News / Shops in Poland to be closed on Sunday? [208]

people like to put atheism into a category. Which itself can be strewed as a belief. I prefer to use the term "non believer". That is what I am. I don't want to get lumped into a group of radical thinkers. So, I use a term which has no negative connotation.

USA, Canada / Should I move to Poland? (dual citizen of Canada and Poland) [22]

expats are not despised in the least. give your head a shake.

Life / Is multi-culti in Poland bankrupt? [73]

Living in Poland defies most logic. Just when you think all is figured out then it isn't. Poles have the choice to leave or stay. This choice, itself, is perceived freedom, something that was non existent until recently.

Basically, it boils down to this. Poland doesn't get to close its doors to immigrants while exercising the ability to immigrate.

Life / Poland's expats' colonial mentality? [176]

my husband, from Poland, said something interesting today. Poland has a peasant mentality. Not on purpose, but because the majority of the privileged and elite were killed during the war or managed to escape and haven't come back. And this is why it is that much harder to change the effects of communism- even though the environment is different,you can't change the way people think.

And of course, I am aware that I will get a lot of slack for this but perhaps if you sit and think about it for a minute you will see that it is true.

Life / Poland's expats' colonial mentality? [176]

the majority of expats I know here don't want to go home because they are enjoying Poland so much. Except for one lady from Texas....need I say more?

I don't think it is being snobby or looking down on anything- but some things in Poland, like every day life, can be a huge challenge. Perfect example: poczta Polska. What a clusterfluck. The roads here are a mess. Many people, not all, have the me first mentality. These are the same people that park in handicap spaces or on sidewalks because they don't want to walk to far to do their shopping. It is little things like this. The old Babcia's that push ladies holding babies on the stairs out of the way (this actually happened to a friend of mine). I have another friend who was hit with a bat by an aggressive driver. My self- I have been chased by a car because I didn't take a turn fast enough.

It is things like this that make Poland difficult to live in, but overall, most expats that I know are enjoying Poland.

Law / we are thinking to open asian bistro/ take away in wroclaw [13]

I think you would be very successful. There are many Vietnamese take away places that do well, if you can do more upscale, I am sure you would be great for you. There is an Asian restaurant in Warsaw called Mandarin, mandarin.com.pl this is one of my kids' favourite places to eat. This restaurant is run by Vietnamese chefs and is really successful here.

good luck!!

Life / Poland's expats' colonial mentality? [176]

It is absolutely not true. I live on the outskirts of the expat community and have many of them as my customers. They are all happy to be here and enjoy Poland hugely.

And like I posted earlier- the only person that didn't like it was an American from Texas who whined the whole year she was here. But luckily for us her husband was involved in fracking and they pulled out.

Life / Poland's expats' colonial mentality? [176]


really? so you could say that Des actually missed the point of Polonius' because he was actually talking about expats in Poland- then Des said he was correct because of the Brits on this forum.

huh?

so I am actually not of the mark but you trying to make me look like I know nothing is quite pathetic, really.

Life / Poland's expats' colonial mentality? [176]


I am asked this daily.

Work / Empik in Opole, stay away (teachers not treated well) [8]

maybe you could put a list of the good ones too?

Love / Fresh, wholesome country lass in Poland - getting married and going back to the US [167]

this whole thread is sickening.

Love / Fresh, wholesome country lass in Poland - getting married and going back to the US [167]

+1 to the above comment.

News / "Shale Gas Revolution" will make Poland a Leading Country in Europe! [202]


wrong.

Love / Fresh, wholesome country lass in Poland - getting married and going back to the US [167]

absolutely agree with everything Magdalena said. Why would any sane woman in her 20's want to marry a wrinkled, crotchety, old geezer with too much time on his hands and no social skills. creepy. I think perhaps mail order Russian brides may produce something better.

Love / Fresh, wholesome country lass in Poland - getting married and going back to the US [167]

so really, is there any question as to why this "friend" is not married? With opinions such as this you might as well tell him to enjoy being a bachelor because I can't imagine any woman with a pulse would want to be with somebody like that. On second thought, perhaps a plastic blow up doll is more suitable. She doesn't talk back and she has no opinions. Perfect.

