Language / Do Poles prefer US American or UK English language? [185]

I try my best to make people aware of the differences - many people are actually surprised to learn that there is actually a definitive American English dictionary, for instance.


Swiss German?

History / Polish history is 100% glorious [304]

MediaWatch is a plastic pole who is also anti-Russia, anti-EU and anti-semtic. What a suprise!

Travel / Bieszczady or Zakopane? [23]


The problem is that the wildness of Bieszczady is becoming no more. I was there this summer - and the amount of unregulated building in places like Wetlina is completely destroying the area. Polanczyk is nothing more than a seaside resort now, and even places within the park such as Wolosate are now becoming clogged with tourists. The national park appears to be completely unable to respond to the problems except by increasing fees - but let's be honest, 6zl per person isn't going to break anyone's bank.

However, apparently the Ukranian side is absolutely beautiful and wild.

Language / Do Poles prefer US American or UK English language? [185]


But you know nothing about it, therefore, you aren't qualified to talk about it.

Language / Do Poles prefer US American or UK English language? [185]


Wrong for the third time.

Clearly your exposure to Scottish Standard English is incredibly limited - you've never been there, and I doubt you know much more than the stereotypical Groundskeeper Willie accent.


Mile End English, I guess? ;)

Language / Do Poles prefer US American or UK English language? [185]


That's why you'd get your ass kicked in a biker bar in America for saying that you're going to pick up some fags, while in a British biker bar (the kind that wildrover would hang out in, for instance) - you'd probably get given some money to pick up some fags for others, too.

Practically the same? Not at all.

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


Weird, I've never had a problem getting an English speaker. Could it be because you're trying to open an account through the phone and they don't have any English speakers in that particular department? I will say - mbank does suck if you want anything beyond a basic banking service with them in English.

To be honest, mbank is not the best bank if you need English service - I don't, so it's an irrelevance. For English, citibank or Nordea would be my recommendation - they're about the only two banks that can be consistently relied on to have English speaking staff available.

Language / WISŁA or VISTULA?? [46]


Wrong, it's Wisła! Completely different word!

Anyway, it's just the way it is. Why is Milan (not difficult to say) Mediolan to the Poles? Just is.

Isn't the term "Pekin" still used in Polish too?

Travel / Changing trains in Poznan [29]

Yep. Relying on a short connection between PKP Intercity and Przewozy Regionalne is not a good idea at all - take the train with the

The crucial thing to note is that there are different fares for each class of train - the best advice is to buy the Leszno ticket in Poznan rather than onboard the Berlin train. If you let us know your planned itinery, I'll tell you what you need - the type of train is *very* important when buying tickets.

Real Estate / Poland: the building boom goes on [28]


Just because you can't get a job doesn't mean that everyone in Poland can't get a job. In fact, you might want to take a look at this -


Sorry, but it looks like you need to find another excuse for Kasia ;)


Getting those funds is nearly impossible if you aren't from a priority group. Anyone male between the age of 25 to 50 has nearly no chance, for instance. Even in Poznan, a rich city - the funds are massively oversubscribed.


What mass immigration? The only thing Poland has to fear is the way that some people sit at home and leech off their wives' contribution to ZUS, thus giving them health care.


That's because it's not true. Would this be like your claim that Komorowski isn't actually Komorowski?

Life / POLISH MYTHS - let's debunk or prove them! [141]

- Native teachers of English are always better than Polish ones - MYTH.

This forum alone shows why.

Sure, there are some truly rubbish Polish teachers of English, but there are equally dreadful native teachers.

Work / Mechanical engineer born in Poland, grew up the States. Go back to PL. How? [29]


And as I said, you aren't if you can't read or write in the language. Speaking means nothing when you're pouring over a complicated contract written in legal Polish.

Work / Mechanical engineer born in Poland, grew up the States. Go back to PL. How? [29]


Well, you're not fluent if you can't read and write in the language.

If you really want to come here and work in your field, then you need to learn Polish to a very high standard. No ifs, no buts.

Travel / Collection of dress codes in Poland - what to wear? [96]


Depends on the school. There's not one hard and fast rule, but one tendency I've noticed is for bad schools to have overly strict dress codes.

For instance - I know one school that has very high standards. They don't have a dress code - in fact, it's quite normal to see one of their teachers wearing surfing shorts, a very casual shirt and flip flops. Equally so, I know a very terrible Callan school that insists that everyone is dressed formally, even in the blazing heat.

Do you have a job sorted already here?

Real Estate / Documents requested from foreigners to rent a flat long term in Poland? Invoicing / Contract. [16]

It's not a bad idea to also ask if the owner has permission from the administration to rent the flat - it might be no surprise to people that people illegally sub-letting their flat is very common.

Law / How much does the average Pole have in cash savings? [38]


Personal experience, huh?

A typical wage in Poland is actually closer to 3000 zloty a month.

