Trevek
2 May 2011
Trevek
1 May 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
No idea about the cost of flats but I was offered less than 15 zlots an hour as a 'starter' teacher in a state Liceum. about a year ago. Average maybe 20 hours a week.
How about in Poland salaries of teachers and prices of flats?
No idea about the cost of flats but I was offered less than 15 zlots an hour as a 'starter' teacher in a state Liceum. about a year ago. Average maybe 20 hours a week.
Trevek
1 May 2011
Life / Are Polish roads really this bad? [237]
But they also do it in a better way. In Poland they patch up a small area, then another small area etc... then there is no longer a smooth road 9if there ever was) but a jigsaw of pieces and the bits inbetween then destruct.
this isn't so. the germans are just quicker to repair the damage.
But they also do it in a better way. In Poland they patch up a small area, then another small area etc... then there is no longer a smooth road 9if there ever was) but a jigsaw of pieces and the bits inbetween then destruct.
Trevek
30 Apr 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
Granted, but doing 5-7 years and then not having any job is a good motivator for going abroad. Put it like this, I was once offered work on a 'new' teacher's wage in Poland. It was less than half the hourly rate of a McD's worker in UK.
Also, on the subject of property, how easy is it to get a good flat in Croatia?
Some of my Polish friends went to Ireland for 4 years, came back and bought their flats. With prices rising and inflation, there's no way they could have done that working in Poland.
I think that shows something else... they may go away but their thoughts are often on returning.
Nowhere in the world university education is not guaranty for the job anymore.
Granted, but doing 5-7 years and then not having any job is a good motivator for going abroad. Put it like this, I was once offered work on a 'new' teacher's wage in Poland. It was less than half the hourly rate of a McD's worker in UK.
Also, on the subject of property, how easy is it to get a good flat in Croatia?
Some of my Polish friends went to Ireland for 4 years, came back and bought their flats. With prices rising and inflation, there's no way they could have done that working in Poland.
I think that shows something else... they may go away but their thoughts are often on returning.
Trevek
30 Apr 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
I know what you mean, but with loads of cheese-grinning people posing under the Arbeit macht Frei sign, I'm afraid it has to be considered as one.
Germans know a lot about Warmia-Mazury and there's a small but growing awareness about the lakes and the nature. The trouble is that there is very little else in some areas. Couple that with appalling roads and dilapidated buildings and you can see why many people don't bother.
Gdansk is also pretty popular, of course, being famous for the Solidarity movement.
I don't like calling Auschwitz a tourist attraction.
I know what you mean, but with loads of cheese-grinning people posing under the Arbeit macht Frei sign, I'm afraid it has to be considered as one.
Germans know a lot about Warmia-Mazury and there's a small but growing awareness about the lakes and the nature. The trouble is that there is very little else in some areas. Couple that with appalling roads and dilapidated buildings and you can see why many people don't bother.
Gdansk is also pretty popular, of course, being famous for the Solidarity movement.
Trevek
30 Apr 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
Could be why there are booming holdiay industries in many Muslim countries.
And Auschwitz!
Yes, I feel the Polish tourist industry really needs to move up a gear. In Warmia-Mazury, the advertising is great but many smaller towns desperately lack facilities for tourism. Even Mikołajki, one of the major tourist towns in Mazury, has almost nothing if you don't have a boat.
the muslim mentality is damaging for business.
Could be why there are booming holdiay industries in many Muslim countries.
The only famous attractions we have are Krakow and Zakopane, and even that isn't too well known.
And Auschwitz!
Yes, I feel the Polish tourist industry really needs to move up a gear. In Warmia-Mazury, the advertising is great but many smaller towns desperately lack facilities for tourism. Even Mikołajki, one of the major tourist towns in Mazury, has almost nothing if you don't have a boat.
Trevek
30 Apr 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
True to a point, but is moving to a place where you can actually earn enough to drink and sh@g your life away any worse than sitting in a hovel in a run down village wishing you had a job to buy your next beer?