Real Estate / Warsaw studio apartment for 146K? [5]

26 m2? why would you even want to. It is not like NYC or London or Paris where there is infrastructure. Warsaw infrastructure is basic at best and unreliable. It is getting better slowly, but it still is a clusterf*ck.

News / Heavy storm / tornados cause chaos and flooding in Poland [23]

There was flooding along the wisla strada in Warsaw. I think it might be gone now.

Food / Where would you take foreign guests for Polish food dinner in Krakow? [6]

yes yes yes!!! This is a super restaurant with amazing atmosphere. great choice!

Food / I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM - the best ice cream shop in Poland? [34]

there is no need for baskin robbins. Poland has amazing ice cream. we don't need any more fast food crap here.

anyway, Grycan is good- that is probably the only chain style ice cream shop....and it is not much of a chain in comparison to Baskin robbins. Try Blikle, Batida (french) or some of the smaller independent shops. they are much better.

News / Anti-atheisation institute in Poland emerging [110]

who exactly is brainwashing them? People in Poland would rather go shopping on Sundays than go to church. So basically it sounds to me like you think Polska B are too stupid to think for themselves.

News / Anti-atheisation institute in Poland emerging [110]


go back and read what I wrote.

It seems to me that YOU think Polska B are two stupid to think for themselves.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

once you get outside of London behaviour changes. In Poland it is all over the country.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]


no, I am not English....just my grandparents were. My point is this is to be expected in a diverse city such as London. As soon as you are outside of London people are friendly and polite whereas in Poland people are bloody rude from north to south and east to west.

How many times do you have to be reminded about blanket statements? Lenka

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]


how do you get a blanket statement out of that?

and quite comical actually, that there can be 6 pages of anti jewish posts with no mod's warning but I write something about Poles being rude and I get a slap on the wrist. Perhaps it is time you should be a little less subjective with your "moderating".

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

my point is this. London is quite well known for being a less than friendly city. It is big, dirty, people are moving too quickly. This is nothing new for anybody. However, in Poland, the rudeness is not just limited to the city. It is all over. I have been all over Poland so I am relating my experiences not making a blanket statement.

yes, there are polite wonderful people here, I have come across many. Unfortunately, it is the rude ones you remember clearly.

Study / Public dorms in Warsaw for students [26]

are there public dorms?

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]


agreed.

I can give a personal example. When my parents first met my husband they commented to me that he never said please or thank you. I honestly never noticed until after they pointed it out. And then I made a point of noticing when we were with others and his family and indeed he never did say please or thank you. I asked why and it was thought by him that when you are around those you know -please and thank you are not necessary. Well, we fixed that in a hurry. My mother in law still doesn't say please and thank you. she just barks.

But living here for over 10 years I have noticed these small things- and they are important.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

my mother in law barks in Polish. Or rather issues commands.

anyway, I can relate another personal story. We have a place at the seaside where we go on the weekends. Last week end a few of our neighbours were around having a few drinks and a couple from Gdynia said to both me and my husband on separately how wonderful and polite my children are. It was embarrassing after 15 minutes of listening to them go on and on about my kids.

Politeness and manners are taught. And Polish children, in my opinion, and generally speaking- not a blanket statement, are not taught that manners are important. I cringe when I hear bratty children "nie chce or ja chce". Of course, not all Polish children are like this but many many are. And this is included in my husbands family.

When I hear Polish people say please and thank you it sounds like part of a demand or a command. There is nothing genuine about it. Perhaps this is a language or a cultural difference but I can tell you that in Canada and the UK, please and thank you is common and not barked.

A little politeness goes a long way.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

I can tell you, without a doubt, that ALL of our Polish friends who now live in Canada (not a blanket statement, only referring to our friends) notice that when they return to Poland for holidays or whatever, they notice the differences in the rudeness between the two countries.

Poles living in Canada are very good about adopting the politeness when speaking English.

Life / Etiquette in a Store and Market Queues in Poland [146]

suffocating is spot on.