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Post by Bonobo on Feb 17, 2009 10:08:24 GMT 1
Going to Mass is like going to the movies? 03.02.2009 www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/news/artykul101595_Going_to_Mass_is_like_going_to_the_movies.html
It is a well-known fact that Poland is a country largely dominated by the Catholic religion – 96 per cent of the country is white, Catholic. However, only fifty-two percent of the nation – still a huge percent, in my opinion – claim to be at least semi-regular churchgoers, according to a survey released last fall.
Presented by Magdalena Jensen.
I, myself, was raised Catholic and I attended a Catholic high school. While I no longer practice the religion or really associate myself with the Church formally, I have attended Mass several times in Poland – it is required when I visit my grandmother, for example, and because she is 97 years old, I am more than willing to acquiesce to her habits, though I would not actually choose to go if the choice existed.
Sitting in church – typically at the 10:30 Mass – I have often looked around and wondered where this 52 percent of the population is. I mean, I find that I am always surrounded by a sea of grey haired people complete with hunched backs, aging hands and canes. Yes, of course there a few young people – young families mostly with little children. Rarely do I see anyone my age – they are probably still hungover and asleep at 10:30 in the morning. The only logical conclusion that I could come up with is that 52 percent of Poland is old – but that is clearly not true.
Then, riding the bus Sunday evening on my way home, I noticed a small crowd of relatively young and middle-aged folks filing out of St. Anne’s Church on Castle Square in Warsaw’s Old Town. I asked my friend what they were doing – I mean, surely there is not such a late-night Mass… and she replied that actually there was. Well, okay, that explains a lot. It seems that Polish churches are getting quite hip to reality – that young people certainly do not want to get up at 9 am on a Sunday to scoot off to Church – so they provide an evening option.
I expressed my slight incredulity at this fact, however. I mean, I certainly wouldn’t want to spend my Sunday night going to Church. My friend, however, added that she thinks of the Sunday night mass as entertainment – like going to the movies or something. Well, unless they’re all going to see Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, I can imagine that Pope John Paul II turned over in his tomb when she said that. Comparing church attendance to popcorn and a movie may seem a little far out, but it might just say something about Poland’s religious culture.
My opinion is that Poles take church-going for granted. It is simply a ritualistic activity that one is forced to do as a youth then it just becomes as normal as brushing one’s teeth. Perhaps I am wrong, but I have this suspicion that far less people than seem to admit actually believe in (let alone grasp) the tenets of the Catholic faith.
Now, without wanting to start a huge debate about the depth to which Poles take their religious beliefs, I do want to make a few comments on practices that I have observed. For example, something that rendered me absolutely incredulous is the fact that religious education is mandatory in public school education. Yes, you heard me correctly, every Polish child takes religion classes. Now, while that may seem like no big deal since supposedly 96 percent of the country believes in Catholicism, it is something totally unthinkable for me. How can a state that supposedly supports freedom of religion also financially support the indoctrination of the nation’s youth in one religious value system? It seems just a bit contradictory.
Something else that I have observed amongst my own family and friends is the effect of this mandatory religious education – or at least I consider the two things related. Polish youth are forced to attend church. Now, this phenomenon seems most popular in more rural areas, but it also seems to be a tendency – parents actually force their child to attend church every Sunday. It is almost comical to see the resentful grimace on young teenagers faces as they file into the pew at church, their parents almost pushing them in. Granted, I could be making a huge generalization here or jumping to my own conclusions, but somehow I think it is a trend that parents coerce their children into attending Mass. Especially curious is the number of times I have watched my cousins and their friends tell a boldfaced lie to their parents – something to the tune of – “oh yes mom, I slept a little later than you and went to the 12 pm Mass. Yes, the priest talked about redemption of our sins, yes, indeed,” when I know full well that my cousin simply went to a café with her friend to have a coffee and gossip.
Now, I am not trying to pass judgment at all on the religious tendencies of this nation. Rather, I am trying to simply raise a few questions. First of all: how reliable are the statistics that claim Poland is 96 percent Catholic? Second, how effective is mandatory religious education in schools? Third, is it really the best idea to force someone into attending Mass?
I would argue that, if the Catholic Church wants to avoid the sea of grey effect that their aging regular attendees creates in the future, coercing youth into learning the religion and forcing them to attend mass is probably not the best manner to ensure that churches will be full in 15 years. Rather, I might suggest that the Catholic Church in Poland modernize a bit – try youth outreach, add a little gospel music and warmly invite the believers to come to you – please do not force them to sit through hours of church history and liturgy weekly, that is simply not an effective way to appeal to today’s youth.