Yep, when Poland first entered EU the barriers and red tape scared more than a few foreign investors away and pushed the more enterprising Poles abroad where they could put their ideas into practice.
Many young folk still lack the maturity to carve out an entrepreneurial life for themselves and live in an idealistic haze. They want to sample sth different but sometimes it is just blind escapism.
True to a point, but is moving to a place where you can actually earn enough to drink and sh@g your life away any worse than sitting in a hovel in a run down village wishing you had a job to buy your next beer?
Enterpreneuships does not leave many benefits in Poland as foreigners probably have found out.
Yep, when Poland first entered EU the barriers and red tape scared more than a few foreign investors away and pushed the more enterprising Poles abroad where they could put their ideas into practice.
Trevek
30 Apr 2011
Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [85]
And until recently Poles could not travel or work elsewhere without a visa. They now have opportunities their parents dreamed of.
Because when there is no work you can't buy anything. many of my wife's friends are university educated and, until recently, weren't able to find decent paying work. How were they supposed to buy flats, homes, cars etc on lousy wages? Others just couldn't find work in trades they had trained in for a long time. Places like UK allowed them to work and study in a way Poland couldn't give them.
Just imagine that people who had trained for years to do a specialised job having no job. UK could pay them more as a barman than Poland could as a trained professional... or it could give them a job as a trained pro.
Communism is gone 20 years ago.
And until recently Poles could not travel or work elsewhere without a visa. They now have opportunities their parents dreamed of.
But why this euros is so much important to Poles?
Because when there is no work you can't buy anything. many of my wife's friends are university educated and, until recently, weren't able to find decent paying work. How were they supposed to buy flats, homes, cars etc on lousy wages? Others just couldn't find work in trades they had trained in for a long time. Places like UK allowed them to work and study in a way Poland couldn't give them.
Just imagine that people who had trained for years to do a specialised job having no job. UK could pay them more as a barman than Poland could as a trained professional... or it could give them a job as a trained pro.
Trevek
22 Apr 2011
Travel / What about that Banja Luka Serbian restaurant in Warsaw; Is that realy that good? [29]
Apparently the word 'sarma' is from Turkish and means 'wrap around'. My old wrestling coach in Scotland told me there is a wrestling move of the same name in Turkish.
A point to note is that sarma is not the same as dolmades, it's more like Polish gołąbki (sp?)
Robert Makłowicz did a programme from macedonia a few months ago.
that's a popular local dish... Greece and Turkey have it also, it's just called differently
Apparently the word 'sarma' is from Turkish and means 'wrap around'. My old wrestling coach in Scotland told me there is a wrestling move of the same name in Turkish.
A point to note is that sarma is not the same as dolmades, it's more like Polish gołąbki (sp?)
could you educate me on the specifics of the cuisines of the post-Yugoslavian countries?
Robert Makłowicz did a programme from macedonia a few months ago.
Trevek
22 Apr 2011
Love / Is it true that Polish women are very busty? [71]
The very busty ones are, yes. Not so sure about the others.
busty?
The very busty ones are, yes. Not so sure about the others.
Trevek
22 Apr 2011
Travel / What about that Banja Luka Serbian restaurant in Warsaw; Is that realy that good? [29]
Oh, you got my mouth watering! I ADORE sarma. Loved it with grape leaves. I also remember arriving in Skopje during late summer/early autumn when the whole city smelled of roasting peppers as people made the ajvar outside!
Must admit to not being over familiar with the cheese.
Sarma (sour cabbage with minced meat). Kajmak (sort of cheese, foreigners don't understand it usually), ajvar (boiled paprika with spices).
Oh, you got my mouth watering! I ADORE sarma. Loved it with grape leaves. I also remember arriving in Skopje during late summer/early autumn when the whole city smelled of roasting peppers as people made the ajvar outside!
Must admit to not being over familiar with the cheese.
