News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


I think most normal people see it like this - people should pay for it themselves, but it shouldn't be banned. I just hope that this is what eventually happens (same as now) - I don't think Poland can afford it, but it certainly shouldn't be banned on the account of the aforementioned spoiled old men.


I actually think they should call their bluff - the RCC isn't going to risk making an enemy out of the ruling party, are they? I suspect this whole thing is just another example of the internal battle for control within the Polish Catholic Church - you can see from the way that they dropped the mention of excommunication from the final communique.

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]

And this is exactly what I object to. If it was truthful, any deputy anywhere that supported IVF or abortion would be excommunicated - but they aren't. In fact, why isn't Komorowski excommunicated for being Commander-in-chief of the armed forces that are murdering innocents in Afghanistan?

The whole thing reeks of trying to manipulate politics for their own gain.

Anyway, what do a bunch of spoiled old men know about families?

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


I'd say threatening people with excommunication for voting a particular way is direct interference with the workings of democracy. Era doesn't threaten to disconnect MP's who might increase corporation taxes, do they?

But you're not in Poland and don't see the day-to-day problems caused by RCC interference in Polish politics. After all, it doesn't bother you that the State lost millions of zloty due to fraud perpetrated by the Church, does it?

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]

And herein lies the problem. Instead of simply presenting the Vatican's stance on the issue, they've decided to try and bully the Sejm instead. Catholics don't need to be told that IVF is bad (everyone knows already, right?) - and they don't need to blackmail the Sejm either.

The worst thing about all of this is that if they had simply kept quiet, the odds are that the current status quo would continue. But now - all they've done is draw attention to the cause, when the political opinion would likely see IVF neither funded nor banned formally.

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


And you don't believe that threatening excommunication to MP's isn't interfering directly with politics? We've seen examples of them doing it in the recent Presidential election, it's happening again - the Church simply cannot "let go" in Poland and allow the country to be a modern democracy - perhaps because they realise that they might have to pay back some of their ill-gotten gains.

The RCC in Poland has one huge problem - they had massive political say during the PRL, and now, they can't let go. You saw exactly the same thing in Italy, Spain, the same thing is happening in Ireland and it's starting to happen in Poland, too.

Then again, the Church was hiring ex-SB guys, so is anyone surprised?

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


I think the problem was that some of them were getting involved, while others were quite clearly saying "It's nothing to do with us". The lack of a clear position definitely hurt them - and when they finally did adopt a clear position, it was almost universally ignored - possibly because everyone knew that they weren't unified at all.

Even the latest stand against in vitro seems to be completely divided - first we have someone threatening excommunication, but the communique from them seems to be much calmer.


Because in this case, the church has directly interfered with the workings of a modern democratic state.

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


What a stupid, stupid move. It's direct interference in politics by the Church - who should have learnt a lesson over the recent cross crisis that people do not want the Church to get involved in politics. Sadly, they've chosen to stick their nose in again - and will end up being punished yet again. It's not an issue right now when the churches are full, but it will only mean that younger people will continue to shun the church in times to come.


For many Poles, anything non-white.

Law / Currency rates: $ € ₤ zŁ. The interrelationship. [5]

It's what the market dictates.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Get it in writing from her. If she refuses to give it in writing, then you don't need me to tell you anything more.

Anyway, this situation is strange - once the visa expires, you still have an ordinary 90 day tourist period - and you shouldn't need a stamp to confirm this. What you might have to do is take a trip to a non-Schengen country to get the stamp after October 18th, but really, there should be no need to do so, because once the visa expires, you just revert to tourist status (90 days in 180).

I can tell you for a categorical fact that under Schengen law - there is no possibility of obtaining a stamp at the intra-Schengen border. The stamp doesn't actually confirm anything, it's the actual dates that count. If she wants you to get a stamp, it'll have to be a trip outside of the zone.

Or you can argue with her, but I'd recommend just following what she says.

I see you're in Wroclaw, so take a daytrip to the UK - it'll be the easiest way.

Law / Are banks from Poland safe? [42]


PKO is as safe as houses - there's absolutely no way that the Polish government would let it collapse.

USA, Canada / Can a Canadian Female Drive in Poland?? [30]


What time buffer? It doesn't exist in Polish law. The only foreign licences recognised "as-is" are licenses issued by an EU member state. Everyone else needs an IDP (if their country signed the Gevena/Vienna Convention on road traffic - a nice map is here -

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Countries_that_Recognize_International_Driving_Permit.svg

Of course, if you can point me to anything in Polish law which states that short term visitors, holding non-EU licenses from a country which signed one of the conventions can drive without an IDP legally, then I'll eat my words. I don't think you'll be able to though ;)


It doesn't matter if it's "useless" or not - the point is that they have to obtain it in order to be regarded as having a valid licence. Poland may not bother to enforce the law, but other countries can and will. No IDP means they don't have a valid licence in other countries - end of story.

Good luck with the arrogance - it's pretty obvious that you've never rented a car in Europe. The IDP is an integral part of the license if you want to have it recognized abroad - but really, it seems as if you don't even know what an IDP actually is. It's not an "international driving licence" at all.

Anyway, car hire agencies may check, or may not. But if you have an accident in one of their cars, without possessing the required documentation (an IDP) - then good luck!

(gotta love the old "I'm American, the laws don't apply to me")

USA, Canada / Can a Canadian Female Drive in Poland?? [30]


By carrying an IDP.

