Life / What is the best city in Poland to live in? Relocating to Poznan? [41]


If you considering car trips to your homeland then Cracow would be best because in about two-three years you will have highway straight to the border (and I've heard that because of Euro2012 Ukrainians started to do something about roads from border to Lviv).

On the other hand, I've heard that there is some Ukrainian minority in Gdansk (because of our not easy history...). So if you would like to sing some Ukrainians songs with your compatriots then Gdansk would be good choice...

Life / I saw Polish nationalism today [263]

Well if they are not nazist they are for sure national socialists ;)
Thing is with this ideology that it is close to sectarianism... Most of countries has their own variation of that sect which is in obviously open antagonism to every other...

It is kind of sad aspect of some males inability to control their testosteron production in conjunction with law esteem and need to group acceptance and plain stupidity of course ;)

PS. nothing to worry about really, they've never as a party get to parliament or even local parliaments as far as I know...

History / Are Poles happy with the current Polish borders? [134]


Czesio?! Cartoons?! Oh boy, now I'm sure you have big collection of plastic soldiers and teddy bear behind your pillow, probably with moustache...

History / Are Poles happy with the current Polish borders? [134]


Have you lost your plastic soldiers somewhere? I dedicate you this song:



;-)

History / Are Poles happy with the current Polish borders? [134]

As much as idea of not having fifty years of communism here sounds fantastic, I think you don't fully comprehend the fact, that you parallel history would mean that Poland would have become a battleground of WWII for the third time, at least. After that there wouldn't have been much left here to even name the country. Poland would have been an empty shell after that... Now, at least we have Cracov untouched. If we add to that atomic bomb which was invented around that time...

Anyway considering circumstances current borders are quite ok, and I wouldn't mind to stay it that way to the end of time ;)

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Those below:

genealodzy.pl/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=64994
7news.pl/detail/58591

have two hypothesis:
1. Stec is derived from beehive builders
or
2. Stec is derived from name Stefan = Stephen

Also they think that all those surnames:
Stec,Steć,Stecyk,Steckiel,Stecki,Stecz

are derived from the same source

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


Poland no, but a lot of Poles yes. Anyway, I didn't imply the same amount of bulling. I rather meant kind of perspective. Poland to Lithuania is about 12:1 in population and GDP terms. It is small country almost not existent in Polish media except of some history related stuff. Regardless of our view of it we had military conflict with them even in XX century. So, I wonder if they view Poland the same as Poland views Russia, and if Poland looks so arogant in eyes of Lithuanians as Russia does in Polish eyes sometimes... That would explain a lot..


Yes, and it is also not coincidence that part of Radziwills familly supported Swedes in wars with Poland in XVII. Terms of union of 1569 really didn't go well with Lithuanians


Sorry mate, but it is fourth grade history approach. It is kind of attitude which goal is to form a perfect motherland loving Pole. I made that chapter too, Lech, Czech and Rus, Great Kingdom of Poland etc. It has some charm and maybe is important to keep society together, but later it is time to get over it and see history from different angles. Not to deny your own history, but to understand the view of it of your neighbours. And I'm telling you they don't see Commonwealth as a great success after 1569 and they have good reasons. Imagine this that it is not Kingdom of Poland who had an upper hand then but Duchy of Lithuania, imagine that it is not Kingdom of Poland who gets big chank of Ukraine but instead Duchy of Lithuania gets Masovia, Podlaskie, Lubelskie and Podkarpackie. How would you like that? Would you still think that this union of 1569 was such a great deal? I don't think so. As for those rights to their nobility, in modern terms we would call it political corruption...

Well, I kind of felt that those history thing will make some fire here ;) But in fact it has not much to do with current issues:

- they should comply with EU minority laws
- they should solve property issues
- Możejki issue should be resolved one way or another, because apart from that it brings us as a Polish taxpayers losses, it also will undermine our relations. Orlen is to big to igore it (it's market capitalization on Polish stock exchange is about 1/11 of GDP (PPP) of Lithuania). This issue cann't stay in limbo forever.

News / Polish Lithuanian Diplomatic War? At last. [533]


Actually I would say that you are wrong on some issues, though overall maybe you are right ;)

Ad 1. I agree that their stance toward this in fact small letter issue is silly. In fact not only Poles have a problem with that, some anonimous Dutch story:

"Naming is not just very personal, but one of the most difficult bureaucratic things around. Too bad this does not only concern Poles or Lithuanian Poles.

I am Dutch and married a Lithuanian woman. Of course, we had to register our marriage in Vilnius, and report the documents back because of name-change regulation.