Trevek
18 Apr 2011
Life / Polish folk-themed pop music? [30]
Errrm
Brathanki youtube.com/watch?v=SG8B4DT6ud8
Sw Mikolaj Orkiestra youtube.com/watch?v=qiBrETDm8eg
Zakopower youtube.com/watch?v=NRTLZmPV8lI
Errrm
Brathanki youtube.com/watch?v=SG8B4DT6ud8
Sw Mikolaj Orkiestra youtube.com/watch?v=qiBrETDm8eg
Zakopower youtube.com/watch?v=NRTLZmPV8lI
Trevek
15 Apr 2011
Life / How is red hair viewed in Poland [37]
particularly between your teeth.
it's the sight of red pubes that's revolting...
particularly between your teeth.
Trevek
13 Apr 2011
Love / Simon Mol - would he have been so "successful" in other countries than Poland? [121]
Well, there have been a couple in germany, i believe. Also, there have been cases of British girls/women being infected whilst on holiday, so perhaps not so unlikely.
I think the "Black" angle wouldn't work so well in many countries because we have educated Black artists and activists already. The "activist" line might have worked more. let's face it, plenty of people like the idea of sleeping with someone famous or "close to the edge", and there's more than a few women end up pregnant because they don't use the old rubber johnny.
Hahahaha!
France (and Ireland) is a largely catholic country, as are large areas of Germany. Scandinavia and Germany are some of the biggest makers of prn and are not exactly "strict" when it comes to sex (unless leather bondage and whips count as 'strict').
As for Slavic "looseness", I'm afraid it rarely compares with western looseness in my experience (sadly!).
Probably has less to do with being Slavic and more to do with coming from poor, uneducated backgrounds, with no chance of a good job or social mobility.
why hasn't there been even 1 case like Mol's ( both modus operandi and scope ) in any of these countries recently?
Well, there have been a couple in germany, i believe. Also, there have been cases of British girls/women being infected whilst on holiday, so perhaps not so unlikely.
I think the "Black" angle wouldn't work so well in many countries because we have educated Black artists and activists already. The "activist" line might have worked more. let's face it, plenty of people like the idea of sleeping with someone famous or "close to the edge", and there's more than a few women end up pregnant because they don't use the old rubber johnny.
Much of the West is under strict protestant ethics so Slavic looseness and fun strikes as extraordinary.
Hahahaha!
France (and Ireland) is a largely catholic country, as are large areas of Germany. Scandinavia and Germany are some of the biggest makers of prn and are not exactly "strict" when it comes to sex (unless leather bondage and whips count as 'strict').
As for Slavic "looseness", I'm afraid it rarely compares with western looseness in my experience (sadly!).
For those that don't believe me about Slavic women being the most common prostitutes, here you go. Filthy wh0res...
Probably has less to do with being Slavic and more to do with coming from poor, uneducated backgrounds, with no chance of a good job or social mobility.
Trevek
8 Apr 2011
Life / Are Polish roads really this bad? [237]
Roads in and around Olsztyn only have one pothole. The problem is that there are quite a lot of pieces of road sticking out of it.
A couple of years ago it was the 650th anniversary of Olsztyn. Some people suspect that one way of commemorating this was to allow the roads to return to the condition they were in 650 years before.
Roads in and around Olsztyn only have one pothole. The problem is that there are quite a lot of pieces of road sticking out of it.
A couple of years ago it was the 650th anniversary of Olsztyn. Some people suspect that one way of commemorating this was to allow the roads to return to the condition they were in 650 years before.
Trevek
9 Feb 2011
Genealogy / Looking Into The Surname Bednarczuk: Ukrainian, Polish, Ruthenian, Belarusian, etc? [27]
I knew someone of Slovak heritage called Bednar.
I knew someone of Slovak heritage called Bednar.
Trevek
27 Jan 2011
Life / Anybody else out there a folk dancing fan? [25]
You've obviously never done the end-of-the-night Strip the Willow on the Renfrew Ferry's Friday night ceilidh. Rollerball without the wheeels!
