Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Maybe so, but Ukraine on the brink of war and totalitarian Belarus....not so good advice.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I think that we should look at it in some context. That is true that German were extremely nasty towards Jews and wanted to exterminate them as a nation but Polish were not treated much better. They clearly as civilian didn't lead nice leisure life ( like English did) .They were also sent to death camps. My dad was telling me like one of his relations was arrested at 'lapanka' in centre of Krakow.Without any reason people were surrounded by German , few big vans arrived ,everyone was put in and taken to death camp. So you could leave your house in the morning and never come back. People lived in permanent terror and threat.

That is why anyone who helped Jewish people to to survive, hiding them ( risking their life and their families) was a hero. But lets be honest- how many brave, heroic people are in each nations? If it was for French, Dutch ,American....Would they help more ???

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I am not sure why all this attack on kartofel just for general questions?
Where does he suggest that Poland was actively involved in holocaust.?

As for Bieganski- Your posts are not objective as you have clearly some grudge against Jews and you support Palestinians.

For me personally ( even I don't live in Poland now) I would much more prefer jewish communities in Poland than from Arabic/muslim ones. And I am entitled to my opinion as anyone.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I don't think that kartofel means about 'talking to tourists' but about settling in Poland and feeling accepted.

I think it comes with time finding job, having new neighbors,friends...Polish seem to be more reserved ( than south nations) for a start but when you make some good friends they can be very loyal and hospitable.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Ha, ha you don't know it yet but it is a local secret - People from Krakow and people from Warsaw - are not always the ' mates' - but in a nice bickering way :-).

Both towns are good choice- Krakow is more artistic, laid back...Warsaw is more of a business town. I am not sure what is your profession if you would be looking for a job. if it is a case you would have more opportunities in Warsaw.

I know what you mean about these body guards - it could be some local hooligans ,even terrorists. Especially as they are usually in big groups. The problem is that it alienates them from local polish community.That is why it creates some animosity. I am not sure what is the solution- maybe organize meeting with some local young people? It is different with you as you have polish roots but lots of these kids know about Poland only what they hear at school,read in a press . Maybe if they organize some meeting with local people they will realize that we are not so bad and probably not so different.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

Do you speak fluent polish? if yes- I don't see the problem.

You would be surprised how many similarities we have ( a guess it is part of our history) - I went to Jewish bakery in Paris and it made me smile- cheese-cakes, poppy-seeds, chalka ...all the same like in Poland.I vaguely remember they were even called similar.

I am not sure to which part of Poland you consider to emigrate - I came from Krakow and there is Kazimierz disctrict nicely renovated there Jewish music festiva...In general l would say it is town rather friendly towards jewish culture. But.!...what you mentioned before I remember these group of young people from Israel visiting Auschwitz. I guess they stayed in Krakow hotels . They were with some security guards, I assume as you said they brainwashed them about our hostility.....it doesn't create great atmosphere and you can't blame us for it.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I think that language is always the biggest problem.If you knew language, some history and culture - of course you would be accepted.

And as you say you are not very religious - I think in bigger towns with younger generations religion doesn't take so big part of people's life.

Why wouldn't you be accepted ? In the end of the day does it matter so much where you are from?

Another question- who is accepted on emigration for 100%- ? I have been living in UK for 11 years with all this (daily mail, UKIP...l) anti-polish attitude latey I don't feel overly comfortable to say everyone where I am from.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I have never researched reason for it but it could be few factors like geographical location of Poland and fact that maybe? we were tolerant country with big population of Jews living and working happily in Poland.

I have sometimes impression that the way how it is portrayed all Polish who were killed by Germans don't matter but there is only big importance on Jewish.

I don't really follow this subject but from time to time randomly in USA, UK appears some anti-polish articles written in local press by Jews.

Life / Food wastage in Poland households [6]

I have noticed that in UK people treat supermarkets labels ( use before...use by...) like bible :-).

It is reasonable with fresh fish, meat but with other products like bread, fruit, veg.....it is just ridiculous.

My grandma had small farm in Poland and potatoes? She picked them all in autumn and they were to keep her till spring.During the year any in bad condition she threw out or gave to animals. it is all about common sense.

