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


I actually heard some mock offended handwrigner say that this is all now racist too because african should not be shortened to afro.

So it is African-American/British/Caribbean.

Nonsense the lot of it. You can tell if someone is being offensive by their tone and intonation, there is no need to brand certain words as illegal or offensive.

Just like when amongst friends, you can refer to someone as a silly ba**ard when they spill their pint and no-one cares. You go up and say the same thing to a stranger who you have just spilt the pint of and it's a whole different kettle of fish.

Life - it all comes down to pint spilling analogies.

Food / Wanna buy Spiritus Krakow [28]


Two things which are surely never meant to go together!

Food / Wanna buy Spiritus Krakow [28]


Yes, I read your post, mine was merely in jest. I enjoy the odd spyritus with red bull...but not very often as I often lose the ability to speak the next day!

Language / doing / making - the difference? [20]

I am no expert at all...but I think that zrobić is the future form. As in "Co zrobisz na sylwestra?" meaning what are you doing for new year...as in the future.

But I might be wrong.

Life / Which Polish product you can easily do without? [51]

Seriously, tongue is pretty tasty. Heart as well...think about it, two muscles that are very lean and well worked so plenty of taste and healthy to boot :)

Still don't dig the tripe!

Food / Turkey for New Year's dinner in Poland? [29]


As has always been the case because turkeys are more abundant in the states.

Traditionally in the UK Goose is the bird of choice for Christmas. And, in Scotland at least, we have steak pie at New Year.

Life / POLISH DANCING (how to to this holding hands and such?) [11]


Just what I was going to say.

kingpolkakamon, I think you are getting the wrong idea. The videos are great, but it is of Polish and Russian girls trying to dance in a rather Afro-Caribbean fashion not evidence of typical Polish and Russian dancing surely?

I am sure wildrover is meaning the kind of dancing that people do at weddings and such like.

Life / POLISH DANCING (how to to this holding hands and such?) [11]


I wondered the same to be honest when I was at a wedding. It made me feel rather out of place because I just don't know how to dance like that beyond a basic box step and a that spinny roundy thing where you hold their hand above their head and they spin.

But I guess they would have the same issue if they were to come to a ceilidh (but we are taught all dances at school).

Food / Turkey for New Year's dinner in Poland? [29]


It is a problem yes, and it also means that to get a decent amount of food you need a really big oven.

And agreed, the best part of the goose the wonderful fat!

USA, Canada / REFUSED A HOLIDAY VISA TO THE U.S CAUSE IM POLISH [323]

Is he not meaning the British people of Asian descent who are off into terrorist cells in various central asian and north african countries?

Life / Which Polish product you can easily do without? [51]


I always thought the opposite, that they didn't add enough salt to the food.

But then I am Scottish :P

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

Being owned by a French company does not make it French Vodka though...

UK, Ireland / Polish restaurants and foods in Glasgow? [8]

There used to be one just off Dumbarton Road if memory serves me correctly. But I am not sure if it is still there.

Work / Salary expectations in Poland [373]

I am currently earning around the 2000zł in hand at the end of the month. I pay 1000zł rent and normally about 100zł a week on food. The rest goes on nights out, etc. I would not say it was a totally comfortable amount, at the end of the month I am still struggling, but it is enough to live on.

That and I am taking on a second job soon which should up the casual spending money a bit.

Food / Burgers, why not in Poland? [54]


I would agree with that completely. I find that "American" burgers have the meat ground too fine for my taste and so I prefer the ones I get the butcher shop in the UK where it is just normal minced meat.

Also to those denouncing the fat in a burger. The fat in meat gives it a lot of flavour. Compare a fillet and a sirloin, a fillet will be nice and tender but won't taste half as good as the sirloin.

I personally like making my own burgers as well though, not because of specific ingredients or being sure of the quality. More just because they are fun to make and it means you can season it to your taste from the start. I personally like to add some finely chopped onions, garlic, allspice and a decent bit of black pepper. I also normally add some "filler" of breadcrumbs with egg yolk because I feel it gives it a nice mouth-feel. Some star anise is always nice in there too.

I actually had a dream last night that I was arguing with a burger vendor because he said I wasn't allowed a bacon and cheese quarter pounder...don't know how that turned out though because I woke up.

Life / Horribly cold in Krakow at the moment , how do you cope with such temperatures ? [124]

I personally really feel for all the people without power at the moment. I can't imagine not having heating right now. I have the flat at a comfortable 20-22 (68-71 for our american readers) degrees, but even the 2 minute walk to the tram stop chills you to the bone...but I have been careful to check my tram and bus times to avoid having to stand about for too long.

