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My (short) Poland experiences - bad luck?


zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #31
You hit the nail on the head. I visited Poland a few times also and you summed it up perfectly.
Nobody smiles there, but if you do, they think you are "nie poważny" - not serious, and think you are crazy if you smile.
The kids when taking pictures in school are always stone faced, never a smile.
They always complain, they are never satisfied, always want more.
Always pushing in lines, on bus, in airports.
Never a smile.

Do we Poles have any reasons not to be sad? Tygrys you claims that you are a member of polonia. How is it possible that you don't know the major polish cultural difference? We don't smile whithout reason and we can't comprehend why you do!
plk123  8 | 4119  
30 Aug 2010 /  #32
We don't smile whothout reason

being alive and well isn't reason enough? :)
zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #33
no.
plk123  8 | 4119  
30 Aug 2010 /  #34
haha.. that's depressing.
Patrycja19  61 | 2679  
30 Aug 2010 /  #35
We don't smile whithout reason and we can't comprehend why you do!

well maybe you should, stop trying to analyze why others do, smiling wont
cause cracks, well, maybe one ;D
dtaylor5632  18 | 1998  
30 Aug 2010 /  #36
Do we Poles have any reasons not to be sad? Tygrys you claims that you are a member of polonia. How is it possible that you don't know the major polish cultural difference? We don't smile whithout reason and we can't comprehend why you do!

Well screw you all!!!!! :)


  • :):):)
Wroclaw Boy  
30 Aug 2010 /  #37
I think that something had to annoyed you at the very begining of your trip and after you just have negative attidute.

I agree, he did say that the Polish friends whom he knows and loves became different people in Poland.
peter_olsztyn  6 | 1082  
30 Aug 2010 /  #38
We don't smile whithout reason and we can't comprehend why you do!

Teffle. We just walking all day and looking for the reason to smile so our concentrated faces may seem a bit stony :)
southern  73 | 7059  
30 Aug 2010 /  #39
Poles usually smile when they see the vodka and after a good food.
zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #40
Areas visited by the way: £odz/Pabianice

oh, gosh... no wonder he didn't like it!
southern  73 | 7059  
30 Aug 2010 /  #41
First of all just being among nice beautiful Slavs is a premium a pleasure for the senses.
A J  4 | 1075  
30 Aug 2010 /  #42
oh, gosh... no wonder he didn't like it!

Why? What's so bad about £ódź?

:)
MareGaea  29 | 2751  
30 Aug 2010 /  #43
What's so bad about £ódź?

Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz (Vicky Leandros)

Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Steh auf, Du altes Murmeltier,
Bevor ich die Geduld verlier.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Ich habe diese Landluft satt,
Will endlich wieder in die Stadt.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Gott verlaß'nes Dorf, nur Heu und Dorf.
Stets der gleiche Trott, nur Hü und Hott.
Im Stall die Kuh macht muh,
Die Hähne krähen dazu.
Das hält keiner aus, ich hier raus.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz
Da packen wir das Glück beim Schopf
Und hauen alles auf den Kopf.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Diese verdammte Nest, gibt mir den Rest.
Ich fühl mich zu jung für Mist und Dunk -
Ich brauch' Musik und Tanz und etwas Eleganz.
Gib Dir einen Stoß und dann geht's los.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Dann feiern wir ein großes Fest,
Das uns die Welt vergessen läßt.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Dann kann ich leben, dann bin ich frei -
Und die Liebe ist mit dabei.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.
Komm' mit, die Pferde warten schon,
Steig' ein und sei mein Postillion.
Theo, wir fahr'n nach Lodz.

:) Who said there weren't any German songs about Polish cities? :) Ok, she is Greek, but that doesn't matter.

>^..^<

M-G (tiens)
jablko  - | 104  
30 Aug 2010 /  #44
Why? What's so bad about £ódź?

£ódź is considered to be under curse. Stay away from that city!!
zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #45
Why? What's so bad about £ódź?

because it looks like that:

wschodnia klatka
plk123  8 | 4119  
30 Aug 2010 /  #46
^^ krakow or warsaw or most pf PL towns have the same issues. lodz isn't that "special"
pgtx  29 | 3094  
30 Aug 2010 /  #47
krakow

Krakow doesn't have any issues!!!
it's perfect in its own imperfection!

;)
zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #48
^^ krakow or warsaw or most pf PL towns have the same issues. lodz isn't that "special"

no, you're wrong! they don't have so many dog poos ;P

But seriously in Warsaw you have plenty of nice places, the same as it goes for Cracow. But £ódź has only a shopping mall centre as main "tourist atraction"... And ppl look much poorer, yep it's ceratinly one of the poorest biggest city. I think that OP have to seen the most sad faces there (for me here...)
poland_  
30 Aug 2010 /  #49
(quote=zetigrek)Do we Poles have any reasons not to be sad? Tygrys you claims that you are a member of polonia. How is it possible that you don't know the major polish cultural difference? We don't smile whithout reason and we can't comprehend why you do![/quote]

In Poland during RP2 it was uncommon to smile on the streets, because no one wanted to be seen to be happy. But in RP3 there is plenty to smile about, for example you are the only country that did not go into recession, Poland is making big strides forward in Europe

Here is something to remind you of Poland's leap forward
...

But seriously in Warsaw you have plenty of nice places, the same as it goes for Cracow. But £ódź has only a shopping mall centre as main "tourist atraction"... And ppl look much poorer, yep it's ceratinly one of the poorest biggest city. I think that OP have to seen the most sad faces there (for me here...)