In practice, the police don't seem bothered in Poland by the existence of a licence from the USA/Canada - legally, it's not enough, but I think they seem to treat it as being equal to an EU licence. But still, it's not allowed by law - and you always run the risk of running into a police officer who just wants to ruin your day.

Language / Is the term 'Polak' derogatory?? [254]

Because they're Polish-Americans who have no idea of what is used in Poland on a daily basis, except what they read in the newspapers that support the "1920's Babusia" point of view that they love so much.

Law / UK driving license mess in Poland [72]


In the UK, you most certainly can ;)

The DVLA's records are infamously inaccurate.

Law / UK driving license mess in Poland [72]


Probably because they can't put a foreign address on the licence, I guess.

Love / Polish girls and contraceptives [68]


I'm not sure. They can prescribe for 6 months quite legally, so I'd suggest that the doctor is screwing you over. Change the doctor.

Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]


It's easy. European law says that you must be resident in the country for 185 days legally. It's rather straightforward to obtain legal residency in the EU. Job done.

I'm not sure why you seem to think that it's unfair that the EU expects people to be resident in the Union!

Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]


It's total nonsense. Some ill informed people might say such - but mBank for instance couldn't care less if you are legally resident or not - they just want you to declare that you're residing in Poland.

Makes a mockery of the UK's money laundering laws, really.

Classifieds / Recruitment agencies in Poland to hire workers? [47]

Let me guess - they're over sensitive, over confident and very poorly equipped to deal with working with Western partners?

News / Polish in vitro treatment fully refundable - bonkers! [62]


Yet again, you neglect to post the real facts.

IVF may be funded, it may not be. But it's certain that it will be only funded for the poorest people, and it's unlikely to be funded for more than one attempt. Bear in mind that Poland needs new babies, it's not a bad investment.

Genealogy / Looking for any and all information on Dabrowski/Dombrowski from Poland [88]

Uh...why don't you just type "Dąbrowski/Dąbrowska" into facebook? There's plenty of them around, I know at least 4!

Life / iPhones/iTunes and Apple products market in Poland [47]


Let's see - ukpolska is involved with a company that supplies live streaming of video to handsets. You - a nobody. I wonder who might know more about such things?

Life / iPhones/iTunes and Apple products market in Poland [47]


Funny thing is, it's the same story with people being gassed in trucks in Belgium. Apparently some trucking magazine investigated this and didn't find one confirmed case by any medical authority. I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same with "gas" on trains - the truth is that they got drunk and passed out, or something similar.

Life / iPhones/iTunes and Apple products market in Poland [47]


In general - no problem within the EU, but many bad reports about the service to/from non-EU countries. I suspect Customs and not Poczta Polska are to blame, though it's hard to say.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


Those guys (that genuinely train this stuff) aren't going to bother anyone. Many of them know fine well that they run the real risk of getting a knife pulled on them - and a severed tendon could be bye bye MMA.

The ones who wear the clothes but who don't train - nothing to be afraid of, after all, most of them would be incapable of running after you anyway :)

Life / iPhones/iTunes and Apple products market in Poland [47]


Forget about it - anyone savvy enough to buy Apple in Poland is going to buy from an authorised dealer.

Also - are you really cheaper, once you factor in VAT and import duties?

Law / I'm from Nigeria, but want to be a Poland Citizen [44]


Because a Polish passport means the right to live and work in the UK!

History / Let's talk about the POLISH ARMY [79]


Easier said than done. Poland just didn't have the money - and they had a long, long border with hostile neighbours. Virtually none of her neighbours at the time were on good terms with the Poles, except possibly the Czechoslovaks - so Poland would have had to defend a very, very long border. It just wouldn't have been possible to solidify them, especially given the economic circumstances of 1922.


This might have made sense, but only if the combat plans were to involve guerilla warfare rather than the conventional man-to-man battles of the day.


It wouldn't have done anything to prevent the rapid German advance - WW1 aircraft would have been absolutely useless against blitzkrieg.


But with what? The financial troubles of the 2nd Republic are very well known.


They were numerically outnumbered and psychologically beaten by the realisation that they had to fight Germany alone - sure, they might have lasted a few more days, but in your scenario, the Germans would still have managed to succeed. It also wouldn't have helped a bit against the two pronged attack.

I've said it a thousand times - the only hope for Poland in 1939 would have been to fight a guerilla war where potentially, every man, woman or child could be carrying a gun in which to murder Germans with. The Russians wouldn't have wanted to invade as long as the Polish armed forces were intact - and the Germans may not have had the stomach for a long guerilla war that they couldn't win.

But really, Poland lost the war in the early 20's - by conquering part of Lithuania and refusing to grant autonomy to Galicia - they all but sealed their fate. A smarter move would have been to build alliances with Czechoslovakia and Lithuania, as well as granting Ukrainians a great deal of autonomy in exchange for military cooperation. If they had also enfranchised the Jewish population, then - perhaps she would have survived relatively intact.

Law / I'm from Nigeria, but want to be a Poland Citizen [44]

If you want citizenship of a European country, Ukraine offers citizenship (entirely legally) for $100,000 USD.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


One big tip - make sure that you get the paperwork sorted for your residence permit as soon as possible. I mean it - if you go more than 90 days in the Schengen zone and you haven't started the process of residency, you are liable for deportation at any time.

And don't trust anyone, not even your friend to get it sorted - it's your obligation to get it done.

Incidentally, don't work without a work permit either - if she can't provide you with the (granted) work permit in advance of you coming here, then don't go. I've heard too many horror stories about people who have been promised a work permit, only for it to not materialise.