Food / Pierogi Dough [30]

Trutas? The Portuguese sweet potato + sugar dumplings?

Or Truskawkowy? The Polish strawberry + sugar pierogi?

Neither fits, but, close as I can get.

Language / How similar is the Italian accent to the Polish accent (when speaking English)? [34]

Not at all. I lived in Poland 3 years; had a grandmother who spoke Italian, and her mom was born in Italy:

The only thing that seems similar when a Pole and and an Italian both speak English, are their FACES. They are both so sincerely earnest; they try so hard for the perfect sound, that they over-enunciate and speak too loudly as they do. But this attention to detail and getting it exactly right, always made me stop and REALLY pay attention to what they were saying.

Which helped them and helped me, because Poles and Italians tend to speak VERY fast in their native tongues, and also when attempting English. The words slurred together.

As far as the accents sounding alike, for me, an American, Italian sounds more like Spanish (definitely NOT like French), and Polish sounds almost exactly like Czech--but maybe in the way accents are stressed, even a little like Swedish or Danish. The cadence, rhythm, whatever it is.

I can't back any of that up with linguistics.

History / How Polish history is viewed by other countries textbooks [124]

I was born in the US and graduated from an American public high school in 1984.

It is true that there were paintings of Poles on horseback with swords raised shown in our history books. But the Polish calvary in these paintings were charging not at tanks, but at cannons on wheels (caissons). The paintings were of Poland and Russia during the Polish-Russian War, perhaps, but they certainly were not of Poland and Germany during WWII.

In college, I was told there was this myth about Poles on horseback fighting German tanks with swords. I was told it was a rumor that originated as propaganda, designed by Poles to encourage Polish Americans to enlist in the US Army during World War II.

I have also been told upon moving here to Poland, that Hitler made up this rumor to belittle Poles, whose fighting forces he actually feared.

This is very interesting: polishsite.us/index.php/history-and-people/modern-history/395-solving-the-myth-polish-cavalry-charge-against-german-tanks.html

Genealogy / William Alexander, 1850, Krunicza, Prussia, Poland [11]

Ziemowit is probably spot on, but is it also possible that Krunicza is a misspelling for the name Krupnicza? I know the street name here in Krakow, and know there is a Krupnicza Street in Wroclaw and most likely Warsaw, also.

Could it therefore have been referring to the city of Nesvizh (where the drink Krupnik was originally brewed), which was under Polish rule from 1919-1939, but was a part of Russia---and now is part of Belarus?

Might be way off base here, but his name change had me thinking of why Alexander vs Andrews. I started thinking Russia, and got there that way.

And here is where Paszkiet names are distributed here now, if it helps. Poles in the US often mixed and married with Poles who immigrated from the same geographic region of Poland, so maybe he was from one of these highlighted areas, too?

moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/paszkiet.html

Good luck!

Genealogy / Finding grandmother's sister born in Chrzanów, Poland [2]

Are you a US citizen? Are you Canadian? Then please try contacting, by phone or email, the consular office of your country located closest to where the "missing" lady resides here in Poland. Ask for their help. They have people who do things just like this for their citizens, and it wouldn't matter if the lady they are looking for is a citizen of that respective country or not. They are helping YOU and YOU are "theirs", so to speak, and that's all they care about, usually. At the very least, they will lead you in the correct direction, so you can get to the information you need.

Good luck.

Life / Orphanages in Poland [82]

The requirements at state-run orphanages stand for all volunteers, staff and teachers having regular contact with the children there. Not sure about priests, who give communion once a week in some of them, and I have no idea about doctors and nurses who come there weekly.

I have no idea what public or private school teacher requirements are in Poland. I do not know if that is state-regulated, or if it differs based on type of institution. Sounds like that is not a standardized process here for private school teachers, though.

In the Catholic-run home, it was quite a small operation. We were told it was a former youth hostel from about 1970, that has been completely re-done inside and out, with all new floors, windows, furniture, etc. There were 2 live-in nuns, and 1 who arrived daily to help with cleaning and and cooking. The kids and nuns walked to the local church nearby; it did not appear that the priest ever was at the site on a regular basis.

The state run facilities were basically horror shows/very bad places, though it was obvious the staff ws trying hard. They just do not have enough people/money to do it right, and many of the kids have serious mental/health/other issues. They do have visits from therapists and sociologists, etc, but it is just not enough. Please do consider helping these larger, older, state-run facilities out. They do need money and they do need stuff, no doubt, but what they really need are warm bodies to volunteer/give time free of charge, as mentors to the kids with hope/promise.