Rental retentiveness 10.02.2009
www.polskieradio.pl/error/500.html?aspxerrorpath=/zagranica/news/artykul102186_Rental_retentiveness.html
With one a half months notice, I informed my landlady that I would be moving out of my room- plenty of notice and plenty of time to find somewhere new to live. Or so I thought. But then this being Poland, of course this could no way be as easy or as straight forward as I initially anticipated- even with all indicators pointing to the contrary. Really, I'm like a goldfish with a three second memory. As I was to discover, once again it's not what you know but who you know in Poland that counts.
Presented by Mags Korczak.
Like most flat hunters, the first thing I did was to browse the internet and to buy a couple of classified newspapers. I circled the apartments within the right locale, price and size bracket. However, with one a half months to go everything I was looking at was listed as being available "from now". "Well goodness", I thought, "I'm not really in the position to move now and if I were to find a place I'd like I'd have to pay twice- once for the room I'm already living in and then again for the new place. Nooo, best to leave things for a while." And that's what I did; obviously only to find that in the week approaching the end of my current tenancy that, actually, there really wasn't much going. Cue impending heart failure.
Having enlisted help to phone some numbers featured online and in these classified papers, I was to discover that the majority of advertisers were in fact rental agents; rental agents whose sole function, after handing them a 250 zl fee (around 55 euros) they kindly give you access to a list of telephone numbers for people who have accommodation available but who you have to phone yourself. No legwork on their part. You try to ask details about the flat but first you must hand them that fee before any information is imparted and if you persist just a little bit with whether there is so much as an indoor toilet, they put the phone down on you. Best stay away from that. Or there were those places to rent available from now that were so ridiculously small that you could fit more into a shoebox. Not to mention the ridiculous rent the landlady was trying to charge for the pleasure of deluxe minimalism. I was desperate but on the whole not stupid.
Even though there seems to be a plethora of new developments cropping up left, right and centre, it is surprising just how difficult it is to find somewhere to live in Poland's capital. One acquaintance has just spent two months commuting 100km each way to Warsaw from his parent's house, after he was unable rent anyway when his last flat-share expired. The luckiest and wealthiest people in Warsaw, in my opinion, are those people of my generation who have inherited inner city property from their grandparents and parents, who used their "right to buy" on their former state owned property in the 1990s at a time when Warsaw was still merely a residential rather than a business centre. Most people who originate from Warsaw do not rent because they already have somewhere to live passed down from family members who have since moved to larger family dwellings. The beginning of 2009 saw prices in the city at around 1800 zl (405 euros) a month for a 25m2 flat, which is why it is was announced that the cost of living and everyday items in Warsaw has risen to the extent that is now more expensive than neighbouring capital Berlin, although average income does not compare so favourably to that in Germany.
One of the major problems with the letting market in Poland, I have been told, is the lack of security for the property owner with tenants holding the majority of rights. For example, if you officially register yourself to a particular address (a relic of communism where citizens were obliged to state where they lived for labour purposes) then it is difficult to remove that tenant from that address even if they unduly refuse to pay rent. Further, it is forbidden by law to evict a single woman who falls pregnant. Thus, proprietors are reluctant to rent out what empty property they have for fear of reprisal. A few years ago my cousins discovered these problems when their tenants refused to pay rent for over a year. The police refused to intervene and so in the end they had to resort to actually paying the tenants to leave.
Doing a generalised survey-type sweep of some former English students of mine, I asked how they came to find accommodation in Warsaw, knowing that they originated from elsewhere in the country. Practically all informed me that they had a family member or friend from their village/school/university who had hooked them up with a place here before their arrival. Well, that's just brilliant, I have none of those. So what did I do? I panicked. And then I wrote a begging email to everyone I have on my social networking site with a Polish sounding surname who may have some leads. This failed miserably because none of them live in Warsaw or had any leads here. But my soul Polish friend in this city very kindly offered up her sofa to me for a few days. Within a few days, however, I was lucky enough to find a flat right in the centre from an advert actually posted by the landlady herself and moved in the day after I viewed it.
