History / ANYONE KNOW WHAT POLISH REGIMENT OR AIR FORCE WAS MY STEP FATHER in WW2, HE WAS IN SCOTLAND [4]

Maybe try these guys: pism.co.uk/home_en.htm

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Any info about where they were from?

There were a number of Scots and English living in Poland at the turn of the century, particularly around Lodz, I believe.

Classifieds / Random Classifieds Ads Poland [261]


That's an idea. Thanks.

Classifieds / Random Classifieds Ads Poland [261]

Merged: Royal British Legion. (forming a branch around Olsztyn)

This is a tentative enquiry for any British ex-pats.

I was recently at a memorial ceremony in Lidzbark Warminski, laying a wreath at the cemetery of 39 British soldiers from WW1.

I was later asked by a Legion overseas rep if there are enough expats to form a branch.

To be honest, around Olsztyn, I'm not sure.

I wondered if it was worth enquiring on PF and seeing if anyone is interested?

I imagine it might be more practical to make a cyber-branch (if that's possible).

I have no idea what is possible, but thought I'd enquire if anyone is interested.

Genealogy / I have Jewish DNA, but only know of Polish ancestry . [120]

Does anyone else see this a good reason NOT to get DNA checked?

Bruno Schulz, the writer and artist, was Jewish (in what is now Ukraine). Hs fiancee converted to Catholicism and tried to encourage him to, so they could marry. He officially published a notice withdrawing from his Jewish faith, but refused to become a catholic.

There was also a project during the 18th/19th century, I believe, to encourage Jews to convert to catholicism.

yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Conversion

Genealogy / THE MEANING AND RESEARCH OF MY POLISH LAST NAME, SURNAME? [4500]

Any idea about the name Giera?

And Gawron?

Law / Which is the best city in Poland to open a kebab shop? [56]

There are several kebab shops in Olsztyn. A couple of years ago, we had a lot of saudi students here and one near the school was run by an Egyptian. It was the only halal meat in town. The guy made a fortune and started selling Arabic goods too. Arabs are thin on the ground now, but he still makes great kebabs.

History / What do Poles think about Turks? [761]


Really? And how long did it take for Turks to be able to acquire full civil rights and nationality in Germany?
Until the 1990's children born to 2 non-German parents could not get citizenship and even now it is only possible for children born after 1990.
It doesn't encourage integration.

With regards to the OP, I live in north Poland (I'm not Turkish) and there has been a successful turkish coffee shop (run by a Turk) here for a few years. A former student of mine has just married a Turkish guy and he's moved here. there are also a couple of Egyptian kebab houses.

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]


I wasn't thinking of high heels, myself. More like trainers, and a lot of girls seem to walk on their toes/balls of their feet.

I suppose, as well, Polish girls are more used to walking in high boots, cos of all the snow :-)

Genealogy / Polish looks? [1410]


Well, compared to many British females, they do.

I've noticed younger women and teenagers often seem to stand straighter and keep their legs closer together. (They are more likely to curtsey, too!).

I've wondered if it is anything to do with the volleyball (seriously). Mind you, there are a lot of dance classes where I live, so maybe there are just more trained postures.

I was working in Paignton (south west England) a few years ago at a language school, and I ended up playing "guess the nationality" in town (there are lots of schools and foreign visitors), and it was surprising how you could tell from clothes and posture (and haircuts) Poles, Germans, Russians etc from Brits (round shouldered and greasy hair).

OK, huge generalisations here, I know.

History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]

Great pictures. Thanks.

History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]

Fortunate indeed :-)

History / The restoration of Polish cities from WW2 destruction [123]


And yet the castle was hugely restored after being hammered by bombs. Strange, you'd have thought a monument to German Teutonic might would have been dismantled.

Travel / Monuments, statues, memorials of Poland [25]

I thought there was a dedication to 1915 at the bottom. Maybe I got it wrong (thanks for the pic). There are Armenian memorials around Poland, tho' :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians_in_Poland#Polish-Armenians_in_the_20th_century

On another point, I have a collection of photos of WW1 German and Russian memorials around Warmia and Mazury.

Try this site. Look under 'former eastern territories"
denkmalprojekt.org

Travel / Monuments, statues, memorials of Poland [25]

Can't seem to upload it, but in Gdansk (Church of Ss Peter and Paul), monument to Armenians.

Life / What are the best cars to buy in Poland? [40]

Skoda are pretty decent. These days they are like a budget VW. They can also stand upto the weather.

I wouldn't get any car which is too low. Try driving off a kerb with a load of people, or driving into a moon-surface car park and you ground.