The only exception to the "state run places are bad" rule, is the one for mothers who choose to live in with their children in a separate home next to the oprhans home. As long as they attend school, stay off drugs and alcohol and help with raising their child and do their chores, the mothers can stay to age 21. And if they do well in school, they can stay on thru their hoped-for university graduation, as well. They can purchase a state-owned apartment in a block somewhere and pay only 10% of the actual open-market/sale price of the home upon graduation, as well. They get no cash or payments of any kind other than the housing, food and clothes for them and their child, and they must work to get and keep that. Not a bad system, really. Beats our US-style welfare/food stamps/disability checks for drug addicts, in my opinion.

Genealogy / POLISH REFUGEE CAMP - CAMBRIDGE UK - SEARCHING FOR RELATIVES [30]

The Red Cross kept very detailed lists of those in the DP camps in the UK; look into that and into the UN resettlement info listed here, under the heading of UK:

dpcamps.org/addressesN-Z.html

And did you already look at ISTG, for the ship/crossing info:

immigrantships.net

And have you run the name thru Ancestry or thru the UK census records online? If I get the man's name from you, I can try for you.

Also, there are many Polish records now online, free for searching. If you get that far, let me know. I'll do my best to help.

Study / Private school in Krakow (not the international one) for my child? [12]

ISK and BISC here in Krakow are great international schools--but you're right, both are pricey.

There are several good, less expensive, private Polish elementary and gymnasium schools here which offer English lessons taught by native speakers, but most classes do still take place in Polish. Without some Polish, it will be difficult for your child to acclimate.

I do not know of any Polish public school where most classroom lessons are taught primarily in English. Anyone else here in Krakow know of one?

There is a good private preschool here which has been highly recommended to me before--I believe it is this one, called Rainbow Preschool: rainbow.krakow.pl

It is for kids aged 3-6 years. At 6, kids go to either Grade 0 (kindergarden) and at age 7, are in Grade 1 (first grade) here.

Your child could acclimate to the Polish language while receiving primary instruction in English at this place.

Good luck!

Life / Orphanages in Poland [82]

In Krakow, if you wish to volunteer with Polish children in state-run orphanages, you must undergo physical and psychological tests, first. These tests must be done here, not back home. If you do them back home, they will make you redo them again here, at your own expense.

These tests can include, but are not limited to:

-a complete general physical
-a vision check
-blood work and lung/torso x rays to check for evidence of TB and HEP-C
-urine analysis to check for drug/alcohol addiction
-fingerprinting/background check for some locations
-MMPI-type psychological test at nearly all locations
-multiple personal interviews with the director and some admin staff
-multiple personal interviews with the rn, aide or medical worker who comes to the site
-possibly, an interview with the tutor who comes to the site to work with the unwed mothers there (if it is one of the orphanges which also has this kind of division, as some do)

They do this to ensure that the person offering time w/the kids is not mentally ill, a pedophile, a drug addict or a criminal and is in sound health. This is called taking care of the children. I do not blame them for it. It takes 1-3 months from beginning to end for the testing and registering of the documents and can be costly if you're not a Polish national.

Caveat: a volunteer visa on your own is difficult to get and takes forever. Better to be associated with an international non-profit org and work thru them/come over on their behalf.

Regarding donations of goods and/or money:

Polish NGOs which might welcome your donations and help can be found at the link, below. Click the tab for English at the top of the page, if you cannot read or speak Polish:

media.ngo.pl

I can personally recommend Profamilia, CPES (aka Parasol) and also Dom Dziecka im Jana Brzechowy (aka Pod Kopcem orphanage/mother's home in Krakow) and Dom Dziecka Sieborowicach (orphanage in Sieborowice). And also these larger international orgs w/ Krakow branches: Burego Misia (aka Bure Misie, The Dun Bear Cub group), United Way-Poland, Red Cross-Poland and Special Olympics-Poland.

In re: the original poster's question? Yes it does happen here, and these children are often referrred to as "the lost generation" and the phenomenon is known as "euro-orphanhood". But probably it does not happen on a scale any larger here in Poland than in any other EU nation. To get more information on this, go here:

thenews.pl/news/artykul87800.html

spectrezine.org/europe/Poland.htm

helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/international-news/7141-bringing-up-a-lost-generation-.html

News / Poland: In Top First 15 Countries in the WORLD by the number of CRIMES [286]

Whoa, Nelly! It was not foreigners who were murdered here in Krakow, I NEVER said that. They were Polish citizens, Cracoviennes. So, I expected the news to be reported here, in Polish.

