Life / Moving to Poland and not drinking vodka [26]

I must say that I witnessed much more heavy drinking among the Brits in the UK, then in Poland.
Many of my friends rarely drink, or only drink beer.
So really, stop panicking.

History / POLAND: EASTERN or CENTRAL European country? [1080]

nope, check where the centre of Europe is on the map. I will help you: according to current measurements, it's "located in Lithuania, specifically 26 kilometres (16 mi) north of its capital city, Vilnius, near the village of Purnuškės." And Poland is West of Lithuania...

Travel / I'm so bored in Poland! [129]

Dougpol, it's not like British (or American) small towns have so many attractions and places to go. Compare like for like...

News / Should Poland exit the EU immediately? [377]

No, Ironside, the fact that someone votes for PO doesn't mean they are "post-commies" or "post-Poles" (what does it even mean??).

You might not have noticed, but PiS has much more socialist economic views than PO. PiS is a right wing party only by name, and maybe by their social views (abortion etc.). In any other countries parties that want to give people handouts are left parties!

So anyway, no, we wouldn't be better off outside of EU. We'd be outcasts. And yes, we do need EU money. And I don't know how about you, but I enjoy being able to travel and work wherever I want within EU. As do many other Poles. Leaving EU would be the most idiotic move ever.

Travel / Poles the worst-dressed tourists in the world? [25]

Exactly, I was showing a group of elderly Swedish people round Poznań and all the men were wearing socks and sandals. It's not just a Polish thing.

Life / Showing respect and appreciation by Polish people, forms of greetings in Poland. [31]


I second that, I'd rather have mu hand chopped off then have Kaczyński kiss it!
Seriously though, it's usually parcticed by elderly, sleazy men and is, frankly speaking, disgusting. Yuck!

UK, Ireland / English/British rudeness - what do Polish people think about it? [161]


And why would you say this? Normally, it's "czy mogę prosić o sól" or "poproszę o sól" - "please" is used in both sentences.

The whole thread is stupid. In both nations there are nice people and rude people. Some Brits tend to look down on other nationalities. Some Poles don't use words "thank you" and "please". Some cultural differences are rubbing people the wrong way (me - "British guys are rude, as they don't hold the door for me" my husband "I wouldn't risk offending a womkan by doing this").

History / Poland's undying debt to Polonia [76]


You know, I would ignore this nonsense, but this really made me mad.
How dare you? Get into your thick head, that who we vote for in Poland is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! You don't have to live with your choices, so get the f*** out and leave us alone.

As an afterthought - did it ever occur to you that American Polonia just MIGHT be wrong? Or are you too stuck up, you self-rightous twat?


What cash? I never got a penny from any of you. Oh wait, that might be becuase my family doesn't come from a village?

Law / Poland economy is slowing down - how does it affect you? [117]


I imagine 95% of them would be straight to the bin, too?

I've noticed one distinct trend - youth unemployment among graduates of private universities must be incredibly high. Like you, I advertised for a simple entry level job and got almost 200 replies. 90% of them went straight in the bin, though. I think it doesn't help that there's such incredible stigma against private universities, even if the course is actually good - I know for instance Allegro won't hire anyone who graduated from one, irrespective of experience/qualifications.

Food / Where can I buy lamb in Poland? [89]

Tesco Online is selling "udziec jagnięcy" (lamb's leg) for 49,99zł per kg.

News / Polish final report on Smoleńsk aircrash [859]


Do you actually live in Poland?? I keep seeing fathers driving with their whole families in the car speeding, oivertaking dangerously, jumping red light and taking all the risk there is. I also see mothers running to the tram on the red light - with their children. People take risk every day, because they think their goal somehow makes it okay. Or that they will be lucky today. Or they simply have no imagination.

The pilots made a mistake, they went too low - they were not supposed to believe anyone else, they were supposed to look at the right instruments in the cabin. They failed to do that. They thought they were higher - due to their own mistake. And anyway, they were not supposed to go that low, they just didn't have the papers for that! If they didn't break the law, they wouldn't have been so low -> they wouldn't have crashed. Apparently, such law breaking was common in our airforce... And that's really scary.

Convex is explaining it all in very simple words - I wonder why people still don't seem to understand?

UK, Ireland / Why Poles will never belong in England [283]


And thank God for that! At least there is no danger of Polish girls resembling horses!

Seriously, Englishman, you're a moron. You country is full of people from all over the world, look at the streets of London. Why are you so bothered about the Poles? And maybe reas a bit about the history of your own country?

So what about the Scottish? Are they okay to come to england or maybe also not "white" enough? You would be funny if you weren't scary.

Life / Babcia or Busha - any social class difference? [359]


Bucia?? Oh dear... Again, no such word in Polish.

Tell me, how do you count this 7/8? :D

Food / Do you call it kiszka or kaszanka? [55]

Definitely "kaszanka". My family from Lublin area called it "kaszanka" as well. "Kiszka" must be Kresy version? Never heard of it!

Polonia use it because most of them came from what is now Ukraine...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

She was brought up in America, as I said, I don't think she considers herself to be Polish.

Also "możesz być one day on a cover of a magazine" - how is this great Polish?

However, I could agree that the first generation of Poles abroad are Polish, but I will never agree that people, whose grandparents emigrated to America are Polish. They've never lived here, they were born abroad and thye use words like "busha" - no, they are not Polish.


Well, at least try living here before telling us what to do with our country, claiming you're more patriotic or voting in our elections.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

Dżoana Krupa is not really Polish, her accent is awful and she introduces English words into Polish sentences. I doubt she considers herself Polish.

And yes, it's Central :P

Life / The Polish Wedding - What is it Like in Poland? [338]


He's right though, the tradition came from the countryside. I won't have it, as it was never traditional in my family.