Recently the conditions for being granted mortgages have become tougher and the rental market likely to become even more of a challenge. Like most things in Poland, finding somewhere to live is best achieved on the "grapevine"- that is, once you start thinking about thinking about doing something (in this case finding a new place to live) you spread the word rapidly to absolutely everyone you know even if you're not intending to actually really start thinking about moving somewhere for the next six months or so. Then you have to let all those people you have mentioned this intention to, know to spread the word amongst their nearest and dearest and so on and so forth until eventually, somewhere down this grapevine, you might get a response. If not be prepared to commute from Berlin.
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 14, 2009 21:16:22 GMT 1
Underground Culture Polish Radio Warsaw – a metropolis with one metro line – is lacking something… and I do not mean a second line… I mean a sub-culture in the subway!
By Magdalena Jensen
One would think that taking a seat in an underground train about to jet one off to work would be a pleasurable experience – the single moment in one's day when there is no possibility to get a telephone call, check email, hear the nagging spouse go on about the garbage. There is even the possibility of having a friendly chat with one's seat neighbour over the latest news headline flashing over the television screens. Maybe you will make eye contact with the love of your life… a little smile and a nod… well, sadly to say, not in Warsaw.
Warsaw's subway – here-to-fore referred to as `metro' – is a curious phenomenon for several reasons: one being that there is no concept of `metro culture' and two, that there is only one metro line… though perhaps that directly contributes to curiosity number one. Allow me to elaborate.
Let me start with a little bit of trivia on the history of Warsaw's metro. First off – there is only one single metro line in the capital city of Poland running north-south for 23 kilometres and stopping at twenty-one stations. Plans to build a metro line in Warsaw date back to 1918, though they actually materialized in 1995 – that means that it took seventy-seven years to actually build the thing. And it is still only one line! But, no matter. It is clean, runs relatively frequently, and without much mishap. Not only that, but the Plac Wilsona station, located in Warsaw's Zoliborz borough, won an award in April 2008 for the best recently constructed metro – and if you're ever in the city and obsessed with train stations, I highly recommend checking it out as it is rather lovely.
There are plans to build a second metro line – in fact, all of the papers are raging over the latest news that the project will cost 4 billion zloty – some one billion euro. It is considered by many to be too expensive, especially in a time of crisis – but I say, can you really put a price on a transportation innovation that will rocket Warsaw into the caliber of a modern day metropolis? I do not think so – especially because just as many passengers need to travel east-west as need to travel north-south. In fact, one could consider the current lack of an east-west metro to be discrimination against those living in the particular boroughs missing rapid transport… but that is a topic for another time. As such, I look forward to the opening of a second metro line in Warsaw – and hopefully sooner than in 77 years.
On to metro culture – there is none. Period. It might have something to do with the fact that the metro is very limited and new… but you're probably scratching your heads over exactly what I mean about the term metro culture. By `metro culture,' I mean several things including the typical ideas of culture – like music or art or performance – but I also mean something like common courtesy or norms surrounding how to use the metro.
So, as far as entertainment culture is concerned – Warsaw's metro has nothing. And the very occasional wayward homeless backpacker trying to make a zloty or two by plucking at a guitar or pounding on a trash can does not count folks. It is rather sad actually. Some of my favorite memories of New York City are when you go underground and what is usually a zoo of rushing people suddenly stops for a moment of joy because a troupe of boys are break dancing or a threadbare musician is playing a melancholy melody on his violin – and actually, many of the subway performers in New York are so good that the city now actually sponsors cultural performances underground. It is simply sad that Varsovians do not have the opportunity to take a two-minute break from their rat race and listen to a song or catch some slam poetry.
Additionally, Varsovians lack a proper way to act on the metro… in my opinion there are certain behavioral norms surrounding mass transit. One waits to enter the train until everyone has disembarked. One smiles at fellow passengers. One enjoys the off-hand comment on the weather forecast being broadcast on the televisions. But, overall, one interacts with the other people crammed into a tiny tube hurtling way too fast down a long, dark tunnel. I mean, one ride on Warsaw's metro will make you really pray to whatever higher power you prefer that the train does not stall somewhere in the dark and you are stuck with the surly looking people all around you.
