Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

I agree, FUZZY. You are just answering the thread and were right to point out that hate is too strong. The problem is, Poles more than many others want to hear only the good things about their country to boost their sense of identity. Many think the same as you do, believe me.

So many Poles have mentioned much stronger pet hates in this country than you got near to doing. These are my friends and students.

I also agreed with the point about food. Still, give them time. My home city is only fractionally bigger than Gliwice, the city where I live here. However, it is far more multicultural at home and the greater variety of food reflects that. There would be no sense in giving too many options as your options should be indicative of the place where you live. Gliwice is conservative and international restaurants don't fare too well, I gather.

As for being overpriced, I tend to agree relative to salaries. My overheads are through the roof (ZUS, tax, flat and financial services) and having to pay so much for some food and drink is naff. The delicatessen on the rynek is a joke. 21PLN for a jar of French mustardy mayo. I tend to get the reduced priced items that are nearing their sell-by date and that pis*es them off. I got the same jar for 5PLN and finished it up.

I will say that we must remember, as foreigners, that they were under communism for the best part of 43 years. Over 4 decades leaves an indelible imprint, esp given that it was imposed on them.

Polonia / POLES vs BULGARIANS [160]

I certainly look forward to your coming here and explaining all this to me, Crow. I'll maybe invite some Polish friends if that's ok, see how much they know :)

Polonia / POLES vs BULGARIANS [160]

Crow, I don't think Poles think as globally as you make out.

John Lee Hooker once sang 'One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer'.

For the Poles, it's 'One Gherkin, One Cabbage Roll, One Vodka'

Language / IS "MURZYN" word RACIST? [686]

I guess it depends what school of thought you belong to. Some believe that the term 'paki' by itself is derogatory but others believe you need other words to make it offensive. The intonation is the giveaway.

It's all in the intention :)

Polonia / POLES vs BULGARIANS [160]

It doesn't make sense to generalise here. I think George is right, they likely understand very little of each other. I don't know much about Bulgarians at all, only that a couple played footie in Scotland.

I loved Hristo Stoichkov, a badboy and super talent. Boniek was strong in the Polish side of 74.

Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [53]

Just funny stuff, nothing to be worried about. It's not too dissimilar to the dialect here in Silesia which is called Gwara. It just involves vowel changes and misspelt words.

The sounds are pretty soft there. Zakopane is a very touristic area so they are accustomed to foreigners. It's a cool place to teach :)

Polonia / POLES vs BULGARIANS [160]

You just need some people to tell the truth, Crow. People are lazy but the switched-on, cultured ones will listen. The crucial first step is to do some reading with an open mind, reading which goes beyond national press outlets.

I, too, believed the Serbs to be the principal wrongdoers because I didn't question enough when I was younger. I now know that is goes a little deeper than that.

As for Bulgarians, well, we had Bulgarian football players in Scotland like Ilyan Kiriakov and Stilian Petrov. They seemed to be thoroughly likeable guys.

Define good and then we can move forward. The Yugoslav football team of 1990 was pretty talented.

Poland and Bulgaria have shown potential over the years in footie but haven't delivered for a long time.

Well, I agree. Germany was a catalyst but there was enough bad will between the warring factions that it was inevitable.

Anyway, let's not hijack the thread. Poles should not fight with Bulgarians and vice-versa as there is no good reason.

Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [53]

Szarly, LOL. Quite the man!

You'll be fine, sir. As Natasia said, you may well become sth of a celeb! There's a pretty mellow vibe in the mountains so you shouldn't go far wrong. Just applaud vodka and all will be well :)

Work / Teaching English in Zakopane, is it safe? [53]

You should be fine but try to avoid heavy drinking mountaineers. They can be a little rowdy, more cantankerous than standard folks after drinking.

Still, I see Zakopane as a safe enough area. You might be told off for speaking English as my English friend got, LOL.

Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

They charge 5PLN for ATM withdrawals which ain't good. The staff are friendly enough mind you. Too many surcharges for my liking but I went through an arduous process to set up everything so I'm labouring on with it.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

My wife of course. You need to be a good man to cope with the turns of women. 'Now I don't say I'm a good man, but I would be if I could'. Peter Green, Man of the World, classic!!!

