Paulina
22 Jun 2022
History / POLISH AND RUSSIAN FRIENDSHIP WILL LAST FOREVER [513]
Bobko?
I remember that name mentioned in news reports:
nytimes.com/2022/06/22/world/europe/ukraine-mykolaiv-russia.html
Aren't you worried that your cousin will get killed?
Not really, Poles compare Poland to all kinds of countries... I see people making comparisons with Spain usually only if it's about the size of the country and GDP or sth like that... My impression is that Poles most often compare Poland vs Germany. I think it's because many Poles went to work there (and so they're able to compare), it's our neighbour (so people can visit it more easily) and because it's "the bestest" in Europe (the most successful country and is associated with quality, etc.). I've got an impression that it's an aspiration of many Poles for Poland to reach the level of Germany's developemnt. There are some comparisons made between Poland and the UK also, since many Poles went to work there too. It's usually the opposite with Russia - it isn't viewed as a role model, but everything that Poles wouldn't want Poland to be.
Do you talk with him about the war and the situation in Nikolayev?
Bobko?
I remember that name mentioned in news reports:
nytimes.com/2022/06/22/world/europe/ukraine-mykolaiv-russia.html
Aren't you worried that your cousin will get killed?
Poland compares herself to countries from our cultural circle of Latin civilisation: France, Italy or Spain.
Not really, Poles compare Poland to all kinds of countries... I see people making comparisons with Spain usually only if it's about the size of the country and GDP or sth like that... My impression is that Poles most often compare Poland vs Germany. I think it's because many Poles went to work there (and so they're able to compare), it's our neighbour (so people can visit it more easily) and because it's "the bestest" in Europe (the most successful country and is associated with quality, etc.). I've got an impression that it's an aspiration of many Poles for Poland to reach the level of Germany's developemnt. There are some comparisons made between Poland and the UK also, since many Poles went to work there too. It's usually the opposite with Russia - it isn't viewed as a role model, but everything that Poles wouldn't want Poland to be.