Language / Spelling "aunt" in Polish [142]


which means your grandmother is not Polish. Babushka is a Russian word.


So they were from Eastern territories and probably were speaking some version of Polish that was mixed up with Russian or Bialorussian. The languages change, but the "old" word for grandma was "babka", not "busia". "Busia" is not a Polish word, and never was.

Love / Polish girls and contraceptives [68]


No one. Last time I went I got a prescription for 6 months.
But I disagree with the concept of free contraception. You want to have sex - you should pay for the pill or condoms. You, and not the tax payers.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


My goodness, you are obsessed!


Can you people read? We are talking about Polonia, not about Poles in Poland.

Although I'm quite happy with the Polonia at the moment, after they refused to interfere in the Smolensk crash inquiry when PiS asked them to.

I still think they should not be allowed to vote in our elections though.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Where is my response bitter or condescending?? Isn't writing "we carry Poland in our hearts, unlike the Poles in the country" not condescending? I wonder...


No, saying that one has to be a lawyer to make a change and defining lawyers as "helping the poor and unhappy" is naive.


I'm a garden designer :) But that's completely irrelevant, even a cleaner can make a difference, as long and she's working to the best of her abilities.


I hope not. But I'd be well over 30 by the time I'd finish, and closer to 40 by the time I was allowed to work on my own. I've already received my education - don't need or want to study any more. I also find law studies incredibly boring.


Funny. Give me examples of me being rude or vicious. And that's not me who's close-minded here :D

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

I'm not bitter at all. It just annoys me that people that don't live in my country, that don't even speak Polish dare to claim they know better what's bets for Poland. Let me say this: It's none of your business!

The Polonia (and many Poles) still have the romantic view of the emmigration, of people living abroad, writing romantic poetry and missing their country that is struggling under the foreign rule. Let me tell you this: it's detrimental for our country! Poland is a free country now, you can come and work here if you want and if you care. There's no need to stay abroad, there's no danger in coming to Poland, noone will arrest you, noone will punish you. If you're so patriotic, come and pay taxes here, let's get the example from hard working Western countries, not from our spoppy romantic history and books (as beautiful as they are). The times have changed, we have our chance now.

Why do you think I should be a lawyer to change anything in my country? The lawyers don't make law - you don't have to be a lawyer to be a politician. You don't have to be a politician to make a difference. I make my country more beautiful with my everyday work plus I pay taxes - so yes, I do make a difference. More then you do, for sure.

What are your standards, prey tell me?


Hahhaaaaaaaaaahhaaaa! You're so naive :D

Anyway, go to some high school with your advice, it's waaaaaaaaay too late for me to study law now (even if I ever wanted to, which I haven't).

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Why are you convinced that Poles living (and paying taxes) in Poland are not capable of higher feelings? That is none of your business who we choose in our elections, you are not Polish, you don'rt have to live with the consequences. Carry Poland in your heart as much as you want (what a romantic crap, by the way), this doesn't mean anything, dance "Polka dances" and eat kiełbasa or pierogi made by "busha", but leave any important decisions to real Poles living in the country! We have to get on with our lives here. Some people have a cheek...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Reagan was hardly Polonia! You can't use him as an example of "Polonia fighting for Poland", USA was fighting their own war, they couldn't care less about Poland then.


Maybe they shouldn't have left in the first place?

I know they helped, but please don't try and convince me that Polonia freed Poland, cause that's just a blatant lie.

Anyway, I don't mind 3rd generation Poles feeling "Polish" and eating pierogi, as long as they are not trying to tell us what to do with our own country. For example they shouldn't vote in our elections, as they do not bear the consequences.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Yes, I know the money and goods were being sent to Poland, but I'm asking - how was it brave? People abroad did not risk ANYTHING. If they were so brave, why didn't they come back and do something real in the country?

Not belonging to the party could def. cost you your career. Protesting in the streets could cost you your life (Poznan 1956, anyone?).

Jeez, I start to believe that delphi is right about Polonia...

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]


Far easier when you couldn't be put into prison for this, wasn't it? Whereas at home it was rather brave even not to sign in to the party.

Anyway, my parents kept illegal papers in their home during the marital state. Kind of risky with my mum pregnant - once two men in long, black jackets knocked at the door and terrified her nearly to death. But fortunately these were just Jehowa witnesses, and I wasn't born in prison. I was also told that "Czterej Pancerni" is a bunch of rubbish, I was taught not-so-appropriate songs ("ja myślałam, że to śmieci, że to gówno drogą leeeeci, a to Sowieci, Sowieci..."). I was far too young to listen to Wolna Europa, but my parents and grandparents did. And they went to Kabaret Tej shows, if you have any idea what this was. I still remember "Mury" being played on TV early after regaining independence and I will never forget, though I was only 7, my parents joy when Wałęsa won the election.

The changes came from within the country, the Solidarity started here, not abroad. What exactly did our government-in-exile do to overthrow the regime?

Life / Cost of Utilities in Warsaw. [23]


Got mine too - this is for two people living in a 65sqm flat, who run all sorts of electrical stuff and who don't pay any particular attention to energy usage. Two months - 271zl. And that's with several electrical things running 24/7, along with someone running a business from home - so all the usual things are on constantly, such as a printer and computer.

Travel / Hard Candy - Krakow, Poland - reviews? [131]

The great thing here is that all these guys are posting on here, admitting that they were stupid enough to go to a bar with some girls that showed interest in them "randomly" on the street!

Life / Do you collect mushrooms in your country? Poles in Poland do. [79]

Do not pick up smardz under any circumstances!
It's rare and protected by law!

Travel / What to do in Wroclaw! [49]

Go to the zoo :)