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Posts by Ryz  

Joined: 9 Jul 2013 / Male ♂
Last Post: 14 Jul 2013
Threads: -
Posts: 43
From: an expat in Elblag
Speaks Polish?: no

Displayed posts: 43 / page 1 of 2
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Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Love / Polish Farm Women [34]

this whole thread is sooo creepy.... O_O you people are talking about human beings right? Is there a psychiatrist in the house? good gracious...
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Love / Polish Farm Women [34]

something like that. rent-a-geisha mentality, as if Poland is this rural society stuck in the middle ages and women are cattle or something. friendly advice: turn off Fox News, get a damn passport and come and visit Europe. you'll be surprised.
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Law / US citizen looking to live in Poland for 6+ months like a long-term tourist [51]

sobieski: It is true that voluntary work is still not popular in Poland.

It is. Apparently it has the lowest levels in the EU - I think it's almost unheard of once people finish studying. There are some cases, such as people volunteering at festivals - but nothing like in Western Europe.


that's actually not a bad thing IMHO. you'll find there's this trend in most western countries where they use the terms "volunteering" and "internship" broadly as some sort of modern day slavery. I'm happy to see that volunteer work in Poland is (still) true to its meaning.
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Life / Classic Polish movies free - and legal - to view online [13]

Thanks for sharing. As an expat living in Poland I was pleasantly surprised to discover the amount of brilliant comedies that Poland produced back in the day. Such a shame most of this work isn't subtitled and so staying practically unknown to the outside world. Some of those are true masterpieces.

On the other hand I find modern day Polish comedies to be of really poor taste, with an absurd amount of sexual innuendo (to the point where it gets uncomfortable to watch with children and in-laws around) and the odd cameo appearance of kuba woe-something and other pseudo tv "celebrities" (sorry I can't stand the guy).
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Alerting Poland's local land registry offices? [5]

I could bore you with lots of legalese but the best advice I can give you is to get a lawyer. no way around it, just get a lawyer. having said that I wouldn't worry too much, the law generally protects the best interests of the direct descendeants in situations like this.
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Law / US citizen looking to live in Poland for 6+ months like a long-term tourist [51]

Ryz: I was there last month to collect my 'confirmation of right to reside'

you're quoting the wrong person, Harry said that not me. hehe

That's the document now given to EU citizens for the first five years before applying for permanent residency.

correct. and Poland is not the only EU country requiring it.
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Life / Classic Polish movies free - and legal - to view online [13]

I was referring to cinema, not so much tv series.

Two of my personal favorites:
- Miś (aka Teddy Bear) from 1981
- Jak rozpętałem drugą wojnę światową (aka How I Unleashed World War II) from 1969

This cracks me up all the time...

youtube.com/watch?v=1FWGwegXMvU
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Love / Polish Farm Women [34]

the op would be better advised paying 90 USD and becoming a "PF Gold Member" which includes, prepare for this, a "Lifetime VIP PolishWomen.com membership"!

"(...) At PolishWomen.com men can meet Polish women for relationship, Polish women can find men or jobs, and employers can hire Polish women (...)"

wow really? how degrading is that? Talk about perpetuating stereotypes.

Is it just me? =X
Ryz   
9 Jul 2013
Love / Polish Farm Women [34]

I'm glad it's not just me. This bit "(...) employers can hire Polish women (...)" is particularly disturbing... but I'm sure "trixie123" and "GuyLondonUk" will tell us otherwise.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

as long as you have a monthly payment above 10k Euro there where not a problem at all.

hmmm are you sure you aren't mixing currencies there? 10 thousand Euros per month? Unless you're a football player you'll struggle making that even in London.

The average monthly salary in Poland is 2512 PLN net (3510 PLN gross). That's less than 600 Euros/month. You're honestly telling me a Bank in Poland is demanding 17x (!!) the net average wage in order to grant you (or someone else) a loan for a flat? Something's not right there.

