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Posts by delphiandomine  

Joined: 25 Nov 2008 / Male ♂
Warnings: 2 - TQ
Last Post: 17 Feb 2021
Threads: Total: 88 / Live: 86 / Archived: 2
Posts: Total: 18,116 / Live: 17,361 / Archived: 755
From: Poznań, Poland
Speaks Polish?: Yeah.
Interests: law, business

Displayed posts: 17447 / page 4 of 582
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delphiandomine   
11 Aug 2009
Law / Can I take the Polish written test and obtain a Polish driving licence? [28]

Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego w Poznaniu
ul. Wilczak 53
61-623 Poznań
61 829 01 80

Call them and ask them if you need a PESEL to sit a driving test. They'll say 'yes'. End of story.

De facto, someone with the required residency papers will have a PESEL. Why do you keep trying to insist on proof of this? It may very well be that other driving centres (particularly in Warsaw) are being more flexible, but if you can't put a PESEL on the form, then they won't accept it in Poznan.
delphiandomine   
15 Aug 2009
Life / Exam for Drivers License in Poland; English? [99]

I think that Americans are allowed to solely sit the theory test, which is available in English. You'll have an exemption from the practical test as you've got an American license. I'm not sure if you'll have to complete the 30 hours mandatory theory training first, but it's possible to do this in English in major cities.

Course materials are another question - I've never found English language materials, but it's possible that they do exist.

As for the commercial categories - it may be that you'll be allowed to simply sit the theory tests for those, too. But I'm not at all certain on this point.
delphiandomine   
27 Aug 2009
Work / TEFL Jobs in Poland - your success story? [16]

Going there and handing it over face to face, without a shadow of a doubt. The TEFL employment websites are as good as useless in my opinion, I don't know anyone that's actually landed a job through one - or at least a job that's worth doing.
delphiandomine   
28 Aug 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

To be brutally honest, you don't have much hope in Poland. There is a mindset among many Poles that an Indian teacher just doesn't have the right accent or way of speaking - and while you might have got on fine with an exchange programme, it's a different story with paid employment.

It's also incredibly unlikely that any school will go to the effort of sponsoring your visa - they can get Brits/Irish/Australians/Americans without needing to sponsor a visa and they have the benefit of seeing them in person first - you don't have that luxury, I'm afraid.

It's simply not worth the hassle for schools - English speakers aren't difficult to find here, and customers wouldn't be too happy with someone that they percieved to be inferior.
delphiandomine   
30 Aug 2009
Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

I have another question. Part of an exchange program I will be getting another chance in November to come there in Poland. Again, I will work as an English teacher. This time it will be for 1 year.

Is this paid employment, or is this academic?

After completing 1 year my visa will be expired so I’m thinking of finding another job as an English teacher, luckily if I get, I will extend my visa. So will it be easy for me to find a job there after having 2 years of experience? I prefer working in private School.

No. You'll still have the problem of trying to get a visa - you'll be competing against native speakers (and indeed, Polish nationals) who don't require the school to sponsor their visa. This is where the crucial difference is - it's just not worth the hassle or the time for the school to sponsor your visa.

There's also the issue that as an Indian national, you'll have to be flawless - and I can see that you're making several mistakes in your written English. You really will have to be exceptional for a school to take a chance on you - or you'll have to work incredibly cheap.
delphiandomine   
4 Sep 2009
Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

they need a certificate that, i think, proves that you dont owe any tax, e.g. here in britain. what do you think? (this requirement is listed in the polish consulate's website).

But what for?

It's certainly not needed for residency here if you're an EU citizen.
delphiandomine   
4 Sep 2009
Law / What can I do with 250000$? [33]

Funny, the Poznan one is still going strong and isn't looking like closing anytime soon.

Warsaw needs a good English bookshop, not a small mom and pop shop, but a whole floor of a department store...or that kind of size...

Would there really be the demand in Poland for that sort of thing when most people's needs can be met by Empik or likewise?
delphiandomine   
9 Sep 2009
Life / Prices of cars in Poland? [88]

With the impending change in the law to recognise foreign test certificates for the car, it's likely that second hand car prices will go down quite a bit - especially as it should now be possible to register RHD cars with none of the fuss from before.
delphiandomine   
9 Sep 2009
News / RHD cars in Poland - my campaign to change the rules in Poland [128]

Yes but have you tried to get permission from the Ministry of Transport to register your car. As far as I know the situation, the EU are not willing to get involved unless/until they have information that it is not possible to register RHD cars in Poland.