It wasn't. And I was very surprised by that, so I mentioned it my post.

And no doubt, foreigners do lie about some things that happent to them here, just as foreigners in America looking for a payday frpm our more-than-gnerous courts, do too.

I was simply responding to the original and replying posters, who were all discussing whether or not the stats on Poland might be true--or not.

What I wrote is the truth. I am sorry you did not like it.

Life / Do expats living in Poland speak Polish? [233]

I would say it entirely depends on WHERE the expat is from and for HOW LONG they will stay.

If they plan to work here, the expat typically takes lessons--even if the office standard is to speak English on a daily basis. My husband learned "laboratory" and "engineering" Polish at a very basic level. He had to. Many of the plant employees speak no English at all, and his Polish colleagues who do speak English, travel off-site a lot. He was on his own a lot and is their only expat here. He had to, so he did it. He's not fluent by any means, but he can understand quite a bit now. Good for him!

If we had come for 1 year only, I doubt whether either of us would have progressed beyond please, thank you, help, etc. If either of us thought we could use the language again outside of Poland, I know we would have tried harder, but...that is NOT going to happen. We need Spanish these days in the US---everyone does. Not kidding. And also we need French, to work for this particular company. So we are studying those at the moment.

I learned enough Polish to be polite in social settings, in a restaurant, in a hospital, and that is it. I can read Polish newspapers now (barely), but my pronunciation is very poor and my grammar knowledge is that of a Polish 3-year-old! I avoid making sentences on my own when out in public. I know I am terrible at this! That's what happens when you learn a foreign language after age 40--you can do it, but not too well without great difficulty and tears. : )

My child took Polish lessons at school for 2 years here; this is common with expats. The kids learn faster and more easily, so the parents encourage their learning the language.

If more Polish people I met would LET me practice Polish, I think I would do so more often. But typically, they want to try out their English on me/speak only English when we are together. Whoever noted that same thing/issue in their recent post is correct.

The best foreign speakers of Polish I know here are French expats. Most have taken intensive Polish or at least in-home lessons for a long time. They all plan to stay 4, 5+ years here and that surely influenced their decision to do so.

But French grammar is pretty hard, too--maybe that's why they do so much better than we Americans, at learning Polish? : )

News / Poland: In Top First 15 Countries in the WORLD by the number of CRIMES [286]

Krakow is very safe---if you believe the stats produced for public consumption.

But it figures that since we moved here, my husband was attacked on the street and my son and I have been menaced walking back from the grocery store by drunks. That never happened when were back home---and he grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, which was once the murder capital of the US, and I grew up in the inner city, on the East side of Columbus, Ohio.

Bonus: The police simply would not come to us, where the crime occured. Would not go look for the suspects--though we explained they were standing in plain site at a bus stop, waiting to go after someone else. Would not come to our home afterwards. Then told us NOT to come to the police station--as no one speaks English there (THEY SAID IT, BUT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TRUE). Therefore, there is no offical Polish police report that this crime ever occured.

I wonder how many other incidents there are like this here? I do know of many (about 8) home invasions of occupied homes in Wola, where the police also refused to come out to investigate/take witness statements/make reports. Why is that? I am not being sarcastic, I do really want to know why. In the US, you call the police, they come. Period. Can't speak English? Okay, so what? They come anyway. And they come immediately, with lights flashing and sirens roaring.

My former Polish teacher said three people were murdered in the apartment building next to hers in 2008, and that this never made the news, either. Not the Polish or English speaking versions. I scoured them for days looking for it; only a consulate employee who knew about it and confirmed it, helped me out there.

Just saying---the absence of crime reportage does NOT equal the absence of crime. I do not believe that no news is good news. No news, to me, means: What are they hiding?

Certainly gun crimes are not as common here as in the US. That is true. But crime and violence do indeed occur here, and often.

My advice: Check with your consulate for accurate figures on this sort of thing. They keep detailed lists of all crimes reported to them by their citizens and it is often hair raising to see these.

Krakow is a large city, a tourist haven, a beautiful city full of people with money to spend, and places to spend it. I love living here, but those have always been reasons criminals gather in places like this. Pickpocketing, petit theft, car boot robberies, soccer violence (hooliganism), muggings, etc. It's all here, and that's not new information.

