News / Should countries be boycotted for offending Poles? [60]

I noticed that dutch businesses are quite "discriminatory" in hiring employees. I saw that all the employees of a shop, doing jobs that require less physical work are dutch, even for low paying jobs such as check out chick at supermarket, shelf stacking etc, while Polish employees are made to do physical hard labour like shifting pellets, working in hazardous or harsh condition like freezer room, manual labour such as cleaning, picking vegies, flowers and fruits. Besides, they are not direct employees but agency worker, meaning employers have no responsibility to these poles whatsoever, they can be hired and fired at will, made to work a few hours a week. This is more or less the same as the working conditions of backpackers on working holiday visa in Australia picking fruits. Thats European Disunion for you.

News / Polish Independence Day-Beware? [59]

I hope Polish folks don't forget to thank America for the existence of Poland as a nation. After all; Poland was created by US President Woodrow Wilson.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points

Life / Help with Polish address - the correct way of putting that on an envelope? [29]

it is a post box in kielce Poland. if payment is by credit card, make sure the credit card address is in kielce.

UK, Ireland / Websites for Poles to benefit from Britain! [210]

I detest dole bludgers and benefit scroungers, especially foreigners. My grandparents paid in to the system in the UK until they moved to Australia but they were refused pension rise similar other British citizens living in the EU. While foreigners came to UK and claim all sorts of state handout without paying a penny in to the system.

History / The Bar Mleczny / Milk Bar (memories) [15]

I think I've been there at a milk bar in Krakow, Ul Grodzka. not far from the main square (maybe 1 minute walk). I did not know the concept of Milk Bar at that time. It cost about 10-15 Zloty for a main meal (mashed potato, chicken and beetroot?), a bowl of Zurek or Borsch soup and some drinks (the same meal cost around 30-50 Zloty in other restaurants). I prefer Milk bar to Mc Donalds but my Polish friends love KFC/ Mc Donalds more because they said it's considered as a posh restaurant.

A typical Milk Bar meal

Life / The nature of Polish jokes? [124]

Indians reading Polish jokes



cuttingthechai.com/2011/09/5189/wills-filter-made-for-each-other/

One of the most popular cigarette brands in India - Wills Navy Cut's advertising campaigns has the highest recall value. Their 'Made for each other' campaign spanned generations of cigarette smokers with the common theme of a couple having fun - in the beach, at a port, in the rain, inside the kitchen or reading a joke book in the living room.

In 1969 ITC, the manufacturers of Wills, introduced the Wills Made for Each Other contest to select the perfectly matched couple. Which half forms the paper rolled tobacco and who's the filter is a topic of an unending debate. In 1971 a pack of Wills cigarettes cost Rs 1.20 for 20; 60 paise for 10.

The girl in ad is reading Larry Wilde's The Official Polish Joke Book, that is "Guaranteed to make you laugh! (even if you're Polish)." The book is a two-in-one book, as is also evident from the image in the ad.

The 2010 documentary Polack searches for the source of the Polish joke in America. Polack is an ethnic slur for people of Polish origin in US.

Polish jokes often portray the Polack as dumb, which is common for ethnic jokes. But additionally, Polish jokes are unique in their portrayal of the Poles as dirty. (Additionally, there are some jokes about promiscuity, especially in reference to women).

Law / Benefit entitlement in Poland for foreigners [37]

As a citizen of EU, I am entitled to all the benefits and support available to the citizen of any EU country. Thats the law. I intend to take advantage of this law to the fullest to my benefit and pleasure during my stay in Poland. If I get $300 a month, it will be more than enough to rent a small apartment for a fortnight in a posh area of Katowice or Lublin.

USA, Canada / Polish man's visit a nightmare - Welcome To Canada [65]

Polish immigration should do the same to innocent Canadian tourist and see how they like being detained for 10 days.

UK, Ireland / Why do so many Polish guys in the UK have a crew cut or buzz cut? [106]

haircut is expensive in most western countries (normally $20-$40) thats why they just cut it very short as it can be easily done by their friends using clipper. Thats what my friend (working in holland) told me anyways.

Law / 1 euro = 4,46637049 złotego polskiego [21]

Most investors are scared because of the possibility of Eurozone break up and/or because of greasy greek sovereign debt default, weak US economy and chinese industrial output going down for the 3rd consecutive quarter, so they are dumping foreign currencies (USA being the centre of the universe) and bought the world's most trusted currency US dollars and also US and German treasury bonds. Even Aussie dollar is now buying just 99 Cents US :(

Life / Poland: worst teeth in the world? [98]

According to Reuters article Americans are the "coolest" people in the world while Poles are the least 'cool' next to Belgians, Turks, Germans and Canadaians :D

THE 10 COOLEST NATIONALITIES

1. Americans
2. Brazilians
3. Spanish
4. Italians
5. French
6. British
7. Dutch
8. Mexicans
9. Argentinians
10. Russians

FIVE LEAST COOL
1. Belgians
2. Poles
3. Turks
4. Canadians
5. Germans

uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/06/oukoe-uk-americans-cool-survey-idUKTRE7852GB20110906

UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]

Home Office figures are supposed to be correct and authentic, regardles of the masthead it was published in. However the list only shows criminals from EU.

UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]

According to the latest Home Office figures, 27,563 EU nationals were convicted in 2010, up from 10,736 in 2007.

Yet only 1,480 EU citizens were removed from the country last year.

Top of the list of offenders were Poland, whose citizens collected 6,777 convictions, reflecting the large numbers who have headed here since the controversial expansion of the EU. Next came Romania with 4,343.

Bulgarians were responsible for 296 crimes in 2010.

There you go.

UK, Ireland / Is moving to UK now a good idea? - antipolish prejudice of the Brits [231]

Prejudiced or reacting to valid reasons?

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Life / Worlds most liveable cities (Krakow or Warsaw don't even hit the radar screens) [104]

Melbourne is quite nice, but not as nice as Sydney. They are too artyfarty and always jealous of Sydney in everything. If you wanna get Warsaw and Krakow included in the ranking, write to them! 100 emails should be enough to make them consider Polish cities in their ranking.

Life / Do you collect mushrooms in your country? Poles in Poland do. [69]

There were hundreds of people selling mushroom and berries along Warsaw-Bialystok road. I didn't see anyone buying though. In many countries/areas people just left their produce (mostly vegetables and fruits) on the side of the road with a box to drop money but I didn't see one like that in Poland. I think it could be used as a measure of the honesty of general populace in the area.

Life / Ipad 3G in Poland [6]

I used Ipad and Iphone 3G services in Poland. I bought Orange prepaid microsim at a shoppping mall right next to Intercontinental Hotel, cost 25 Zloty ($8) for 2 GB of Data (very generous) and the connection is fast. I used it all over the country from Warsaw, Bialystok, Lubline, Rezszow, Krakow etc. I even used my iPad as a GPS while driving (use only maps not satellite picture for this).

Work / Polish pension fund (am I going to lose my contributions while working in Poland?) [6]

here even backpackers can claim their pension contributions as they leave the country.

Life / Mosquitoes in Poland [40]

There are trillions of mosquitoes in the evening in Bialystok.

Travel / After 7 Weeks, why i loved Poland =) [22]

They don't queue at train stations or when boarding ferries, they elbowed their way and fight for seats just like in some 3rd world countries.

Love / POLISH GIRLFRIEND WONT PAY HER WAY [127]

southern


I have to agree with this, even with friends. Ukrainian wants the best food, expensive drinks etc. Polish friend is more than happy to eat at fastfood and drink coke. I know which one is a better friend.

Life / Are Polish roads really this bad? [237]

I drove from Warsaw-Bialystok-Lublin-Rezszow-Krakow back to Warsaw via Czechostowa. Overall the roads are pretty good, for Poland. Warsaw-Bialystok is very good (two way lanes for both sides with median strips, no risk of head on collision) for about 2/3. Lots of constructions of highways along that section too. Bialystok to Lublin is OK but very dangerous because it is single lane bothways and there is extreme high risk of head on collision while overtaking as it is impossible to overtake without driving on the opposite lane. The road is simply too small for that section.

Lublin to Rezszow is very bad for about 10-20 km, there is a danger of your vehicle floor touching the hump of the road because the tyre tracks have sunk so much in the road. But 70% of it is OK and some sections very good(highways quality)

Rezszow to Krakow is a nightmare because of too many constructions or roads damaged for repairs. But thats a good sign as constructions will be completed in a year or so. Krakow to Wroclow all the way to Germany is a breeze thanks to the expressway with toll and freeway.

I saw lots of crosses erected along the roads and my friend told me thats where people had accident and died. I'm not particularly suprised as all Polish drivers insist on overtaking me even though I was driving 10-20 km above speed limit most of the time.

Apart from the need for speed driving (99.99% of them exceed speed limits at all times), I found Polish drivers to be polite and considerate to other drivers and are quite happy to give way (particularly lorry and bus drivers). I drove about 1500 kms and I saw a cop once riding a motorcycle outside the cities doing patrol.

Travel / Poland in photo riddles [3134]

Public payphone in Poland. Apparently someone built a house and tried to make it his personal phone. Murzasichle (zakopane)

Travel / Avoid being ripped off by some exchange outlets in Krakow and elsewhere [44]

As someone mentioned before, use your ATM/Debit card. My Bank charge $5 per withdrawal in Foreign countries and the exchange rates are far better than forex dealers. Since I use credit card for most major purchases I probably used ATM 4 or 5 times throughout my luxurious 9 day holiday in Poland last year.

History / Why does the idea of a "Slavic Union" with Poland seem so popular on this site? [96]

Slavic Union means slavery to Russia. Tried once , rejected by all!

News / Lithuanian ambassador 'Poles not loyal citizens' [63]

That is extremely heavy handed approach by Lithuanian authorities. I think the Polish shopkeeper should take her case to European court of human rights, isnt that what all minorities in the UK did when they didnt get their way? Then again they were Nazi colloborators weren't they? So I am not surprised they are picking on minorities to make them feel unwelcome.