I've done a fair bit of Polish dancing in villages and barns. My wife plays trad music and I worked with a theatre group who went into the dark areas off the map. Oberek's at midnight around a candle... Polka's where people fell through the floor of the farmhouse... playing drums until the skin left my knuckles and the blood flowed... all good fun.
Ive never been impressed with Scottish dancing TBH,Oh,Im sure there is an "art" to it but its a bit fluffy and twee for me.
You've obviously never done the end-of-the-night Strip the Willow on the Renfrew Ferry's Friday night ceilidh. Rollerball without the wheeels!
I've done a fair bit of Polish dancing in villages and barns. My wife plays trad music and I worked with a theatre group who went into the dark areas off the map. Oberek's at midnight around a candle... Polka's where people fell through the floor of the farmhouse... playing drums until the skin left my knuckles and the blood flowed... all good fun.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
I showed it to my Liceum studes when I taught in a catholic liceum. They adored it. I was all set to show them the "Speed" episode but a friend commented it had some rather sexual language in it, so I backed off.
I have shown Polish people Father ted and they love it, I mean really fell in love with it :)
I showed it to my Liceum studes when I taught in a catholic liceum. They adored it. I was all set to show them the "Speed" episode but a friend commented it had some rather sexual language in it, so I backed off.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
I wonder if a Polish comedian could do a programme like Father Ted, and whether a priest would condemn another priest for doing his funeral service (I bet he would, too).
Perhaps you could give us an example?
I wonder if a Polish comedian could do a programme like Father Ted, and whether a priest would condemn another priest for doing his funeral service (I bet he would, too).
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
Joined by a love of potatoes and porter, no doubt.
I find that easy to believe.
Joined by a love of potatoes and porter, no doubt.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
Any idea who introduced Christianity to Poland? I know Mieszko I was the first ruler to adopt it but where were the missionaries from, Germany?
I know there are many Schottenkloster (Gaelic monasteries) in Europe which were actually Irish/Scottish missionaries.
Any idea who introduced Christianity to Poland? I know Mieszko I was the first ruler to adopt it but where were the missionaries from, Germany?
I know there are many Schottenkloster (Gaelic monasteries) in Europe which were actually Irish/Scottish missionaries.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
Milky, did you know a lot of catholic Scots moved to (Polish) Prussia during 17th/18th C?
And the OP mentions Lublin... one of the main centres of Scottish (protestant) Brotherhood.
Milky, did you know a lot of catholic Scots moved to (Polish) Prussia during 17th/18th C?
And the OP mentions Lublin... one of the main centres of Scottish (protestant) Brotherhood.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
Ah, I see. Indeed! I'd still suggest that the reason it was so strong in the first place (strong enough to withstand the communism) was because of the strengthening and connection with "Polish" identity.
From an Irish point of view, much of the strength and identity, as has been mentioned, comes from the anti-Irish/catholic laws of 18th/19th C. Prior to that, many of the Irish freedom fighters, Wolfetone, McCracken etc were protestant.
Ah, I see. Indeed! I'd still suggest that the reason it was so strong in the first place (strong enough to withstand the communism) was because of the strengthening and connection with "Polish" identity.
From an Irish point of view, much of the strength and identity, as has been mentioned, comes from the anti-Irish/catholic laws of 18th/19th C. Prior to that, many of the Irish freedom fighters, Wolfetone, McCracken etc were protestant.
Trevek
16 Jan 2011
UK, Ireland / Polish and Irish people are related? [137]
What, you mean allow them to come into England and work on building sites for a minimum wage?
and probably more than a little Norman, too.
I know what you mean, but it's worth considering that the Poles were pretty much top dogs in their area for a loooong time before 18th C. Granted, history made up for a lot of that in the next 2 centuries.
