UK, Ireland / Do people in Poland live "better" than here in the UK? [150]

1/ Better weather
True during spring and summer. UK has this perpetual raining season which can get annoying, but otherwise the whole year seems quite mild compared to Poland where extreme season shifting happens

2/ More emphasis on good food
Very subjective. If you grew up eating sourdough bread and sausage with sauerkraut, of course it will be 'the only and the best food ever'. Same for some brits who can chow 'Full English' like some gourmet dish. But like someone mentioned before, since in the UK you get so many people of different cultures, there's much bigger and cheaper variety of food than in Poland where, well, sometimes Pierogi is the only cheapest option in the city.

3/ Diverse and rich natural scenery in Poland
True, but overall British isles boast some awesome natural scenery, like eg. northern Scotland. And those charming little places like Windermere...
In Poland, mountains are really nice, but I coming from polluted Silesia, I feel sad how infrastructure damaged natural beauty in some areas...

4/ A more comprehensive tourism infrastructure
Wrong. I traveled around England,Scotland,Wales,Japan, Malaysia and now Australia. In all these places, even 'local' as Wales, they put a lot of emphasis on tourism.

The problem is that Polish tourism is well... Polish friendly. Big cities manage to handle foreign visitation, but I can see that much is to be done there yet. And while I visited these countries I mentioned, I happened to pick up brochures advertising Europe. My findings:

-Poland is nowhere a main destination in european tours
-If Poland is available, the tours include mainly Krakow (Auschwitz) ...even Contiki!!(How depressing...)
-Occasionally, tours to Warszawa are available
-For ten european tours available, Poland is included in 2 at most (compared to Czech which is included at least 8 times!!!) sometimes just as a optional destination

-As mentioned before, our neighbour Czech is doing much better, following Croatia and even Slovakia
Also, since I worked on one of the main train lines in England, I can tell how much easier it is to travel between destinations there compared to Poland...

BUT, if you happen to know someone Polish while in Poland, you'll definitely get to experience so much more than you would as a regular tourist, many locals know about amazing hidden things that no one else has any idea about.

5/ More culturally engaged than in the UK i.e. free city centre concerts, kaberets etc
True, especially during 'Juwenalia'. I have to admit that living in cities, not towns, in the UK it was sometimes hard to find free or interesting events, to do that I had to go to the main city of the County...

Work / Australian looking to teach English in Poland [25]

It's called Working Holiday Visa

Life / Are there Russian speakers living in Poland? [10]

my mother who was born just after war, is very fluent in Russian. My dad who's younger, not so much.
I think the circumstances were different, her father was a Party member so maybe she tried to impress his superiors, but my dad was a rebel and maybe, not very good at languages? but yeah, for people 50+ it was a compulsory second language

Love / Help me plan my wedding - in church in Poland, with a 2 day wedding party - Zabrze [24]

I know where Zabrze is, my family lives there, unfortunately it's quite polluted since it's part of the industrial area, so it would be good to host the wedding bit further from the main city


Unfortunately that area looks quite gloomy...

I found this listing of wedding venues in Zabrze :
lokale-wesele.pl/lokalizacje/miasto/Zabrze.html

Life / Is it common for Polish people to speak English in Poland? [122]

On topic:
While I was visiting Poland with my Japanese husband (then boyfriend) we were surprised how many people tried to communicate with him in English (while asking about JPN too), ex. a guy in my home town whom I knew from high school, told us that he never had a chance to use English in real-life conversation apart from internet chat ( I guess he played online games) but I thought his grammar was fine. There must be many people like him, who only use English while online and just wait for a chance to use it outside. Where I grew up, we never had any foreigners visiting apart from our families from abroad (mostly from Germany), so when my husband appeared, suddenly half of the pub, which we went to, was on him, asking him questions in English.

UK, Ireland / Polish love in Britain of the Tracksuit [11]

I think the slight difference in fashion is that while Polish guys prefer Adidas tracks (Poland): British guys go for much softer style like LaCoste: such sophistication!