I was lucky, because my name does not contain one of the letters that 'do not exist in the Lithuanian alphabet'. Would that be the case, the civil servant would change it as he/she sees fit. Getting it back to the Netherlands and explaining that it is REALLY me (and more importantly: that my wife REALLY changed her name to MY name) is something that is downright Kafkaesque sadism. So actually, it is a big issue impacting the lives of everyone getting involved in this."

Ad 2. Taking into account unresolved issues regarding reprivatization in Poland:
"First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye."... but on the other hand it is politics not the justice court

Ad 3. Saving Lithuanians from Russian dominations was just a side effect of a main goal which was keeping quasi-monopoly of Orlen in Poland, what is not good thing from mine as a consumer point of view...

As for saving their asses in last centuries it is not so simple... Actually it is some at least half true in their complaing about occupation. Equality in Commonwealth ended in 1569 when they've lost at the same time independence and a lot of land. It was a union on Polish terms, many of Lithuanian nobles opposed it openly. Maybe if they keeped much of independence and ruthenian lands they would managed with pressure from Duchy of Moscow just fine. At least that is how they see it.

As for current matters I would say that this letter issue is just an excuse. Main issue is Orlen and Możejki. Orlen is big and influential state company and they must cut the losses. They didn't manage to deal with Lithuania on their own so they called gov. help...

On the side note, observing this seemingly small issues with Lithuania makes me wonder if it is not the way Russia sees Polish small issues... Maybe we should be more sensitive in our judgments regarding small Lithuania (once a superpower in the region)? Or maybe they just run out our sensitivity? I'm not sure

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

Anyway, lets rationalize this beast a little bit.
There is one leg of dispute: war time and resistance, some of that I find rational
and there is second leg: peace time and selfdefence, where statistics which I found so far seem to prove that stricter gun control means less violent crimes (ie. homocide) per capita which count the most among the crimes... So I really don't understand (from this second leg of dispute at least) why we need any change in that matter? I mean everyone who really want to have a gun (but not machine gun...) and do proper paper process with Police probably will get it. If someone wants to run in the forest and hunt, then there is the Hunters Organization when he can sign up, pay and shot... If someone want be a soldier and run and shot on military training ground then he can sign to National Reserve Defence... I don't see an issue here really...

Well, some data regarding crime in Europe, it would be nice if someone would post something similar about USA (broken by state maybe, isn't there different regulations in different states?):

epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/images/b/b7/Crimes_recorded_by_the_police_-_Homicide.PNG

epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Urban_rankings#Crime_rate

epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Crime_trends_in_detail

epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Crime_statistics

previously posted comparision:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States#Homicide

Last but not least, law regarding guns in Poland is no issue in Poland so why all of a sudden is an issue for foreigners?

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Well, sorry, I didn't quote you but convex... I have no idea how your nickname managed to jump there because I didn't find your input interesting ;)

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


More Poles would end up being shot in the back of their head instead of looking for food on Siberia, and Germans would build more concentration camps... Sorry, but in serious war militia only adds wood to the fire. But in case when occupier is aiming mass murder from the begining I agree it would be better to die with a gun in hand. But one never know what are intentions of occupier...


Because statistics shows that the more guns per household, the more violent crime is...
I have no problem with someone who shot a bulglar. After all, you can have a gun in Poland if you prove that you need it and you prove that you are not mentally ill.


Since this year we have, it is called National Forces or something similar. It is building slowly. Initially it suppose to reach 10000.

Anyway, nice talk though different opinions. It is time for some pizza, bye :-)

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Then agreed, success there, but imposible in Poland given Polish flat terrain.


It is the other way around. They start ethnic cleansing after militia activities are becoming to be a problem. British bring this tool to modern welfare in South Africa.


Well isn't it a kind of a fallen country? Anyway if we want to have the closest comparision then maybe we should use USA vs UK? Still not easy weapon possesion equals lower homicide rate

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

Simple comparison between USA homicide rate and Polish homicide rate shows that USA model is not viable. As simple as that. We can argue all night how bigger weapon possesion per capita would help Poland in case of invasion, but in the peace time there is really nothing to argue about. The numbers are enough argument. Besides, it is not like you cann't have weapon in Poland. The thing is that it is hard to get a gun, you should among other thing bring papers from a doctor that you are not mentally ill...

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

Nope, statistics

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]


Yeah... and average person usually has it locked on a shell till goes mad and shot a neighbour over dog poo...

