Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]


With respect Franklin, have a look at Google street view.

Opole is a dump. I used to sell to shops there. It was a dump, and until Poland levels some of its tenement slums, it will remain so. Thanks.

Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]

Depends where you live, and the company you keep.

Roger and others live in quiet places. But I would do a Kurt Cobain in a couple of months. It's boring enough here in Gdynia, the so called number one place to live in Poland. I hear you Carly. But Poles don't get bored because:

1. They have expensive new toys to play with, that didn't exist for daddy in communist times.
2. They go to bed early because they insist on getting up at 6 in the morning for a pow-wow.
3. Some drink themselves stupid in small groups to show that Poles "are the best."
4. Some move around like snails, touching all the fruit at the market, self satisfied types dressed in their tracksuits....
5. Some are obsessed by fitness, and die young....
6. Others are driven by material gain - the old "Build a house, plant a tree, have a son, an. other......"

Nowt wrong with all that - but they are not bored.

However the UK has far more going on in all facets of life - why do we think Poles love it so much there?

Just my obs you understand.

Language / Information on Polish textbook Hurra Po Polsku [33]


There must be something better available in the US surely for teenagers of Polish extraction there?

Both these books (Hurra and Krok na kroku) are average at best. Where is the role playing and the pronunciation exercises such as in the English File series for TEFL? Hopeless methodology really and culture bound in that way (no discussion points - only reading and writing, with very limited listening exercises).

Poor stuff.

News / Polish President vetoes PO's dingbat gender law [173]

We will know in four weeks wont we? And this typical interference does no harm at all to the right wing party of the two choices for government. The one that enabled a majority of 100; it's called democracy.

Your president is laughable, or "chucklesome" if you prefer.

News / Polish President vetoes PO's dingbat gender law [173]

The president is not supposed to actually use his power of veto at whim

The fact that he has the "the power," and can emphasise such, as a warning or a guide, is supposed to be the whole point of the power of veto. But to actually employ it, after just two months in office, shows what a prize wally this man is.

Sad for Poland.

News / Nuclear Power in Poland? Yes, please! Absolutely nobody disagrees! [73]


The industry has problems with the correct grammar. They haven't mastered the use of the comparative adjective, as in "cleaner." As Polsyr pointed out, and he didn't need to, as you already knew this, coal is the worst option. But sadly, the cheapest option for the taxpayer - minus the small matter of the high carbon footprint, premature deaths, environmental damage, cost to the country of extracting the stuff, etc....

But anything that wins a few votes from the unwashed proletariat, right?

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Yep :)


Says one who doesn't live here, and who as a Pole should be very ashamed of that ridiculous theory. Maybe the poster has never even been to Poland? Daily life here was extremely hard before the building of modern infrastructure.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Much needed infrastructure, for Poland's first container port. This amazingly expensive (short) stretch of highway would not have been built without EU money, and neither would the rest of Poland.

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News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

Poland would have built NOTHING without the EU. Ingrates who would still be struggling to get to their 1000 zl a month backward state-owned company "jobs."

Amazing that we are even having this moronic "debate."

The photograph is of the highway from Poland biggest container port of Gdynia, which links to the A2 motorway. It was built across moraine hills, has a distance of 4 km, and cost 235 million zlotys, of which the Polish government contributed a pathetic 60 million zl, obviously because they didn't agree that it was really necessary............

It is only the Polonia that don't have to live here, and idiotic visitors who haven't got an education, who don't want to see what the EU has done for Poland, or have forgotten what a hell-hole it was before accession.

Dangerous idiots

Life / News on driving in Poland [57]

Old news, but excellent news all the same Pawian.

Of course, rick kids driving through Gdynia in their sports cars/on works motorbikes are clearly exempt :(

Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]


I don't usually call you up for being negative all the time on this Dom. The fact is that the only times I feel that my earning potential is denied me is on these ridiculous "religious holidays" that often fall in the middle of the week.

The establishment that decides that Three Kings aka 12th night, will be a Bank Holiday are all comfortable, and getting paid anyway. The rest of us, who are self-employed, are denied the right to work, because the Banks are closed............

I haven't even had a summer holiday, but Poles take so many of these long weekends (as most of them are owed days off etc etc...) leading from the middle of the week "Swieto" that I feel rested.

Could you explain where you get the 22 weeks figure from? You took it out of the air. Because you can't help but look down on teachers for some weird reason. I work long hours all year round, and so do others I know.

As to the continued discussion on "sad loser English teachers", some of the salaries that learners are on almost makes me want to waive my fees.

I wouldn't leave my bed for some of the silly money they are prepared to, or have to, work for. No amount of pension contributions, luncheon vouchers, or free fitness club membership would persuade me to take up some of the silly offers bandied around. And that's before taxes and that laughable extortion known as ZUS.

Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]


That's very good:) I hadn't noticed your sharp sense of humour before. Did you study English at college? You have a cultured turn of phrase; I couldn't write as eloquently as you do.

And no, I'm not being my usual sarcastic self:)

Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]


Crow, that's a weird premise.There is good money to be earnt. But we teachers have to work hard. I started at 7 this morning, and in between times, finished at 8.30, and I haven't done all the form filling and emailing that goes with the job.... the pub won, as it should.

Before hitting the battle cruiser I just spent two hours with a chap who has an interview in 3 weeks, where he is a dead cert to get the job...if he doesn't give the sales director the false impression that he doesn't have an ounce of Anglo-Saxon humour in his body.........

Only he is culture-bound (too modest) and needs to learn the American style enthusiasm of "I am very good at what I do etc etc etc......." And he has no concept of the shock-jock interview from the sales director, after the nice initial chat, and then the HR interview.......

He has to write out the stock answers and paraphrase and learn them to fit his personality, and freely practice them - something that is VERY hard for an adult to do as a self-starter if they are taking the step from the public to the private sector.

That's where people like me come in, and I get well paid for it. It's hard work, and long hours, but he's a shoe-in, and it's bloody satisfying when he gets a result, because it's my result too.

Failed missionaries my foot :)

Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]


The British have a good nose for the disgusting professions:

1. Estate agents/developers
2. Lawyers
3. Financial "experts"
4. Politicians
5. Police.

Teachers are well respected, and properly paid.

If you want a scum society, which historically has paid its' hospital staff and teachers shockingly, we know where to come. Amazing that the government haven't smashed the unions and the scum laws that reward doctors for 100 percent unnecessary hospital stays for example, and the awful pay of university lecturers.

Us English teachers do very well in comparison. Especially when we finally see the light and refuse to pay a zloty in ZUS payments:) I am loving it myself.

All totally legal:)

Work / English teachers in Poland - why are they so unhappy? [89]


Are you registered here? Why bother with such a silly post if you're too lazy to register.

A lot of English teachers have a few strings to their bow. Ever heard of ESP?
And actually, not meaning to do a "Wulkan", but a few times in the semester I do a 6 hour batch of work on a Saturday night which nets a 4 figure sum, net, so my voice and technical English give me a decent living on their own.

What ****** us English teachers off? Maybe most of us are British, and we call it as we see it? Dunno.........

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Plenty of non-whites here. They stick out because they are smiling and jolly. At least my Nigerian friends were. They are not miserable and unhappy, like half of the population seems to be.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Are you sure about that?

And without EU funding, the institutions wouldn't be interested in the risk - what Polish money are you talking about? The Polish treasury couldn't afford a ****** in a brewery, and it weren't for the EU, people would still be dying here from silly little diseases, and the same old crap would rule, as well as outdated and amoral practices - because Poland wouldn't know any better.

Only those of a low IQ would want Poland to leave the EU, and really the rest of us shouldn't be lowering ourselves to enter into debate on this non-question.


I'm with Sikorsky on this one. The US will give you **** all. They despise you. It will be akin to a sexually transmitted disease. They even make you beg like dogs for a holiday visa :)

Europe together. Though you are the ingrates.

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]


Do you live in Poland Ironside? I am here to tell you that Poles under 50 are totally obsessed by only one thing. Quite understandable when you realise the crap that a totalitarian system visited on them - but it ain't pretty nontheless, and relationships suffer because of it.

To deny it means you are blinkered. People judge others on their "wealth" as we in Britain did in the 1930s. I wouldn't use the word "status" because it's subjective, and a sizeable portion of the new upwardly mobile have no books in their homes, so I consider myself to have a higher status:)

Food / Smalec in a Jar - how to make it better? [19]

I eat it on spread cold on rye-bread with vodka in low-down Katowice bars...
You can dip your bread in it while cooking bacon (sliced wedzone bocek)

Either will shorten your life unless you are in your 20s/30s - then it can give you energy of course....

Language / Information on Polish textbook Hurra Po Polsku [33]

But there are a lot of threads on this site, and excellent they are too.