Real Estate / Documents requested from foreigners to rent a flat long term in Poland? Invoicing / Contract. [16]

Depends to what standard, I suppose - if it's a high standard, I'd be checking them out very very carefully.


It's absolutely insane and not normal practice at all.

Real Estate / Documents requested from foreigners to rent a flat long term in Poland? Invoicing / Contract. [16]


Definitely not common. Legal - sure, it's just a contract. But it's absolutely unheard of - the most I've heard of was 3 months at a time, and even that was considered to be extortionate.


Depends very much on who is letting it. But it's certainly not normal in Poland to ask for these things, apart from passport number and the contract. I know some people are now starting to ask for references, but it's still mostly unheard of.

Law / Foreign retirees taxed in Poland? [25]


What would be the sense in that? Retired people are unproductive.

Law / Foreign retirees taxed in Poland? [25]


I'm surprised too - even if the tax office advises it so, I'd be inclined to pay the 50PLN (I think?) to get an official decision on the matter.

Law / Poland's going forward while Britain is still trying to wake up [86]


Can you imagine what would have happened if the worker faction within Solidarity had their way?

I've always maintained that the average moustache-worker within Solidarity didn't particularly want democracy, but only wanted better conditions for themselves and their families. Even nowadays, Solidarity's actions betray them as being very selfish - witness the endless striking and trouble whenever anyone proposes ending their rather cushy conditions. It's not really different to PiS voters as a whole - they talk about democracy and freedom, but on their terms.


And many of those receiving handouts are working on the black market. Does anyone really believe that those people working in guarded parking lots aren't claiming some sort of benefits?

Law / Poland's going forward while Britain is still trying to wake up [86]


By "nice", you mean "terribly tacky and garish", not subject to any planning laws whatsoever, right? I mean, for a country that relies so much on her natural beauty, letting people build whatever they want, where they want is definitely the way forward, isn't it?


What, like your own country that threatens people with prison terms for making fun of the President? At least in the UK, you're free to call the Prime Minister whatever the hell you want.

Law / Poland's going forward while Britain is still trying to wake up [86]


Still posting nonsense, are we?

I'd say the fact that PO wants to dismantle the welfare state in Poland while PiS and the SLD want to keep it is a rather large fundamental difference.


Meanwhile, Poles see their house flooded because they bought cheap flood plain land - and now they want the Government to bail them out because they couldn't afford insurance. Komorowski's already pointed out how terrible the uncontrolled development is in Poland.

USA, Canada / To move back to Poland from the USA or not to move back....that is the question [124]


Pricey for someone who is at least 60, I would guess?

USA, Canada / To move back to Poland from the USA or not to move back....that is the question [124]


I'm almost certain that you'll be taxed on at least some of that amount. Obviously, you'll receive credit for taxes paid in the United States - but Poland starts taxing people at a ridiculously low amount.

Also, 4500PLN or so might be good money right now, but salaries are increasing dramatically. Of course, it depends where you live - if you're happy living in the countryside, about 50 miles or so from a major city, then you will be able to live well.

Something I don't understand - how can you be fit to teach and yet draw a pension from the US Government?

UK, Ireland / Moving from Ireland to Poland [39]

You haven't had the pleasure of dealing with Polish bureaucracy yet. It's not as bad as people say it is, but they will still lie to your face and tell you the wrong information just to get rid of you.

Real family values? Well, if going to church on Sunday and then beating your kids/wife afterwards is your thing, well. Remember, here, it's still acceptable for a man to drink-drive.

Even if you found a job as one, the salary is so low that you would be unlikely to earn enough to "get by". It's quite common for paramedics in Poland to work in an additional job just to pay the bills.

In all honesty - if you don't have something that Poland needs and wants, you will find it very difficult here.

USA, Canada / Poles in America: How do you pronounce your Polish surname? [128]

Nothing annoys me more than the ones who can't even pronounce their last name properly, yet claim to be Polish. Adam "An-gee-eff-ski" was a good example of this!

Love / Ten things to remember when you have a Polish girlfriend [79]


A marvel? The system which condones cheating and has next to no effective punishments for those caught cheating? The same system which teaches endless useless rubbish to university students, just because they can't sack old professors with out of date knowledge? The same system that wastes endless amounts of money on having a break between secondary and high schools? The same system that allows schools to have double or even triple shifts, rather than simply putting the kids into "worse" schools? The same system that produces endless amounts of inexperienced individuals with a "master" degree, yet the same people end up working for 1500zl netto? Or the same system that equips the same students with absolutely no work skills?

There are some good aspects, but the Polish education system is very poor in many respects.

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


I think the basic level is a bit of a joke - I've seen the requirements to get a pass at the basic level and it's completely shocking as to how easy it is.

But to get three advanced passes at 80%+ ? That's completely different - and easily on par with the UK.

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


Sure - you'll find that the Polish Matura is in some ways weaker, some ways stronger.