Finland - not really valid example because their defense were led by regular army (if we are talking about Winter War) though the best sniper was hunters. But we can deal with that by creating National Defence... Anyone wants to shot, just sign in and shot on military training ground...

Yugoslavia - risky example, Serbs regular army managed with militia quite effectively. The only outcome of militia fighting was aggravation of conflict and ethnic cleansing

Iraq - the only example I could agree with but only because the invaders army was to small for occuping purpose and was mitigated by the fact that its origin was states with some kind of democracy and strong public opinion... Besides after all americans stayed for quite long time...

So back to Yugoslavia example, it in fact shows quite good why it would be entirely inefective and dangerous for country such us Poland to use militia after military fail of an army. Because in a such hipothetical scenario we would be dealing not with thousands but milions of soldiers. The fun with guns and forests ends when occupier starts ethnic cleansing.... The perfect example of this are Boer Wars

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2237]

I'm against it. It is good the way it is. The problem with guns is that they are to easy to kill with. The problem with "normal" people is that everyone is going mad from time to time. Bind those two together and you have this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States#Homicide

Of course such arguments:



Are valid to some extent, on the other hand usuall it is better to rather give your wallet than try to shot a burglar (who usually is better trained in using weapon than average person)..

Last but not least: imagine what would happen if Poles had free access to guns during communist era. Imagine what would happen if all those peace protests ended with gun shots by some madman? There would be bloodshed and more bloodshed... After 45' there was a lot of guns, militia and open resistance toward soviets, guess what it didn't help much against a few milion army of trained soldiers. Anyone thinking that guns in citizens hands would help against regular army in case of some war is dreaming. It can only prolong inevitable.

Law / Are banks from Poland safe? [42]

@Marek11111T, you must be living in USA...

Law / Are banks from Poland safe? [42]

Hi
Regarding banks in Poland, it is true that most of them are under polish banking insurance (BFG) up to 50000 eur, but there is/was exception = Polbank which is in fact branch of Greek bank. They are insured in Hellenic Deposit & Investment Guarantee Fund (HDIGF). The risk is that if this branch fails (though nothing points to that) you will have to go to Athens to get your money back. Considering situation of Greece it seems risky business that is why Polbank has some competetive offers btw... As far as I know it is only exception.

Another bit of warning is that some bank products which are called "deposit structure" in fact are not deposits but investement structures so they aren't insured. They offer better interests but of course with greater risk.


The best thing is to keep your money away from things you don't know nothing about ;)

History / How Poland views Europe [44]

Meat Boris The Blade aka Boris The Bullet Dodger (Rade Šerbedžija):



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rade_%C5%A0erbed%C5%BEija

Although he was playing Russian-Uzbek ex-KGB agent and arms-dealer but I think his Serbian nature was there ;) :
...

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]


Not in the countryside but a very small city so almost the same...
It was a little more complicated than 'no English teachers'. There were others factors involved like:
- many teachers of Russian
- lack of money in schools.

So schools couldn't just replace Russian teachers (social issues, strong unions, Russian teachers as an old employees were often in school management).
It was gradual process wich was taking place in entire 90'. So for example schools were increasing a number of English hours in line of Russian teachers reaching retirement age and number of English teachers on the market...

So in case of a child of a breakthrough like me from a province with one leg in communism era and the second one in the modern era it was like this:

- primary eduaction -> one language = Russian
- secondary education -> two languages = Russian and English (teachers = a Pole and two North Americans from Peace Corp, very nice ladies btw. )
- uni -> whatever I liked and manage to sign for, so English and Russian again was my choice :-)

Other similar routes in Polish school system were German + Russian->English, or more rare French + Russian->English.

To sum things up, switching from Russian to English in polish schools was a long process which was taking place in entire 90', where things like rarity of English teachers and abundance of Russian teachers was a main driving force.

So don't expect much of English in older generations :-) Besides everybody knows that in the long term German and Russian are more important languages to a Pole ;-) They are around much longer and always are coming back... ;-) Before it was Latin, then French for a short time, now it is English, next one will be probably Mandarin, but our mighty neighbours will remain the same probably :-)

Travel / My visit to Poland - Likes & Dislikes. [137]

How come no one on the plane is surprised that their language is not widely spoken in foreign country except many Brits and North Americans is beyond me :-)

Normally people are sincerelly surprised and glad and thankful that someone on the street actually is speaking their home language. I concur with someone who said that English is in fact not widely spoken in continental Europe (except maybe Scandinavians), I'm not talking about hotels but about folks on the street. It is rather more common that they don't speak English. The more so in Poland where English speakers can count on some luck only with people below 35-40.

