Life / Why are Poles always so miserable? Why do they never smile? [512]

I'd have to say this was something that drove me from Poland. In my eight years there, I met many wonderful people, but I just couldn't stand the coldness people/strangers have towards one another. Where we live in the States, there is such a positive supportive vibe between people.

Life / Why are Poles always so miserable? Why do they never smile? [512]

That syrupy sickly smile certainly does exist in the States, and maybe I am being unfair because we are now in a small town as opposed to the big city we lived in in Poland. Life in any big city is somehow anonymous.

Some people in this forum need to drop a valium or two.

Life / Is gas heat really (that much) cheaper than electric Heating in Poland? [3]

Thanks a lot for the reply and great information.

But the point of a piec akumulacyjny is to store the heat until it is needed. We never had the mentioned problem.

Life / Advice needed on Dental implant in Poland [119]

Cheap does not always mean better. All the dental work I had done in Poland in my eight years there has had to be replaced.

Life / Conflicting views about life in Poland? [45]

Living there, I had the impression that Polish workers felt under-valued by their employers. I suppose this was mainly the result of how low wages were compared to how expensive things were.

Life / Lack of human rights in Poland? [132]

It's just a game guys.

Real Estate / How bad was it? '' a 'luxury' apartment with electricity and heating" [21]

We used that textbook in my first-year Polish class at university, and I have many good memories connected with it.

Life / Lack of human rights in Poland? [132]

I was rather thinking that people don't need to take a knife/weapon to watch a match.

Language / Please help me understand Polish adverbs [30]


I agree with szczecinianin. In English we say She speaks English very well, but we say Her perfume smells good. Here the verbs are being modified by an adverb and adjective. Right, in English sensory verbs taken adjectival forms of adverbs. You will find this rule somewhere in grammar textbooks, but it certainly won't be in the first three chapters. It's usually something you just workout through exposure to a language instead of learning it in a book.

One that I always found funny was saying dobra instead of dobrze for a way to say okay. Can any Poles confirm this one?

Life / Lack of human rights in Poland? [132]


Well of course.

I find football fans truly fascinating. What is it that drives a person to take a weapon to a football match? And what drives people to use them there?

Food / Are eggs in Poland refrigerated/not refrigerated? [33]


I always found eggs with chickensh*t on them in Polish grocery stores rather.....unique. They were pretty good though. Peter seems to have given a practical answer to the mystery.

Life / Lack of human rights in Poland? [132]

Why do any fans cause any damage? It's just a game guys.

Language / Please help me understand Polish adverbs [30]


When would you ever say this?

Language / Please help me understand Polish adverbs [30]


Where does czuć fit in here?

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

Being poor is so relative.

USA, Canada / If you moved from US to Poland, could you please share your experience? [16]

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like for my wife if she went back. We've been here in the U.S. a short time and she is really happy, but I can guess that she misses her homeland and family. My question is just how 'wrecked' she is; she's not the Polish girl from the country side I met ten years ago.

What are you looking for fstop?

Life / Polish people are the most ignorant people in the world! [331]

Now I am waiting for the response "You can't generalize or stereotype".

Thanks Sylvia for the honest answer, although I may not entirely agree with it.

News / Poland has the most dangerous roads in Europe [34]

I've never understood the high number of people failing the Polish driving test. I can believe it's difficult, but for what purpose? Obviously it doesn't make for better drivers.

Travel / Any Halal Restaurants in Krakow? [34]


And where there are Saudis, there is kabsa!

Life / Do you think that Polish people are rude? [951]

Yes I agree that if you went to any country, you'd find rude people, but I have never been able to shake the number of times I was yelled at by people in public places in Poland.

When I asked the woman at the kiosk to repeat something, she could obviously see that Polish was not my first language (although I was trying my best) and instead of slowly repeating herself, she just yelled at me what she said before.

The man at the Urzad Skarbowy yelled at me when I submitted my tax forms.

The woman at some other urzad was absolutely beside herself with rage every time I went in there.

The Polish people I came to know as friends and family were lovely, but the ones I didn't know weren't.

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2650]

An ex-hunter I am, but by no means a card-carrying NRA gun advocate. Actually I gave away my guns 20 years ago. However, one reason us Yanks want to have guns is to keep the government in check. Poles were governed/ruled/enslaved for around 50 years by powers that used the gun to do it. Ain't gonna happen here Bub.

Real Estate / Mother died in Poland, children are US citizens. Real Estate Inheritence in Poland? [5]

Isn't that tax penalty only on the difference between the current price and the original price?

Study / Universities in Poland, will studying here be cheaper than in North America? [4]

I did an MA in linguistics at the university I was working at in Poland. When I came back to the States, I had it evaluated by one of many such companies and was issued an MA which got me my current tenured position. Rock on!

Do you have any language teaching credentials and experience? Can you get a job at a Polish university? It would make your life much easier because you could work and study.

Life / The Polish Dream - move out from Poland as fast as possible [74]

I had the impression after eight years in Poland that Poles simply don't feel appreciated by their employers. Of course money is one way to say "You are doing a good job and we value you." We know they don't get money, but do Poles get any positive affirmation at work? I am happy with my current salary, but I really value my boss who makes sure I know that she and the college appreciate the work I do.

USA, Canada / Why are Polish restaurants not successful in the USA? [698]

I highly recommend SkinnyTatO in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Great freshly prepared Polish food and very friendly owners to chat with.

Food / How do you pronounce and spell... a crispy powdered sugar coated pastry? [8]

My wife makes chrupki coated with powdered sugar.

UK, Ireland / Agnieszka Pomaska, beautiful Polish politician [43]

Not surprised at all that Brits can't compete with Poles. Poles are hungry.

Working with Brits for 13 years, I found it disturbing how often I heard them wanting to go home to live on the dole. I find this practice of sucking the government's tit a bit lame.

I taught at a Polish university for eight years and Polish students are smart. Go get those good jobs Poles!

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]


Drives me nuts. Sorry, just currently dealing with a person who asked for money under the table for his convenience, and now he's not exactly rushing to get the contracted work done. Live and learn.

Language / Could you please help me to understand Oni vs One? [6]

While studying Polish, we had a bit of a laugh that there is one group for men and another group for women, animals and things. Things that make you go "Hmmm."