The BEST Guide to POLAND
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Posts by convex  

Joined: 25 Nov 2009 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 28 Nov 2011
Threads: Total: 20 / Live: 2 / Archived: 18
Posts: Total: 3928 / Live: 746 / Archived: 3182 		From: Wroclaw
Speaks Polish?: un poco...wait
Interests: aviation

Displayed posts: 748 / page 21 of 25
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convex   
25 Mar 2010
Language / Is the term 'Polak' derogatory?? [254]

They've even got a nasty term for Poland: Polakei instead of the standard Polen.

That would be "Polacke" ...and it's not really that nasty.
convex   
23 Mar 2010
Law / Import a car from US to Poland [23]

I heard once that there's a loophole that involves removing the wheels and the engine and then bringing the car into poland in three sections..

You would still have to pay import duties on the individual components, which on their own, are worth more than the value of the whole car. I'm not sure if the concept of a salvage title exists here.
convex   
22 Mar 2010
Food / Polish v Western farm produce? [14]

The old supply and demand business practice, it isn't fair but that seems to be the way things are done.

The problem with free trade is when subsidies are involved. It can never be free when one country is massively subsidizing people to farm a certain crop.
convex   
19 Mar 2010
Food / Healthy polish food? [134]

What Polish person eats that on a daily basis? I don't know anyone that does.

Bread, meat, and cheese? Everyone eats that on a daily basis :)

Again, I'm wondering where you live, because I'm just not seeing them in Poland. There are some, but they're the exception rather than the rule.

There are quite a few here. And they are the exception, but they are here...

But do American high school/college kids really go to restaurants on a regular basis? If so, that certainly explains the obesity problem!

Quite a few kids here are starting to eat at fast food places on a regular basis... There is always a line at fast food places, and it's usually full of young people. The obesity problem in the states is because no one walks anywhere...

many people that don't have cars simply don't need one - what's the point in owning a car if you're living, studying and working in the middle of a city?

I think that's the point he was trying to make.
convex   
15 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

He said, "Oh, so you're the expert then!"

po polsku? Was it in a patronizing manner? I guess depending on the demeanor that may have warranted either a f*ck you or a laugh.
convex   
15 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

they do what they are asked to do according to the policies of the restaurants they work at

and nothing more
convex   
15 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Yes, but the overwhelming majority come across as "drink pourers" that are unhappy with their jobs. That really ruins the overall experience. After all, I can pour a drink at home, but I have decided to come out and let them do it for me at a massive markup...entertain me!
convex   
15 Mar 2010
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

Poland still has top quality, ecological food products.

you mean onions and potatoes? :)
convex   
12 Mar 2010
Off-Topic / To ALL IMMIGRANTS ("expats") to Poland on this forum... [124]

I'll have to show off my ignorance by admitting I'm not familar with the VWP acronym?

Visa Waiver Program

It's about time we say no to those "scapegoats", send them home and invite legal workers from our allied nations. If they stay out of trouble and do a good job they should be allowed to stay if they so wish.

Strengthen the borders and deport illegals. Put our neighbors through the south through the exact same visa process as everyone else. The majority of the people who are illegal here came in through a legal route. WTF are we spending all that border control money on?
convex   
12 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

things like cola that actually tastes like it should

You're used to the corn based sugar used in the states, but I guess if you're drinking that nasty light rum that bacardi makes, you need everything you can get to mask that nastiness. I like the taste of sugar better than corn syrup.

Gin and tonic was brought up, you know that tends to **** me off more than anything in bars in the states. Soda water being substituted for tonic water. It's happened so many times that I'm starting to think they're just f*cking with me on purpose.

Bartending in America is 40% work efficiency, 60% personality. It's what keeps customers coming back

Absolutely. And just on a side note, I just got back from Bratislava. The bartender at the Sheraton is awesome. Ended up doing an 'on the house' rum tasting session where he managed to convince me that 8 year Bacardi is better than 7 year Havana. I'm a convert, and I managed to leave quite a bit of money in the bar that evening. Those little things are missing here.
convex   
12 Mar 2010
Off-Topic / To ALL IMMIGRANTS ("expats") to Poland on this forum... [124]

Why is it that the libs are so loud when it comes to supporting the illegals yet so quiet when it comes to helping our true friends?

No clue, both sides are dogmatic idiots. In the US, you (we) have left leaning entertainment news and right leaning entertainment news. It seems that it has to be sensationalized in order to keep the interest of the majority of people. Mexicans seem to be a common scapegoat for ridiculous problems which have more to do with the cost and quality of basic services (education and public safety comes to mind).

I've pointed out plenty of times that I don't agree with the VWP.

Regarding your point about supporting unpopular wars, keep in mind that the majority of people who would benefit from VWP didn't support either the wars or the missile defense shield.
convex   
12 Mar 2010
Off-Topic / To ALL IMMIGRANTS ("expats") to Poland on this forum... [124]

Pretty funny though seeing as hes in America.