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

And I would say that Israel is one of the most anti-polish country in the world.

Conclusion?

Life / Being a Jew in modern-day Poland; Israeli Jew who is of Polish descent [269]

I don't think that anti-semitism is really so strong in Poland. Some half-brained football hooligans writing stupid graffiti ...or brainwashed people listening to Radio Maryja?

It is a bit amusing reading some expats patronizing opinions ....As I am aware it was in USA racial segregation for quite long time, It was in UK that black people were killed with racial reasons but it looks that these countries are very civilized now but we are so backwards :-(

News / Little statistics about immigrants in Poland. Employment and job prospects. [25]

Immigration has lots positives if it under control and if people try to integrate. I suppose it is the same for newcomers from Ukraine in Poland like for Polish in UK. Second generation will turn to be native. No difference except surnames (sometimes) :-).

Language / Polish regional accents? [141]

Ha,Ha I have more sensitive ear since moved to England. I also try to catch what accent polish people speak....Always looking for my local Krakow one.

But in general I don't think that accent differences are as strong as in UK.

There were few episodes of crime stories 'Shetlands' lately and lots English were moaning that they couldn't understand.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Why not? It is good for sandwiches but it doesn't fit in your square lunch-boxes and toasters :-)

UK, Ireland / Prices of Clothes in Poland and England [35]

England is very good with clothes. I assume the main reason is big competition and cheap labour. Hardly anything is made in UK.

After 11 years in UK I hardly ever buy any clothes in Poland - you have either design, expensive shops or markets where stuff is not great. It think that it is much to do with design- in english clothes ( even cheap from primark) you look more stylish I think it is shape-design. I bought last year silk blouse from Wallis ( Krakow Galeria) after few weeks it just desintegrated. Contrary clothes from UK Wallis are very good quality.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Maybe there is something in it- When I visited Lake District there were more nice cakes there , cosey tea-shops.Is it Grassmiere famous if its ginger breads?

When you move south everything is getting more 'clinical-pocessed'.

I go sometimes to Waitrose and yes some things as very good there (deserts ,fish, meat...) but sorry bread is very well presented and rather pricey but not great in taste.

I don't know maybe I am fussy and particular about it.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

Can you give me example of town ( not city) in UK with few bakeries with freshly baked bread on premises?????????

Many supermarkets bake bread on their premises???- yes already delivered there full of chemical and who knows what baked later in the shop. I mentioned tesco as their bread is just awful.

Greggs?- sausage rolls ( with who know what inside ) plus white cotton wool bread.that is the choice.

I don't know why but the only place where bread is not bad and tastes fine is Coop.But again they have more european products, baguettes, small crusty rolls.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

What do you mean by shops ? Tesco in Poland and UK sells the same crap. I mean proper bakeries.Sorry but I don't agree with you,there are hardly any proper small bakeries in UK and if they are bread is not great. I don't want to sound nasty as I live here and would be happy if there were here- I am lucky as in Cambridge market there is bread stand with wonderful choice- proper fresh breads.

When I am in Krakow there are bakeries everywhere with big choice fresh rolls, breads, cakes,....I love 'drozdzowki'- fresh cheese cakes, polly seeds cakes, apple pies,plum pies....

Maybe next time in Poland you need some stronger glasses to notice them.:-)

I have noticed one more thing: in some way breads in UK and USA are similar - majority 'cotton wool'. excluding Poland now- In Austria, Italy, France,Germany- breads are more like polish ones harder, with thick skin.

I exclude London from this comparison as with big food markets it is everything there.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

It is not terrible if you can cook- choice is fine.

But another difference .. in Poland ( and in general on continent) you have bakeries with fresh tasty bread, cakes on every bigger street ...in UK majority to 'cotton-wool' - as I call this bread.The same with freshly made ice-creams.

UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

I think that (like everywhere) quite much depends on monies. If you are wealthier you can afford better food, better holidays, live in better area.So from this perspective it is better life for someone who runs profitable business, has good job in Poland than if he was to start from the beginning in UK.

I was thinking ( after 11 years in England) what I would miss....I like clothes here, choice of biscuits !!!!:-), I like English weather as mild ,green - Cambridge is beautiful in spring.But too much rain and dump in winter can be sometimes annoying. There are times that I miss proper ,deep snow- especially in the mountains.

