kpc21
2 Oct 2016
Language / Differences in Polish and English idioms [69]
Karaluchy pod poduchy!
Night, don't let the bedbugs bite.
Karaluchy pod poduchy!
kpc21
5 Oct 2016
kpc21
7 Oct 2016
News / Boeing or Airbus - which ones would be better for the Polish Airlines (LOT)? [35]
Yes, but what that has to do with civil aviation? This is the worst thread possible to write about such things.
About the deal described in the article - PiS was explicitly saying that they will resign from buying Airbus helicopters for the Polish army already in their election campaign. So it was obvious they will do it.
Why do they do it? Probably because they have more supporters in the cities where the Airbus competitors would produce their aircrafts (if I remember well - Lublin and Świdnik) than in Łódź, where Airbus helicopters were going to be manufactured.
Yes, but what that has to do with civil aviation? This is the worst thread possible to write about such things.
About the deal described in the article - PiS was explicitly saying that they will resign from buying Airbus helicopters for the Polish army already in their election campaign. So it was obvious they will do it.
Why do they do it? Probably because they have more supporters in the cities where the Airbus competitors would produce their aircrafts (if I remember well - Lublin and Świdnik) than in Łódź, where Airbus helicopters were going to be manufactured.
kpc21
7 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
"under Cracow" is "pod Krakowem"
"from under Cracow" is "spod Krakowa", it seems you meant this form
"to under Cracow" is "pod Kraków" (the form "pod ...-a" would be correct in case of nouns for animate objects, let's say "pod kota" - "to under the cat")
There is no "pod Krakowa".
My father was first generation, where his parents emigrated from Dobczyce (pod Krakowa, literlally, "under Cracow," but meaning more of the periphery of Cracow).
"under Cracow" is "pod Krakowem"
"from under Cracow" is "spod Krakowa", it seems you meant this form
"to under Cracow" is "pod Kraków" (the form "pod ...-a" would be correct in case of nouns for animate objects, let's say "pod kota" - "to under the cat")
There is no "pod Krakowa".
kpc21
8 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
All this what Google Images shows when I type in "pastry", I would rather call "ciastko" in Polish than "ciasto".
In "ciasto francuskie", "ciasto" means "dough".
"Ciasto" in the meaning of a ready food is rather a spongy thing with not much cream. When something has equally much cream as this proper spongy thing that used to be dough before baking it, it's called "ciastko".
"Ciastko" is also a cookie, but it's a different cup of tea (in Polish: inna para kaloszy - another pair of wellington boots).
The border between "ciasto" and "ciastko" (in the non-cookie meaning) is very blurred. But, for example, wuzetka:
is usually considered to be a "ciastko" rather than "ciasto".
But karpatka: is called to be a "ciasto", although it consists of almost only cream...
All this what Google Images shows when I type in "pastry", I would rather call "ciastko" in Polish than "ciasto".
In "ciasto francuskie", "ciasto" means "dough".
"Ciasto" in the meaning of a ready food is rather a spongy thing with not much cream. When something has equally much cream as this proper spongy thing that used to be dough before baking it, it's called "ciastko".
"Ciastko" is also a cookie, but it's a different cup of tea (in Polish: inna para kaloszy - another pair of wellington boots).
The border between "ciasto" and "ciastko" (in the non-cookie meaning) is very blurred. But, for example, wuzetka:
is usually considered to be a "ciastko" rather than "ciasto".
But karpatka: is called to be a "ciasto", although it consists of almost only cream...
kpc21
8 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
The fruits are also quite easy to distinguish. Look at the point where the fruit is connected with its "tail", on which it hangs on the tree. You will see the difference. For the sour cherry it's softer and more juicy.
The sweet cherries seem to be more likely to have worms in them.
For me it's weird that there is a single word for both of them in English and German :-)
There is a proverb: "Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy" - "There is no kołaczes without work".
Masa, ciasto - both are words used for that, and both of them have also other meanings.
From my side, a weird thing in English is that it has no word for "tort". In English it's called just "cake" - completely neglecting that it's a very special kind of cake.
Also, I don't think that English has a word for "babka" (a circular cake with a hole in the middle), and I am not sure about "rolada" (although it may refer to meat stuff as well, Tatra-style smoked cheese is also called so by manufacturers when it's not a real oscypek, as it's made of cow instead of sheep milk and it's not made in Tatras).
Is it the first time when you learn a foreign language and you discover that a word in this language has more than one meaning, for each of which there are separate words in your language? :-)
It gets more funny when there are different words for the same things used in different regions of the country, but we have already had a discussion about "angielka" in this topic - which is probably the most known example of that in Polish (there is not many such cases in Polish, it's really uniform as compared with other languages, people practically don't speak dialects any more).