Personally wherever I go I'm trying at least to learn in home language the sentence:
"excuse me do you speak English?"... To start conversation in foreign language without warning is either a sign of rudeness or helplessness.

So if anyone will need my help in the future on the street, better learn how to say:
"Przepraszam, czy mówi Pan po angielsku?"
because otherwise I can pretend that I don't understand a single word... ;-)

Genealogy / Polish DNA? Poles have the most genes in a group includes Balts, Macedonians and Greeks. [264]


Well, at least there is no more place for dispute where future capital of Slavic union should be placed ;-)

Life / Polish "prog" music? I'd be interested to know about bands etc. [30]

By prog you mean progressive rock ? Like Porcupine Tree? Opeth? Dream Theater ?
If so, Riverside is the answer, they are not the only one but probably the most known polish progressive rock band.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

Hi CzarDaniel, happy birthday :-)

As for racism thing I agree with what others already posted. So in general you should be ok, but be careful with youth mob especially in the evenings. Some of them likes to fight when drunk, black skin colour as a rarity in Poland can be just an excuse for them.

A lot of people will probably stare at you, but don't panic, most will be just courius.

Last but not least I assume you will be coming in the autumn. If you coming from more southern place than Poland then bring with you positive attitude because when in few months there will be already dark and gloomy at 4 p.m. then you will really need that.

History / Polish civilization is older than English or French. Why do Poland follow them? [64]


Because youth is so refreshing ;-)

PS. btw polish civ is not older, but lets not go into that...

Travel / Bieszczady or Zakopane? [23]

useful site with maps online about polish mountains:
e-gory.pl/index.php/Mapy-online

Travel / Bieszczady or Zakopane? [23]


Well, I don't really know how to call it in English. It is not hotel, rather not hostel, it is better than refuge or chalet... I propose to visit and eat "szarlotka" in every one of them ;-)

Travel / Bieszczady or Zakopane? [23]


Well, hard choice, those are two different kind of the mountains actually... It depends how much you like trekking...
As a trekking type of a man I can offer a few hints:
a) If you prefer smaller version of Alps like mountains go to Zakopane and Tatra mountains
b) If you prefer more hills like mountains choose Bieszczady.

Ad. a) Tatra mountains in the summer are terribly overcrowded but there is a way to avoid this, but maybe a little chalenging. The thing you should do is to not even stop in Zakopane or maybe just for one day. Instead of that go with your backpack straight into the mountains and Tatra National Park. There is a couple of nice refuges there. So if you start trekking from the refuge early enough in the morning, the feel of emptiness, wild and beauty will be your reward. Personally I see no point in other approach to the Tatra mountains in the summer, there is just to many people. As for refuges there is probably no way you can book anything right now, but at least in last year, except from refuge "Piec Stawow", in every refuge you will find shelter but sometimes on the floor.. It is a hazard, but when in last year I was doing backpacking through refuges line, we get some beds everytime...

Ad. b) I've not been to Bieszczady for ten years but I've heard it tends to be overcrowded in the summer to in those days... But if you go there it is not a bad idea to spend a couple of days around Solina lake.

Travel / Changing trains in Poznan [29]

In my opinion you have less than 50% chance to make it, especially with an old lady. Try to ask train staff what are your chances. They usually know things like if they will be on time and if the other train is waiting and on wich platform.

PS. But be carefull what kind of ticket you have, there are about tree different rail companies on this route. If you will have wrong ticket, you will have to buy another one (you will can get part of the money back on the station though why bother with that..). So, about an hour before arrival time to Poznan, with your ticket in hand and maybe along with some good soul speaking both polish and english go to the conductor and ask him what are your options.

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


Well, I don't if it is a good plan for making money, but it is certainly interesting idea :-) If that is your plan, then definitely you should check this places:

(there is a possibility that you would have to register (for free) in order to gain access):

skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=45

This is a forum where construction geeks both hobbists and professionals shares opinion about new and old buildings. Every good photo is appreciate there :-)

Just to show what you can find there:

Warsaw National Stadium

Gdansk Stadium

Poznan Stadium (almost finished)

Wroclaw Stadium

Wroclaw Bridge on Highway (supposedly the biggest of this kind (concrete category) in the world)

[sources: all pictures from polish forumers of SCC]

PS. Whatever some grumblers will tell you, there is plenty of interesting construction sites in Poland right now. Is it boom? I don't know, but definitely there wasn't anything similar in Poland for couple of decades...