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Posts by InWroclaw  

Joined: 10 Mar 2012 / Male ♂ 		Last Post: 28 May 2015
Threads: 89
Posts: 1,910 		From: Wroclaw
Speaks Polish?: No

Displayed posts: 1999 / page 5 of 67
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InWroclaw   
24 May 2012
Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Usually only at Tesco (in Poland) but also Auchan and others in Germany and France. It's one of the UK's leading brands and it's good stuff and when it's in Tesco it's fairly priced, unlike their other brand of mature cheddar (pre-packed) which is over-priced in my view.
InWroclaw   
25 May 2012
Food / Is there a Indian store in Wroclaw? [20]

There is also a spice and coffee beans shop in the covered market of kiosks next to Kaufland Supermarket on Bardska. It's at the end, opposite the lingerie stall. They have most things there. 133 and 134 bus goes there if not driving, some trams fairly near too, 31 Plus maybe.
InWroclaw   
25 May 2012
Life / Catholic "Telewizja Trwam" from Poland - your thoughts? [98]

So what happened today? I could only find this

topix.com/forum/world/poland/TH7E71954A8IBBGB1

Surely it is unfair discrimination if they have the money and are funded?

I am not religious in the least, but take an interest in this as it seems weird to turn them down - or do I not know the full facts?
InWroclaw   
26 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's flat rental agents and the anger they brew in me.... [60]

Ain't getting anywhere fast - have emailed 6 landlords direct from daft.pl - in English and Polish - no response at all. 3 of the ads are only a week or less old. Such demand for rental property in Wro that I am too late each time? Or do they just think, despite my writing to them that I want 6 to 12 months, that I am only here for the soccer games?
InWroclaw   
26 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's flat rental agents and the anger they brew in me.... [60]

IThere really is a social apathy in regards to customer service and communication in Poland. Don't get me wrong I am not a Poland hater and chose to live here. But there ARE differences in "business" attitude and it ca be quite annoying.

Happens in the UK too. I used to work in customer services many years ago - I always made sure myself or a colleague phoned back when we said we would. I often heard "Oh thanks for phoning back, so many firms say they will call and don't". Not just a Poland thing at all.
InWroclaw   
26 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's flat rental agents and the anger they brew in me.... [60]

I didn't say it was specific to Poland. But it IS much worse here than in many places like the USA, Canada, certain Western European nations etc. I am not slamming on Poland...it's just reality here.

I will probably discover your experiences are accurate, if I remain in the country for longer.

Is it just coincidence that I have emailed 7 Wrocław landlords regarding their advertised flats in the past 10 days, and have only got a reply from just one of them. That reply was the only landlord to whom I had accidentally omitted the sentence in Polish stating that I am from England.

Well, in fairness I also got this email just now, and this landlord was told I am English:

Witam,

ogłoszenie już niestety nieaktualne

Pozdrawiam

Google and other translators do not clearly translate this at all, but I assume it means either the ad was posted in error (by mistake), or the flat is let (rented out now).

Anyway, of course I am grateful for the landlord's courtesy. At best, it seems too many tenants chasing sub 1500zl per month flats here as I have been very quick off the mark this weekend with recently listed ads (the above was just a few hours since being published when I replied to it).

Further to post 45, I emailed the landlord to ask what floor it was on and mentioned I am from England. A day has passed now and no further correspondence from them. Must have let it suddenly ;o)
InWroclaw   
28 May 2012
Real Estate / Poland's flat rental agents and the anger they brew in me.... [60]

I hope that's not the idea universally, disrespectful stag dos and rowdy clubbers are certainly nothing to do with me. Yes, it might be that Englishman stereotypes are presumed by (some?) Polish landlords - as I had first suspected a few weeks ago. I will persevere, no option really as upstairs are very noisy here and I've had enough - a friendly word didn't get anywhere, more formal written exchanges ditto.
InWroclaw   
28 May 2012
UK, Ireland / Posting from UK to Poland....not good! [53]

I sent a one-of-a-kind historical postcard made out of pure copper from Alabama to Wrocław.

In a padded envelope or jiffy bag obviously? Otherwise it would fall through an ordinary envelope.

Never had anything go missing, must be lucky here
InWroclaw   
29 May 2012
Life / Relocating to Wroclaw, any suggestions? [15]

Jason,
I know that's not far from Auchan and TVP Wroclaw et al - not a bad area. Are there flats to rent there, I might be interested. Currently not having much success getting any landlords to reply to my emails when I tell them I'm from England, Might just be coincidence, but so far the only reply I got was when I genuinely forgot to say I was from England (that LL then vanished when I did tell her).
InWroclaw   
29 May 2012
Life / Relocating to Wroclaw, any suggestions? [15]

Yes, some shopper in Auchan was wearing a tee-shirt saying "You gotta fight for the right to Partynice" or something like that, some years ago. Pronounced Party neetza or similar I think.

