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

Ha, meteorologist were right, it is quite warm today in Wroclaw, I would say slightly below 0. But snow covered everything again...

Genealogy / Toczynski name? [18]

Well David, look here : moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/toczy%25C5%2584ski.html

It is quite probable, that your ancestry is from middle east of Poland. As it turns out I know a few of Toczynski's. Who knows, maybe some of them are your relatives, because there isn't many of them in Poland realtively speaking. In fact it is quite likely..

Ech, old old thread, it is a shame

Travel / When is the best time (month) to see Poland? [31]

I would say summer, but because you want to:


Then definitely it should be May or begining of June. Because in July and August most of serious leagues of any sport are shut down due to holiday season. The only disadvantage would be, that Baltic sea would be still to cold to swim in it... But it would be warm enough for most of others outdoors activities like trekking, bicycles and so on. And last but not least most holiday resorts will not be crowded.

Genealogy / Toczynski name? [18]

Try Nowak then ;-)

News / GDP of Poland.. 338 billion pop-38.5mil Cali GDP 1.7 Trillion pop-37.7mil [70]


Hm.. somehow I cann't find more credible source than wiki at the moment:
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezrobocie#Bezrobocie_w_rozumieniu_prawa

In short according to wiki, in Poland you are unemployed when you are registered as unemployed, doesn't matter for how long.

PS. main difference between Eurostat number and GUS number is, that Eurostat somehow assess those registered unemployed which in fact are employed in grey zone. GUS don't do that. Therefore, depending on Eurostat grey zone assessment method, their number can be closer to reality.

PS2. As far as I know in Poland it is rather favourable for unemployed to register, because of health care issues. So it is rather rare cases of unemployed unregistered people.

News / GDP of Poland.. 338 billion pop-38.5mil Cali GDP 1.7 Trillion pop-37.7mil [70]

No, I don't rember any changes in recent years, but I must add I didn't follow it to closely.
If you are thinking about something like difference in USA between headline U-3 and U-6 then I haven't seen such clasification in Poland. But I must add, that in Poland part time workers also don't fall in unemployed category as long as they receive half of minimum wage.

News / GDP of Poland.. 338 billion pop-38.5mil Cali GDP 1.7 Trillion pop-37.7mil [70]


I dig out some GUS data, and it seems that according to them in 2006 almost half a milion jobs were indeed added... post link to your E&Y data and maybe someone on the forum will spot where is the difference. Here you have "ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF THE POPULATION IN 2003-2007":

stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_pw_aktyw_ekonom_ludnosci_2003_2007.pdf

From personal experience I must say that it is not hard to believe in that number. As I remember that year, job pages in newspapers were thick like a book and on every other store window there were job adverts too. 2006 was quite good year indeed...

History / Wroclaw Zoo Railway - before 1945 [7]

Hi

I don't share you hobby, but I believe that I can help you to start your research.
This is site which is run by someone who shares your hobby. This site is about this narrow gauge railway in Wrocław:
kleinbahn.prv.pl
In polish, but you can try to email the guy who runs it. Last guest entries are from 2009, so maybe it is not dead site.

some pictures can be found also here:

this is Polish wiki site about this (probably not much use for you...)
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wroc%C5%82awska_kolej_w%C4%85skotorowa

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]

Formally Magister Degree in Engineering in Poland equals to Masters of Science in UK. Practically, for example Polish IT faculties in Warsaw University are in the world top (at least judging by "Top coder" contests), but in the same time there are also colleges who gave the same formal title but quality of study is worse. So, as always it depends what schools, and even what faculties one choose in comparision.

As for MBA (Master of Business Administration), this is not equal to Magister Degree. MBA are postgraduate studies, which means one has to have Magister title in something to get MBA title.

PS. Magister title in recent years devalued in Poland because much more people get it than previously (due to huge number of private colleges, and because of huge unemployment rate in 90' and 2000'. Many young people didn't have a job, so they were studing. Many of them got additional postgraduate studies just to make a difference. In short, magister title doesn't mean as much as it were before without professional experience.)

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


Well, I'm the lucky man ;-) But it is IT, different animal that most of other engineering. But I know quite a few engineers from different fields. I can tell you two things:

1. some of them had some practice during studies, some mandatory, some not
2. the most important thing you need to understand about Magister inż. or only inż. in Poland is, that in most of engieering fields (except IT and maybe some others) title is not enough to get good position. It is because number of reasons:

a) most of engineering is higly regulated
b) organized in profession corporations
c) higly formalized
which means, that for example if someone is Magister Inż. in construction, specializing in land buildings, then before he/she could even dream about making even a small design in their name, he/she has to gain few years of experience in real life usually as a helper of experienced engineer who has all entitlements and most importantly all stamps. Those experience should be also properly documented.

It usually takes additional several years for construction engineers, electricians and number of others to get from "naked" postgraduate to engineer with all stamps. And that is if they are lucky and stubborn enough.

