Travel / Travel to Silesia (contacts, places to stay?) [8]

Mining industry in Poland is not so much black and white situation like it used to. There are profitable mines, there are problematic ones. You will have to make quite a research to show it in true colors. Anyway, this museum in Zabrze could be cool place to start with :-) :

kopalniaguido.pl/galerie/poziom320

Genealogy / What certificate is this?; birth certificate from the greek catholic church [63]


I have no idea, another poster wrote that. Personally I couldn't encode that part.


No, I wouldn't expect snow in October :-) But if you will have bad luck, than in October could be a little chilly. But if you are lucky and the weather is fine then it can be quite beautiful autumn here. Maybe this will help you decide:

pogoda.onet.pl/0,3,38,,,,warszawa,miasto_klimat.html

Genealogy / What certificate is this?; birth certificate from the greek catholic church [63]

About mothers name, if it is really Osina, then at first it don't seems to have much sense, because it currently is used rather for surnames. Anyway, osina means some kind of soft wood (probably from poplar). Another interesting thing is that Osina is also a village near Tyszowce (supposedly birth place of the guy from the certificate).

Anyway, if you are really planning some trip in autumn (better not later than september), then you can try to visit churches there. They usually have quite old archives regarding births (I suppose you can try to send them a letter first with copy of your certificate).

Good luck :-)

News / Poland rejects H1N1 vaccine [28]

Old news... Basically it goes like this:
Those big international companies wanted to sell Polish gov, milions of vaccines. Our gov. look at their papers and said:
"wait the minute, it looks like you didn't checked it properly... hm... ok, situation is not rosy with this epidemic in Ukraine. Ok, ok, we (Polish gov.) will buy it, but you have to guarantee it [which means if somebody die/get ill because of it and sue us you (big pharma) will take the blame]"

- Big pharma said:
"no way, we have plenty of others gov. buying it without stupid questions"
and they said to themselfs...
"we have WTO in the pocket, we have army of good paid lobbists, we will break them, stupid little polish politicians..."

But, bad luck happend... Turn out that polish health minister is a tough little lady doctor who has some independent university advisors/professors, and this tough lady doctor got this enorumous pressure on her and said to big pharma "F..K OFF" :-)

It is the exact reason why it wasn't possible to buy this miraculous vaccine in the drugstores. Vaccine producers were afraid of lawsuits in case if something wrong happend.

Language / Polish was chosen the HARDEST LANGUAGE in the world to learn... :D [1558]


Speaking in the name of a nation is always tricky thing, but well, we not used to it so sometimes reactions can be like surprise, astonishment, sometimes one just cann't help it and burst out laughing... But don't worry about that and go for it...

PS.
Welcome in the polish speaking community ;-)

Life / Fat People in Poland? [161]

World obesity prevalence among males:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_map_of_Male_Obesity,_2008.svg

World obesity prevalence among females:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_map_of_Female_Obesity,_2008.svg

Life / Poczta Polska Is Killing ME! Transit time. [28]

I know it will not cheer you up, but PP monopoly will probably end in 2013... PP is one of the last dinosaurs of PRL standing. PP is postosaur, PKP is trainosaur, m...f...rs just don't want to die... We had also shipyardsaurs but they luckily became extinct. Hm... there are also minesaurs but they seems to evolving in some kind of crocodiles.

Law / How to register for doctor in Poland (by area) [16]

About "legitymacja ubezpieczeniowa", in recent months ZUS wanted to stop give it (it suppose to be temporal, but stayed temporal for 5 years :-) ). Current status of it is unclear to me. But for sure the best way to prove your rights is RMUA, at least for people in "umowa o prace". RMUA is basicilly a document which your employer must give you (usually at the end of the month) which enumerates taxes and fees which were paid in your name. One of them is "ubezpieczenie zdrowotne" (health insurance).

As far as this is concerned: "But I heard I will a medical card with IC chip set, instead of a book. Maybe it depends on different province.". Yes it depends on province. As far as I know this system was successfully implemented in Śląskie voivodeship. But there could be another explanation for you. It is possible that your employer will give you additional private insurance (which is not uncommon). In that case this card may be for private health centre.

Some info from national health insurer in English:
nfz.gov.pl/ue/?katnr=5&dzialnr=2&artnr=716&czartnr=2

you can try to email them (I'm courius about quality of their answer in English :-) )

Real Estate / How do you comment on "Poland real estate analysis" of the biggest property site [24]

With all due respect to every doomer and gloomer here, prices of flats fell in 2009 in range between a few and dozen or so percent only...

With all due respect to every pumper here, prices of flats fell in 2009 in range between a few and dozen or so percent...