Law / Penalty points on driving licences in Poland [26]

Aha, thanks. I have had cops on the spot wave the licence away when we asked about points, but this is a speeding camera job!

My worry was that it is an EU/UK licence, not just a UK one.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


I think the angle it is at dick-tates if it holds water. Shaking it makes sure it doesn't.

Life / Why is circumcision not practiced in Poland? [701]


Washing is also pretty effective. I suppose you think little boys ears should be cut off because they don't wash them and get ear infections?

Love / Do Polish people like Scottish people (friendship or relationship with a Scot)? [56]


One of the major figures in Scottish history, Bonnie Prince Charlie, was great grandson of Jan Sobieski 3rd.

There were also around 30,000 Scots living in Poland in 17th century.


That's an understatement. The battle of Stirling (Brig) was totally misrepresented and the whole thing about the sh@gging the princess!!!

Travel / Any Anglican churches in Poland? [35]


The way the Anglican church is heading, with defection to Rome, the nearest Catholic church will soon suffice.

History / Poland and Britain started WW2 [307]

Funny thing... The British Ambassador asked the Polish consulate for Gdansk if he wasn't worried about the obvious military build up in gdansk, including a few warships and a brigade of SS a few months before the outbreak of war. The Polish consulate replied "wars aren't won by a few tourists".

Bet those words were ringing in his ears a few months later...

(British government Blue Book on the outbreak of war. 1939)

Food / Kaszanka and haggis? [34]

I think chip-shop haggis is nearer to kaszanka, but the better haggis is a lot different.

happy Burns Night, chaps!

Life / Vasectomy in Poland is illegal? Why? [123]


Some friends of mine in UK had a child and the pregnancy almost killed the woman. They had tried a number of years and been told it wasn't possible for them to conceive... yet they did.

The husband chose to have a vasectomy to limit the danger of another pregnancy which might endanger his wife. Their son is healthy and delightful. So, not a matter of debauchery or life without progeny in their case.

UK, Ireland / Raising Bilingual Children - How are you teaching your children? Your experiences? [74]

I was talking with a colleague about this recently. She had seen a presentation where one man, a teacher, warned to be careful of alienating the child by only speaking one language to them, as they would observe you speaking a different one to other people, which might cause emotional distancing in later years.

I have no personal experience of raising kids myself, however, my brother's kids are bilingual German/English and I believe it was just a case that he and his wife focussed mainly on using their own mother-tongue with the kids but didn't worry too much if they code-switched (swapped languages).

I have a Polish friend (single parent) who has basically taught her 5 year old English to a level that it is better than many native-speakers of the same age. She lets her watch childrens BBC (with the result the girl picked up some Spanish as well, from Dora Explorer). Her daughter also speaks with her in Polish and seems very happy. Another colleague is trying the approach where one parent speaks English (both are Polish) and the son was very awkward about speaking English to me and, so I've heard, is quite resistant to it. Interestingly, it is the father who speaks English.

Obviously, these are only a couple of cases, and I imagine other people will have very different experiences.

Work / The level of English of Polish teachers of English. What do you think of it? [101]


You're kidding? Many areas were colonised by Irish and Scandinavians. The Orkneys and Shetlands were under the Norwegian crown for a long time.

I'd heard it was east Scotland, around Fife which had the best English. Don't forget, many islanders speak Gaelic and (especially if they learn Gaelic first), have a Gaelic mouth when speaking English. We had a literature prof from Lewis when i was at Glasgow Uni. He spoke something like this, "Tooodey ve are going to shtudy forms of transhendence in the poetry off Percy Shelley and hish 'ode to the vestering vind' and 'Adonaish'" The young guy from Lewis sitting next to me leaned over and said, "Trev, I don't understand a f**king word he's saying!"

Life / New Polish generation prefers black culture? [145]


They say that about Russians and Albanians too

Life / New Polish generation prefers black culture? [145]


Well, there's a gospel choir based at the evangelical church in Olsztyn, it has Black guests from USA to run workshops. I hear they even go in for the old holy-roly blessings.

The local philharmonia has also hosted some splendid Black American classical singers/musicians and the Olsztyn Blues Night has featured Black US Blues artists.

Life / New Polish generation prefers black culture? [145]

I don't think it's that. It is probably more that Black culture is connected with world culture and makes them feel part of the outside world. I mean, how many Polish bands are influential worldwide in the way that hip-hop, soul etc is? Many bands just play a Polish approximation of Black American music and don't necessarily provide a fashion outlet etc.

But is this anything new/ My wife was into Bob Marley decades ago. Blues has been big for a long time, as has jazz and gospel.


They have that in Mrągowo every year.