Not sure about that. I think it's even earlier than that. Prior to the carve-up of Poland in laate 18th C it was a very multi-ethnic/ multi-religious state. Arguably following the carve-up two of the main powers were Protestant and Orthodox Christians, and, certainly on the Russian side, there is supposed to have been a lot of anti-catholic activity. The ex-pat writers, such as Mickiewicz, who created a "lost Polishness" (in a similar way that Sir Walter Scott created a "lost Highland" culture in Scotland) tended to portray "Polishness" as catholic (something Sienkiewicz continued with some of his works).
Well, Poland tried with uniforms and messed it up totally. It was such a fiasco there should have been a national enquiry into it.
i think both are slavic, and my last argument for this is the way the english treat both.
What, you mean allow them to come into England and work on building sites for a minimum wage?
there is as much Saxon DNA in modern Irish as Celt.
and probably more than a little Norman, too.
Being underdogs and having had a rough history,
I know what you mean, but it's worth considering that the Poles were pretty much top dogs in their area for a loooong time before 18th C. Granted, history made up for a lot of that in the next 2 centuries.
The Polish also over-identified with the church, due to Godless communism.
Not sure about that. I think it's even earlier than that. Prior to the carve-up of Poland in laate 18th C it was a very multi-ethnic/ multi-religious state. Arguably following the carve-up two of the main powers were Protestant and Orthodox Christians, and, certainly on the Russian side, there is supposed to have been a lot of anti-catholic activity. The ex-pat writers, such as Mickiewicz, who created a "lost Polishness" (in a similar way that Sir Walter Scott created a "lost Highland" culture in Scotland) tended to portray "Polishness" as catholic (something Sienkiewicz continued with some of his works).
Is any catholic country really much different?
Well, Poland tried with uniforms and messed it up totally. It was such a fiasco there should have been a national enquiry into it.
Trevek
12 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
OK, it's really time I called it a night... dobra noc, folks.
along with my two cousins ;)
OK, it's really time I called it a night... dobra noc, folks.
Trevek
12 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
You sunbathe in the front garden... hmmm... and what's your address ;-)
And gives some privacy from the people walking down the street when you're sunbathing,
You sunbathe in the front garden... hmmm... and what's your address ;-)
Trevek
12 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
Perhaps someone could suggest a phrase to tell/write to them?
Something like, "Prosze, to jest mój ogród"
I wondered if anyone would get that ;-)
my neighbours are still learning english
Perhaps someone could suggest a phrase to tell/write to them?
Something like, "Prosze, to jest mój ogród"
though I'm not sure fences would have made much difference in that particular street ;)
I wondered if anyone would get that ;-)
Trevek
12 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
There was a british actor called Jimmy Nail, who was once working in LA. Being a brit he wasn't aware of how strange it was to walk through the local neighbourhood. He walked to a deli everyday and then one day someone let the dog loose. he found out later they'd seen this guy walking past their house and thought he was casing the joint.
HAHA i was gonna say that, there are parts of Philly(badlands)
There was a british actor called Jimmy Nail, who was once working in LA. Being a brit he wasn't aware of how strange it was to walk through the local neighbourhood. He walked to a deli everyday and then one day someone let the dog loose. he found out later they'd seen this guy walking past their house and thought he was casing the joint.
Trevek
12 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
Like I said, a kind of 'folia' under the grass to keep the weeds away.
Many estates in UK have open front lawns. It's a kind of cultural thing that people just know not to go on them. Funnily enough, I once read that crime was lower in areas with front lawns.
brooksideclose.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/aa-brookie1.jpg
Yes, I've read about this "membrane" in white_lilly's post but to be honest I have no idea what it is :P
Like I said, a kind of 'folia' under the grass to keep the weeds away.
I don't think I've ever seen a private garden in Poland without a fence..
Many estates in UK have open front lawns. It's a kind of cultural thing that people just know not to go on them. Funnily enough, I once read that crime was lower in areas with front lawns.
brooksideclose.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/aa-brookie1.jpg
Trevek
11 Jan 2011
Life / Walking on other people's property in Poland - cultural difference? [51]
In US you might get shot for that!
In US you might get shot for that!