The situation's changed anyway - Poland has now agreed to recognise foreign car test certificates and to allow registration of them based on that. thenews.pl is down, but a date of late September is mentioned on there...

It would be *very* interesting if Poland continues to deny RHD cars with valid test documentation...
delphiandomine   
10 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Pure rubbish! The reason there is not a very high pass rate is because of the difficulty and hardness of the test and things you need to learn. It is a brilliant system of driving and a very safe way. It teaches you to be responsible and considerate about your and other driving.

So put yourself in the shoes of a UK driving examiner. You know that if you pass too little people, there'll be questions over you - but you also know that if you pass too many, then some examiners may be made redundant, which may include you. Therefore, there's an implicit pressure to fail people for trivial things or simply to overly nitpick at their driving.

Brilliant system of driving? You must be joking. I could pass my test in the Shetland Islands and receive a licence which allows me to drive *anywhere* - how is this brilliant when I would have absolutely no training on dual carriageways, motorways or otherwise?

Safe? See above. Our Shetlandic driver would receive a licence which allows him to drive on the M25 at rush hour without any extra training, even though he clearly would be dangerous in such a situation.

Responsible and considerate? Yes, because the UK is well known for considerate White Van Men and sales reps, aren't they? :) That would also be why young drivers have such incredibly high insurance premiums, because the system is producing responsible and considerate drivers...err...wait a second.

How bloody irresponsible is it to buy a liscence just to drive in another country in my eyes you are potential murderers if you have an accident and kill somebody.

Dearie me, yet another Daily Mail reader. If you actually knew anything about Europe, you'd know that it's nigh on impossible to 'buy' a licence from an EU country. It might be possible to get a fake, but any Brit driving around with a foreign licence is going to be scruntinised very, very carefully.

It forces you too get your head down and learn and be safe on the road and recognises responsibility behind the wheel.

No. It forces you to drive to pass an exam. It doesn't take into consideration *many* of the skills needed - such as driving at 70mph, overtaking on 60mph limit roads, driving in terrible conditions, what to do in the event of a blowout at 70mph and so on. It only teaches you how to drive according to what the DSA want - and this isn't producing safe drivers!

You talk **** and i suppose you advocate buying a liscence if you think its ok by a persons standards to believe they can drive then thats ok.

Clearly you haven't been reading what I've been saying.

Buying a licence is idiotic and you deserve to be ripped off. But the UK system is equally rubbish at producing good drivers - how is it logical that on the basis of a theory test and a 40 minute practical test, someone is qualified to drive a 7 seat MPV at over 100mph on the Autobahn in Germany? Simple answer - they're not!
delphiandomine   
11 Sep 2009
Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]

Why do you want to sit the B1 licence to begin with?

From what I know, sitting the B1 licence is virtually impossible in Poland if you don't speak the language - because it's nearly impossible to find something in the B1 category that can accomodate you, the examiner and a sworn translator. There are English speaking schools, but as B1 is a somewhat esoteric licence to obtain, I think you'll struggle to find a school that has the relevant vehicles AND offers English tuition.

Why not just wait a year?
delphiandomine   
13 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

More drivel, stop knocking a system which works and gets improved all the time.

Improved? I struggle to see what 'improvement' was made when the DSA introduced the swerve test into motorbike testing without considering the consequences if the test was carried out in adverse weather conditions.

Or what about the Hazard Perception part of the theory test which actually punishes you for noticing too many hazards?

Or should we talk about how the UK (unlike Poland!) hasn't got cameras in the examination cars, thus leading to a situation where examiners can fail people with absolutely no consequences?

Or we could even talk about how it's possible for someone to pass their driving test without any driving lessons whatsoever, unlike the superior Polish system which demands that all drivers undergo 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of practical training before being allowed to sit the test.

As i said or mean't to say. The uk has one of if not the safest driving criteria towards obtaining a licence in the EU. Obviously everything has flaws if you look at it and i agree with what you said about all weather driving and motorway driving etc etc.