So be careful out there, just as you would in any city of this size, anywhere in the world.

Life / If I move to a big city in Poland will I come across a lot of English speakers? [32]

Yes, if you live in Krakow. I am an American who has lived here since Fall 2007 with my husband and son. My son was 4 when we arrived and entered preschool for the first time here.

Yes there is some culture shock, especially if like me, you have never lived or traveled abroad before. My husband had done so and for him, it was less. But your child will take its cues on how to behave and how to react from you, so be calm, be patient and be prepared. Have a sense of humor, know what to expect, have a plan and things will be fine.

We have had very little difficuty finding English speakers whether from Poland, the UK, France, Malaysia or anywhere else. You just have to know where to look to find friends and activities that will suit you and your child.

The Dziennik Polski newspaper has an English online version and The Krakow Post here is in English. Look for things like that where you are.

Check out Cracow-Online, too.

There is a women's international group in nearly every large city here, aimed at helping women expats and their families settle in and which also engage in volunteer work here. Krakow's group is called IWAK. Read all about us at IWAK.pl.

If you are a French speaker, Accueil-type groups exist in other cities, too. To gain access to the Krakow group's website and see the newsletter of Cracovie Accueil, you can start here: cracovieaccueil.wordpress.com.

Learn a bit of Polish before coming, read up a bit on the history of this country and learn about the area you plan to live in.

Jobs are not plentiful, but if you have the TOEFL certificate and some basic Polish, or are willing to learn some, you will be better off than most and if you can teach business English or can gear lessons toward medical, technical or financial English, you will soon be in demand.

Connect with your consulate or embassy immediately upon arriving in the country. Be aware that you can volunteer to teach English here with a simple stay visa, but cannot accept money for doing so--for that you need a work visa, no matter what anyone tells you.

Look into joining The English Language Club in your new home city. There are ads placed in the Polish version of Gumtree sometimes. krakow.gumtree.pl

You and your child should be fine, with a little preparation and some friendly help and advice. Just make realistic goals, have a backup plan, be patient and you'll see.

Good luck!

Life / Polish home remedies for cold, stomach ache, migraine? [49]

Gumishu mentioned the hot milk-butter-garlic concoction, and that is very popular here--especially for children.

For adults, I recently became aware of "Tea with Electricity." I think it is called something like herbata z prontkyi (or prontek). A shot of rum in piping hot, black tea. Supposed to cure colds and sinus troubles. For those who do not like rum, they use cytronowka vodka, heated, and pour it into Ceylon Gold type tea that is lighter in color.

My Polish neighbor swears by echinacea tea with raspberry syrup in it for a cold.

She also likes Amol--you put the bottled liquid in a bowl of hot water, drape a towel over ypur head and lean over the bowl. It appears to be a eucalyptus-herb blend that is organic and is supposed to open sinuses and clear throats.

I heard Amol is the store version of a grandmother's homemade remedy from a long time ago, but I do not know that for sure.

USA, Canada / Gift idea for a Pole living in US [8]

Polart and a store called Poland by Mail in the US has great stuff, including the slippers the other poster talked about, but the cost per item and the shipping will really get you!

If you live outside what I call the major Polish cities in the US and can't get to a Polish store, try them out. A friend ordered dried Polish mushrooms and some ethnic dolls from Polart and was very pleased.

And if you have a lot to spend, I second the idea that amber is a good idea; Baltic amber is beautiful and highly prized.

Food / Where to buy napisco Oreo Biscuits in Warsaw [15]

Try a store called Kuchnie Swiata (World Kitchen). I heard they have Nabisco Oreo cookies there sometimes, just as they do at our Krakow location in the Galeria Krakowska. They will also order things for you sometimes, if you ask nicely.

kuchnieswiata.com.pl/sklepy.html

Good luck!

Life / Are Xbox games in Poland translated into Polish? [8]

My husband who plays Xbox360, says Gears of War II, which he bought here in Krakow at a Media Markt store, was in Polish.

Most of the ones he buys new here in Poland, though, are in English.

Language / Does anyone know where I can learn Polish for free? [35]

Polish is a hard language to learn on your own, esp. if you are starting w/no skill/fluency at all, have no Polish heritage and did not grow up around Polish speakers. You will need in-person "feedback" and guidance, to help with accent, syllable stress, etc.