Work / Is 6500PLN/month enough for 2 people from India to live on in Wroclaw? [40]

6500 it's very good, enough to have more fun if you rent cheaper apartment.

Genealogy / Are Poles mixed with Mongols, Turks, and Tatars? [19]

My great-grandfather's surname was Nogaj (Nogay), it either comes from Noga (Foot) or, in my opinion, more likely from the name of Nogay Horde.

I guess so because my grandma and her sister look bit asian...

Love / Are Polish men handsome to you? [182]

Many Polish guys (especially those living outside big cities) believe that using cosmetics or wearing any fancy brand clothes is totally GAY (if it's Skate/HipHop/Hoodie brand it's fine).

They usually put their best shirt for parties and night outs, still some guys don't mind to go out in casual clothes.
If they go to wedding party or grandma's 70th birthday, they will pick up the suit that was formerly hung in the darkest parts of their wardrobe.

During the week, they just tend to wear comfortable t-shirts (some dudes wear it few days a week), jeans and hoodies.

But oh wait, did I just actually described ANY guy? Seems like Polish dudes are doing same as most guys eh! ;)

Genealogy / Searching for people with the surname Pawlus in the US/Canada [4]

I know there are still many Pawlus in Milowka, my dad said some of them are probably his cousins


What is your father's name?

Life / Going to Poland in a hijab - Polish people and Islam [154]

Hi lazycat12345 ,
I have a great suggestion for you!

few weeks ago, I visited Malaysia, and I saw many, actually almost all, muslim girls wearing colorful hijabs together with fitted clothes!
I never liked the look of plain black niqabs and hijabs (especially seeing it in summer heat...) , but when I went around markets in Kuala Lumpur, I was amazed with the colors and patterns of hijabs you can get there!

So, since you are half-Polish and have lived in Poland, I suggest you could get one of those folk scarves...

...and wear them as hijab!

You may get curious looks as why you're wearing such, truth is that even now, only grandmas are wearing these on their heads, but I think if you start to wear one, you'll show everyone a better picture of a muslim girl, one that is not afraid of other cultures. Also, look at these patterns, aren't they gorgeous? :D

Love / Polish girls attitudes towards sex. [568]

yo yo yo, all men arguing here like some wise men in mosque, I will tell you something from woman's POW.

I can't talk for all polish girls, but being a bit of a country girl, I know what's going on in rural areas.

Church is to blame. And priests. And nuns! And society!

With all seriousness, if you managed to survive catholic education in Poland without having some screwed up expectations of sex - congratulations.
Hopefully these days with the availability of internet, some kids self sex-ed, but rarely (if never) schools in Poland have any proper sex education classes. Parents are equally embarrassed to explain themselves. And many feel much easier if the local priest explains to kids in vague words that 'sex is allowed after marriage only, for procreational reasons, and any act of "self-rape" (yup, self-RAPE) equals a trip to mr Lucifer'.

Boys can overcome this easier, watching prons together while drinking beer, talking about their penis sizes, but for girls, it's a taboo.
I know british girls don't mind watching, nor experimenting and some talk freely about this (imagine my cultural shock!), but in Poland, it's socially unacceptable.

Genealogy / Looking for Kulczycki family from Turza Slaska, Poland [14]

Actually, Turza Slaska is a village next to Wodzislaw Slaski. It's a quite small area. My grandfather used to have a land there...
It's well known for it's church - there are some pilgrimages going there, because it had some super special Maria revelation (like many other churches in Poland lol).

Next time when I call back home, I'll ask my dad if he knows anyone by this surname.


Ostrava is indeed quite close to Wodzislaw County!

Food / Cheese in Poland is too bland [37]

I love Red Leicester mmm

UK, Ireland / Why English do not like Polish? [417]

Not all English are like this, I worked with many good people who did they jobs right and cared for their work ethic. But often the bums from chav-ish background were those who slacked and avoided any work.

One thing I hate is how the Chavs raise kids into prejudiced and spoiled brats who think that they can get everything as long as they blame others for their 'misfortune'. I had chance to be in England during summer 2011 when the riots, ahem, looting broke. I went the next day to clean Manchester with other volunteers and we met a lady who's jewelry shop was all robbed, she was devastated.

