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 [332]

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. [595]

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!

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

Interesting how many Turkish women, and youngish ones no less, seem to have overwhelmingly cast their votes for such a reprobate!
Tansu Cillar, where art thou??

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

Yep, jon! He's sure gonna need it.

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

There Feniks, you see?

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

Many Poles are indeed often natural blonds. However, I know numerous brown-haired, brown-eyed Poles.

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

In addition, how does Erdogan ever intend to handle the tinderbox issue of the Kurds, much less Turkey's relationship with Germany??

Apparently, his victory will enable Sweden to join in NATO. Let's wait and see.

News / Polish IQ ahead of France, USA, Canada, Israel, Ireland... [50]

The concept of an intelligence quotient in itself is relative!
IQ tests were long abandoned in this country as a way of "objectively" measuring one's intelligence, as cultural factors are as much an interference factor as anything else.

During the '60's, black and Latino children were typically shown three drawings of a (Caucasian!!) man carrying a briefcase, another a garden hoe, yet another seated in a restaurant above the question: "WHICH OF THESE MEN IS GOING TO WORK?"

Only the first answer was deemed correct. If that's not discrimination, I don't know the meaning of the word.

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

I can well believe it. Native English-speaking instructors/professors?
Dumb question I suppose:-)

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

In the light of Tansu Cillar along with many other enlightenened, educated Turkish leaders, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's an embarrassment to Turkey's progress, who wants to lead Turkey back into the Caliphate stone ages of Pashas, slaves, and repression of women's rights in that country!

And he had the gall to once compare himself with Ataturk, the former general who brought enlightened prosperity, above all literacy, to Turkey??! What a slap in the face.

I'm disappointed, to say the least. Now Turkey will probably never join the EU.

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [595]

Stereotypes abound, Alien, and sadly the Poles seem to be the ones who suffer.