The fruits are also quite easy to distinguish. Look at the point where the fruit is connected with its "tail", on which it hangs on the tree. You will see the difference. For the sour cherry it's softer and more juicy.
The sweet cherries seem to be more likely to have worms in them.
For me it's weird that there is a single word for both of them in English and German :-)
There is a proverb: "Bez pracy nie ma kołaczy" - "There is no kołaczes without work".
I think wet dough can be 'masa' ciasto sounds drier to me (could be wrong).
Masa, ciasto - both are words used for that, and both of them have also other meanings.
From my side, a weird thing in English is that it has no word for "tort". In English it's called just "cake" - completely neglecting that it's a very special kind of cake.
Also, I don't think that English has a word for "babka" (a circular cake with a hole in the middle), and I am not sure about "rolada" (although it may refer to meat stuff as well, Tatra-style smoked cheese is also called so by manufacturers when it's not a real oscypek, as it's made of cow instead of sheep milk and it's not made in Tatras).
why is there no separate word for dough? Why is it interchangeable with cake?
Is it the first time when you learn a foreign language and you discover that a word in this language has more than one meaning, for each of which there are separate words in your language? :-)
It gets more funny when there are different words for the same things used in different regions of the country, but we have already had a discussion about "angielka" in this topic - which is probably the most known example of that in Polish (there is not many such cases in Polish, it's really uniform as compared with other languages, people practically don't speak dialects any more).
kpc21
9 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
Well, die Torte in German is exactly the same as tort in Polish, and this pastry typically contains also layers being typical spongy cake made of flour (in Polish called "biszkopt", no idea about the English name).
But there is many different variations of cakes, pies and other pastries, each of them having its own name in Polish. Even though the general word is "ciasto" or, sometimes, "ciastko".
In Polish you have "placek" or "naleśnik", which are, basically, a little bit different things. Placek will contain some extra stuff, like potatoes, cheese, apples, raisins directly in the dough and it's small, with the diameter of around 10 cm. Naleśnik has the size of a big plate, the filling (cheese, jam, nutella) is put onto it after it is fried and then its rolled or folded.
It's more weird in German, where they often use a French word for a pancake (although, from I know, they have also their own word - Pfannkuchen).
But be, again, careful, as "placek" can also mean a cake.
I have also heard people using "placek" as a slang word for pizza.
And, I have forgotten, one meaning which is really far from tasty... "krowi placek" means, literally, cow's sh...t.
In America, I was told that torte is a cake made without flour (or only a minimal amount)
Well, die Torte in German is exactly the same as tort in Polish, and this pastry typically contains also layers being typical spongy cake made of flour (in Polish called "biszkopt", no idea about the English name).
Here, you just hear ciasto which doesn't really tell you very much.
But there is many different variations of cakes, pies and other pastries, each of them having its own name in Polish. Even though the general word is "ciasto" or, sometimes, "ciastko".
Don't even get onto pancakes, pikelets and blintzes.
In Polish you have "placek" or "naleśnik", which are, basically, a little bit different things. Placek will contain some extra stuff, like potatoes, cheese, apples, raisins directly in the dough and it's small, with the diameter of around 10 cm. Naleśnik has the size of a big plate, the filling (cheese, jam, nutella) is put onto it after it is fried and then its rolled or folded.
It's more weird in German, where they often use a French word for a pancake (although, from I know, they have also their own word - Pfannkuchen).
But be, again, careful, as "placek" can also mean a cake.
I have also heard people using "placek" as a slang word for pizza.
And, I have forgotten, one meaning which is really far from tasty... "krowi placek" means, literally, cow's sh...t.
kpc21
9 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
In German there is also die Rollade, but it refers to a specific type of window curtains rather than to food. To those rolled similarly as the "rolada" food :-)
But isn't it all the same? :-) Just the size is different.
If you are talking about the "biszkopty" biscuits, there are also two versions of them, one, as you have told, in the shape of fingers:
[biszkopty_1.jpg]
the other one in the shape of discs:
Those finger-like ones are more crusty.
But in Poland nobody would think of a sponge (like bath sponge or dish washing sponge) talking about this kind of product.
Comes from 'roulade' which I think is a French term originally for a rolled up dish. I think Zrazy is a type of roulade?
In German there is also die Rollade, but it refers to a specific type of window curtains rather than to food. To those rolled similarly as the "rolada" food :-)
I didn't know that, I always thought Biszkopt/y were those dried sponge fingers used in certain Polish cake recipes.
But isn't it all the same? :-) Just the size is different.
