Travel / Why does everyone seem to hate LOT Polish Airlines? [380]

I haven't had a problem with LOT. I flew Newark NJ - Warsaw, and I also flew LOT from Krakow - Munich and from Munich - Warsaw. Everyone was pleasant and professional. The flight attendants have always been attentive to my needs. Yeah the planes were a bit noisier, but that's OK. I've always had safe travels with LOT.

My only problem with LOT has always been the lack of order getting on and off a flight. Once the flight is announced, there is a mad crush of people trying to jam into the plane no matter how they try to board the thing.

I used to do a lot of international travel for my job as well as within the EU and within the US. I can honestly say that there are 2 airlines which are tied for last place in my book. Delta and American were the worst experiences I have ever had. I personally would rather bicycle to my destination than fly on Delta or American.

Off-Topic / What's your connection with Poland? Penpals. [514]

Me?

My Great Grandfather was Polish. But my more recent connection is my wife. She was born in Stalowa Wola and immigrated to the US when she was 18

Life / Poles are not racist [873]

I don't think that Poles are racist. However, I believe that Poles are a bit Xenophobic and Nationalistic. Everyone thinks their country/customs are best and make fun of other cultures. It happens all over. I lived in Denmark for a few years and traveled to clients all over the EU. Actually, it was a really interesting experience to see the hangups that everyone had.

Danes thought they were the best and every other culture was backwards. They hated Swedes and Germans. If you were drunk, they called you Swedish. They called Germans what translates into "sausage Germans", but no respectable Dane walked down a pedestrian zone without a hot dog in their hands. I thought that was funny. But those biases go back 400 years to when they were making war with each other. The Danes hated the Swedes because the Swedes declare dindependence in the 1600's, came across the water, beat the Danes and stole their crowned jewels. The Danes hate the GErmans because the Germans defeated them in the 1860's when the King of Denmark abdicated his throne and went to war with Prussia as the Prince of Schleswig Holstein.

The Spanish hate the Portuguese.

Germans don't like the Dutch.

The French don't like anyone.

Northern Italians hate the southern Italians.

Greeks hate Turks.

It goes on and on.

Unfortunately, we do not have that problem in America because we all know that everyone here is from somewhere else. I would prefer Xenophobia to what we actually have here. America truly has racism problem because every country and culture is represented here. There are more problems with the color of your skin than with the culture. Actually Ameicans like discovering other cultures (at least in my section of the country).

I am originally from the Bronx, NY. I can remember walking up the stairs in my apartment around dinnertime and the smells coming from the hallway. I used to smell tomato sauce from the Italian apartments, sauerkraut from the Germans/Ukrainians/Poles, curry from the Indians etc, peanut oil from the Chinese, etc. As a kid, we would eat in everyone's apartment and I loved the exposure to the various cultures.

Anyway, that was a bit long winded and rambling. Sorry about that.