At that time I watched the BBC and I couldn't contain my laugh and disgust at the same time when I heard the interviewer asking a random mancunian chav 'Why are you doing this?'

His response was something along the lines of 'Coz fokin Polish they take ar jobs we R so poor (wearing Lacoste tracksuit no less)
shop-uk.lacoste.com/sport-collection-2/two-tone-hooded-tracksuit-in-fleece/WH3325-00.html#!color%3DPUF&cgid=1109000&i=19
we hav to do it ' (btw he missed the whole point as the riots in London broke down because of a protest for police shooting some gangsta dude).

It was also reported that they used free BlackBerry Messenger to contact each other about locations of shops, that means if they could afford a BlackBerry (which was expensive in 2011) they aren't so poor as they claim, them benefits are good enough for them

Language / Frustrated Polish Learner -- people in Poland try to speak to me in English [31]

Many Polish think that our language is too confusing to learn and they just want to help you understand what they are saying, they also may think it will avoid you the embarrassment if they switch to a language you're fluent at.

But if you find this an issue, speak to +45 or elderly people. Their second language is russian so there's no way they can speak english beyond 'yes,no,cool,f*ck' (learned from american movies no less :))

Or go to a village or some small town. At first, people may appear less friendly than city dwellers, and usually they are less proficient at foreign languages since they don't see much need of using them when they have decided to stay in such places. But as soon as they realise you are a foreigner who genuinely wish to become fluent in polish, they may turn out to be a very warm and welcoming people who will be amazed at the fact that you have put all this effort to learn the language.

The bonus is, for many small-town people, having a foreign friend is a status!

Language / Which is harder: Pole learning Russian or Russian learning Polish language? [57]


but my mum often said 'zapaszki' after she found my socks stink hehe!

Law / Advice needed on access rights and alimony payments regarding my Polish daughter [28]

Hate girls like these, they start spitting venom and using own children against their fathers. If it doesn't works now, time will show her. Anyway, she's 22, probably still immature and attached to her family who take her side and are happy to let her milk out the 'bad daddy' while she's meeting another guy.

Did you try to speak to her mind? meet her eye to eye and ask how she imagine the future of your child, show her the concern, you should know where supposedly your money will go to. Maybe you could open her a college fund instead? Actually I don't know how does that works but I too am against paying her money off your Swiss salary, else she will turn into a scrounger always shouting the same mantra 'money or child!' (and, on the side, whispering to her daughter 'Your father is a f*ck up don't deal with him). You should do something about it.

It doesn't happens only with Polish girls tho, Japan is even worse, where law is always on japanese parent's side. Many japanese women banned their partners from seeing the child and called police on these fathers who tried to contact their kids...

UK, Ireland / Finding ingredients for traditional British Xmas dinner in Poland? [21]

there are no Christmas Puddings in Poland but you might consider silesian Moczka lol ;P

Life / I am moving to Warsaw. (Could anyone tell me about life there?) [49]

Konbanwa Endo-san!

I'm glad to give you some advice about Poland!
Please send me a PM!

Jya ne!
Kasia

Love / Younger Polish girl 24 dating old man [21]

Dunno about South Africa, but if she comes straight from Poland, she's probably not aware yet what is real wealth, don't let your dad spoil her, for now, buying even cheap clothes (like Primark) will make her super happy. Hopefully she won't upgrade her desires for brands lol

Food / What food and drinks should I buy a Polish friend who is missing Poland? [12]

That's so nice of you :)

If your friend likes ver sweet stuff, Michalki would be a good choice



you can even get them in some UK Tescos in polish section. Michalki are something that reminds many of their childhood

Another sweets (also available at Tesco) are 'Ptasie Mleczko' (Bird's milk lol)

Polish sweets

It's a marshmallow/cream coated in chocolate

History / Royal Family still in Poland? [79]

Maybe Potocki?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potocki_family

sounds likely!

