Off-Topic / Things you can't get used to in your new country [95]

The Polish diet does tend to be immensely filling, and indeed quite tasty, if somewhat
bland compared with certain other cuisines, such as Southern Italian, Indian, Mexican etc.

Love / Some questions about a Polish guy and what Polish guys are like [6]

I find Polish men whom I've encountered at work to be unusually self-assured
on the surface and often get worked up about seemingly mundane issues,
which can be rather unnerving at times.

This is not to generalize of course about ALL Polish males, only office colleagues or
business acquaintances.

News / Poland is the new military power of Europe. [275]

@Milo, kindly re-read my post and then it'll make complete sense:-)

News / Poland is the new military power of Europe. [275]

Again, as a landing strip for US or NATO aircraft and the like,
no question Poland is of strategic importance!

News / Poland is the new military power of Europe. [275]

Poland is a strategic location, but scarcely a military power.

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

This entire discussion re: "Oder-Neisse- Eastern Germany vs. pre-WWII Polish borders" has been kicked around since ballpark 1953. The borders remain as they stand, end of discussion!

News / Poland overtakes Taiwan and the Netherlands... [17]

The Dutch continue to lead the world, at least Europe, in flower exports:-)

Food / Poland-Tea or coffee land? [119]

Must be, Maf!

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [554]

@Alien,
'Scuse me, but Jews unfortunately all too often rationalized their suffering. Poles aka gentiles surely suffered as much, if for different reasons! Either way, wallowing in self-pity ain't my thing, never was, never will be.

Food / Poland-Tea or coffee land? [119]

When I was last in Poland, I do recall the coffee served in local eateries was MEGA-strong!! It seems though, at least in the area I was, folks usually drank their coffee pitch black and I got a bemused reaction when I asked the waitress for some milk and sugar. Sort of said without saying anything "Boy, are you a sissy! Can't even take your coffee straight!"

:-)

News / Poland overtakes Taiwan and the Netherlands... [17]

The Netherlands derives much of her GDP from energy and various medium -to heavy industries. I'd have to see the official stats on Poland with regard to her GDP. Something about what I'm reading here sounds more like boasting than fact.

While I didn't memorize the figures for Dutch trade revenue, it's got to be about the highest on the Continent, up there with Germany at least.

Off-Topic / Things you can't get used to in your new country [95]

No prob., Milo!
Long used to it by now. I've developed a thick skin.

News / Russian criticism of Poland - Soviet war memorial removal [325]

Everyone is born to eventually learn the limits of freedom! No one is ever entirely free anymore than liberty itself is entirely free.

We all must often fight in order to defend those basic freedoms to which every human being is entitled.

Entitlement however is not a matter of privilege.

Off-Topic / Things you can't get used to in your new country [95]

Actually, some say internationally that tea is healthier in the long run than coffee. Of course, nobody's exactly been able to prove it.

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

Indeed I do, Cargo pants, and most understand only the most basic English. Stray from the assigned script and they're lost! ALL learn English in school and must speak it at home in order to communicate with foreigners, but their first and primary tongue is either Hindi, Gujarati, Panjabi, Urdu or any of the four hundred languages spoken in that country.

I'm excluding Pakistanis here, by the way:-)

Off-Topic / Five or more years of Erdogan! [32]

Ironside's just another Polish contrarian on this forum who simply loves playing the Devil's Advocate!
Pay him no mind, you're better off.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

By tacitly eavesdropping on their private conversations without being detected, of course!

A bunch of folks quietly strolling together, their silence punctuated by "Tak, tak!", clearly they're not Romanians now, are they:-)

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

In Germany ever since Mommy Merkel began importing all of those Syrians towards the end of her period in office, apparently a German language test was deemed (understandably) mandatory in order for them to be allowed to remain in the country and get them functional in the language.

Poland has relatively limited experience in absorbing the vast waves of migrants, until recently that is, which have long since been arriving in the Federal Republic, starting already in the late '50's with the first Italians, followed by the Spaniards, Greeks, eventually of course, the Turks up through the '70's.

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

Occasionally I'll be walking along the street and notice Caucasian female tourists with unusually extreme hair coloring, all too often with an almost reddish tinge. In most instances they're Europeans, more frequently than not, they'll be Poles!

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

That's also true, jon.
I believe that a standard examination or language test is required in many European countries before a foreigner can either study or apply for permanent employment.

Food / Bratwurst in Kraków? [15]

Correct!
However in certain areas of Germany such as Hamburg or Bremen, I observed that various seafood staples such as Fishermen's Stew (Bremer Labskaus) etc. are more popular than the usual sausage fare often associated with German cooking:-)

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

Are you referring here to the illiterate caste aka "The Untouchables"?

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

Lots of children are born tow headed, that's right.

Life / Getting a Polish Heritage tattoo - how would Poles react? [26]

Spot on.

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

True. Along with a local language, the gentleman must also know of course Hindi, as well as another Western language. Point well taken...as always!

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

Perhaps then a falsely blond one, Bobko? LOL
Just kidding. Indeed, hair dye is more prevalent than many might think and the girls are starting ever so young too.

@jon,
I'll give ol' Feniks the benefit of the doubt:-)

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [554]

Wrongo, pal!!

Suffering's NEVER the "fate" of free-thinking people who actively participate in the propagation of their own culture for future generations.

Your kind of thinking is the reason why such outmoded stereotypes persist.

Life / Getting a Polish Heritage tattoo - how would Poles react? [26]

Certainly motor bike riding dudes sporting American flags along with other such nationalistic regalia would be immediately suspect, perhaps under the radar of the police.

Law / Polish Graduate Working in Poland with GERMAN VISA? [27]

Hopefully she's more linguistically adept than he is.
Maybe she's even Polish!

Genealogy / Are all Poles blue eyed and blonde? [450]

Don't mind Feniks. He's just being a classic contrarian.
Might as well call him Gregory!