Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]

The metro was begun in the 1920s. Last I checked, that was quite a bit before WWII.

I can agree that they could meet standard of living quality in twenty years. However, we were not discussing standard of living - we were discussing economy - these are two different things. It's simply laughable to say that Poland will match the US in per capita GDP contribution within twenty years.

Oh, as for the old WWII excuse for the Polish ineffectual nature - Germany was also nearly completely destroyed and they don't seem to be afflicted with Poland's fatalistic apathy toward nearly everything.

I am a gentile. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]

Poland never had analogous power. The Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth was a regional superpower in Europe. Its influence was nary felt beyond that. That cannot be said of American influence. Last time I checked, English speakers number in the billions. In fact, you're speaking it to me. How many Polish speakers did you get during that time? That's what I thought. Following this supposed 'great power' you were promptly erased from the map of Europe completely. The dual spearhead of the UK and the US acquired far more power than Poland ever dreamed of having.

The Polish economy at a GDP of 688 billion will catch up to the American economy of 14.4 trillion in twenty years!? Wow, Sokrates, that is remarkable growth for a nation that couldn't build a metro system of ONE line in under 60 years!

688 billion to 14.4 million in fifteen years . . . wow . . . do you actually believe any of the stuff that comes out of your mouth? That would put the Polish economy on par with the ENTIRE economy of the European Union as it stands today in TWENTY YEARS!

Quite possible.

Or maybe you're talking per capita. Poland stands at roughly 17,000USD per capita. the US stands at roughly 47,000USD per capita. You're going to close that gap in twenty years?

Wow, Poland must have some of the most brilliant economists that have ever graced the world. I mean, I have respect for SGH, but damn . . . they must be brilliant.

Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]


twenty years ago the United States was entering the height of its power.

Poland is far from having even a fraction of the power exercised by the United States in the late eighties and early nineties - economically or otherwise.

So you, my friend, sound like the twat.

The analogy of fifty years ago stands as the precedent. If you disagree with it, prove it wrong.

Work / What jobs pay 10,000 zlotych per month? and Where can i find one? :o) [101]

With the limited resources I had, I planned as best I could. However, sometimes, through no fault of your own, even the best laid plans fall to pieces when something out of your control adds itself unexpectedly to the equation. You cannot anticipate everything. Even if you could, with the limited resources I had, I couldn't have covered all the risks either way.

I took a risk. Possible failure is inherent in the word risk. My risk resulted in failure. However, I'd rather take a risk and fail than not take any risks at all.

Work / What jobs pay 10,000 zlotych per month? and Where can i find one? :o) [101]

Yes Convex. You are a god among men with indispensable advice.

Teach me, oh great one, for I am unwashed, uncouth, and unclean.

Your arrogance precedes you.

News / Potheads attack police in Warsaw [40]


Shakespeare has nothing on you. I mean it! That was brilliant! I can completely picture the exact kind of person you are trying to describe. Thanks for the laugh!

Work / What jobs pay 10,000 zlotych per month? and Where can i find one? :o) [101]

ah, missed my point completely, Convex.

However, my problem wasn't that I couldn't 'figure things out' as Convex so condescendingly stated. It was that I was but 20 years old, trying to make a go of it a in foreign country when I had a freak dental problem that caused immense pain. It was expensive to fix and I couldn't both pay my rent and pay my dental fees - and the pain was such that I needed to fix the tooth issue. To those of you here who have never experienced real tooth pain: I hope you never do.

I did try and ask the embassy for any help they could give me, being that it was my only option as daddy is not a millionaire and can't bail me out of problems. They stated that basically they exist to help with legal troubles for citizens and visa arraignments for foreigners and kicked my ass to the curb, to be quite frank.

After that I just kind of did what I had to in order to survive until I managed to save enough money to head back home. At night there are, hmmm . . . various ways one can get money here and there in Praga. Just for the record: I have never begged for money in my life and I always pay my debts, best I can anyways.

But yes, my point is that: my story was honest. The rest of you seemed to be having a penis measuring contest. My father used to vehemently repeat that one never discuses finances with anyone but their spouse, so I suppose it's just built into me that talking about personal finance is tactless.

Oh, and I forgot, the most interesting part of the story: despite all I experienced there, I feel in love with Poland! I'll be going back in one year's time - this time with a little better planning!

Work / What jobs pay 10,000 zlotych per month? and Where can i find one? :o) [101]

wow, it seems that every person on this forum is well above average and just loves to talk about their personal finances. Everyone is in great shape here!

Ah, I love internet anonymity. it makes everyone rich, have giant rippling muscles, a smoking hot wife, and porterhouse steaks for dinner each night.