Warsaw, has been voted the number one "city of parks in Europe" so no more nonsense about wonderful green Warszawa. In fact it is, so green even the Irish are jealous.
southern  73 | 7059  
30 Aug 2010 /  #50
I find that Poles are usually involved in deep thinking and try not to annoy you.Certainly an intellectual nation.
As for smile,if you want smile visit Germany and you won't be disappointed.
Seanus  15 | 19666  
30 Aug 2010 /  #51
So much dog sh*t, Zeti? That's right, blame the dogs why don't you? ;) ;)

Teffle, look for Polish hospitality. That'll change your mind a little. The streets can be dreary. I was in Zabrze today and the faces were like they were on death row for the most part. However, I went off to see my parents-in-law and they are instantly uplifting. They look after me like one of their own and her whole family has helped in numerous ways. In that way, and in a few others, they are like the Japanese. Poles and Japanese have a healthy respect and I can see why. Oh, to qualify what I said, they are that way when you get to know them. Otherwise they may be suspicious or sceptical but these things take time. As the HP motto goes, 'the best things come to those who wait'. Short trips give you snapshots, of which yours are pretty darn accurate.

However, one thing. Sexism? Their joking aside, where did you see it?
FUZZYWICKETS  8 | 1878  
30 Aug 2010 /  #52
Avalon wrote:

As WB will tell you, you're in for a shock when you go back.

to where?
dtaylor5632  18 | 1998  
30 Aug 2010 /  #53
to where?

The UK or Ireland ;)
FUZZYWICKETS  8 | 1878  
30 Aug 2010 /  #54
dtaylor5632 wrote:

The UK or Ireland ;)

why would I go there?
plk123  8 | 4119  
30 Aug 2010 /  #55
But seriously in Warsaw you have plenty of nice places, the same as it goes for Cracow.

lodz does too.. you're in denial.. and i know how it is when you're young and see greener grasses everywhere but your own backyard.. you'll find out they just aren't.. katowice certainly does not have greener grass.

to where?

englandia.. have you been sleeping? find his "after 5 years.. " thread.

why would I go there?

that's what he said afterwords.
dtaylor5632  18 | 1998  
30 Aug 2010 /  #56
lodz does too.. you're in denial.. and i know how it is when you're young and see greener grasses everywhere but your own backyard.. you'll find out they just aren't.. katowice certainly does not have greener grass.

Its not the scenery or buildings that make a city, its the people. Look at Glasgow for example, famously the murder capital of Europe and it used to be completely wrecked through lack of industry, but today it is a vibrant modern city with some of the best new architecture around.
FUZZYWICKETS  8 | 1878  
30 Aug 2010 /  #57
plk123 wrote:

englandia.. have you been sleeping? find his "after 5 years.. " thread.

Avalon asked ME a direct question, whereas I asked a follow-up question. looks as though Avalon assumed I was from the U.K., which I am not.

no sleeping here. foot in mouth on your end, though.
OP Teffle  22 | 1318  
30 Aug 2010 /  #58
Sexism? Their joking aside, where did you see it?

I mentioned a vague sexism - old fashioned manners/chivalry that spilled over into patronisation and machismo some of the time.

E.g. my wife being repeatedly ignored when the glasses were being filled around the table - general deference to the male (i.e. me) for decision making and expecting me to answer for my wife.

Noticed quite a few older males kind of "rationing" their wives alcohol intake - often the women didn't get their own drink and were kind of given a little from time to time from their men.
plk123  8 | 4119  
30 Aug 2010 /  #59
no sleeping here. foot in mouth on your end, though.

how is that? i know you're not from uk.. youre question only made sense if you were sleeping.. and just in case, i told you where to look.,., how is that fim? hmm

Avalon asked ME a direct question,

oh, and now we can't comment on stuff unless it is directed specifically at one? hmm x2
zetigrek  
30 Aug 2010 /  #60
Its not the scenery or buildings that make a city, its the people. Look at Glasgow for example, famously the murder capital of Europe and it used to be completely wrecked through lack of industry, but today it is a vibrant modern city with some of the best new architecture around.

well Lodz goes down not up.
There was a famouse international festival in Lodz - Camerimage (guests of the latest edition in 2010 where: Terry Gilliam and Bill Murrey, among many others international movie industry fames). It will be no loger in Lodz. Now it will be in... Bydgoszcz.

David Lynch was to establish his movie studio in EC1 building (a historic building) but it seems it won't be finalised. Lodz is trying to make a new conception of its downtown aglomaration - the strict heart of the city (£ódź Fabryczna railway station was to demolish and go undergound). They invited many famouse architects to create the new conception: Rob Krier (2006), Frank Gehry (2008), Daniel Libeskind (now)... and it seems they can't decide who and what and when and whether at all they do anything to make those wonderful plans come true! There was a plan to built a modern conference hall but the idea was given up because of its costs (that's why Camerimage has moved to another city) but they will build for the little price of only 200 mln... an art gallery!

Where's the fast train line to Warsaw??? It was few years ago when the govern of the city claimed that whithin 2 or 3 years the journey time from Lodz to Warsaw would last less than 30 min.

Corruption, political wars, street pathology (żul w każdej bramie, do you know that's £ódź where the word kibol was invented?) scrawls on the walls and dirt. Welcome to £ódź!

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