The BEST Guide to POLAND
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Posts by pawian  

Joined: 30 May 2008 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 19 Mar 2025
Threads: Total: 226 / Live: 154 / Archived: 72
Posts: Total: 27458 / Live: 21375 / Archived: 6083 		From: Poe land
Speaks Polish?: Yes, but I prefer English
Interests: Everything funny

Displayed posts: 21529 / page 644 of 718
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pawian   
11 May 2019
Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [187]

Did you know that each opening of a new contruction or a planned investment should be blessed by a priest in Poland? Probably that`s one of the reasons Polish economy has been developing so rapidly since the collapse of communism.

Schools, offices, roads, industry etc Last year we had our new football pitch blessed in our school.


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pawian   
11 May 2019
Language / "Putschke" - Please help me figure out a nickname my grandfather called me [30]

I wondered for a long time why you wrote about ass and realised it when I found out chubby also means plump.

So, there is a misunderstanding on your part because pucołowaty doesn`t refer to the whole body being plump but only to cheeks.

Pucołowaty - chubby cheeked. Hence pućka - a female with chubby cheeks.

maybe 'pucki'? fat cheeks...

I tried to image- google pućka and all images show pets like cats, dogs or even owls. It has stopped bearing that human connotation in Polish.
pawian   
11 May 2019
Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

Oops, dear staff, isn`t it better to move it all to Random?

Ok, let it be as you want but don`t complain later on that I didn`t warn you.

pawian, for me - everything will be interesting! )

As you wish. :)

Poland seems so close to Lithuania, yet I believe that to south of Warszawa starts next climatic zone, much warmer )

Polish climate zones - they are called frost resistance zones in Polish. Mine is this medium one - 6B, but dangerously close to 6A.


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pawian   
11 May 2019
News / Poland GDP growth surprises on upside [35]

Yes, they are but never mind, this thread is about GDP, not renegade journalists.

Polish economy is growing!

Yes! And we are growing with it, too! :):)

An informative article which in simple words explains certain basics: What about the roots of Poland's success? Do they offer lessons for its neighbors? And what must Poland do to continue its progress in the coming decades?

theglobalist.com/poland-economy-gdp-european-union
pawian   
11 May 2019
News / Poland GDP growth surprises on upside [35]

regardless you can find some good journalists here and there, like Ziemkiewicz, Rachon, Carlson and few others ...

Now you are provoking (because I don`t believe you can be so stupid) because you perfectly know they are perfect examples of renegade sh.tty journalists I mentioned before. :):)
pawian   
11 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

It's cynaderki.

That is a traditional Polish name for cooked kidneys, lovely.

Mum once made ozorek but I just hated the look of it.

Ozorek means tongue. I find its look funny. And when you cook it long enough, it melts on your tongue.

I make various dishes of it.


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pawian   
11 May 2019
News / Poland GDP growth surprises on upside [35]

but what Poles enjoy, is increasingly irritating the Germans.

Mr Grunwald, you shouldn`t quote that state TVP, it is PiS controlled lying media, that is why they mentioned Germans in this news. It is a worthless tv channel, made by renegade Polish journalists.
pawian   
11 May 2019
History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

the whole economic system could be regarded as a bit of a myth. People are nostalgic for the days of factories with full employment.

Yes, that`s another good example.

A typical comment on sites: in the past, people didn`t worry about work, there was no unemployment.

They forget that:
- the employment was artificially increased, 3 people did work which could be done by 1 person. The reasons were ideological - unemployment in a communist country? Impossible! But the economic effect was disastrous because the productivity was a few time lower than in the West.

Besides, people doing such jobs earned peanuts.
That, however, was compensated by various benefits, especially when you were a permanent worker in a big enterprise. You could go on holidays paid by your company, get some food or other articles (coal) for free, and if you were lucky the company provided you with an apartment which after decades could become yours.

That is why some people are still so nostalgic about communism.
pawian   
11 May 2019
History / Heritage of partitions still present in Poland [107]

Another example
The private ownership of forests - all ex partition zones display higher amount of private owners compared to white colour - up to 10% ownership - in ex German lands. I hope you know why.


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pawian   
11 May 2019
History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

to hold any prominent position, you had to be a party member.

That was called nomenklatura. There were exceptions of course but most people in charge of big things had to belong to the party.

ppl who still think socialism and communism are great you should interview any Koalicja Obywatelska member

It is sad that you are lying on such a beautiful day. :)
pawian   
10 May 2019
History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

"Mechanics and technically minded people could fix anything on the cheap.."