The UK criteria is actually one of the weaker elements in the EU. There's no compulsory medical checks, there's no compulsory training, and the theory test is weaker than countries such as Spain. And let's not forget that in the UK, there's no standardised test car, unlike in Poland.

But don't knock it mate unless your gonna try and improve it. Most accidents and deaths are caused by drivers who have never or had very few driving lessons in there lives, let alone a licence.

Do you have a source for that outlandish claim? I find it hard to believe that at least 50% of accidents and deaths in the UK are caused by those without valid driving licences...

If you took enough lessons to have passed your test, then you will know how safe a driver you are. If you haven't then you are never ready to pass your test because you haven't learned to drive properly or even make comments.

You don't need lessons to pass your test in the UK. They're compulsory in many parts of Europe. I wonder which system is safer?

The DSA criteria covers you for a lot more than just passing its test. You need to attain awareness, responsibility as well as safety before you can pass your test. You can't fluke a test.

Oh yes you can. The amount of awful new drivers on UK roads are testament to the fact that while the DSA criteria gets people to drive in a way that they deem 'safe' - those very same drivers are actually dangerous because they've been taught to pass an exam, not taught to drive safely. The amount of accidents from young drivers is proof of this - if the system taught good drivers, they wouldn't be crashing, would they?

The examiners cannot fail you on something you haven't done wrong and to suggest otherwise is just utter bollox. Also you need to fail on the same thing more than once before you fail.

Are you suggesting that DSA examiners are completely fair? Of course they aren't. There's plenty of evidence suggesting that as long as there's no way of recording the test, DSA examiners aren't honest. And let's be honest, why would they want to be? As I've said, they have an implicit pressure to not pass too many people - as there'll be redundancies as a result.

And if its dodgy why are you allowed to take somebody with you in the back to observe when the test is being carried out.

That's one way to ensure the impartiality of the examiner. However, plenty of people don't avail of this. Of course, the examiner can still fail someone and without documentary evidence, there's no way of proving him/her wrong. The Polish system is far superior to the UK system in this respect.

Basically maybe we should all sit in the backs of our mates and families cars on test day. That way the examiners won't be inclined to fail them. Great idea Einstien.

It would be much easier to simply install cameras.

Ahh, just another Brit with an over-inflated sense of their importance in the world :)
delphiandomine   
14 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Why have you started a race war between Britain and Poland? I wasn't even comparing Poland and Britain, you seem to be very defensive.

A race war? Who mentioned race?

Which to goes to show your bias and predjudices.

And for your info, i am not British. Doh!

So if you're not British, what qualifies you to talk so authoritatively about the driving system in the UK?

And to be honest i am typing off the top of my head, most of what i am saying is my opinion and not really researched, but then i can acknowledge that, you just are thick my friend and cant expand upon a mundane boring conversation written because i have nothing better to do at present.

So you don't actually have any sources or statistics to back up your claims?

Thought so.

Funny how i can not be bothered to supply hard facts and admit it whereas you seem too dull that you couldn't even know where to begin or to even weigh up evidence to support for or against your arguments. Oh! yeah! wikipedia i suppose Ha!

On evidence of driver training systems in the EU, the UK is way behind many other states. The UK even allows drink drivers to drive after their disqualification - many EU states will demand psychological testing to be done and a re-test taken.

Or should we talk about how the UK allows a very high amount of alcohol to be taken before a positive test can be registered compared to most other EU states?

As for the Britain vs Poland stuff - let's be honest, the UK is simply inferior to most of the EU when it comes to driving standards and laws. Even the speed limits in the UK are ridiculously low - 112km/h on motorways? Even Ireland has 120km/h!
delphiandomine   
14 Sep 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

Lets just cut to the chase is it, you hate the UK and anything to do with it or its people is basically the lowest form of life. Basically **** on the bottom of your shoe.

Of course, you've just made the mistake of assuming that I'm not from the UK ;)

Inferior? British drivers are among the safest and most courteous in Europe,

Driving on a british motorway during the week the whole thing works like a well oiled machine and you can predict what other drivers are going to do, when somebody has overtaken they usually pull straight back in using indicators to show their intent.

