News / John Paul II's Beatification [134]

That's a fair point there :) :)

amtb.cn/e-bud/releases/educati.htm, have a read of this. As a teacher, I can recommend Webster's. It tends to be reliable.

Can we get back to the topic of the thread please!

News / John Paul II's Beatification [134]

Buddhism enriches religion but is more a school of thought.

USA, Canada / What do Poles think about drinking raw milk? In America, unpasteurized milk is PROHIBITED. [49]

My answer would be that milk is designed to be drunk quickly anyway, much faster than beer which is unpasteurised at times too (Kasztelan). I would have no qualms about drinking it in that fashion. Heck, I've eaten raw fish. The stomach can take a lot if not overly sensitive.

History / Its decided. If Germany interfere in Silesia, Russia would support Poland. New winds [17]

That's pretty much it in a nutshell :)

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

It depends, really. The rate itself for my flat is 1/6 of what I earn from my school but private students lower that figure. My salary is around 3500PLN but privates bump that up quite a lot.

History / Whom do the people in Poland hate more: Germans or Russians? [871]

An accurate statement for a change. I'm impressed. It's Nazis, btw. There's no such thing as Polish pride, I guess ;)

History / Its decided. If Germany interfere in Silesia, Russia would support Poland. New winds [17]

Crow, look back at Soviet/Russian history. They keep out when they should step in. WWII Warsaw and Kosovo spring to mind. They have a strong business relationship with Germany and won't jeopardise that. Also, Poland is thinking about the missile shield again and that will anger Russia.

Here in Silesia, all is quiet on that question.

News / John Paul II's Beatification [134]

Unlike other Catholics I have observed, he really believed in forgiveness. I believe in forgiveness within reason. His sticking to principles really won him my respect.

News / John Paul II's Beatification [134]

Thanks, warsz :)

The man really worked wonders within an institution which is hardly renowned for its leeway. I am no fan of The Vatican but JPII did himself and his country proud!

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

It's the old 'he's an authority figure' approach. There are morons here that would gladly strip you down to bare zero. I was aghast at having to fork out that much. They can really pull the wool over your eyes. I guess it's partly because I'm Scottish but I don't just pay for things without questioning what I'm getting for my money and I damn well questioned the logic of giving him so much. Geez, I could have certified things myself.

Poland will likely take out a tax on breathing due to CO2 circulation ;) ;)

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

On the first point, I often get that impression too. Those types are very similar in mentality to Russians - blind following of 'the way'. Oh, PO are trying to get money in any way that they can, make no doubt about it. Poland is a country where rigorous procedures are in place for the masses but where shortcuts are given to those that know how. It takes quite a while to get a DL here, grubas. Many consider that a minimum number of hrs is necessary before they take their test.

Poland believes in complications. I've noticed that they change sth in paperwork just so they can give themselves future work. The number of needless paper chasing I've done has been utterly horrendous. I had to laugh yesterday when my wife was summoned to pay 1PLN to the City Hall.

The frank truth is that many here make it up as they go along and love complicating things for others. Old commie mentality, 'if there ain't a problem, create one' :( :(

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Don't they have sth like that in Delaware too? I remember reading sth like that in a business journal. I can't give you an exact figure, grubas, but I can remember thinking that 'WOW', this guy is taking one hell of a cut for merely validating documents in his notarial capacity. Somewhere around 1000PLN, I think. I like to see things when I shell out cash. I got peeved when I didn't get a pay rise. It really lowers your motivation to work amongst con-merchants who swipe left, right and centre from you.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

I misinterpreted your intention with regards to oppression, grubas. I apologise! Now I see where you are coming from :)

There are way too many charges for sweet FA. The cost of cars is a feckin disgrace too. My wife has a small car and it's around 220PLN to fill the tank.

For the world of me, I can't imagine how many Poles pay for the renovation of their property. I managed to keep the costs relatively low as my father-in-law did all of the work. Had he not done that, I'd be in deep water.