Been using all the usual websites yes but not dla studenta as am not a student (except of life and beer, sometimes the two have to be linked).

Can confirm I have emailed several LLs in that area, the road with the racecourse at the top. No responses so far except as above.

I agree with your area recommendations, just not having any luck getting any replies so far, and also my rent budget is approx 1300PLN excluding monthly charges so am limited by that too. I don't think they're that hot on the idea of a cheapskate Brit in their flats :o)

I'm not into soccer much or at all, perhaps I should start putting that in my emails to them "I'm a Briton but don't worry as am very much just an occasional armchair spectator with no ultras or hools to invite round to trash the place..."
InWroclaw   
29 May 2012
Life / Relocating to Wroclaw, any suggestions? [15]

Why is it called 'Forstudents' then, huh!? Seems a tad bizarre. Anyway, no photos (that I can see) of the accommodation which is a serious drawback. Lots of volume however

stancje.dlastudenta.pl/?miasto=1&typ=401&pokoje=2&cena=1500
InWroclaw   
29 May 2012
Work / I will be in Wroclaw by October - getting employed while studying? [14]

And do yourself a favour, if you want to shop in a decent large supermarket, choose Auchan, Kaufland, Piotr & Pawel, Real, Tesco, Alma or EPI. The one big supermarket that I'm thinking of and not naming - well let's just say in my experience anything that's rubbish or broken from them, I don't hold my breath for a refund.

And get yourself an Urbancard for travel - much cheaper than individual tickets.

urbancard.pl/en/index.html

Have fun!
InWroclaw   
29 May 2012
Life / Which services is Poland still waiting for? [218]

All the Wroclaw-named members have posted consecutively above, not sure if that has some sort of weird symbolic meaning... somebody somewhere could be playing forum ID bingo and has won a considerable prize pot
InWroclaw   
30 May 2012
Language / What a krzyki! Is someone messin' with some automated translation services? [5]

Not Screams - it's Whispers!
Is a mischievous or bored person altering translations from Polish to English, or is it a real estate agent keen to not scare off English-speaking buyers? On the latter, I am only half-joking - nothing much would surprise me. With some online translation services, users can input their own ideas on "better translations".

Take the Microsoft translation for this property for rent in an area of Wrocław known as Krzyki.

As you can see from the screen-capture I have attached, MS Live Search Translate changes the word Krzyki not to "screams" which is, as far as I know, usually the correct translation (although some dictionaries say it means "shouts"), but instead, to "whispers". A far nicer word for English-speakers perhaps, when thinking of buying or renting property in an area!

"Scream" - although positive to some in that it can mean having a ball, having a good time or laugh, is far less of a positive word in regards to real estate sales than the English word "whispers", - a word which suggests quiet and calm, peace and tranquility to a much greater degree than the other word.

If you walk around Krzyki you will see the usual graffiti that many parts of Wrocław has, and when last I checked in plain English there was still the now quite old scrawl "South Screams hooligans" on a garage wall by an apartment block.

Even if this translation error is somehow a quirky accident, I find it intriguing and amusing because it seems so unlikely to be accidental.

(The correct word in Polish for "whispers" is I think "szepcze". Google Translate has the word with its correct meaning, by the way.)



InWroclaw   
30 May 2012
News / Anty-Polish v column is located in White House [88]

Monia,
don't be daft.

Let's not forget also that the USA has a very large number of Polish people (most of whom are not Jewish anyway). They do have the vote, you know!

culture.polishsite.us/articles/art41fr.htm
InWroclaw   
30 May 2012
News / Don't go to Poland ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin [313]

Some satire on this: newsthump.com/2012/05/28/sol-campbell-warns-england-fans-at-euro-2012-they-risk-seeing-team-play/

"Former Tottenham and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has advised England football fans to 'stay away' from Euro 2012, for fear of witnessing humiliating displays of ineptitude on the pitch......"
InWroclaw   
30 May 2012
Language / What a krzyki! Is someone messin' with some automated translation services? [5]

Good point, Cinek. A place name is a place name, but with the auto-translation of all words this happens. But why the wrong word - in fact which is the opposite in meaning?