Shyt, it isn`t a myth! Whenever I take my car to the garage today, I boast to mechanics that "once I even took the engine out of my Fiat 126p when I wanted to change the clutch plate." I depended on self-repair books with loads of step by step photos and I did it with basic tools.

The reality being that all was low tech,

Exactly. Today it is impossible although when I read car fora, I see that some guys are still able to repair their advanced cars at home.

Washing machines. My MIL had hers' for 30 years, and it never saw a repair man

Yes, this myth has been functioning for decades now and mostly it is true. I still use things which I bought in 1980s, e.g., a car foot pump which is bulky and uncomfortable like a Soviet tank but it is equally durable. Those Chinese pumps are worthless.

Let`s call these two cases positively verified legends.
pawian   
10 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Why?
The last time I had it was in 2015. I don`t know what happened - probably that infamous every-7- year -taste-change took place.

Hah, I know! After many futile attempts to recreate the taste of chicken liver my mum had cooked for us when I was a little boy, I gave up. Sad but seems the most plausible explanation.

I have mine:)

Are you going to eat it on your own or share with family?
pawian   
10 May 2019
History / What is Poles opinion on Intermarium (Międzymorze)? [188]

Without CEU, in EU, in 50 years 15-20 million Poles won`t be Poles

I see your point. Who knows?

But we are living now, not in 50 years. Now Poles want to take advantage of all benefits that the EU offers (not only money) and nobody is thinking how Poland will look in 50 years` time.

We have greater chance to reform Russia and change it,

You should know that if you count on Russia to help you regain Kosovo, you will be disappointed. They can`t do it because it would mean they have to give up Crimea and that won`t happen soon, whether in a reformed or unreformed Russia.
pawian   
10 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Bread is Polish if it is Polish bread. Potatoes are never Polish.

This logic reminds me that if auntie had balls, she would be your uncle. :):)

I don't really want to continue this daft thread,

Stay, we need everybody on our Polish board. :)

Kidneys? I don't remember them at all. What do you do with them?

I usually roast them and then serve with natural gravy. I have tried many times but I haven`t been able to achieve such taste as I remember from our students` uni canteen decades ago. I have dreamt about that taste since then and still cannot recreate it.


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pawian   
10 May 2019
Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

Oops, dear staff, I understand you considered the above post as off topic in the Owning a countryside home thread, I don`t mind at all. But I wonder what else we could write in this new thread you created - it seems everything important has already been said. Isn`t it better to move it all to Random?

If it stays, I will feel forced to write silly things about climate zones in Poland, the revival of growing grapes in some parts of Poland, droughts etc. But that will make a few posts a month or even year. So it isn`t worth it, I suppose.
pawian   
10 May 2019
News / 20% of Poland's 15-year-old are bullied at school; 21% feel like outsiders [9]

Merged:

Pupil fatally stabs his classmate at school



Each year another border is crossed. So far, we have heard about such tragic incidents taking place in other countries. This time it has occured in Poland.

Two pupils in a primary school in Warsaw argued and one used a knife several times. Despite rescuers` efforts, the wounded pupil died.

wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/warszawa-tragedia-w-szkole-dziecko-dzgniete-nozem/54y1xkd

There had been school stabbings before, I remember two or three cases since 1989, but never with such tragic consequences.
pawian   
10 May 2019
News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [85]

Once you start striping from the people their voting right it is a path down the rabbit hole.

Yes, there is a danger it might infringe on democracy and human rights etc. I take it into account.

On the other hand:

its like choosing your neighbours living room color-

Yes, that is why I also feel uneasy about it.
pawian   
10 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Pierogis are Polish. Cod livers are not.

But your previous suggestion that cod liver isn`t Polish food was based on its popularity in the world. I pointed to another popular dish - pierogis - so why do you suddenly claim one is Polish and the other not if they are both popular? :):)

Milo, you weren`t joking, right? I hope you run your business with a better understanding of life and things around you than in this thread. :)

me about eating lungs when he was young. I don't remember ever eating them or seeing in the butchers?

I saw them in the hypermarket today but I never eat that stuff- so I bought kidneys and tongues, both pig.
pawian   
10 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

OK, let me tell you what I understood. I understood you doubt if talking about fish liver here is appropriate as it seems to you it isn`t purely Polish food because it is eaten by so many people in the world.