To sum it up for you, yes "naked" postgraduate engineer in Poland is usually quite unexperienced, but before one is allowed to do anything on their own, they need several years of practice under experienced engineer supervision. Quite similary as physicians or lawyers (but in the same time different and regualted but different law).

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


It was the case in Polish high schools too. There was in Poland a type of highschool called "technikum", which was basically highschool designed to produce technicians and engeeners from some of them. After recent education reform they changed names but I think still do exists as a type of secondary education designed to give practise education.

As fas as university education is concerned I suppose you don't think that construction engineering student will work as a welder during practise? Maybe it wouldn't hurt, but as far as I know they have rather practices like two weeks geodesy measurement camp in vacation, things like material durability assesments in campus labs. They do see real building sites rather as an observers during organized university trips.

Study / "MAGISTER" OR "MASTERS DEGREE" - ARE THEY THE SAME? [75]


Actually they used to teach such things :-) Btw. I've check those practice requirements, and currently on many majors training period in some company is in obligatory program of studies.

News / Shouldnt Poland be invited into the G-20? [7]

On the one hand it certainly is prestigious and influential club, on the other is also costly. So, I'm not sure. Besides, Spain, which has economy at least two times bigger than Poland isn't in it.

Life / Computer stores and computer prices in Wroclaw [12]

Use this site:

ceneo.pl
ceneo.pl/Laptopy_i_netbooki

It is price comparison site, quite reliable. First, you have to think what do you want, then go to this site and check where there is best price for that. Prices can vary a lot and aforementioned big boys like Saturn or Media Markt would rarely be the best option... But it never is bad thing to go there just to check if site don't lie.

Off-Topic / Europe according to Poles and other European nations [44]

Because "Pani Stanislawa" made my day, I'll help you :-)

Morocco: Skansen = Heritage park (Morocco was recently popular tourist destination, with beduins and all that staff it looked underdeveloped for many)
France: Trzęsidupy = ass shakers = cowards...
Belgium: Urzędasy = Bureaucrats
Netherlands: grass & Pedzie = grass and gays
Czech Rep: Pepiki = disrespectful, but more toward funny description of Czechs
Belarus: Kolchoz = state farm
In southern part of France & Cyprus: Ruscy = Russians

And last but not least actually funny to me:
Kazachstan: Pani Stanislawa -> Mrs Stanislawa, usually old woman of Polish heritage working/living in Poland. I know one such lady, very nice person indeed :-)

Life / Doughnut [Pączki] Day... in Poland [70]

I'm sure there will be plenty of that stuff around. One of my personal favourites is small cake shop in Hala Targowa near Ostrow Tumski, first floor on the right side, close to the wall. They usually have some decent stuff, including "pączki". I recommend also cheese cakes and kind of small "ptysie" (little cakes with soft cream)

Language / Gospodarzu, dostanę u was trochę jaj? [14]

Both not bad, but I warn you, don't ask like this: "Gospodarzu, macie jaja?" ;-)

Language / Polish and Hungarian, how similar? [53]

As some clever Pole put it (hm... Stomma), Hungaria is wonderful place, Pole can go there on vacation and get some rest like almost nowhere else in Europe because it is impossible to understand anything including newspapers and other media :-)

Definitely language is not similar at all.

Genealogy / Family home location (Golinas in poland) [8]

Some pictures of the place:

golina.pl/ssi/pl/gmina-golina/gmina-w-obiektywie/golina-z-lotu-ptaka.html

This is site of the commune (in polish...) : golina.pl

Travel / Which cities in Poland are nice to visit [80]

In Mlawa you will be in close range to fine sites like:
- Gdansk and Baltic sea
- Torun -> great gothic architecture
- Masurian Lakes
- Marlbork castle

google it and choose direction, then explore more about it

PS. in Mlawa neighbourhoud there are castles in Nidzica, another one in Dzialdowo and some monastery in Przasnysz

Travel / Which cities in Poland are nice to visit [80]


There are trains and buses there. But certainly things are easier with a car.
Trains site: rozklad-pkp.pl/?q=en/node/143

Buses (in polish only): rozklady.com.pl/rozklad-jazdy-pks-pkp-busy/polaczenia

PS. I assumed it is obvious by looking at the map and I didn't mention that, Mława is close to Warsaw, about 2 hours by train.

Life / Feeling ashamed of my Polish heritage. [237]

@Sebastian, I'm not sure that your DNA should be foundation of your mental integrity.
Anyway, first reaction to your post is: "oh, give us a break, be a perfect Canadian or citizen of whatever country you are living in, why should we care?". But second reaction is, that it is rather upon you as an individual to study culture and heritage of a nation you want/need to identify with. It is rather you who must be trustworthy of this heritage not the other way around. If the only thing you need from Polish culture is some meaningless leverage in some quarrels at school brakes then don't bother. If you need positive things look for it. You seem to be a schoolboy, so use your unfulfilled desire in positive way, and when you are doing some presentations for example in literature use polish poets, there is dozens world class of them, like Miłosz, Szymborska, etc. In math class, you can study for example Banach works. You will find plenty extraordinary Poles, if you only try.