When I was in Poland I was homeless for two months. Couldn't pay my rent. I called a bench in Ogród Saski my home. I occasionally stole eggs and potatoes from Carrefour for sustenance. You might be wondering how I cooked these. I won't tell you. I needed a complicated dental procedure performed during this time and all my money went to paying my dentist. She was a wonderful woman who deserved every penny, even if it meant I had to steal eggs to survive.

When I got sick of the park I would catch the bus and head up around Blue City, sleep in the unfinished apartments there, or head up to Wilanów and squat in the apartments there which are on indefinite hiatus.

I made it back to Boston by a sheer stroke of luck, acquiring half of my ticket cost through some dubious measures and the other half by hawking my laptop and watch - an heirloom given to me by my father. I don't regret the experience, but I'm glad it's over. However, let's not even bring up when I decided that I would hitchhike to Kiev, thinking I could make something happen there. Long story short: I couldn't.

Oh, also, I earned 10,000pln a month, have rippling abs, and my girlfriend is damn fine.

Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]

that is a very valid point, Darius. Let's hope Poland and the other Slavic nations will wise up before they do catch up to us.

Life / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE POLAND IN 2010? [84]

Poland in 2010.

The West, fifty years ago.

This is not a good thing.

News / Potheads attack police in Warsaw [40]

You are overreacting to a ridiculous degree when you say entire towns stink like reefer. What are they doing, burning piles upon piles of marijuana in the town square?

Don't like pot? Don't smoke it.
Like pot? Smoke it.

It really is that simple.

News / Potheads attack police in Warsaw [40]

Polish police that did not know how to react and thus overreacted? I don't believe it!

Policja! Policja! Don't bash my head in with that stick! I was only crossing the street!

News / Potheads attack police in Warsaw [40]

If they want to smoke pot, who really cares?

Busy bodies with nothing better to do, that's who. I don't partake myself, but I couldn't care less if someone wants to go home and smoke a bowl after a long day's work. Whatever works for you, I say.

Genealogy / Polish and Russian DNA? [52]

I'm pretty new here, so I'm wondering:

Does Espana ever post anything constructive or can I just ignore his comments across the board?

As for the topic at hand, I would have to agree (visually) with the idea that Poles are slightly Germanic in feature, naturally due to proximity and cultural exchange with Germany. I don't have any scientific data to back that up, but what I've observed.

Law / Applying for Polish citizenship through marriage. [116]

I stand correct, I guess I spewing misinformation.

As for the language thing, I've always been of the mind that if you cannot speak the cultural language, you are not part of the culture. If you are Polish-American, but can't speak a word of Polish . . . are you really Polish? Is not a Brit who has learned to speak Polish fluently actually more Polish than you?

On a cultural level, of course.

News / Warsaw a "big winner" in city life quality index [26]

How is being ranked 84th considered a big win?

Only in Poland could being ranked 84th constitute something worth mentioning.

Unless we're being ironic, then I say this was a fairly pointless post.

Law / Applying for Polish citizenship through marriage. [116]

You're married to Polish? I mean, it is a beautiful language, but come on . . .

anyways, I do believe it is five years of uninterrupted residence within the Republic of Poland. I'm also fairly certain that you must be able to communicate in Polish in some meaningful capacity.

The easiest thing to do would simply be to go onto the website of the Polish embassy in your home country, they should have all the information you need. If you are currently in Poland you could to go the correct government office, wait in line for twenty-nine days, and pray the person you see has the correct answer.

I'd go with the internet if I were you.

Love / POLISH GIRL I REALLY LIKE, BUT she says we have no future [54]

I was involved in a long-distance relationship of a similar nature for years.

I will offer a few pieces of advice culled from the cold steel of experience: you are embarking on a long, painful, often heart-breaking journey. I know you are now in the throes of new love, but that will turn to old love soon enough - new love can make you do some very stupid, very rash things.

What I am saying is this: give careful consideration about what you are getting involved in and the often head-spinning paper work involved in international relationships if you take it to the next level. I also want you to take into consideration your families. It is a simple fact of physics that you cannot be in two places at once, this means that one of you will always be a great distance from your family - this may not seem like much now, but after years, believe me, it will take its toll on you. If you are not rich and frequent flights home are simply out of the question, depression begins to creep in.

Even if you can conquer this polka and her heart - it doesn't end there. That is just the first step. Don't get in over your head.

From one romantic to another, I wish you the best of luck.

USA, Canada / Any Polish people and food in Boston, MA? [16]

Hey! Thanks for the suggestion! I was born and raised in Boston and have been searching for a good Polish place to frequent. I'm not from Poland, but I often find myself more homesick for Poland than my own native country . . .