You do see the area called "screams" on graffiti in the area, in more than one place. Some locals use English for some reason.
InWroclaw   
31 May 2012
Life / Relocating to Wroclaw, any suggestions? [15]

I had a response from two by email - one ceased after I said I was a Briton, the other said something similar to "ad expired/flat let".

I can ask him about passing his details if you guys are interested in help.

Feel free to PM me the details, many thanks
InWroclaw   
1 Jun 2012
Real Estate / Renting in Poland - tenants' rights? [51]

Thank you strzyga
_____________

Am currently seeking someone to help me check a rental contract - either meet in person or can fax it to them for translation -

please see this thread
InWroclaw   
1 Jun 2012
Work / Misrepresentation of employment- Poland [5]

You probably have already had a look at this site from the EU, if not then see if it has any guidance
ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=157&langId=en
InWroclaw   
1 Jun 2012
Work / Questions regarding Job and salary? Junior accountant position in Poland. [33]

Why don't you take a couple of years out from education and gain so valuable 'life' experience

+1

I'd strongly suggest you take this job which is quite well paid.

+1

Not saying that education is worthless but there are 10's of thousands of people with great degrees and no common sense.

+1,000,000
InWroclaw   
2 Jun 2012
News / Don't go to Poland ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin [313]

(the polish way...deny and blame somebody else!)

Yes, there does seem to be a lot of that around in Poland, I have noticed the Poles I know here never put their hand up and admit a mistake. Not a good trait. I was hoping it was just limited to the cirlce I know of, but looks like it's rather more widespread.
InWroclaw   
2 Jun 2012
Law / Can I apply to live in Poland while actually in Poland ? [21]

I thought UK citizens sometimes need some sort of residents' permit, or a work permit was necessary? If a person from the UK stays more than 6 months in Poland, is there not a tax implication? Savings interest earned in the UK in UK banks - taxable only in the UK or in Poland? Earnings from UK income, eg if a UK landlord or with shares in UK companies, taxable in Poland if staying in Poland for more than 6 months? Poland's tax system is much less generous on the tax-free allowance - what is it just approx £600 tax free in Poland? In the UK it is £7,000 or more tax free (income tax) for a single person, if I recall.
InWroclaw   
2 Jun 2012
Law / Can I apply to live in Poland while actually in Poland ? [21]

ukinpoland.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-poland/howtoobtainresidency

How to obtain residency
It is obligatory for all EU Citizens to obtain a Residency Registration Certificate confirming their stay in Poland (Zaświadczenie o Zarejestrowaniu Pobytu Obywateli Unii Europejskiej w Polsce).

The application for the certificate must be lodged in person to the appropriate Regional Voivod Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) after 3 months stay in Poland.
British Citizens will be asked to provide:

application form (Wniosek) completed in Polish (form available at Voivod Office)
photographic evidence of ID and nationality (e.g. passport- original to be presented, 4 photocopies to be submitted )
documents confirming the purpose of their stay in Poland.
All documents and their sworn translations into Polish should be presented in original. Please have the copies of all documents prepared for the Office reference.

Please note that all applications for Registration Certificate are considered individually depending on the applicant's circumstances in Poland. For further details you can contact Foreigners' Department of any Regional Voivod Office for advice. In Warsaw this is:

Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki
Oddział ds. Cudzoziemców
ul. Długa 5
1st Floor, room 42, 43
Warsaw
tel +48 22 695 67 52
mazowieckie.pl

For other Voivod Offices please follow:
www. name of the Voivod region.pl
umwd.dolnyslask.pl ---this is my edit for this forum ]

Non-EU spouses of EU Citizens have the right to apply for EU Family Member Card ( Karta Czlonka Rodziny Obywatela Unii Europejskiej).

Please note that all EU Citizens' Residency Cards already issued remain valid and there is no (no) need to exchange them for the new Residency Registration Certificate.

All EU Citizens after 5 years of residency in Poland may apply for permanent residency permit. All applications will be considered on individual merits. For details please contact the relevant Voivod Office.

InWroclaw   
3 Jun 2012
Law / Can I apply to live in Poland while actually in Poland ? [21]

A lot of detailed information in English here on this pdf, page 56 for a list of Vovoidship offices:

amu.edu.pl/__data/assets/file/0006/24567/OIRP_Informator-English.pdf

Wrocław's is listed as

Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki
we Wrocławiu
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1
50-951 Wrocław
tel. 071 340 66 55
071 340 65 87

Some of the info may be out of date as the pdf is not very recent.
Also found this link:

araw.pl/artykuly/33/Resident-and-Work-Permits-Citizen-Affairs-and-Migration