Some ideas:

Check with The British Council group. They may be able to give you referrals to locals/native speakers who can help you. Sometimes they have lists of local staff or volunteers who give Polish lessons in exchange for English conversation sessions.

Church groups from the US and the UK, often Protestant church groups run by missionary families, offer religious services in Polish and English. I have heard of a Pole who learned English by sitting thru both services every Sunday, for one year. Try it in reverse and maybe pick up Polish this way!

Ask at your consulate or embassy: they often have notice boards with people looking to give Polish lessons in exchange for English and they may also have a lending library, which might include cd sets for language learning. It may be free to UK citizens to use. And local consular staff, ie: native Poles, often work in the library and in outreach services and may be able to help you.

Krakow has had for 20 years a group called The English Language Club. It meets once per week, for 2 hrs, for 2 pln pr visit. People just randomly show up to join in and conversation pairs form from there. Not just English is spoken, but French, German, etc. There are many regulars there who can advise you. They may not have such a group in your city but if not, why not start a group of this kind on your own?!

Try posting at MeetUp.com for language groups/casual help groups in your city. Maybe you can sign up to join an arts or soccer or beer drinkers group, meet a native Pole who shares your interest and learn Polish from them as you craft, work or play together.

Rosetta Stone Polish is great for beginners, IMHO--at least for me it was. I'm an American, w/no Polish heritage/experience. Yes, the grammar gets messed up BUT as Polish is such a difficult language for all non-Slavics to pick up, you will mess up the grammar anyway, for a long, long time, even taking paid lessons. I say use whatever tools you can get your hands on.

Instant Immersion also makes decent cd sets, very cheap compared to the Rosetta series--and Amazon.DE and Amazon.UK carry both of these. Both also ship here to Poland, but it's pricey to do that. So ask a friend or family member to bring them over to you, or pick them up on your next trip home.

If you have never learned Latin or French and do not understand gender and declension issues, try a language program of this type out first just to see how easily you do get it, before you spend the cash.

Gumtree ads online for your city often display ads for language lessons and free exchanges. Occasionally a seller may also offer used copies of language CDs.

And don't forget to try Allegro.pl and ebay.pl if you can get a friend to help you decipher the sites.

Good luck!

Food / Where can you buy a crockpot aka slow cooker, in Krakow? [38]

I COULD stand in front of a hot stove or oven for 4-6 hours, to properly cook and baste a roast beef, and make gravy and several separate side dishes. I could also pound my clothes on a rock down by the river, instead of using an electric clothes washer. But I won't, thank you.

My guess is this: You have never actually used a crockpot, or eaten a pot roast and veggies and gravy made in one, have you? Or had crockpot chili or fondue or hot buttered rum or chicken cacciatore or yogurt or mushroom soup or stuffed chicken, either.

Put everything in raw, set the dial, plug it in, and voila! After 4-6-8 hours away from home, arrive to find a fabulous cooked meal. Just add a beverage.

BTW--They do sell moses baskets here, in Krakow and Warsaw. Some Polish women love them. They seem to love those moses basket/car seat/wheeled frame systems for babies, too.

Hurrah for convenience! Hurrah for innovation! Hurrah for the little things that make life grand! Hurrah for good food, cooked quickly! Hurrah for Poland! Hurrah for crockpots!

If I ever do find this place, I'll let you all know. You too, Wroclaw Boy. Everyone--even someone who thinks it's a con--should get at least one chance to know and love a crockpot.

Have a great weekend!

Food / Where can you buy a crockpot aka slow cooker, in Krakow? [38]

We've looked at Tesco, Media Market, Carrefour, etc. Crockpots are unknown here, perhaps. Or, maybe they are more popular/well known in Warsaw?

I shop in these stores regularly and they do not sell crockpots. Staff in thse stores have no idea what I am talking about. They think I am referring to things named pressure cooker, and canning pot, which are not the same thing at all.

Thanks so much for your comment. But, if anyone else knows the shop in that Podgorze area which could be the correct one, please let me know.

Food / Kopytka, pyzy, kluski [60]

Crate and Barrel might. Ikea might (they do at some stores back in the States, but not sure if in Poland they would).

Williams Sonoma would have ricers in the US, also the Martha Stewart aisle at Kmart. Target had them in the implements/knives area recently --near the avacado scoops and apple slicer/corer gadgets--and I have seen them in some Wal Marts and Bed, Bath and Beyond stores, too. Amazon.com in the US has amazing stuff with free shipping and they carry ricers by different companies; a frieng got an OXO brand one via Amazon.