That is the fact :-) Interpretation of that fact lies only in your personal preference.
Another fact is that prices of flats inflated in Poland since 2003 about 200%-300%. Which is clearly a bubble hike. How do you think what is the probability of another hike like this now? I think not very high. The only question is, if it bursts or just stay were it is and waits for inflation and wages to come up.

News / Czech drug legalisation threatens Poland [111]


No, there are no guards at the border... There are road patrols, but there is no check point at the border. As for Chech decision they just reconsiled with reality. Prague is full with drug dillers already. You can spot them everywhere around old town. Czechs are quite pratical, they are probably going to tax drug dillers :-)

Life / Winter in Poland? [161]

+4 in Wrocław (from something about -10 two days ago, and something about -20 in Janskie Laznie ski resort :-) )... What would I do with all my new bought liquor ? ;-(

Work / Will it be easy to find a job within 6-10 months of moving to Poland? [41]

It will be hard, but your Serbian could be an asset because it is very rare here. English and some economy related degree is quite common so you face big competition. Some Serbian related positions at the moment:

PS. you can check job related sites once in a while, it would give you an idea at least where are your chances, for now it seems only Warsaw needs some Serbian speakers

News / The "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign theft from Oswiecim, Poland [240]

Recent trail leads to Sweden. But it is unknown if citizen of Sweden was main addressee or only middle man...


Because it wasn't just "wrought iron sign" and because they knew this, they are facing ten years sentence (the most).

Life / Russian Language - is it offensive if I speak it to Polish people? [69]


Well, if you start conversation like this:
"Przepraszam, ale nie mówię po polsku, czy możemy rozmawiać po rosyjsku?"
wich means:
"Excuse me, I don't speak Polish, could we talk in Russian?"

Then you will not offend anyone :-) I was teached that hidden truth the hard way in France long time ago, when I tried to use English without warning :-) Some people just think it is impolite not to ask above mentioned question. Btw, all you Englismen in Poland, you should to master sentence like this, but change "rosyjsku" na "angielsku" ;-)

Law / CHINESE TO BUILD POLISH ROADS.... [92]


Exactly because of that Chinese companies were invited almost two years ago. There is really HUGE and MASSIVE road building program in Poland right now. Because of simple law of demand and supply Polish and Western developers wanted enormous sums of money. The goal of Chinese participation was to bring more competition into highly uncompetitive envirement. The goal was to spare some tax money, yes, my money :-) Well, bad lack for devs that shortly after world crisis came... So now, everybody wants to build for 60% of original price...

Btw, Chinese won tender for less than 10% of total current road construction in Poland (and I only count class A and S highways, without roads with smaller parameters). So there is not like out of the sudden they took over entire market. They are more like a warning for local devs from gov: "Don't be so greedy, you are not alone in the universe..."

Genealogy / Some Macedonian, Croatian, Serbian Second Names look Polish! [38]


I disagree a little. There is a lot of Polish surnames ending with -ski which originated simply with father name, for example: Adamski, Piotrowski, Stefański, Wojciechowski

(PS. Additionally, those are quite old surnames, related to Saints and Christianity in Poland)

BTW: cool map (just put your surname and look where posible relatives are...)

Law / What is the most developed Science Technology in Poland? [11]


As far as I know it is more complicated, polish scientists developed efficient way to produce some chemical which is base for blue laser technology. I'm not sure if they managed to apply/sell it into industry.

Life / Pictures of Poles [Everyday Life in Poland] [100]

Well, I'm not one of them... but Commie Block fans on skyscraper made me rethink it a little, so now at least I don't want to level every commie block to the ground ;-)

Law / Value of Computer in Poland [8]

USD/PLN last 30 years (I believe it is adjusted to redenomination) :

stooq.pl/q/?s=usdpln&c=mx&t=l&a=lg&b=0

Language / WHY THE HELL CANT I LEARN POLISH?? [64]


Hm... try to put liquids off in the evening ;-)

Ok, sorry, I couldn't resist... Yes, from what I've heard almost every non slavic foreigner has problems with polish.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


OMG it must be a joke! How old is that video? 2008? Japanese are strange people, I suppose in Poland most of the time such "pushers" would end under the train, pushed there by angry mob... :-) Unimaginable, though I have to say that in my youth I traveled in such packed train in Poland too, but it was train full of youth headed toward music event (of course PKP and event organizers didn't foresee unusual influx of people...).


Believe me, I have much more against them :-) They are complex problem. They are like dinozaur from previous era. They survived because PKP was one of the biggest employer in PRL, influential labor unions etc., nobody dared to touch them. Yes, they are changing... with a speed of tanker.