Well, as an immigrant in the US, it's probably hard to bitch about Mexicans... and after watching a bit of the more right leaning 'news' programs, you get a bit fired up. I guess this is just his way of applying that hatred. I mean, had we not known he was in America, it wouldn't have really sounded that hypocritical... compared to say speaking against immigration with a Polish accent at a minute man pow-wow at the mexican border...
convex   
7 Mar 2010
Love / They seem nice, but could Polish girls be "gold diggers"? [196]

That's right guys; give women a taste of real equality and not the pick-and-choose kind that has been so detrimental

Equal rights mean equal responsibilities. Sure you can join the military, welcome to the club, you're now required to register for the draft. Look at the hypocrisy, just recently in the US, [abcnews.go.com/WN/army-maj-general-makes-pregnancy-punishable-offense-iraq/story?id=9391242] - this made big headlines.
convex   
5 Mar 2010
Life / Womans day in Poland? [242]

I shall make a note of it....but now i am puzzled as to why my Russian lady is in charge of a party to celebrate womens day today...? Perhaps they do it different in Moscow...?

Because parties on Monday usually don't have the same kick...
convex   
4 Mar 2010
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

What do you class as midrange, convex? That may have different meanings to different people.

The chains, stuff like sphinx, readys, telepizza.

There are a lot of student bars around where I live, and most of them are pretty damn good.
convex   
4 Mar 2010
Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

The quality of the midrange places is terrible. On the lowend, the value is great, on the high end, it's hit or miss with the quality. In the midrange, it just seems miserable.
convex   
4 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Well when I started as a bartender I was on 7zł and moved up to 8 working behind a cocktail bar. There are plenty of people I know on as low as 5zł per hour and not only in the hospitality industry.

8zl is minimum wage more or less (calculated monthly). That also happens to be what people make at the fast food places.

Bartender for 8zl? I'll take two please.

PS. Watch that smokin' on airport property - fines are getting steep in the US... :)

Thank god that hasn't made its way here.

I figure, they're going above what is expected, you know, normal Polish service where you're bothering them...they're at work. If I just give them some cash directly, it helps them directly and it helps me next time I show up looking for service.
convex   
3 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

I know some waiters that are on 5zł per hour, others who are up at 10.

That's below minimum wage....the golden arches start people off at 8zl
convex   
3 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Ok, how about barbers? Do you tip them?

I don't go to barbers. Just shave my head every couple of weeks. If I did visit a barber and wanted to reward him or her for something special or a good job, I'd tip. I doubt they'd be offended.
convex   
3 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Some people do, some don't. In addition to fueling, they help out with bags, will drag out an air compressor if I need one, and let me bum a smoke...I don't mind tipping for that.
convex   
3 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

People here do pay tips, not all however. But most of us here wonder if service should be subsidissed additionally (tip).

It already happens in the form of bonuses, buying a work crew lunch, company cars, and most large contracts are performance based. Honestly, I don't mind because I end up getting great service out of the deal, and don't have a problem paying a bit extra. I also tip decent bar tenders, delivery people, my cleaning lady, and the line workers at the airport. I appreciate their extra effort, and reward them for it. I get great service while only paying a small premium. It's win win.

Check out Australia as King Sobieski wrote - US tipping is not probably the pattern to follow as it just spins the vicious circle, that's all

Waitstaff in the US are paid at least minimum wage. It's a good performance based system which allows people to earn more money if they want to. Obligatory tipping is just a fantasy that most waitstaff have.
convex   
3 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

And definitely not transfer those habits to Poland.

God forbid people start paying for good service.
convex   
2 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Don't follow you here? We get time and a half for JA (junior assignment) trips for example. ...or what am I missing?

There is no federal requirement to pay airline employees time and a half under FLSA.
convex   
2 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

Thanks for the link, but I have never heard of anyone invoking that law. I wonder if you have to average your earnings over a week, a month, a year, to see if you're getting a minimum wage? If it was for the day, a lot of people would be all over it!

Minimum wage applies to the pay period. If you get paid daily, weekly, bi weekly, or monthly, it has to work out to minimum wage. Servers are also eligible for overtime, which is calculated daily.

Airline employees are exempt from time and a half overtime pay :)
convex   
1 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

-well, if you and Convex want to talk about tips in the US then start another topic, because this one is about this phenomena in POLAND - as the thread implies ("Giving tips in Poland").

Thanks for steering us back on track. We will talk about only tipping in Poland and possibly include references to tipping in other European countries in order to make your reading experience as comfortable as possible. Tug jobs can be found back on aisle 9.
convex   
1 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

i'm also familiar with tipping in Poland. the waitstaff makes a pittance, and bartenders generally get goose egged nearly every time.

Which is probably why they love me when I come in.
convex   
1 Mar 2010
Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]

The topic was about POLAND and tipping in Poland. Enough of comparisons with American tips, as it's a different story and completly different system, please.

It's exploring the topic further, just scroll up to read up on the relevance.