And why would anyone taking home 120 thousand Euros (more than half a million zlotys) per annum need to get a loan for a flat in Krakow in the first place? o_O
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

No. Banks in the EU are subject to regulation, this isn't the wild west. There is no way a Polish bank would demand anyone 17x the net average wage to approve a loan for flat in Krakow. Unless you have a criminal record in which case they could flat out refuse you a loan. You get that kind of demands from a loan shark, not a EU based bank.

The only thing I know for sure is that this whole discussion is scaring the op straight.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

Jon we're talking about a loan from PKO for a flat in Krakow with 35% paid upfront. Post #2, GTO fella. It's all there mate.

to the op: don't mind us and get in touch with your local branch. I personally recommend Millennium but do shop around.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

Plus I don't think being Norwegian (ie not an EU member) can explain it as Norway is still part of the EEA and the Schengen Area.

I'm guessing it's a simple currency faux pas. (sounds posh when you say it like that doesn't it? ooh lah lah)
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

I don't think so either - perhaps a lack of savoire-vivre ;-)

ha! well played my friend! touché!

I wonder if he meant Norwegian Krone?

It could well be but still feels quite steep unless of course he's talking about household income.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Law / Opening "Budke Gastronomiczna" [37]

ok I'll start: watch a lot of Gordon Ramsay's kitchen nightmares! For the most part keep it simple, keep it clean, make it affordable and use fresh local produce. Sounds cliché but from a customer's point of view it's a winner.

Do crunch your numbers before mortgaging your future! don't invest more than what you're willing to lose and don't try to take a step longer than your leg.

Best of luck with your future endeavor.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Law / Jobs and Economic Status in Poland [64]

I'm not going to get involved in the discussion but generally speaking I share my views with Delph and peterweg's.
Ryz   
10 Jul 2013
Law / Opening "Budke Gastronomiczna" [37]

but would make use of a EU grant for funding and trial this idea for 1 year

Then for what is worth let me add this little story:

A long time ago, in my native country, the government invested millions granting funds for people in the textile sector to prepare themselves for an upcoming EU law that would open the market to the Chinese (ie large quantities of cheaper product would soon flood the market). When the time arrived the Chinese-made products literally killed the textile industry. The government then launched an investigation to try and learn why that happened and why the grants had failed to prevent this.

It turns out that a big (huge) majority of them had invested not in modern machinery, not in skilled labour, not in differentiating themselves with a better product but in new cars, new computers and new smartphones for the famil.. ahem workers. Basically they replaced their ageing Suzuki and Isuzu vans with top of the line BMW Tourings and such.

So word of advice... put the money where it's worth! Don't be tempted to use it to massage your ego because karma is a b*tch and will come back to bite you in the arse. It's so refreshing to see people roll up their sleeves and sweating their way to the top instead of sitting idle moaning and demanding everything from everyone except themselves. Keep us updated mate, go social, spread the word via Twitter, Facebook and whatever people use. I'll be happy to pay you a visit in the future.
Ryz   
11 Jul 2013
Law / Opening "Budke Gastronomiczna" [37]

Build a best/worst scenario for the following time frames:

- day 1 to year 2
- year 2 to year 5
- year 5 and beyond

A more realistic approach would be aiming to break even by year 2 and getting yourself a salary by year 5. Everything you make until then should be put back into the business.

In the meanwhile you might have to live from and for your business, meaning live where you work and eat what you sell. I wouldn't even think of staff costs or having a social life until I break even. Unless you have a partner willing to help, expect to be burning the midnight oil in order to reach that volume of sales you aim for.

I only know personally one restaurateur. He's in London, started with one small bistro, now runs 3 restaurants and although he's only 6 years older than me he looks like he could be my father. It's not to discourage you but success doesn't come cheap. You know what they say, success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.
Ryz   
11 Jul 2013
Life / What the idea of a black person is to Polish people? [14]

This has been discussed ad nauseam... Some people are moved by racism, some are moved by curiosity, some don't give a damn... who knows what goes in their minds. Your Polish friends will be able to enlighten you better than any of us here.