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


I was on vacation there with Euro train ticket, so I was travelling whenever I wanted whereever I wanted and it was great :-)

I've never used the Japanese too, so I can't compare it either. But I wonder isn't Japan a little overcrowded, especially in public transport?

Well, ok it is an offtop... sorry :-)

Life / Pictures of Poles [Everyday Life in Poland] [100]


Here you go: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=208264&page=33&highlight=warszawa+prl

It is called 'Warsaw PRL years' = 'Warszawa lata PRL. It is pointing to the last page of big thread.

Another one is skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=369337&page=25
There you will find pre PRL pictures too.

PS. I hope you don't need account to view this. Anyway I recommend getting account there, because it is great site, and with account, you can also use 'search' function.

PS2.
DannyJ, go straight to the first page, there is a lot of intresting stuff there: skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=208264&highlight=warszawa+prl

Life / 3 reasons why you hate Poland. [1049]


I agree. Switzerland public transport is second to none. Polish is not even near but at least a lot cheaper :-) With exception of some trains, in general is reliable and functional too.

News / New Polish gambling law - outlawing gambling except in casinos [34]

It rather will not stop internet gambling, but this law will probably cut off important group off people from gambling, youth. They will not be able to gamble in those little clubs, because they will dissapear. They will not be allowed into cassinos. They will not be able to play in the internet because in order to do that, one need a credit card which youth usually don't have.

Work / Does it make sense to move from the UK to Wroclaw for this salary? [50]

Guys, I think there is no point in discussing here all aspects of polish tax system...
If he gets permanent job with "umowa o pracę" then delphiandomine site is correct, 7500 gross = 5292.29 net, there is no hidden tax involved...
It would be hard to get any tax reliefs on "umowa o pracę" so it shouldn't be taking into consideration in relocation decision.

Work / Does it make sense to move from the UK to Wroclaw for this salary? [50]

According to my knowledge, they don't rip you off this time. So from that point of view it is reasonable salary considering Wroclaw IT average.

Is this enough for couple with a baby is another question. It is personal thing :-)
I think you will do fine. But till your wife finds a job, and taking into consideration rents in Wroclaw probably not much will be left.

Travel / 5 days in Poland [14]

It is hard to give more advices without specific questions :-)
Typical problem for me in foreign city is: "What to do in the evening and where to look for proper info":
So, in order to find out about cultural events during your stay in Wroclaw:
1. try this about two/three weeks before your trip, should be updated then (in polish):

mobiwroclaw.nazwa.pl/kultura/wyszukiwarka_wydarzen.html

2. eventim.pl/portal/en/?

Here, internet radio in English from Wroclaw:

radiowroclove.com

They tend to have useful info on their website too.

PS. If you are Belgian, then maybe some recomendation from Belgian living in Wroclaw?: wroclaw4foreigners.wordpress.com/forum/arboretum-wojslawice/

Travel / 5 days in Poland [14]

I think there is no easy way by train. I don't know if there is direct bus.
If I were you I would try something like that:
1. rent a car
2. go to Rogoźnica early in the morning - 1h drive - (easy way partly by highway - 67km)
3. then go to Książ castle - 50min drive - 36km (it is within the city of Wałbrzych borders)
4. then if you have time go to Walim (Riese is there) - 25 min drive - 17 km
5. then back to Wrocław via Świdnica - 90min drive - 77km (if you have time Świdnica has nice city center).

This site is useful for routes determination, in Polish:

zumi.pl/trasa.html?loc1=wroc%B3aw&loc2=woj.+Dolno%B6l%B1skie%2C+Rogo%BCnica+1&byCar=on&cId1=&sId1=&cId2=69756676a4f5ab3b0700c84000000f007c1e00db79efb5db&sId2=&x=0&y=0

PS.

Rogoźnica site: gross-rosen.pl

Książ site: ksiaz.walbrzych.pl/en/godziny_otwarcia.html

Walim Museum site: sztolnie.pl

last entry in april is at 4 p.m.

I wasn't in Rogoźnica, but if I remember correctly my visit in Walim, then prisoners from Gross Rosen were used in Riese project.

PS2. I think that these people: wrota.wroclaw.pl/w/Main/main_eng.htm

can organize such trip for you :-)

Travel / 5 days in Poland [14]

You are welcome :-)

If your cousin is so interested in WWII history, then maybe he would like to learn about this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festung_Breslau

It explains a lot why modern Wroclaw is so architecturally patchy.

If I remember correctly, there is some permanent exibition regarding Siege of Breslau
in The City Museum of Wroclaw - The Historical Museum: mmw.pl/english/museum/history.php

but not sure about that...

Anyway, have fun :-)