Now, I really believe that this does not say anything negative about Varsovians' characters… rather it has to do with the fact that the metro is such a new phenomenon in this city. But, it is also an as-yet undiscovered gem of opportunity. Not only do Warsaw's struggling musicians have the potential opportunity to make a zloty or five just awaiting them, but the every-day rider has a wealth of opportunity to make a new friend. So, go ahead Varsovians, smile at your fellow passenger – you could be smiling at your future husband!  |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 10, 2009 21:33:29 GMT 1
Rainbows And Wreaths
John Marshall
The Krakow Post
2nd June 2009
Picture the scene: you're with your girlfriend, relaxing in the Main Square on a sunny Saturday, enjoying some fine Balkan folk singing and dancing, each performer striving to achieve perfect harmony and synchronicity with his/her partner. Then, in the corner of your eye you glimpse something most inharmonious: riot police, visors down and tails up, shuffling around the back of the Sukiennice. Curious, you decide to follow them. And, before you know it, you're taking part in Krakow's annual March For Tolerance. And to think I only went out for a coffee...
It was my first "gay march" and I felt conflicting emotions. Pride at standing up for tolerance and the right of everyone to lead their own lives, free from fear and persecution. But also distinct apprehension: we were tightly ringed by scores of scary-looking riot police whose militaristic get-up was perfectly matched by the aggressive manners and chanting of the far-right boot-boys. These self-appointed guardians of "Polish values" were baying for the marchers' blood only metres away from bewildered tourists. Knuckled fists were raised and primeval, guttural noises were spat out of angry throats. We banged our drums, waved our rainbow flags, danced and, most importantly, were there. A little later, honour satisfied, the gathering broke up peacefully and my friend and I caught a beer, gawping (from a safe distance) at the fascists.
It was a strange sight to see both neo-Nazis (sporting the fascist organisation Combat 18 t-shirts) and riot police on the streets of my adopted Krakow, city of culture and learning. But after four years, I'm getting used to this annual face-off. At least the march is allowed now (they have been banned in Poland from time to time, always on spurious grounds) and it must be said that the police do a good – although slightly heavy-handed - job of keeping the peace. I only saw one "incident": a well-dressed middle-aged Polish "gentleman" decided to throw a plastic plant pot (complete with a flower – oh, the irony!) at us. Before you could say "strong-arm tactics," a policeman broke ranks, rushed over and had granddad pinned up against a kebab stall. I caught his eye, smiled and blew the old git a sarcastic kiss as we marched merrily past. Here's to next year's march!
On to things less controversial …
Saturday 20th June (Midsummer's Day) sees the annual party called Wianki. It's big, loud and heaps of fun. The main event is a free open-air music concert (Lenny Kravitz this year, no less) by the river Vistula at the foot of Wawel, followed by some spectacular fireworks. More sedately, you will have the chance to observe some ancient pagan traditions during the day.
Dating back to Pagan times, Wianki (meaning "wreaths") celebrates all the usual midsummer themes of life, renewal and, er, virginity. Unsurprisingly, it was rebranded "Noc Œwiêtojañska" (St. John's Night) by the early Church, which, no doubt, toned down some of the more earthy practices such as young lovers consummating their love in nearby woods. However, some elements have remained, such as jumping over the huge ceremonial bonfires (sobótka), which are lit along the riverbank and, of course, young women casting their wreaths upon the river.
Traditionally, Polish girls wear wreaths of flowers and throw them into the river. According to folklore, if the wreath comes back to shore, the girl will never marry, if it sinks, she will die young and if it flows down the river, she will be married. Oh, if only modern dating was so easy! Fortunately for all, the Vistula is a fast-flowing river and, traditionally, most girls went away happy.
Back in the 16th century, Jan Kochanowski wrote the following description of Wianki traditions and beliefs:
"In Poland the Eve of St. John's is fraught with miracles and magic. Animals talk to each other with human voices. The earth shows the enchanted riches… plants take on magical properties.. . Wreaths to which are fixed lighted candles are cast in the waters… From the course and fate of the wreaths auguries of marriage are made. The special promise of St. John is youth, love and general fertility."
(I wish I'd read that last line years ago. It would have made a cracking chat-up line)
It's almost impossible not to get caught up in it all: my advice is simply to allow the crowds to gently sweep you towards the river, the lights and the sounds of one of the biggest nights in Krakow's diary.
Oh, and just because you're sitting in the middle of the biggest open-air event of the year doesn't mean you're legally free to drink alcohol. Take a tip from the locals: buy a bottle of coke, top it up with vodka and let some other dozy ex-pat get fined 200 z³oty for open-air drinking!
John Marshall is a writer and teacher who has had the great fortune to live in Krakow for several years. Krakow's been good to him and, he hopes, he's been good to Krakow.