Australia / Australian Immigration for Healthcare Professionals [2]

right now, Elderly Care Assistants are on demand in AUS.
Best way to check is via Australian Immigration website, immi.gov.au/skilled/sol/
they got something called 'Skilled Occupation Lists' where it shows which occupations they are looking for and which can give you relevant visa

Genealogy / Mongolian the Golden Horde - do Poles have Mongolian ancestry? [256]

My grandmother on dad's side looks mongol a little, she was teased all her life (friendly and unfriendly way) by others because of her looks. Her sister looks similar. Even though they were born in Poland. But their dad had interesting surname - Nogaj , which sounds like the name of Nogai Tribe, but it can also mean 'Leg' so we're not sure here.

Definitely my dad also doesn't look 100% Polish

Anyway, when I got married with Japanese, and he and his family came to Poland, my grandma was so happy she said 'Look! finally I found someone who looks similar to me'! (and later she was bragging a lot about this experience lol)

Genealogy / Half Polish half Persian? I can't possibly be alone in the whole world with this mix? [34]

It makes me sad, really, that people want to argue with mixed-ancestry person, trying to show them they are better than them. What are you trying to prove really??

and what the feck is race-purity anyway? We're all human and no matter is you're black or green, we can have offsprings, that means something does it? Genetically there is no difference between us, it's all about them cultures that divide us!

Genealogy / I'm Richard Malec, coming to Poland in November, looking for relatives? [2]

Richard Malec
I know one girl who had surname Malec (she's married now). I think she comes from Oswiecim ( the location of infamous 'Auschwitz')

UK, Ireland / Why are Polish people, especially women, so disrespectful toward the English? [437]

One of reasons is that Poland is a very homogenous society.
Many of those who arrive in the UK, have never been abroad before.

Some people tried to argue with me before, but they themselves forgot how it is like to be a 'newcomer' who has no idea what Britain is - in fact in Poland some people call Britain 'Anglia' [England] and parents often will ask their kids 'How's weather in London' even though they stay f.ex. in Edinburgh.

Often they start jobs from a very 'low' position like warehouse. There, most floor staff is of slavic nationalities like them. And the superiors are brits. Many of the managers and supervisors use the fact that Polish (and others) are scared like hell to lose their jobs in first few months, giving them more pressure to hit more targets than needed.

Thus many people develop an animosity towards their employers, thinking of them really bad and not wanting to have anything to do with Brits.
They get more close to their co-workers, for example, let's say a dude called Zenek - even often being a drunk dick that he is, speaks the same language and is working in the workplace for more than 6 months so he knows what to do vs Colin who is your supervisor, seems like a laid back guy who sometimes jokes with long-term workers but will remind you 3rd time in a day about 'English only' policy and in the rush hour will keep nagging people to do their targets.

I didn't mean to offend anyone, but by this example I'm trying to show that people will stick to more familiar.

Poles, like many other imigrants, are just scared of the 'Terra incognita'. Many are not so adventurous. They only went because they couldn't take being unemployed or low paid back in Poland. If they had better choice, they would rather stay in their own territory, and never move anywhere.

I have a friend in Lancashire, Pat, I asked her once
- Would you like to go abroad? You could take your daughter to Spain for holidays or you could visit Poland and see Krakow!
She just told me
- I couldn't go abroad. I am scared to leave my city! Once I went to (city 20 miles away) and I wanted to go back home as soon as possible.

Now, how would she feel if she had to leave her country... If she can't go too far to spend her holidays in another city, she wouldn't feel comfortable to go abroad to live somewhere else.

I know it sounds stupid and many of you'd say 'So it's better if Polish just stay where they came from' but as I explained, they're forced to come for economical reasons.

Bless those who realise that UK is actually a good place to live and start acclimating. But I also think that YOU guys should help, just by giving a smile or asking 'how are you' you may slowly help to break this immigrant wall that many build around themselves. After all, we're all humans, just born to different cultures

UK, Ireland / Why can't unemployed Polish people on benefits just leave UK and go home please? [240]

The same I'd ask chavs to get jobs and stop relying on gov support...

I am ashamed of the benefit scourgers regardless of their nationality. Even here, in Australia, they think of many vicious ways just to get money for nothing.