PO are fleecing people!

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Oh, I can sense myself siding with grubas now. Pawian, taking 890PLN ZUS a month is a nonsense. They automatically assume, as I have my own firm, that I make stackloads but I don't. I really have to reel in the private students to stay well afloat. PiS lowered the akcyza so why can't PO, esp now? VAT will likely hit 25% before too long and this is just a farce when consumerism has been created.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Yeah, the fees are a darned nuisance but oppressive? Oh, the notaries like to line their pockets here. I found their charges steep, yes. I can see why you might think that things are bordering on the oppressive in the sense of financial squeezing. Firms are not paying out more to compensate those for their ever-increasing outlay.

Addicted, no. Composed? Yes. Grubas just likes a scrap. It will not be too ferocious ;) ;)

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

What steam, pawian? He is accusing the regime here of being oppressive when it is anything but when compared to some others around the world. Do you live under oppression, pawian? Do you want to leave Poland because of what you face here? I've been suspended twice before but, as you know, I can spend lengthy times away from the forum.

He is sidetracking the thread with his nonsense.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

What oppressive regime? You have no idea what true oppression is, do you son?

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Euro 2012 might put it on the map a bit more but the attractions are not promoted well enough. Many live on with (semi?)distorted images of how Poland actually is.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Exactly! The choice is clear to most people :)

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

The latest round of protests have come from the police. They are unhappy that the money they give the govt from fines is not being put into pay rises for them. I'd love to see the pay scale and increases of politicians.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Working on ideas takes time. You have to bear with it. Like so many in the decadent West, they want instant results. Seeds take a while to reap fruit :)

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

Many of the Poles that left were of the belief that living in Poland was 'do dupy'. 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.

News / John Paul II's Beatification [134]

As we witnessed in April last year.

If we can't honour the work of great men, who can we honour? Besides, he was proven to exist. Many false gods have caused unspeakable suffering for the deeds carried out in their name. The Nazi schizoid character being first among them.

So, give the man as much respect as he should be afforded.

Life / Why Poles have so pro-emigration attitude? [93]

A large part of the problem lies in the fact that they have little faith in their govt to lower inflation and raise salaries. Some can be downright fatalistic whilst others maintain a slightly pessimistic attitude. Both are enough for them to up sticks and seek out pastures new.

Also, the money is better elsewhere. To the best of my knowledge, Poles can more freely work in Germany as of tomorrow. Germany will likely have braced itself for impact but I think they will have created ample new opportunities and it will be a fairly harmonious set-up.

History / Whom do the people in Poland hate more: Germans or Russians? [871]

You need to catch the culprits as and when. Many were smart enough not to hate based on who they were. There were stories of Generals protecting civilians as they knew that they took no part in hostilities.

History / Whom do the people in Poland hate more: Germans or Russians? [871]

The Soviet decision not to intervene in Warsaw and also the Katyń debacle will forever stick in the craws of Poles. I'm reading Armageddon by Leon Uris and have learnt a lot about the Soviet mentality. Yes, Poles were seething at the Nazis for what they did but I think the feeling of betrayal and creating false hopes hurts Poles more.

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

And quite right! Standards are standards!

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

The point is that many Poles don't really care what others think of such actions if they feel they can get off with it. I agree that they should learn how to queue properly but queueing culture is, shall we say, not in a fully developed state here. It's just not how they go about things a lot of the time.

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

To defend Polish people here, buses are a little different. Here, you can get on at different places having previously bought a ticket. You just need to put it through a special machine and you are good to go. In my day in Scotland, you had to go to the front of the bus and pay the fare to the driver. That meant queueing as the entry point was rather narrow. Also, many Poles are accustomed to trams where many hop on at the same time.

It's a bit like opening doors for others. It's not sth they tend to value. I hope that explains her different approach.

Life / Are foreigners welcome in Poland? [305]

It depends who the foreigners are. Many are more welcome here than Palestinians are on their own land (see the documentary Checkpoint on Youtube).