If you are talking about the "biszkopty" biscuits, there are also two versions of them, one, as you have told, in the shape of fingers:
[biszkopty_1.jpg]
the other one in the shape of discs:
Those finger-like ones are more crusty.
But in Poland nobody would think of a sponge (like bath sponge or dish washing sponge) talking about this kind of product.
kpc21
9 Oct 2016
Law / Is it possible to convert my Pakistani driving licence to a Polish one? [46]
You are wrong. There are procedures to exchange the driving license from almost everywhere in the world, but in some cases it is necessary to pass the theoretical part of the Polish driving license exam (so that it is confirmed you know our road signs and all the regulations) - it is so especially in case of the countries with the American-style road signs.
EU doesn't matter here. What, partially, matters, is the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic - but there are some countries which didn't sign it, and the exchange of the license without passing the theoretical exam is possible.
There is no way to exchange a license unless you are exchanging from another European Union country.
You are wrong. There are procedures to exchange the driving license from almost everywhere in the world, but in some cases it is necessary to pass the theoretical part of the Polish driving license exam (so that it is confirmed you know our road signs and all the regulations) - it is so especially in case of the countries with the American-style road signs.
EU doesn't matter here. What, partially, matters, is the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic - but there are some countries which didn't sign it, and the exchange of the license without passing the theoretical exam is possible.
kpc21
9 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
It's obvious you won't get raw dough, so you know you get a piece of cake.
If I offered you kawa and ciasto, how would you feel if I served you a lump of dough?
It's obvious you won't get raw dough, so you know you get a piece of cake.
kpc21
9 Oct 2016
Language / The "end piece" of a loaf of bread in Polish [80]
Well, maybe the proportions of ingredients are different, or the baking time, but the product seems to be the same, just of different size.
Especially talking about the circular cookies, not those fingery ones. If they are reasonably fresh, they are still soft. It's different if you keep them in a cupboard for a month after buying them.
Well, maybe the proportions of ingredients are different, or the baking time, but the product seems to be the same, just of different size.
Especially talking about the circular cookies, not those fingery ones. If they are reasonably fresh, they are still soft. It's different if you keep them in a cupboard for a month after buying them.
kpc21
10 Oct 2016
Life / Checking 3G/4G coverage in Poland [3]
On the websites of the operators there are the coverage maps.
On the website mapa.btsearch.pl there are locations of all the base stations (or, actually, the places for which the operators got permits to built base stations there - so there may be no base station in a place marked on this map).
But the biggest issue here is that there might be a base station very close to you, but it may be so overloaded that using mobile Internet in that place will be actually pain in the neck.
The best option is to get pre-paid sets of all the operators: Play, Plus, Orange and T-Mobile, and to try all of them out.
On the websites of the operators there are the coverage maps.
On the website mapa.btsearch.pl there are locations of all the base stations (or, actually, the places for which the operators got permits to built base stations there - so there may be no base station in a place marked on this map).
But the biggest issue here is that there might be a base station very close to you, but it may be so overloaded that using mobile Internet in that place will be actually pain in the neck.
The best option is to get pre-paid sets of all the operators: Play, Plus, Orange and T-Mobile, and to try all of them out.
kpc21
17 Oct 2016
Australia / Mail problem- Poland to Australia, delivery time frame [40]
It's normal with international mail. If you want to get something delivered fast, use courier service, not the mail. I sent once a registered letter from Poland to Germany, and it was travelling really for a few weeks before it reached the target. From Poland to Germany - through a single border within the EU! And, looking at the tracking service, the longest waiting was in Germany at the Frankfurt Main airport.
It's normal with international mail. If you want to get something delivered fast, use courier service, not the mail. I sent once a registered letter from Poland to Germany, and it was travelling really for a few weeks before it reached the target. From Poland to Germany - through a single border within the EU! And, looking at the tracking service, the longest waiting was in Germany at the Frankfurt Main airport.
kpc21
17 Oct 2016
Study / Studying in university of Warsaw or Lodz and part-time for Computer Science (Programmers) - POLAND [6]
Warsaw University of Technology is the best one.
Then you have the Wrocław University of Technology and the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow.
Not sure about the quality of the study programmes in English, but it should be OK.
Łódź University of Technology also has good programmes in English with small groups.
From private schools, known is the Polish-Japanese School of Computer Techniques in Warsaw.
Warsaw University of Technology is the best one.
Then you have the Wrocław University of Technology and the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow.
Not sure about the quality of the study programmes in English, but it should be OK.
Łódź University of Technology also has good programmes in English with small groups.
From private schools, known is the Polish-Japanese School of Computer Techniques in Warsaw.