USA, Canada / The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland [159]

Completely understandable, and to a degree, I would concur from a purely personal point of view.
However, the older the Pole, typically, the more they have to say, and when you do run across someone over sixty who does know English, often their command of idiom is astounding, almost as though they practically grew up listening secretly to BBC television or radio, pronunciation notwithstanding:-)

USA, Canada / The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland [159]

What you're saying, Rich, is to avoid precisely those people most worth talking to in Poland!
Younger people generally speak a low-level variety of English, focus on only the most superficial, material of topics, and as with youth throughout most of the world, particularly here in the States, have precious little to say.

Older, non-English speaking Poles generally will know German, at least Russian, fluently, and if they have studied a foreign language, will have learned it with far greater care than those under forty.

This has been my recent experience with younger Poles I've met in Greenpoint, here on a visit to see family.

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]

Quite untrue, przelotnyptak.
I base anything I post on thoughtful, considered observation. Certain generalization, as with stereotypes, do have a historical
basis in fact:-)

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

Germany's geopolitical influence has waned over the decades, yet von der Leyen for a while, wanted to change all that.

USA, Canada / The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland [159]

I was last there in 1997, scarcely a terribly long time ago!
Same ground rules naturally apply: Know at least some local lingo, don't offer unsolicited opinions (..unless asked by the host), and be respectful of the customs.

This doesn't merely apply to Poland, but to ANY other European country. Never assume that your interlocutor knows English, much less "good" or "fluent" English, as it might not be the case (although often in university cites it probably is) and the conversation will end up a combo of "Immigrantese" or Globish gobbledygook.

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

Germans indeed do sarcasm, only it's different from the Anglo-Saxon variety.

USA, Canada / The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland [159]

If you want to make the "ugly American" impression big time squared, you're right, CargoPants!
Some of us prefer to spread benefit rather than slime.

USA, Canada / The proper behavior an American should show when visiting Poland [159]

Simple:

1) Learn at least the basics of the language!

2) Refrain from offering any unsolicited opinions!

3) Read up significantly on the local/national culture BEFORE undertaking a trip there!

Other than that, you should be fine:-)

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

Our social aka cultural revolution nearly ended up destroying the country, the effects of which may still be felt in the extent to which drugs, promiscuous sex and "free love" have left their sad remains on today's America!

The ultra-Left have the US the middle finger, flaunting its wanton disrespect for convention, notable tradition and errantly equating discipline, structure, and organization automatically with faschism.

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]

No obsession, merely historical facts based upon known transmigration of peoples over hundreds to thousands of years, that's all.

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

Where was Poland before the EU? Economically speaking Nowheresville!!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Yeah Joker, I really ought to have:-)
Actually, the ideal Polish fare consists of zurek (or a nice chlodnik), bigos and Polish-style potato pancakes (placki ziemniaczne), with a solid native beer to wash it all down. Afterwards, maybe a zubrowka following coffee and/or dessert.

POLISH COMFORT FOOD!!

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

My wife made me kluski z makiem the other day, and it was delicious!

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

friends or (misguided) enemies, more often than not, @Spike31.

Face it, Poland needs the EU more than the EU does Poland.

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]

Darker complected or "olive-skinned" Poles are more than not of either Sinti-Roma or perhaps even of non-Slavic extraction.

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [54]

Especially Czech, being not only a related Slavic language, but relatively close to Polish, compared, say, with Bulgarian or Slovene, for instance. Poles on this forum have contended that Slovak might well be even closer.

Anyhow, best of luck and I'm sure things will work out, so long as you create your own special niche and never get let down!!

Work / Self-employed American living in Poland? Is it possible? [54]

Learn the language and you should be able to land something if your skill set fits the employer's criteria.
Freelance writer though sounds rather general, to be frank! Perhaps a position as "Internet Researcher" might yield fruit, but most likely, only in one of the largest cities.

Language / Ethnic backround of suffixes of Polish surnames [54]

Was told my family name, Pajdo, is in fact not Polish, maybe Ruthenian or some such ethnicity.

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

Again, I think Poland would be foolhardy to abandon the EU, much as it would be equal folly for Switzerland as but one example, to join! Poland derives too many benefits from being a "member of the club", so to speak, just as Switzerland would lose too many benefits by becoming an EU-member, for instance, her neutrality.

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]

Except for the rare intermarriage cases, traditionally in France or England, I've never noticed Negroid features in Western Europeans, even among native Sicilians whom I've met and who have typically jet black hair and eyes!

More likely a slightly Asiatic appearance among Poles, Ukrainians or Russians than African fearures among Western Europeans.
By "Western", I presume you're excluding the Scandinavians or Northern Europeans, such as the Germans, the Flemish or the Dutch.

Life / Typical Polish house and family [46]

When I was last in Poland is really of little to no import!
What I recall is as clear as today.

Genealogy / Seeking Czarniecki family members and ancestors from Lublin, also Margiewicz, Danilowicz and Andrulewicz [77]

Jews see themselves as both an ethnicity as well as a religion, but not a nationality!
American Jews always considered themselves "American" by country, "Jewish" by ethnicity and creed.
I feel the same way.

Life / Typical Polish house and family [46]

Oh yes, another thing!
Whereas here in the US, a little welcome sign reading "HOME SWEET HOME!" is more or less optional nowadays, when last in Poland, visiting the relatives of my Polish teacher, right smack in the middle of the living room wall to greet any visitors, read a lovely-looking, hand-crafted crocheted "GOSC W DOMU, PAN BOG W DOMU".

I was told at the time, that such was for all intents and purposes obligatory in most private houses.

News / Polexit? Almost half of the Poles believe that Poland would be better off outside of the EU [548]

And so every time another European nation has her own problems following regulations, they decide to up and split?? Here in the States, Texas has been threatening to secede from the Union for at least several decades. As in a divorce, why not stay and work things out. Sure, the differences

can't be that irreconcilable, can they?

Pretty plain dumb, if you ask me!

Life / Typical Polish house and family [46]

As I was only once inside a single Polish house, it resembled certain recollections I'd had of
being in Germany, especially in smaller towns.

Compared with the States, space tended to be at a premium and everything had a somewhat
more modest feel than, say, in the typical US suburban home.

Genealogy / Im proud to be a nordic guy, who with me here in Poland ? [7]

>Der Stuermer< would provide at least a single leaf of photographs in her editions, showcasing the "ideal" Aryan with the proverbial lantern jaw, broad shoulders, fair hair, tall frame, chiseled features and blue eyes, in stark contrast to those of either Balkan, Southern European, or Semitic background.

At least a generation or so of Germans well into the immediate post-War years were doubtless influenced, if perhaps only subliminally, by such indelible images:-)

Genealogy / Im proud to be a nordic guy, who with me here in Poland ? [7]

A combo of the three, in all likelihood.

UK, Ireland / Polish People are Welcome in Scotland [54]

I'd believe it.

UK, Ireland / Polish People are Welcome in Scotland [54]

BBC?? I'm talking about CBS as well as ABC right here at home!
Glad to know my suspicions were correct:-)

Are they integrating all right, or is it rather not unlike the guest workers who first arrived in Germany in or around 1960?

UK, Ireland / Polish People are Welcome in Scotland [54]

That was my suspicion, but I wasn't certain. Figured I'd ask a Scot, since the "fake news" industry on both sides of the Pond do like to massage and doctor stats, don't they!

:-)