Love / I love my Polish girl! Wanted to share my story. [55]


Germany's a wonderful place to live. Stable, reliable, the only bad thing about Germany is the love of rules. On the whole though, it's certainly no worse than the UK.


That would be why they consistently rate as having a far superior quality of life to the UK then?


Can't really compare poor European countries to the UK, can you?

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


No one expects to be treated fairly by foreign universities... it is obvious they will look down on Polish qualifications!
I looked through the material demanded for A-levels and it's more or less the same as our matura.


At which uni??


I did 3 years of "licencjat", wrote my dissertation, had to defend it, afterwards 2 years for "magister", again - dissertation and defending it. So how is my "magister" not equal? I assure you it is! I looked into the MSc material (field similar to mine) at one of the English unis - and to be honest, it was laughably easy!

I just hate this attitude of "our MSc is better..because it's called differently!". Bollocks!

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


At my uni a candidate had to prepare his subject, research outline etc. and present it at the entry exam. He would be given points for his masters results and for the value of the proposed research.

Work / An Australian girl living in Poland: Residence permit, please help! [44]


Yep, as long as they're satisfied that you're doing it for tourism. Be aware that UK immigration officers will often refuse entry if they think you're doing it simply to gain extra time in the Schengen zone.


Yes, it means they were lucky. Remeber - someone checking your passport in the Foreigners Office can easily alert the Straz Graniczna to an overstayer - and as you have to have a legal address, bang.

It's simply not worth trying to get round it - you won't succeed. Even if you do, then you can easily be found out at a later date if the stamps in the passport don't add up.

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


It's not racist if it's not used in a sentence meant to be offensive. It's just a word describing someone with black skin, that's all.

Life / Womans day in Poland? [242]

Many women choose to ignore this "celebrations" nowadays, the commies did everything to make us hate it ;)

Life / Womans day in Poland? [242]


I don't think so ;)
I usually don't even remember about all these days of this or that, I only remember about Grandfather's Day, just because he expects me to and I'm being nice :P

Work / English teaching books in Poland: villains and heroes [30]

I was learning from Proficiency Masterclass (Oxford University Press) at some point and found it absolutely brilliant - witty, challenging and interesting.

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]

It's common in American movies, they seem to think that any Slavic language will do and it's all the same ;)

And no, there is no such word as "busha' in Polish.

Travel / What to do in Wroclaw! [49]

Go to the zoo :)

Life / Do you collect mushrooms in your country? Poles in Poland do. [79]

Do not pick up smardz under any circumstances!
It's rare and protected by law!

Travel / Hard Candy - Krakow, Poland - reviews? [131]

The great thing here is that all these guys are posting on here, admitting that they were stupid enough to go to a bar with some girls that showed interest in them "randomly" on the street!

Life / Cost of Utilities in Warsaw. [23]


Got mine too - this is for two people living in a 65sqm flat, who run all sorts of electrical stuff and who don't pay any particular attention to energy usage. Two months - 271zl. And that's with several electrical things running 24/7, along with someone running a business from home - so all the usual things are on constantly, such as a printer and computer.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Far easier when you couldn't be put into prison for this, wasn't it? Whereas at home it was rather brave even not to sign in to the party.

Anyway, my parents kept illegal papers in their home during the marital state. Kind of risky with my mum pregnant - once two men in long, black jackets knocked at the door and terrified her nearly to death. But fortunately these were just Jehowa witnesses, and I wasn't born in prison. I was also told that "Czterej Pancerni" is a bunch of rubbish, I was taught not-so-appropriate songs ("ja myślałam, że to śmieci, że to gówno drogą leeeeci, a to Sowieci, Sowieci..."). I was far too young to listen to Wolna Europa, but my parents and grandparents did. And they went to Kabaret Tej shows, if you have any idea what this was. I still remember "Mury" being played on TV early after regaining independence and I will never forget, though I was only 7, my parents joy when Wałęsa won the election.

The changes came from within the country, the Solidarity started here, not abroad. What exactly did our government-in-exile do to overthrow the regime?

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Yes, I know the money and goods were being sent to Poland, but I'm asking - how was it brave? People abroad did not risk ANYTHING. If they were so brave, why didn't they come back and do something real in the country?

Not belonging to the party could def. cost you your career. Protesting in the streets could cost you your life (Poznan 1956, anyone?).

Jeez, I start to believe that delphi is right about Polonia...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Reagan was hardly Polonia! You can't use him as an example of "Polonia fighting for Poland", USA was fighting their own war, they couldn't care less about Poland then.


Maybe they shouldn't have left in the first place?

I know they helped, but please don't try and convince me that Polonia freed Poland, cause that's just a blatant lie.

Anyway, I don't mind 3rd generation Poles feeling "Polish" and eating pierogi, as long as they are not trying to tell us what to do with our own country. For example they shouldn't vote in our elections, as they do not bear the consequences.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Why are you convinced that Poles living (and paying taxes) in Poland are not capable of higher feelings? That is none of your business who we choose in our elections, you are not Polish, you don'rt have to live with the consequences. Carry Poland in your heart as much as you want (what a romantic crap, by the way), this doesn't mean anything, dance "Polka dances" and eat kiełbasa or pierogi made by "busha", but leave any important decisions to real Poles living in the country! We have to get on with our lives here. Some people have a cheek...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

I'm not bitter at all. It just annoys me that people that don't live in my country, that don't even speak Polish dare to claim they know better what's bets for Poland. Let me say this: It's none of your business!