It is the first time in my life that I have felt cold like it. Breathing early in the morning is a struggle and it is a "painful" cold, in that when you go outside, anything that isn't covered gets really sore from the cold. I see the temperature reading this morning was -17 but I imagine that the wind is making a big difference, because it feels much colder.

And to Scrappleton, I know it sounds like we are all whining, but it's just that, for a lot of us, this is really strangely (not to mention quite unpleasant) cold. So it's less complaining and more comment. If we get the same next winter there will probably be a lot less said about it. To reitterate an earlier question to you, what sort of temperature are you getting and what sort of conditions?

Law / How much is the maximum daily limit to withdraw zloty from ATM in PL. [14]


Quite right. Also if you can contact your bank and ask them to extend your ATM withdrawal limit to the maximum (I know with WBK you can take out up to 10000zł every 24 hours). Keep in mind the withdrawal limit is not per cash machine, but per 24 hours, so if you can't get a high limit, it might be better to go into the branch and set up a transfer...could be quicker and easier. Not to mention safer than carrying around 20000zł in your pocket!

Life / Horribly cold in Krakow at the moment , how do you cope with such temperatures ? [124]


Ahhh, that explains a lot. I thought I had a spot in my nose or something, I never thought the cold weather could do so much damage to my nostrils! Bloody annoying because your nose runs all the time in this cold and blowing it is rather sore!

Will my nose gain an immunity to this? Or do I just need to wait 'til it gets warmer?

Love / Beauty and physical apperance - Is it so important to Polish boys? [26]


Is fugly not a contraction of fat and ugly?

Ahm jist sayin...

Law / How much is the maximum daily limit to withdraw zloty from ATM in PL. [14]


Now I see that it is a travel card (bit slow today) I would say the same as the bold Szarlotka here...I'm sure the finance department of the university must have a visa debit system in place.

If not I would got and see your student advisor, he might be able to talk to the finance department in the University and offer advice from there, there may be some precident and therefore, and easy solution :)

Food / Polish culinary dislikes [83]


Completely depends on the region and the butcher. The kaszanka that i've tried had a very similar texture to what I knew as black pudding, but with different spices than back home.

As for BBQ, just looking at a wikipedia entry shows how many different meanings there are by region, not just country. When it comes to grilling then I trust the aussies, they have it down to a fine art. But the american style of BBQ sounds great, I saw and Anthony Bourdain show all about it once and it looked awesome!

Food / Polish culinary dislikes [83]


That's what it's all about. I love the fact that he's an offal chap like myself!

I have watched every episode of No Reservations and A Cooks Tour...love it to bits! Kitchen Confidential is a great read too!

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Just so folk don't see this and go running in, a free house is a pub that is "free" from any brewery ties ie. they can use any brewery they like.

Life / Do you think a smoking ban would be a good thing in Polish restaurants and Bars? [217]


Under the terms of the Scottish Smoking Ban, you are not allowed to smoke for 3 hours prior to having a workman round to your house (or of course you can smoke outside). Due to them making a house call, your house become this worker's place of work.

Food / Polish culinary dislikes [83]


Which is a shame, I think mutton is marvellous. Sure it takes a bit more effort cooking it to ensure it's not too tough, but the flavour you get from it is incredible!

Life / What gifts to take? Presents customs in Poland. [148]


So is there 2 different types of $1 coin? Because I have heard silver dollar mentioned in movies before and so I presumed them to all be silver.

Life / UK garage, do you get it in poland? [18]


If you like the limewire set up though, you can download Frostwire which is the same interface but without the nasty bits.

UK, Ireland / Calling a friend from UK to Poland. Cheap option? [13]

My mum has recently changed to Virgin for her home phone and she is having the same disconnection problem with me, but not with my Dad (who travels all over the place). Not sure if this is a problem between suppliers there and here or just that Virgin is rubbish.

Also strange is that when she phones me from my house in Glasgow, my phone shows up a Polish number?<-any ideas on that front?

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


It varies quite a lot. I know some waiters that are on 5zł per hour, others who are up at 10. Bar staff are paid slightly better (between 8 and 15). As you can imagine, that is not a huge amount of money, but still I wouldn't expect a tip from anyone.

I would appreciate it when I get one, and be disappointed if I go to extreme lengths to keep a customer happy then received no tip at all...but that's just life.

Life / Giving tips in Poland [235]


Well when I started as a bartender I was on 7zł and moved up to 8 working behind a cocktail bar. There are plenty of people I know on as low as 5zł per hour and not only in the hospitality industry.

If that is below minimum wage then there obviously aren't very tight checks on it.