Aha, I didn't say a word about the abilities of drivers :P

British drivers are among the best in Europe, but I think it's a lot to do with national mentality - the Spanish driving test is ridiculously tough, yet they produce shockingly bad drivers with absolutely no idea how to drive apart from tunnel vision. Likewise, the Polish system is harder, yet it produces absolutely shocking drivers. Yet even though the British system is quite easy to get through, it doesn't produce absolutely dreadful drivers.

Maybe it's to do with enforcement, I dunno.
delphiandomine   
1 Oct 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

I have a Australian (Queensland) provisional licence that is valid for 1 year, A provisional is a full legal licence in Australia, we have a 3 year provisional graduate licence for Young Drivers in Australia with P plates. and i am not a young driver

Aha, well, if it's not a full unrestricted licence, then you can't blame EU states for refusing to accept it as a full licence.

Why don't you just wait until you have a full Australian licence?
delphiandomine   
2 Oct 2009
Real Estate / Could you recommend a good property management company in Warsaw [41]

Also, if anyone has any advice on maintenance fees...

Depends on what you wish to do - usually the charge will be loaded in there somehow, so either charge extra for the rent and pay the fees yourself, or make them pay themselves. It's quite common in Poland to have to pay these on top of the ret.
delphiandomine   
3 Oct 2009
Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

Lazur is pretty good.

Did you know that they have a hotel, owned by them, next door to the cheese factory...and the entire hotel is about cheese? They even put their cheese on spaghetti bolognaise :(
delphiandomine   
3 Oct 2009
Food / Types of CHEESE in Poland [150]

Is it in Poznań, delph?

Nope, it's just outside Kalisz, not that far from you even :P...if you ever want a very bizzare night in a hotel, it's defintely the place to be. There's even pictures of their cheeses all over the hotel, and the rooms are even named after brands of cheese. You can even buy cheese from the reception :/

(and every dish in the restaurant comes with cheese, and they even give you complimentary cheese when you order food. It's just too much...our bed even had a cheese picture above it!)
delphiandomine   
5 Oct 2009
Work / In Warsaw moving to Lodz...thinking about part time jobs.. [10]

what are my options in lodz?

You don't have many, if any at all. Your English won't be seen as 'good enough', and while you might be able to get by offering very very cheap English lessons, it's by no means certain.

What about begging? :) Polish beggars are hardcore because of the way they kneel...gives me knee pains just thinking about it :(
delphiandomine   
5 Oct 2009
Law / Polish EU Drivers Licence - can I get one the easy way (by paying for it)? [185]

I still don't see what the problem is. You can drive in the EU for a year on your Australian licence, which is more than enough time to pass the EU driving tests. You'll need the International Driving Permit - which is just a translation of your Australian licence into other languages.

You'll then satisfy the 185 days residency condition without a problem.

Is it really that big a problem having to pass a driving test in the EU? You'll be able to work perfectly legally on the Australian licence for a year - and all evidence suggests that you can get away with a foreign licence for more than a year!
delphiandomine   
5 Oct 2009
UK, Ireland / Fish and chips - do Polish people in the UK like this? [108]

In Aberdeen alone, we have Harry Ramsdens, the Ashvale and the Dolphin. They are all award-winning chippies I think. Many places like the Bluebird, the Byron etc etc are great.

Oho, I can chip in here.

Harry Ramsdens is closed now, Willie Miller's company owned it and it went into administration. Can't say I missed the place, though.

Ashvale - no. NO. NO NO NO. The Great Western Road one is allright, but the others are franchises and are diabolically crap.

Dolphin - yes. YES. Everything they do is wonderful.

Bluebird...on King Street? If so, not a bad one either.

Byron - you brave man!

There's a new-ish place opened up on Stonehaven beach that's absolutely incredible and beats even the Bervie Chipper into 2nd place...next time you're back, pay a wee visit, you won't regret it :)

Aberdeen chippers aren't too bad really, especially compared to Glasgwegian ones, yuck :(

Going a wee bit further afield, there's not a bad chipper in Keith's Mid Street, and there used to be a really nice chipper in Ballater too, but it got turned into a tea and crumpets cafe for tourists. Zanres in Peterhead/Mintlaw used to be decent too, but went way downhill in recent years.

The place the guy Hass owns in Holburn is a bloody good chipper too.