The Polonia (and many Poles) still have the romantic view of the emmigration, of people living abroad, writing romantic poetry and missing their country that is struggling under the foreign rule. Let me tell you this: it's detrimental for our country! Poland is a free country now, you can come and work here if you want and if you care. There's no need to stay abroad, there's no danger in coming to Poland, noone will arrest you, noone will punish you. If you're so patriotic, come and pay taxes here, let's get the example from hard working Western countries, not from our spoppy romantic history and books (as beautiful as they are). The times have changed, we have our chance now.

Why do you think I should be a lawyer to change anything in my country? The lawyers don't make law - you don't have to be a lawyer to be a politician. You don't have to be a politician to make a difference. I make my country more beautiful with my everyday work plus I pay taxes - so yes, I do make a difference. More then you do, for sure.

What are your standards, prey tell me?


Hahhaaaaaaaaaahhaaaa! You're so naive :D

Anyway, go to some high school with your advice, it's waaaaaaaaay too late for me to study law now (even if I ever wanted to, which I haven't).

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Where is my response bitter or condescending?? Isn't writing "we carry Poland in our hearts, unlike the Poles in the country" not condescending? I wonder...


No, saying that one has to be a lawyer to make a change and defining lawyers as "helping the poor and unhappy" is naive.


I'm a garden designer :) But that's completely irrelevant, even a cleaner can make a difference, as long and she's working to the best of her abilities.


I hope not. But I'd be well over 30 by the time I'd finish, and closer to 40 by the time I was allowed to work on my own. I've already received my education - don't need or want to study any more. I also find law studies incredibly boring.


Funny. Give me examples of me being rude or vicious. And that's not me who's close-minded here :D

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


My goodness, you are obsessed!


Can you people read? We are talking about Polonia, not about Poles in Poland.

Although I'm quite happy with the Polonia at the moment, after they refused to interfere in the Smolensk crash inquiry when PiS asked them to.

I still think they should not be allowed to vote in our elections though.

Love / Polish girls and contraceptives [68]


No one. Last time I went I got a prescription for 6 months.
But I disagree with the concept of free contraception. You want to have sex - you should pay for the pill or condoms. You, and not the tax payers.

Language / Spelling "aunt" in Polish [142]


which means your grandmother is not Polish. Babushka is a Russian word.


So they were from Eastern territories and probably were speaking some version of Polish that was mixed up with Russian or Bialorussian. The languages change, but the "old" word for grandma was "babka", not "busia". "Busia" is not a Polish word, and never was.

Life / The Polish Wedding - What is it Like in Poland? [338]


He's right though, the tradition came from the countryside. I won't have it, as it was never traditional in my family.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

Dżoana Krupa is not really Polish, her accent is awful and she introduces English words into Polish sentences. I doubt she considers herself Polish.

And yes, it's Central :P

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

She was brought up in America, as I said, I don't think she considers herself to be Polish.

Also "możesz być one day on a cover of a magazine" - how is this great Polish?

However, I could agree that the first generation of Poles abroad are Polish, but I will never agree that people, whose grandparents emigrated to America are Polish. They've never lived here, they were born abroad and thye use words like "busha" - no, they are not Polish.


Well, at least try living here before telling us what to do with our country, claiming you're more patriotic or voting in our elections.

Food / Do you call it kiszka or kaszanka? [55]

Definitely "kaszanka". My family from Lublin area called it "kaszanka" as well. "Kiszka" must be Kresy version? Never heard of it!

Polonia use it because most of them came from what is now Ukraine...

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]


Bucia?? Oh dear... Again, no such word in Polish.

Tell me, how do you count this 7/8? :D

UK, Ireland / Why Poles will never belong in England [283]


And thank God for that! At least there is no danger of Polish girls resembling horses!

Seriously, Englishman, you're a moron. You country is full of people from all over the world, look at the streets of London. Why are you so bothered about the Poles? And maybe reas a bit about the history of your own country?

So what about the Scottish? Are they okay to come to england or maybe also not "white" enough? You would be funny if you weren't scary.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]


Do you actually live in Poland?? I keep seeing fathers driving with their whole families in the car speeding, oivertaking dangerously, jumping red light and taking all the risk there is. I also see mothers running to the tram on the red light - with their children. People take risk every day, because they think their goal somehow makes it okay. Or that they will be lucky today. Or they simply have no imagination.

The pilots made a mistake, they went too low - they were not supposed to believe anyone else, they were supposed to look at the right instruments in the cabin. They failed to do that. They thought they were higher - due to their own mistake. And anyway, they were not supposed to go that low, they just didn't have the papers for that! If they didn't break the law, they wouldn't have been so low -> they wouldn't have crashed. Apparently, such law breaking was common in our airforce... And that's really scary.

Convex is explaining it all in very simple words - I wonder why people still don't seem to understand?

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

Tesco Online is selling "udziec jagnięcy" (lamb's leg) for 49,99zł per kg.