As for economy, you are right Poland is poorer than western countries... but in the same time, your relatives seems to be a bunch of grumblers, sorry about that.

As for tourist attractions, well it seems that you don't know much about Poland...
To sum it up, it seems your problem is lack of knowledge. Surely you can find plenty of disadvantages in Polish heritage and in life in general, but if you will be looking only for that part then your life will be full of sadness...

Law / The 'Secret' of Poland's Economic Success [83]

The secret of polish succes is "chilling down" economy around 2000 when Balcerowicz was the head of National Bank of Poland. He did exactly opposite thing than USA beloved Greenspan did in USA after tech bubble burst. Thanks to that Poland jumped in world property bubble train few years later than others so it didn't get so enormous like in Baltics for example.

It is only one factor, but important one. Unfortunately such events in economy like this move of NBP around 2000 are too detached from results in time. It is like with getting pregnant. If getting pregnant and childbirth would be at the same speed as hitting fingers hammering in nails, then no conscious woman would ever decide to have sex... It is the problem with economy that action is usually long before reaction. In the meantime everyone is wiser because stocks are up...

The second most important factor is that in begining of 90' Poland has the gigantic crisis, and we cann't stop laughing in Poland when we are hearing that current crisis is the biggest one since 30'...

The third one is huge constructing projects concerning road building and EU funds, what started for good in the begining of crisis.
The fourth would be Zloty depreciaction..
The fifth... oh it would be quite a long list...

Travel / Looking for a good map of Poland on the Net [19]

mapy.zumi.pl

Study / Medical Study in Poland [22]

Mister beelzebub and MrBubbles are talking BS. I understand that examples of fine polish physicians working in Poland wouldn't be enough, so two fine abroad examples:

Maria Siemionow, renowned Polish surgeon, she made first face transplant in USA. She finished Poznan Medical Academy:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Siemionow

Adam Szeląg, gynaecologist, working in Sweden, he finished Medical Academy in Lodz

Dr. Adam Szeląg , a gynecologist working in Malmoe , has been recognized by the patient as the best doctor in Sweden. Polish doctor won the annual competition of the most popular Swedish Internet service for patients Doktorsguiden.se

Swedish media report that nice and knowledgeable doctor of Polish able to give up the country's traditional coffee breaks , if the situation requires . The subtext suggests that the average Swedish medical rest is more important than the patient.

What this two examples proves? probably not much, except that it is possible to get valuable education in Polish universities. It mostly depends on individual willingness though.

PS. Medical Academy in my city :-) :

am.wroc.pl/en/

Study / A Portuguese student wants to study in Poland [10]

250 PLN for a room is rather impossible. I think that current medium prices are around 400-600 PLN. It is cheaper in dorms, but usually you have to live with someone there and dorms aren't/(weren't in my student period) easily obtainable. But sharing room with some cool company during studies is rather advantage in my opinion. In late 90' it was possible to live as a student on about 700 PLN in Wroclaw. Now, I would say it has to be at least 1000 PLN, and considering you are a foreigner (so your supporting family net will be far far away, you know, you wan't get 2 kilos of cakes after some family event and bring it to Wroclaw..) you need something around 1200-1500 PLN per month.


Actually I considering this in the begining of May :-) but it is unconfirmed yet :-(.
So, I will not bother you now

News / Belarus - grateful ally of Poland...? [16]

Vetala, the problem is, that Belarus gov. didn't recognized legally elected leader of Polish organization in 2005, and after that Belarus gov. helped in dividing this organization.

News / Belarus - grateful ally of Poland...? [16]

No, they not only trying to keep face. From the begining main goal of Belarusan gov. is to seize independent organization by force. Ok, let say that we don't care about values, what Poland would gain if we keep a blind eye on this and support dictatorship? Almost nothing, Belarus has no meaningful resources and is not important trade partner either. Beside we would lose face in democratic countries club. So, from pragmatic point of view Poland has two choices:

1. lose face and gain almost nothing
2. or support illegaly overthrown leadership of friendly polonia organization and safe face internally and externally

I think point 2 is obvious. Belarus is not China, there is no need to have second thoughts about what Lukaszenka can or can't. He is just to small player.

USA, Canada / Compulsory military service for Polish-Canadian returning to Poland? [11]

No, you are safe, conscription ended two years ago. Entire army is professional now. The only thing which still is practised is registering young Poles in case of war, etc.

News / Belarus - grateful ally of Poland...? [16]


No, not polish agitators. Polish minority living there for hundreds of years. They had a dozen or so "Polish houses" partially financed by Poland few years ago. Nothing fancy, that much we owe them. Anyway it was seized by Belarusian authorities by seizing Polish organization first. It has nothing to do with words like imperialism, revisionism, etc. It is simple issue of minority rights which are abused by dictatorship authorities. Belarusan opposition as far as I know defends Polish minority.