Following this logic, you could say the same thing about pierogis because they are also eaten all over the world. Also, hundreds of other foods and dishes.

If it was correct understanding of mine, you should change your point of view because it is simply wrong and I hope you understand it now. :):)
pawian   
10 May 2019
News / Should Polonia and expat Poles lose voting rights in Polish elections? [85]

I have been wondering about it for years. From time to time this topic appears in the PF, too. Here are most recent opinions:

1 Until Polonia - a lot of whom have never set foot in Poland, are stripped of voting rights, Poland will always be hostage to its past.

2 A very simple rule: no representation without taxation. Pay tax to Poland as a resident would, and you can vote. Don't pay tax, don't vote.

I shared those points of view too. Now I am not sure, especially after reading the article about US Polonia voting dilemma from the blog Expat Pole` Dairy from Chicago.

In short, the author, a Polish female in the USA since 2009, claims it is improper to vote if you left and haven`t lived in Poland for many years. I also read comments below her entry, posters generally agree with her and admit they don`t vote, either.

Statistics for 2015 parliamentary elections: 25.000 Am Poles voted. (72% of these Am Poles voted PiS, while 10% PO).

More Poles voted in Great Britain - about 65.000. That`s new emigration which arrived recently.

Altogether, 175.000 Poles took part in the voting all over the world.

Full statistics here:
Sejm
parlament2015.pkw.gov.pl/350_Wyniki_Sejm_zagranica/0
Senate
parlament2015.pkw.gov.pl/352_Wyniki_Senat_zagranica

Comments: only 25.000 Poles voted in the USA. It means they are probably new migrants who have come to America within past few years. Probably the old immigrants, staying in the USA for 30 or more years don`t vote. Or, am I wrong?

You assume that Polonia vote for PiS eh?

Yes, US Polonia vote for one party mainly. :) But, are they able to influence the results in Poland proper? Hmm, I doubt it.

As I said, I don`t know what should be done with it. Let it stay as it is?
pawian   
10 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Milo, is it your way of joking by adopting that ignorant simpleton`s attitude? :):) Because I am at a loss whether I should follow the style and go on joking with you or should I remain serious and explain basic things to you? Tell me. :):)
pawian   
10 May 2019
Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

Aaah, climate! I forgot about it. Yes, the Polish Pole of Cold is in Northern- Eastern Poland, next to Lithuania.

One day I wanted to talk about my propensity for exotic plants. Keeping them in the open air have always been my dream. But I can be so inconsistent. Silly of me but I can`t resist and regularly buy plants which must be carefully protected in winter and then I never have time to do it and they usually die in freezing temperatures which go down to -- 15C. I lost about two dozen plants in this way, including two palm trees advertised as frost resistant.

Only fig trees do well in winter - they lose upper twigs but the bottom ones survive and shoot new stems in spring.

It`s like a gambling game - who`s gonna win - me or winter? It is so fascinating. Does anybody understand me here? :):)


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pawian   
9 May 2019
Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

What do you think ancient Poles did with livers when they ate cod?

They are eaten in Poland today and quite popular, there are many recipes online, that`s enough.

Thinking about it- they are probably quite healthy.

I hope so.
healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-of-cod-liver-oil
pawian   
9 May 2019
Study / Various education and school issues in Poland. Opinions, stories, controversies. [1006]

On Wednesday high school students took a foreign language exam. Over 90% choose English. Additionally, students are required to choose one subject at an advanced level - it can be anything but 60% choose English as well.

Here is last year`s advanced written exam sheet paper.
cke.gov.pl/images/_EGZAMIN_MATURALNY_OD_2015/Arkusze_egzaminacyjne/2018/formula_od_2015/jezyk_angielski/MJA-R1_1P-182.pdf

A standard exam always starts with listening tasks. Then text comprehension, vocabulary and grammar exercises and essay writing. Actually , it can be an article, essay or a formal letter.

See a part of the grammar task

9.1.
The demolition company has destroyed the bridge.
PULLED
The bridge __________________________________________by the demolition company.

9.3.
I'm sure the Browns considered their decision to adopt the dog very carefully.
MUST
The Browns ________________________________________ their decision to adopt the dog very carefully.

And an essay - two topics to choose from:

Banning cars from city centres is getting more and more popular. Write an essay about advantages and disadvantages of such a ban.

More and more people take up jogging for health reasons. Write an article about the reasons behind its popularity and relate an interesting joggin event in which you participated.