some time
I assure you, there are many, many people who are very ignorant of history. With the widespread dumbing down of education now throughout Europe, I suspect ignorance will flourish
Apart from 'do you have cars over there' of course.
'Crap' indeed but an ignorant assumption easily explained nevertheless. Ireland my native country was the same under British oppression, but we still danced and drank :)
Poles used the cavalry to charge against vulnerable against that attack German artillery.
Considering that most of this generation know little or nothing about history, fictional or otherwise I find it refreshing that they know Poland was even in a war !
my Polish friends love me because I know loads about their country.
Arent you the same lady who recently commented that "Oh My God Polish men are the best lovers in the world, they are the best at sex in the world, Oh My God" because you were in love with your boyfriend ? Im not surprised your Polish friends love you, Im sure they are very flattered also ;)
WE sure did, the light ball turning at the ceiling and all
Ha,ha the disco ball, I remember nthem in Ireland, few of them still around actually :)))