Books I use:

Polska po polsku/Wrobel/Interpress 1986
Mowimy po polsku/Bisko/Karolak/Poliglota 1966
Colloquial Polish/Mazur/Routledge 1983
Lets Learn Polish/Bastgen/Wiedza Powszechna 1978
Przygoda z gramatyka/Pyzik/Universitas 2000
A Handbook of Polish pronunciation/Puppel et al/Panstowe Wydawnictwo 1977
Porozmawiajmy po polsku/Awolski/Wydawnictwo Polonia 1989
Polish in 4 weeks/ Kowalska/Wydawnictwo Rea/2008
Teach yourself Polish/Corbridge-Patkaniowska/Hodder and Stoughton 1988Contemport polsi hrammar/ Oscar Swan/Slawica/ 2002
Hurrah po polsku Malolepsza/Prolog 2006
Polski, krok po kroku/Stempek et al/Glossa

Again I have lessons with Pani Iza and she's extremely long suffering and resigned to having my zlotys contributing to her university years.

Now I must learn some vocabulary to be able to talk about the refugee crises and to dismiss her fears about Islam taking over the world (more verbiage required!)

So note to the OP from way back........learn the rubric/instructions, and Hurra Po Polsku is one of the most learner friendly books I have come across - at least far easier than the older ( more traditional approach) textbooks that I have given as a mini bibliography.

News / Poland Sports News [1079]

In the meantime - for football fans and non-internet trolls, who are away from the match on ITV4......

Germany are too swift and nifty, and would be absolutely destroying England by now. At least the Polish coach didn't tell his players that they could possibly win the European Championship, as Hodgson infamously told his England players they could.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lewandowski :))))

Lewandowski playing a blinder. 1 on 1 with the keeper. World class save, then has a shot cleared off the line.

But Germany are practically playing with 10 men and will take Can off at the break (now - 2-1 to the Krauts).

Poland v England for the Egg Cup. Now that would be worth watching.

Poland need to gamble here and push Piszek up the wing to do a Gareth Bale. The Krauts will change to 4-4-2 to tighten it up and Lewandowski wont get a sniff if he's forced to play up there on his own, as I fear the second half may well pan out. So Poland have to go for it, not play on the counter.

Fears unfounded so far. Poland making progress down the left. Comes across to Lewandowski who shoots into the ground. It's a good game, but a third Germany goal will kill it off of course.

Now the change... sub for Germany 4-2-3-1, Poland 4-4-2

Germany hit the post, went very close twice, as did Poland.

Piszek injured, and didn't realise he was off at half time :( His potential attacking play is missed, but Poland are more solid. They have done very well indeed and surprised me with their willingness to go forward.

3-1 - Goetze just too good. All three of the goals were avoidable sadly.

News / Poland Sports News [1079]

Merged: The potato eaters vs the krauts

Who's winning? Normally I'm with Poland, but the krauts should stuff you lot 6-0. Wishing for a good game.

Oh dear - just as I typed this...............that didn't take long.

2-0 game over. Showing the true gulf between these sides.

News / Poland's PiS = suspicion & fear? [70]


It never will Smurf. You know full well it is the major "employer" in some towns. All you can do is vote with your feet, as I did.

News / British schoolboys very sensibly dealt with by the Poland's authorities after theft in Auschwitz [45]


Er.... no is the answer to that. Protected by international law. Poland has to maintain the site. An element of visiting jewry clearly are as odd and nationalistic as their Polish conservative counterparts and really shouldn't be heard, unless they have something sensible to contribute.

News / Nazi gold train 'found in Poland' [90]

Anyway, one poxy train isn't going to pay for all the miners and policeman sitting on their arses at the age of 40 while the rest of us pay for the lazy scum.

News / Poland Sports News [1079]

Athletics - the discipline where people compete totally for their own satisfaction, and to the complete indifference of everybody else :)

News / Surprising ranking of Polish supermarkets (Biedronka expensive?) Living expenses in Poland. [35]


+1. A shop for snobs. And there's nowt as amusing as the lesser known species of The Polish Snob :)

News / Nuclear Power in Poland? Yes, please! Absolutely nobody disagrees! [73]

Because Polish politicians are populist and determined to perpetually subsidise the mining "industry"? And a vote for PiS is only going to slow the nuclear program.

Life / Top 5 things I like about Poland [56]

I agree with your top 5 Steveramsfan.

I am not very keen on your name though, as I am Dougpolforestfan!

My top 5

1. Poles are dog lovers and that's an ice-breaker
2. Weather. Positively tropical at the moment ....
3. Varied landscape and open country, and no farmer pointing a shotgun in your face.
4. Fewer chavs than in the UK
5. Cheap service sector, and quick too. None of this "Get your laptop back in 3 weeks from the repair center" malarkey.

Your number 5 will alter with a new PiS government sadly. I am seriously thinking of closing Dougpol Mansions for the duration.

Polonia / Let's talk about Sweden and other Scandinavian countries [236]

True, but the Narvik iron-ore was the real key. Sweden let it be transported through Sweden if I recall, so the Nazis let you be. In today's world that would be collaboration. Please correct me if those are not the facts ( regarding the iron ore)