Life / Hepatitis C in Poland...please help. [59]

To the person who said you get a shot upon admission to a Polish hospital, to prevent transmission of Hep C:

I think you are confused, according to WHO and the CDC, there is no available vaccine to prevent this disease. You might be thinking of the Hep A and B vaccines or shots. They do nothing to prevent Hep C.

Hep A and B are widespread here, too, but if they are giving shots for that, it makes no sense that they'd give them at the time of a hospital admission--the shots won't take effect soon enough to protect the person while in hospital and won't be effective until they leave the hospital in most cases--which is after they've already been exposed to other Hep A and B carriers. Kind of like closing the barn door AFTER the horse runs away.

Or maybe you're thinking of the shots they give to try and cure Hep C, which show some limited success over a long period, in some limited groups of people. Again, why would they be gicving the shots to every person admitted--unless every person who is admitted to hospital here shows sign signs of the antibodies to Hep C--meaning they have been exposed to it already? Being exposed does not equal/mean the person has the disease and must be treated.

To the person who wondered if all of Europe has the same rate as that of the US, or if Europe and Poland have the same rate:

who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs164/en/

To the person who asked where I got my figures on how people in Poland got the disease or about how I got the "90% with Hep C" go undetected:

wjgnet.com/1007-9327/abstract_en.asp?v=12&f=141
mtbeurope.info/news/2007/710001.htm

To the person who wanted to know if I was taking a crack at Poland and associating it with a third world country:

No. I live here, my family lives here. For the most part (having lived and worked outside of Poland, so we have a basis of comparison) we feel it is a great place to live and work.

But if the roads are not yet up to standard (they are not) and the incidence of death by traffic accident is higher here than elsewhere (it is), why would I not educate myself about that and tell people here that info, so they know to be careful?

If sterilization procedures are not up to standard in most medical facilities here (they are not) and the incidence of transmission of Hep C (and TB, etc) is more likely here than at home (it is), why would I put my life at risk to avoid sounding "American" about the issue? Why would I not warn people--both Poles and non-Poles--so they know about it too, and can be careful?

I am simply going to do anything I can to avoid getting it. So should you.

This isn't a cold we're talking about, but a deadly diagnosis, for which there is no cure, nor affordable treatment. The treatment itself often puts people at risk.

Why all the hate directed toward some of the people here who care about their health and that of their kids, who try to avoid getting sick whenever they can, and who are trying to help Poles and non-Poles alike?

Is it Western or American to care about people other than oneself? Is it unpatriotic to acknowledge a problem that affects one's own people, learn about it and then take steps to prevent something that might actually kill you? Is it non-Polish to tell the truth, about something so basic as health care and medical needs?

I don't get this attitude, or the unfunny jokes, at all. It must be because I am an American.

Life / Hepatitis C in Poland...please help. [59]

Sounds like you don't have US health insurance, or a spouse who is paying Polish taxes here and therefore do not have the right to use the Polish medical system.

We are here on an expat assignment, my husband has a work visa, he pays Polish taxes, has a Pesel--but neither our son nor I (I am here on a non work Visa) can use the national health system here. We have US insurance for use at home and a discount card to scanMed and ProMedis here. Anything else, we have to pay up front and hope we get reimbursed for later.

Go to the US embassy in Warsaw, or go see one of the vice-consuls at the consular office in Krakow. Explain your situation and see if you can get assistance from them. They may be able to advise where you can get low-cost treatment here, but they will not pay for it. They might, in extreme circumstances, advance the money to you to get back to the states, but you will be required to repay that money when you get home.

If you are a US citizen, you can get emergency medical care in the US at most large, inner-city hospitals for free (make sure it is a county or so-called inner city hospital), or talk to the bursar or hospital ombudsmen beforehand, regarding your inability to pay.

One time, awhile ago, I was a fulltime employee in the states (I am a citizen and was born there) but our insurance coverage at my new job didn't start until month 6 of employment. I got kidney stones in month 2 and had to be admitted to a hospital thru the ER. I ended up needing surgery.

Because I worked, I didn't qualify for free medical care, so the bursar let me talk to the hospital ombudsman, and that person put me on a payment plan to pay off a reduced debt--approx 40% of what I owed (more than $7,000)---without ruining my credit rating. I paid a small amount each month till that 40% of the total debt was paid.