Food- Yes it is goods choice here and as long as you can cook it is great but if not- ready processed meals, eating out is not so cheap if you want good food.( with some exceptions). I don't want to offend anyone but food in pubs is hardly edible. Processed crap delivered form outside. I didn't realized that most pubs have no kitchens! .

Holidays ?- if I was to choose I would prefer to go to France better food, better weather ....
And all this fascination with caravan holidays- it is like sitting in some communal pigeonholes.

Life / Agnieszka holland compares life in Poland to 'sniffing farts': [97]

As long as it is not getting too extreme and prejudiced.

Maybe next time she can be open mined and show other side of the story like anti-polish feeling in Israel or Jews 'bravery' in Palestine?

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

I worked in a big bank in Krakow and don't remember people swearing at work. Maybe things changed now or it depends on industry ( in some companies it is ashionable to swear) and maybe as you said 'young' people- it is cocky showing off?

Life / Agnieszka holland compares life in Poland to 'sniffing farts': [97]

It depends what someone likes. I don't like her 'art'- is heavy, pessimistic,war and Jewish obsessed and watching it makes me close to fart.

Life / Why are the Italians and Polski so much alike? [90]

There are similarities : religion, family ties, sentimentality.

I could imagine that on emigration if these to nationalities meet they would get along and could be quite a few marriages between.

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UK, Ireland / And you wonder why there is Anti-Polish feeling in the UK [187]

I think that people are quite frustrated in UK ( unemployment, rising house prices , reduced benefits....) and they need some scapegoats. Polish are perfect for it. They are white so political correct jobs worthy ' fascists' can't accuse press of racism, they in general work hard so it annoys work-shy locals, they are quite often well educated so annoys them even more.

UK, Ireland / wife wants to have baby in poland not ireland [52]

ha,ha I can't believe all this moaning about Polish Health service. I don't know about Ireland but UK is awful. Not much time ago there was big report about scandal in Staffordshire hospitals. Dirty hospitals, incompetent overpaid doctors....enormous waiting lists for anything.

I have been twice to doctors in UK- last time doctor -after listening to my symptoms- said that she didn't know what it was -all for answer!!!...and was more concern about cup of tea to be brought for her by nurse.

UK, Ireland / Sooo many Polski Sklep in the UK, LOL [64]

I must agree. When I am in Poland I go to local bakery and buy reasonably priced delicious cakes, bread... the same with local butchers but lots polish stuff in UK is just awful and unedible.

There is this bakery 'Eunice' in UK- I bought once poppyseed cake before Christmas it was awful. I bought yesterday ( forgot to check label) cheesecake made by them it is not sweet at all and it says 'cheese ( twarog)' as ingredients but I can't taste it I am not sure what crap they put as a fillng- I think it will end up in the bin.

Another one krokiety- produce by company ( don't rememebr name starts with V...) they tasted like cardboard.

UK, Ireland / Sooo many Polski Sklep in the UK, LOL [64]

It is often nostalgia plus some tastes are different...

Yes, proper ham , sausage roll, pork pie ( from butcher) are delicious in UK but there are also products which are 'very polish'- like ( I had lately craving for) bryndza, smoked sausage, ptasie mleczko, mieszanka krakowska, kasztanki,Tik-taki z Wawelu....

Do you know that English expats in Spain are getting mad about buying Quality Street sweets before Christmas . They buy it for extortionate prices. I also don't understand it - they are not so great ( just sweets) and all this talks after opening o I like this one I don't like this one.....But I guess they miss England and it reminds them that they these sweets are always on the table at Christmas time.

UK, Ireland / What do you hate about England and English people? [142]


But now it is quite popular 'are you ok/all right' - shorter version i think.

To be honest when I go to work and meet people in the office I usually say just 'good morning'.

UK, Ireland / Britain... What the Poles did for us. [444]


Yes it is your opinion. And in over liberal towards monorities and not so tolerant towards majorities UK today, racism is 'not allowed'..... So it is hidden but I can assure you it exists.And when is shows it is in much more aggresive form than in Poland.