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


I just asked two Serbs. They said they'd never thought about Polish borders and didn't much care about Serbian ones.

History / Polish and German Borders-Justice for Both Countries or not? [37]

It's far too late to change anything now. Generations have passed since the borders were moved.

I wish though that some of the towns and villages would revert to their old names - you can't wipe out centuries of history by changing a street sign and one nice things about my own country is that a village or town can have a name with German, Danish, Celtic, latin or French roots.

Genealogy / I am looking for an African guy in Krakow, I dated [73]


It does look like that, doesn't it. Probably one of the usual suspects who recently appeared under another user name pretending his girlfriend had been raped in Warsaw and posted all sorts of conflicting details.

Genealogy / I am looking for an African guy in Krakow, I dated [73]


This is one option, another is having the baby adopted, another is to keep the child. There are only three possibilities here.


It isn;t unusual for someone to sleep with a stranger and then not be able to find them. It takes two to tango, however the woman is left with the problem.

A hard problem, but one that happens the world over.

Life / Are Poles suspicious of Facebook? [50]

Some of them have the full 500.

Life / Are Poles suspicious of Facebook? [50]


Obviously one can't generalise since not all Poles are the same, but generally people are quite suspicious and also guard their privacy. But not everyone.

On facebook it's worth having the maximum privacy settings for a shed load of reasons.

Study / Student dormitories vs private rooms in Poland. What's the best option? [12]


I know it a little, since I lived very near for several years.

As far as I remember it's for post-graduates. The building isn't very new (it's a 1950s hotel) and you shouldn't expect the rooms to be shiny and new. I would think it is very well heated in winter (this is normal in Poland). The big plus about it is that it's in the best possible location in Warsaw - in a good area, close to Lazienki Park and the Prime Minister's residence, as well as being a few minutes on the bus from the centre of the city

There's a hairdresser and a (quiet) bar on the ground floor, and a few cheapish restaurants nearby.

Usually, the lady at the door thing is for undergraduate dorms, more than this kind of place where you will find doctoral candidates etc who they tend to trust more. This does however have a hotel-style reception.

Hotel Hera is a place that most students would be very pleased to get a place in.



To add - I remember some building work going on there one summer and think that some of the rooms are renovated (as in the picture) but suspect not all. the bathrooms should be OK.

Study / Student dormitories vs private rooms in Poland. What's the best option? [12]

Student dorms in PL are quite restrictive - there's often a lady in a booth by the main door and rules about who can or cannot be in your room at certain times. Also there are shared bathrooms (sometimes communal) and not enough of them and the kitchens are sometimes squalid.

A private room gives more freedom, however you could of course miss out on social life.

Travel / Poles the worst-dressed tourists in the world? [25]

I notice that Eastern European tourists tend to either dress up or down - no middle way. I've also noticed in Poland that people tend to pack way too much - no concept of travelling light.

Real Estate / Renting in Poland - tenants' rights? [51]

A gentleman's agreement with the owner might be one way forard.

Your noisy neighbours sound a horror though. Unless the flat is amazing in other ways, I think I'd want to move.

Real Estate / Renting in Poland - tenants' rights? [51]


It's often better to keep it all informal.

History / Jaruzelski vs Pinochet [120]

Looks like that - and of course provides a very limited safety net, plus some healthcare.

Not expensive either.

History / Jaruzelski vs Pinochet [120]

In what way?

History / Jaruzelski vs Pinochet [120]


Agreed. Some party members did (and do) strongly believe they were making the world a better place.

History / Jaruzelski vs Pinochet [120]


That or a deep-seated superstition.

Food / Vodka left over in Poland - where to sell? [8]

Keep it for the next few Christmases.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

That's kind of you. And good that you acknowledge that Faith and 'facts' can often seem at variance, yet Faith always triumphs because it is a Belief.

;-)

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]


Beliefs, as discussed in other threads, cannot be questioned. It is a matter of Faith.


More likely called Herr Gatke.


I doubt that.


That seems unlikely


It only needs to be a small area for a usage to be revived or spread.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Personally I believe there is a break in continuity - this is common linguistically.

BTW, the surname is not necessarily a Jewish one.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

That's all very interesting, however words work a little differently to that, and I believe strongly that the word in its present form was recycled from Yiddish. Regardless of how it got there, though the surname theory is compelling.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Interesting, but it still doesn't explain how the term gadżki (and gacie and variants) came into common use. Not necessarily from old Slavonic to the modern day.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

I used the word 'ogacić' recently and was told it was archaic. A nice word though.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

You've certainly made some interesting points, however they don't quite ring true and seem like you're trying to prove a pint. One that isn't backed up by any evidence. There is however a traceable history of the word's use in Yiddish.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

As the link shows, it's origin is probably a surname. Passed from the Yiddish throughout the lands in which the products were sold. The old Slavonic word is most likely unrelated.

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

Read Howard Jacobson. Or if you haven't the time or energy (I find him a dreary writer) look here:
yiddishslangdictionary.com/word/480/gatkes

Language / Slang term for "pants" in Polish? Gacie. [32]

It's actually a Yiddish word that's come into Polish. My ex uses it. It isn't in general use (a friend reminds me of that every time I say it) however people in the east of the country sometimes say 'gadżki'. It is nowadays regional slang.

UK, Ireland / Five Polish Students Died along the Somerset Coast in 1994 - what happened? [13]

Nothing on the Internet that's easily findable. What's the name of the local newspaper round there?

Genealogy / Possibility and proof of being Tatar [15]


You aren't Tatar are you? You may well have some Tatar ancestors though. A very different thing.

Study / University degrees and schools in Poland. Not interested in the proof of my degree? [10]

And a lot about who you know.

History / 70th anniversary of 1943 Wołyń/Volhynia and Eastern Galicia Massacre - controvercies [454]


I'd rather trust that historian than 'kresy.pl'


Actually I didn't, but never mind.


Who said it did refer only to the military occupiers?


Try Professor Żak's excellent book on the topic. Amazon stock it.