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

Yeah, but in my classes today they all said the informant turned down the reward. My question is, who was this mysterious Swedish contact?

Life / Lack of Spacial Acuity in Poland [69]

I live in Gdansk and there doesn't seem to any preferred side of the sidewalk (pavement). People walk wherever they want. Oh well.It's not a big deal to me.

Food / Polish Pizza !! The best in the world? [329]

I have finally eaten very good pizza in Gdansk! Da Grasso opened here recently and they make very good pizza, almost as good as what I was used to in California. Try it, you'll like it. And they deliver.

Travel / Driving to Poland from Ireland end of jan, Need Advice [26]

All the advice given has been really good. My fiancee and I drove from Dortmund to Gdansk on 3 January. We left at 4 pm and arrived in Gdansk at 6 am because we took frequent rest stops. Although it had snowed a lot in Germany and weather was below 0, the highways (motorways/autobahns) were pretty good most of the way. We didn't drive fast because of the weather and because it was at night, and the trip was uneventful.

Gas (petrol) in Germany was about 1.36 euros/liter, less in Poland. We saw plenty of motels/hotels every time we stopped for gas so you shouldn't have any difficulty in finding a place to sleep.

Her car, a 10 year old Volvo V70, is in good condition and has winter tires-a must! We bought a battery just before we left and had non freezing liquid to clean the windshield, which we did frequently.

Be prepared and you'll be fine.

Law / Staying in Schengen - are American exempt from the 90-days-in/90-days-out rule? [23]

If you're American, as I am, and have a residency card, which I do, you can work in Poland with no problem. If you don't hold a Polish passport, you'll have the same problems getting legal residency and legal work as any other non EU citizen does.

In a couple of years, when I get my Polish citizenship and passport, I'll be able to work anywhere in the EU. The irony is that I'm not going to leave Poland.

Polonia / POLISH People IN SPAIN ....... [12]

[Moved from]: Polish exchange students in Spain

I have a high school student who wants to go to university in Spain, but it's too expensive for her. Does anyone know if there are exchange student programs in Spain for Polish students? There are lots of them in the US but I can't any information about programs in Poland.

Please help. Thanks

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


I was in a pub with an English friend last summer. He asked me if he could pinch a fag, thought for a moment and said maybe that's the wrong thing to ask to ask a Yank.

Love / Do you think that Polish should stick to Polish? [128]


I'm an American and I'm teaching in Poland. I use British coursebooks, know the difference between British and American English (color/colour, elevator/lift, etc) and teach both. All, and I mean all, of my students tell me that they prefer American English to British English because it's easier to understand when they hear it. So if you want to teach here, don't worry about being from North America or anywhere else. Just bring a love of teaching and don't do it just for the money.

DISCLAIMER: this was not meant as an endorsement of American English over British English, which it isn't. I didn't want to start a flame war.

Language / When do you use 'się'? And what does it mean? [37]

You should get a copy of 301 Polish verbs. There's a discussion of prefixes and their meanings on page xli. Reflexive verbs are common in Romance languages.

It also tells you which verbs take which cases. It's a really helpful book.

Life / Lack of Spacial Acuity in Poland [69]


I loved this one.

I call them waddling widebodies because they're there all year long.

Life / Bilingual kids in Polish schools [30]


We do.

Life / Bilingual kids in Polish schools [30]


What do these mean?

Actually there are differences between lots of different kinds of English, whether it's British, American, Australian, Carribean, etc. And the most common English spoken in the world today is English spoken by non native speakers. No big deal.

Life / Bilingual kids in Polish schools [30]

Thanks.

Travel / Rented car from Germany to Poland [15]

I drove from Germany to Poland on 4 January. We crossed the border near Szczecin (northwestern Poland) and encountered no checks at all. It was a non event.

Real Estate / Flat prices in Gdansk Old town? [21]


If that's true, that's up from about 6-7 thousand just a year ago. What's your source?

Interesting. No reply, ergo no source, just as I thought.

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


I be thinkin I's be better.


Start with The Polish Way by Adam Zamoyski.

Life / 3 reasons why winter is the best time of the year in Poland [58]


Not for me. While I'm loving this cold winter, I'm looking forward to spring and summer. I love it when it's 30C. My Polish and British friends think they're going to die of the heat. I just smile and enjoy it.

Real Estate / Flat prices in Gdansk Old town? [21]

Promesa5 was the one who quoted ridiculous prices without a source. I live in a 50m flat in Old Town. My landlady may sell it after the summer and she knows I want to buy it but she hasn't set price and terms yet. I jusy want to know an approximate ballpark figure for a fair price so we can begin talking. Thanks.

Real Estate / Flat prices in Gdansk Old town? [21]

That was certainly a useful contribution to this thread. Thanks for sharing. Now does anyone have something to add?

Polonia / POLISH People IN SPAIN ....... [12]

Thanks. I knew about Erasmus. There were a lot of foreign high school exchange students in the US staying with American families. Are there any similar programs for Polish students who want to go somewhere in Europe. I can't find any.

Real Estate / Flat prices in Gdansk Old town? [21]

Where in NC? I lived in Jacksonville for 2 years a long time ago. I like NC even though my home in the US was San Diego.

Everyone's not seriuos, but I'm looking for answers to my wuestion, not humor. No offense meant.

Real Estate / Flat prices in Gdansk Old town? [21]


Thanks. I can read Polish.

Travel / Clubs, bars and general night life in Poland [13]

Gdansk has a very active night life year round, as does Sopot, only 20 minutes away by SKM. If you come here, let me know and I'll give you the name of the best pub in Gdansk.

Work / Do private ESL schools in Poland operate year-round? [5]

Word, although my school landed a very large EU contract last summer and I worked more hours and made more zl than I did during the regular school year. But this is an exception. Summers are usually slim pickings.

Love / English girl moving to Poland with my Polish boyfriend for the first time [69]


Mine too.


So am I, and I don't "ask" for it. That's what I charge, and get, although one student insisted on paying 70zl an hour three times a week. I didn't say no. My private students are all referrals and they know my rates before they contact me, but it takes a while to build this sort of thing up.

I love living here. I didn't come for the women or because my money goes farther here. I wanted the experience of living in Poland, and I enjoy every day here. Zycie jest dobre. Life is good.

UK, Ireland / Polish people in the UK using the English version of their name? [56]


Ma'fa? no way. I's pronounced exactly like it's spelled, at least in American English.


This is one of my favorites. Try to say it quickly! Do you know the legend behind this name from WWII?


Not to mention Malgorzata or Anna!

Work / Boyfriend going to Poland from the US to study may possibly live there [10]


If he even gets a job, he ain't gonna make much. This is Poland, not Pittsburg. He must be out of his mind to think such a thing. What kind of work does he think he can find for such a short time? Not going to happen.

He's how old? Still in high school? Man, he's got a lot to learn about life, let alone life in Poland.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but these are some seriously unreasonable expectations. Good luck.

Love / English girl moving to Poland with my Polish boyfriend for the first time [69]


Amen to that. Poles say it because "co" translates roughly to "what". Czy masz wyszytko co potrzebujesz? comes out of their mouths in English as "do you have everything what you need?". It should be "that" or "which", depending on context.

I get this almost every day from my students, even in FCE or CAE classes. I certainly don't expect it from a native speaker and I don't think I'd heard it from one until I read it here. Let's hope that it was just an aberration.

Law / "FART" shop in Poland - WHAT DOES THIS SHOP SELL? [55]

There's a fart shop near my school. It sells used clothing, among other things. Find a bargain, get lucky! And did you know there's a town in Germany named Fu**ing? True. Google it.