The spirit of some of the people in adversity is great too! Oh yes, and the efforts of the man tonight to find me toilet paper as I had to leave the hall during football. He got me some eventually and I held out. I couldn't stop thanking him :)

USA, Canada / Are there any Polish people in Florida? [311]

You are a Polish person who cannot speak Polish? That's a fail right there!!

Food / What is your favorite Polish Vodka? [653]

Nothing touches Pan Tadeusz, it has a redeeming quality to it.

UK, Ireland / Warning to British people visiting Poland!! Don't get drunk and smash the place up! [453]

Like a native, aha, so it still needs some work then? ;) ;)

Excessive drinking was never my scene though we've all got a story or two. I've seen some people horribly off their faces and it's embarrassing.

UK, Ireland / Warning to British people visiting Poland!! Don't get drunk and smash the place up! [453]

On my birthday, the 24th of October. I'm glad the ceremony was short :)

Some folk will do that. Pretty lame when you consider how the lives of Poles have been enhanced by the EU's principles such as free movement and the recognition of qualifications abroad.

You get nobs everywhere though. Just wait til you get your Porsche, WB. You'll be goin so fast that you won't see him stick anything up.

UK, Ireland / Warning to British people visiting Poland!! Don't get drunk and smash the place up! [453]

Thanks, tm. I took the plunge at last but it's business as usual at work.

UK, Ireland / Warning to British people visiting Poland!! Don't get drunk and smash the place up! [453]

We both moan like beeatches. Um, we both know what oppression is from our history. We both like to drink. That kind of thing.

UK, Ireland / Warning to British people visiting Poland!! Don't get drunk and smash the place up! [453]

I am Scottish and can say that I am well received by most here. The Scots and Poles have certain commonalities. There will always be those that don't accept you but they tend not to accept their own kind either.

Food / Polish Pizza !! The best in the world? [330]

Yeah, we can certainly russle up some quality fare quite easily.

News / Do Poles in Poland really feel betrayed because there won't be any US Shield? [288]

Yup, have to agree here.

Have just heard that Hillary Clinton is in the ME. It's bad to say but I hope sb shakes her up. She has NO intention of bringing about a 2-state solution and I HATE her insincerity. I hope she gets physically booted out and sent home for being smarmy and insincere.

If she starts gibbering about the shield again, she should be slapped very hard :)

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

A few foreigners got beaten up there is better. Few is mało and a few is kilka. Aha, they are not like the gippos in Ireland tho.

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

How is Zaborze? Not infested with gippos? Do you have an area called Zander?

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

Frd will hopefully tell us about the area behind the bus station in Zabrze, near the ZUS offices. Wow, I'd never seen as many gippos in one place. If you wanna fight, they'd likely be fair game.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

That's 2 of us that think you're a kid, Scrappy. From the land of the slim, LOL.

You are off-topic again, Scrappy. I suggest you either answer the thread or feck off.

Inferiority from who? Give me anything to compare and we'll see how you fare against WB and I. Languages, sports, education, name it.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

Seanny is right, hate is rather strong. Queue, Scrappy. Still not out of elementary school, I see ;) ;)

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]

I wouldn't say he was arrogant. He's a straight talker and sometimes it pays to be candid. There's time for tact and time for not mincing words and WB knows how to differentiate them. He likes many things about Poland and I think Poles shouldn't be so defensive and try and see where he is coming from.

Language / Terms of endearment in Polish [222]

Goodnight my sweetest darling!! I will be thinking about you until we meet again.

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

No Stalin-style indoctrination from 1953, just communism ;) ;)

Life / Why Do You Love Poland? [907]

Forests :) I hear ye brotha, Scotland has its fair share of them. Westerners are not down-to-earth? That's a bit of a generalisation. Communism was hype in and of itself. It was one of the worst forms actually or did you have sth different in mind?

Life / Things that annoy you in Poland. [133]

I was disappointed by the glaring lack of cameras on the way back from Warsaw, terrain which should have been prime pickings for catching people out. Unmanned police cars need to be the norm in some parts.