Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [382]

I've flown with Lot. I flew back on Lufthansa. I had no complaints about either. The Polish stewardesses were prettier though.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


I'd worry too about the treatment of Sami in Russia too. Finland's stance during WWII is a bit of a dodgy spot. I think they were fighting a different battle which got them aligned on the wrong side.


Are we back to talking about the moomins again?


A couple of swear-words is all I know. And the word for hedgehog might be "sili". At least that's how a very nice Finnish girl I used to know said it (roughly). No, she didn't say it roughly - she sounded very sweet!

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


But what of the lasting effects of the power balance between Russia and Sweden. The Finnish (Karelian) population just over the border seems a bit thin on the ground. Empires can be bad things, but the lasting effects may be very different. I don't know too much about Sweden in the old days, but various empires have left their marks, some good and some bad. I can listen to reggae music and eat curry for example.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

It is much easier to define Europe than it is to define Asia. Europe is a term that has been around longer than Islam, and it is Turkey's Islamic status that seems to be the principal reason many people say that Turkey is not in Europe. Many definitions put Turkey as being both in Europe and Asia, rather in the same way as Russia is, only with Turkey, it's just that little bit on this side of the Bosporus that is in Europe. But perhaps it's not so much about where we are from, but about where we are going.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


They introduced the alembic to Europe. Okay, so it was a Persian / Arab invention, and none of them really used it for it's most obvious purpose: distilling alcoholic beverages.

Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Roots & Roma ancestors in their families [205]


I assume that's why you're only a guest here. Gotta keep movin' on!

Australia / Polish Tutoring Options in Melbourne [77]



Agnieszka, are you nocturnal? This thread is down under.

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]


What's the Polish for "childbearing hips" then?

Language / Polish words difficult to translate into English [66]


Umpteen? Several (modern sense of the word)...
This was a wild guess from a beginner. (Am I still a beginner after a year and a half?)

Edited (I nearly always edit.)

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


Banana skins can be much more dangerous.

Genealogy / Does anyone have any relatives who served with 1st Polish Armoured Division (Gen. Maczek) [311]

It's always good to see old photos like that.They can bring out so many stories, or they can give a breif glimpse into something that has otherwise disappeared from memory. A vital link with the past.

Genealogy / Polish Gypsy Roots & Roma ancestors in their families [205]

Of the colleagues of mine from eastern... i mean central europe... Okay, let's say A8 countries! Of my colleagues from... over there, the Czech bloke and the Slovak bloke are Gypsies. They must be really good at stealing because I haven't noticed any theft yet.

But it seems that these days, it is perfectly acceptable to discriminate against Gypsies, to reinforce negative stereotypes, to 'put them in their place'. Within any group, there will be some tendency for them to wish to maintain cohesiion and to stick to their own way of doing things. Is this not as true for Poles living abroad as it is for Gypsies anywhere?

The discrimination against Gypsies that I have even noticed for myself in Poland, merely exacerbates the problems. Of the Gypsies from Poland, Czech, Slovakia et al who move to western Europe, some will remain 'visibly Gypsy', whereas others will be finding a new life where they can get away from the dicrimination and negative stereotypes they are tarnished with in the countries they have left, and they can get on with living and working.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

This does look like the start of a joke.
Three Greeks walk into a bar. One has a gyros, another a souvlaki, and the last one a kebab.
They all left the pub again, because you only eat these things at the end of a night out.
Okay - not true. I like a kebab before I go out and then another one at the end.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

Kebab has to be lamb really (personal preference). I've not seen pork in a kebab, Greek or otherwise.
I have tried Turkish ham-like stuff that's a mix of beef and chicken. Not bad, but sometimes there's no substitute for a real bit of pig.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]

None of this answers the most important question:

Greeks or Turks - which ones make the best kebabs?

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


In part, yes. The Turkic input into Turkey was more cultural than genetic. A close relationship does not necessarily mean close friendship.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]


You like Monty Python, don't you? Have you ever seen the recurring sketch-ette called "How to recognise different kinds of trees from quite a long way away"? Time after time the answer was "The Larch". Can I just mention that the Larch (Larix spp.) is a deciduous conifer?


I told you I don't know why!

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]

Definately an oak / dąb / Quercus (probably Q. robur) just to the left. Maybe a maple / klon / Acer pseudoplatanus just creeping into the picture on the right. I think in the middle of the picture, there is also a young lady who looks very Polish indeed (although I can't quite put my finger on just how).

Life / Polish and Czechs [191]

Can't every Polish member of the forum just put each of the neighbour in order of preference? Yes you may include Sweden if you really want to. (What's a little bit of water between friend/enemies?)

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


I remember seeing an Atlas when I was little. Somewhere within the USSR was quite a large place called Komi ASSR. I thought to myself "Wow! They must be really communist commies in that bit!" Okay, so actually I didn't.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


Haven't you noticed? We're all using keyboards.

Genealogy / What are common Polish character traits? [425]

It doesn't matter if you have the Guinness world record, a Pole will always say he can drink more than you.

Life / Poles are not racist [873]


A big 'aaah!' in sympathy for the forum's resident German.

Many of us feel at least a little bit of discrimination here on PF, some more than others. But most of us leave our computers, step out into the real word (hey, isn't this real?) and aren't subjected to racial or ethnic discrimination.

Life / Poles are not racist [873]

Only albinos and the seriously anaemic can call themselves white.

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]

Like some of the dentally-deficient, gnarled old individuals I have worked with in my time. Do you like moustaches, Mr. Southern?

Language / NAMES POLES GIVE THEIR DOGS [76]


I used to have a dog with this name. She wasn't Polish and neither am I. Nor was the previous owner who gave her this name.

Not a bad name for a dog. It's not Biblical, is it?

For some time, I've wondered how Polish dogs deal with the large number of different forms of their own name.

Language / NAMES POLES GIVE THEIR DOGS [76]

Doesn't anyone else find Biblical names for dogs a bit weird?

Language / NAMES POLES GIVE THEIR DOGS [76]

No mention of Grzegorz!

I can add another name to that list...
Who wants to give their dog the most common name anyway?

• 
  Werka
  
• 
  Kropka
  

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]

... because it shows a lack of vocabulary, intelligence, wit and understanding of the situation, and often descends into using terms that are offensive to more people than you are actually trying to offend, you gayest of the gay gays.

Language / Polish Swear Words [1242]

Swearing is not just about attacking people. What do you shout when you miss the nail and twat your thumb with a hammer? It's better to insult people without too many swear-words. From my experience of Irish people, I would say they tend to swear quite a lot.