Hep C is known to be everywhere in Poland and Americans are advised against seeking medical treatment here, and are strongly cautioned never to have even minory surgery done here, or to accept a blood transfusion, unless you must do so to save your life in an emergency.

Those cautions are legitimate, and are due to the very high rates of Hep C (almost 90% of cases in Europe are not diagnosed until severe, life threatening symptoms are experienced--meaning the person has passed it on to quite a few people before they or we know about it), and also due to untreated and undiagnosed TB, pnemococcus, meningitis, MRSA, etc, being spread like crazy over here.

Most people get it here during blood drawing for testing; or in hospitals, due to poor sterilization procedures on the part of doctors and staff. They also, of course, do get it thru transfusions, surgery, and even natural childbirth.

I believe WHO has said only about 10% in this country get it from sex/shared needles.

I am not sure how much this has helped you. I am sorry for your medical situation. I am flying home to the States in June for minor surgery myself, and will look into this then for you, but again I am not sure that will help you.

Language / Free online polish to english translation service? [18]

Try this, it can do English to Polish and the reverse, too:

ling.pl/index.jsp

A friend and I will be teaching English as volunteers at an orphanage soon. When we start doing it, I will let you know any tips that we find helpful.

Our students are young and most know just a few words of English, some none. I just arrived here 2 months ago and know only the basics of "survival Polish" like hello, yes, no, goodbye, please, thank you, help, etc.

My friend is taking beginning Polish classes and her husband is Polish, so she knows lots more than I do.

She has already started an intro class, to see where the students are in levels/ability.

Let me know if you need help as you go along. We'd be glad to help.

USA, Canada / Polish people in Columbus, Ohio? [30]

I grew up in Columbus and yes, there are many Polish people there--though I am not one!

OSU has a student group and a Slavic studies curriculum and many professors publish from there under the banner of Slavic Press. I went to school there and also worked for the university and I remember there being a rather large group of Polish students, as well.

And the Polish American Club (PAC) listed above by hello is pretty well known there, for cultural events, etc.

There is a Polish pottery place outside the city, a kind of factory outlet for Boleslawiec pottery and stuff from other Polish manufacturers.

They used to have Polish mass in the church in German Village, called St Mary's. Check there to see if they still do.

Good luck in meeting new friends and I hope you like my old hometown!

It's grown so much, and just keeps getting bigger, that when I leave Poland to go home for Chrismtas this year, I know I will be shocked, once again, at how big and sprawling it's gotten.

Genealogy / Jambrich/Yambrick surname? [34]

I agree with Wroclaw. You can have the name Stern and be Polish--be born there, lived there, died there, all your ancestors living there for a hundred years. That makes you Polish, despite the origin of the name or what religion you are, if you culturally identify yourself as Polish.

Many of the people named Jambrich from the early 1900s at ancestry dot com stated they came from Slovakia or Austria. They could have been Polish people who moved to those area before immigration to the US.

Do you know who the earliest ancestor to immigrate to the US was? Their 1st name? Or where the family first settled when they came here?

I can try and do a search for you.

Genealogy / GITLER... is it Polish surname? [30]

Softsong: I just did a brief family trace for someone and found Lewandowskis in that tree. The person I did it for, is, I believe, on Polish Forums also. Maybe he'll see this and get in touch with you.

JG: Which of your family emigrated outside Poland? If you have their names, I can see if they ever were recorded as Jewish or Hebrew, if you want or need that info. Those that were, may have emigrated and those that weren't, may have stayed.

Genealogy / GITLER... is it Polish surname? [30]

John Kerry and Madeleine Albright thought the same thing, too--- until they found out about conversions from Judaism in their families.

Are your grandparents or great grandparents living, so you can ask them about it? Would your parents know?

Do you have any immigration documents from long ago, which might state this info?

Ship manifests and US and UK census records stated "Hebrew" for Jews; I can look that up for you, if you have the names for me.

Travel / Regular UK visitor to Krakow - How to meet people and make friends? [56]

Go here and check out the ladies only or meetups or traveling posts:

expats-in-poland.com/?mod=forum
Also, ask the female desk clerks or dining room waitresses at a good/high-end hotel; they all speak very clear English and they also tend to be young and single. They will be able to help you. And this is much safer than randomly walking up to some stranger/person on the street, or hanging around a tram or train station to ask these things.

The ladies in the dining room at Novotel Centrum, in the city, were very helpful to us and our son when we stayed there.