Genealogy / Searching for lost ancestors / information [5]

I don't get why they would use so many curly letters. Being Polish I understand only a couple of words, like "Z wojska na Piekary 15"? on the last image.

Feedback / Who deserves to inherit Polish Forums? [244]

And seriously, do you know any other forum or social media that allows completely anonymous posters (hi Ron ;) to post without having an account? I imagine it's not easy to manage it and keep it from spammers but PF did it (probably on and off to keep spammers and abusers at bay).

Feedback / Who deserves to inherit Polish Forums? [244]

To me a forum like this is not just a form of communication. It's like going to a place where you can hear stories you'd never hear otherwise from people who still have the guts to tell it how it is. On other means people are either forced to self-censorship or are censored by shadow-banning and all this AI stuff. If you cannot handle the truth, PF may not be good for you :{}

Feedback / Who deserves to inherit Polish Forums? [244]


But would they? This site has history, search engines rankings, people who know it from recommendations etc.. A new website would take years or decades to catch up with someone devoted to the cause.

History / Szeptunka Greek Catholic? [2]

It's very rare to use or hear this word "szeptunka" but it does exists in Polish (had to make sure ; ) It means something like a healer / whisperer indeed and is related to the Orthodox church. Still, I don't think it's actually related to the church (for sure not to Catholic); it's like a Polish version of Indian healers. They believe more in nature than God.

Feedback / Who deserves to inherit Polish Forums? [244]

I've been a member of Reddit on a few different topics, including Poland. To sum up - people there are idiots. Most are aggressive and overly sensitive when you point out their stupidity and lack of knowledge. What's funny is that they *think* they are a part of a cool and free community where anything goes without censorship, but Reddit went public on stock market this year and they are no different than other corporate / FBI / CIA connected entities like Google, FB, Google, X, Youtube with shadow banning etc. The stupidest (or the "loudest") posters or posts get the most "karma."

Study / "Dirty Polish" - I want to buy this book [22]

It just confirms the fact that whenever I mention I'm Polish to a foreigner, they start cursing at me (dirty words are for some reason attractive to people to learn).

News / Polish Border Security Forces allowed to use deadly force on the Belarusan border [6]

I thought the use of deadly forces on the border has been established a long time ago in Poland. I mean, a few years ago I saw Polish border patrol with guns - they looked real to me.

Feedback / Who deserves to inherit Polish Forums? [244]

Could be a good opportunity for the right people who work or do business online. A well-established website is like real estate in good location. I don't mind posting as long as I'm not bothered by an overzealous moderator ::

Polonia / Almost not allowed in Sweden without my Polish passport. [2]

It's not quite normal. Dual citizens can carry whichever passport they want. However, IF they know you (can they know it somehow?) that you had entered Poland on your Polish passport, they may require to enter the bordering country on the same passport. Today's system may be interconnected and they may know more than you want them to ;|

Life / Opole Voivodeship - opinions and experiences [3]

I like Opole in general, but personally prefer the Wroclaw or Sroda Slaska areas.

Life / Expectations of Godparent in Poland [2]

You're expected to participate in the child's important milestones in life, that includes: confirmation, marriage, death. Besides, if something happens to the child's parents, you promise to take care of the child as if he/she was your own. You may also be expected to give gifts on these milestones.

Real Estate / An equivalent of heating range / cooker in Poland? [4]

It doesn't look like central heating system to me : )

Law / How to obtain a driving licence. Can I use my own vehicle for a car test here in Poland? [2]

I think you cannot do the 30 hours of practical driving using your own car. The reasons: 1) the company needs to make money by letting you use their own car, 2) I think the company's car is supposed to have an "instructor break pedal" in case something goes wrong.

Your private car is not equipped with such safety features. On the other hand, you can take the test using your own car as long as it has valid insurance, registration.

Real Estate / What's your opinion on cooperative ownership (spoldzielcze wlasnosciowe prawo) when buying a flat? [2]

I think the ownership type is not a problem, but make sure they don't want you pay for heating all year long and watch out for other fees. It's similar to an apartment managed by an association. There are a lot of such flats in Poland and overall it makes sense to buy as long as you're aware of these fees.

Law / How to find lawyer in Poland to contest ZUS (social security) benefit amount [2]

I'd do a search for the keyword "prawnik" (lawyer) and add a name of the area / town to get leads. Most lawyers in Poland, especially from the new generation, should be able to speak English (if not, they have automatic translators).

Genealogy / Information on a surname prefix / affix + side question [4]

"Kasp" or "Kas" doesn't mean anything in Polish ("Kasa" means "cash money" in colloquial Polish). A short form of Mikolaj? Well, could be Mik, Miko, or Misiu ;) - there's no established short form here.

Travel / Białowieża on the ground [2]

I'd recommend visiting there between May and September. The less tourists, the better ;) Maybe it was due to a little panic in Poland back then about the Ukrainian/Russian war.

Work / Popular Food Delivery Apps in Poland? [4]

You can look up online: Cecha, UpMenu, Pyszne, Uber Eats (Poland), Glovo, Wolt, or Bolt Food.

Real Estate / Sentimental values considered by Poles when moving into a new rental home [2]

It's up to an individual. To me a reliable renal home without the need to do repairs is much more valuable than a sentimental or historical building that leaks from the roof or where heating doesn't work. Location is equally important.

History / Poland relations with Italy 1939-43? [4]

An interesting question. I don't know the answer, but Italy being close to Germany during the WW2 may suggest the relations weren't too good back then. Still, I doubt Poles would blame Italians for the war or damages.

Work / Helmets and bulletproof vests Manufacturers in Poland [8]

But Poland has open/EU borders which nullifies the assumption.

Work / Helmets and bulletproof vests Manufacturers in Poland [8]

You need to look for military equipment manufacturers in Poland. For example maskpol.com.pl or others (you may use the Polish search for the term).

Real Estate / What are the current energy prices for 1 average family in Poland today? [2]

It depends on the square footage of the house, but in general:

house 70-90 m2 - 3500-4000 kWh / year
house 120-150 m2 - 4000-4500 kWh / year
house 170-220 m2 - 4500-5000 kWh / year

Just calculate kWh price per your estimated footage to get the annual price.

Work / Any leads or websites for hiring English-speaking tradesmen (electrician, plasterers etc.)? [3]

I'd assume that native Polish contractors will not speak English (that's why they are contractors). Your other option is to hire a Polish foreman/engineer/architect who speaks English and who could foresee the job.

Work / Is Wroclaw really the Polish silicon valley? [2]

"Silicon valley" refers to material found in computer processor. In this age, location doesn't matter much as most engineers / IT workers can work remotely. It may be relevant when it comes to education; Wroclaw is known to host a couple of great universities, including the renown Polytechnics.

Law / How can I resign from my job without coming back to Poland? [2]

Of course you can. Why don't you email your employer and describe the situation. There's no need for you to be in Poland to do so.

Travel / UK Car in Poland [2]

When you're going to renew the plates, they will get to the dates. I think you can drive it without problem until you have to renew your plates or any other legal update needed for the car.

Real Estate / Foundation - Underpinning [3]

How did you buy the property? I'd ask the realtor who sold you or just go to your Gmina and ask about the right person / referrals to do the tests.

Law / Can I get polish insurance for motorcycle on british driving licence full A [2]

It may be complicated, but if you have a British drivers license issued before Brexit, the insurance laws should apply as if you were an EU citizen, so then you could insure it without problems in Poland.