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Post by Bonobo on Jul 8, 2009 21:29:23 GMT 1
An American inPoland' by David Jackson, Hamilton Books, 2009.
Dr. David Jackson, author of "Classrooms and Barrooms: An American in Poland"
Dr. Jackson gives a thoroughly entertaining account of his semester
teaching at the University of Lodz on a Fullbright Fellowship. As a
Polish American growing up in Detroit, Jackson developed a strong
appreciation of his ethnic heritage. He was subsequently able to take
several trips to some of the more popular cities of Poland.
When he later applied for a Fullbright Fellowship to Poland, he drew the
gritty city of Lodz.
Through the course of the Fall 2007 semester, Jackson came to appreciate Lodz and
the Poles who live there. Especially enjoyable are his accounts of the
times he spent at Kresowa, one of the local watering holes. The book
will introduce the reader to some of the very interesting regulars.
While reading 'Classrooms and Barrooms,' I discovered Dr. Jackson and
myself have a lot in common. We both appreciate a cold Polish piwo and a
beautiful Polish woman. What, no Okocim Porter, Dr. David? We also have
no use for the Kaczynskis' brand of Polish ultra-nationalism. A new
regulation required by the then-Kaczynski government required Jackson to
have a rectal exam in Poland after already having one prior to leaving
the U.S. "I knew it was more than just their reactionary ideology that
made me dislike these little creeps," Jackson writes. Bravo!
Through 'Classrooms and Barrooms,' the reader will become acquainted
with many Polish customs, quirks, and endearing qualities. No formal etiquette here. Throughout most of the book Jackson puts on his jeans, cracks open a cold brew, and examines how real Poles live. The book is actually Dr. Jackson's love letter to his Polish heritage. Every Polish American who loves their Polish ethnicity will appreciate 'Classrooms and Barrooms.' The only drawback is that it's only 129 pages. I highly recommend it.
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 1, 2009 22:12:32 GMT 1
polkaontheisland.wordpress.com/Hospitality in Poland and Britain Last afternoon we went to the pub with a large bunch of people, to celebrate someone’s going back to University. The party was, that everyone tried to take rounds paying for drinks. That posed a problem, because while the old guys were drinking pints, more-less evenly, while we ‘kids’ were drinking drinks, and this takes far less time.
It always happens when our international crew tries to go out to the pub with the Brits. The Brits have this custom of buying rounds, the whole party sits in the pub until all the drinkers have bought a round. So if there are eight guys drinking beer, everyone will have to drink eight beers. I heard that Australians have an opposite system, they each buy their own drinks. Americans have another system – everyone orders what they want and then calls for separate bills.
In Poland it’s not so rigid at all regarding the pubs, because we like to invite people home, and we expect all the guests to return the invitation within a month or two. But when going out it may be that each person pays for their own if the drinkers are students, or someone buys one round if they have a job and want to splash it, or the inviting person pays for everything – if they are middle aged, on a business meeting, family meeting et c.
So I’m not used to this round system at all. There’s an anecdote that I heard about how the Górale went out once, and it’s used to mock them relentlessly.
Górale are a decent, God-fearing folk from Tatra mountains and around. They have some Wallachian blood, and only marry among themselves. They don’t approve of alcohol, unless for a good occasion, like a wedding. And they are incredibly money-pinching. So, at one time a group of young friends went together to a cafe. One of them decided to splash it and bought everyone a coffee. They drank, and then everybody else took turns buying coffee, because they couldn’t leave it at that. And the whole party landed in the hospital from caffeine overdose.
All this round-buying bothers me. I will normally buy people a drink, especially when we went out for Friday liquid lunches in my Cooper work. I never knew if it was my turn or not – and I didn’t care to know. Everybody seemed happy. Similarly, if I throw a party, then I buy and cook food, clean up, buy some bottles and entertain till 3AM. Everyone is OK with that. But – it did not make me proof against a cry of outrage in a pub once. ‘When is Anna buying a drink???”. And that from a person who never comes to parties, and doesn’t speak to me at all (Luke’s colleague from work).
I took it really badly, and still remember it.
I had a similar situation in Poland, as well. It was a student put-together party. We all emptied our pockets to the hat, used the collection to buy food and bottles, barged into a friends rented flat, and enjoyed ourselves scandalously well. The next morning we needed a klin, (what poisoned you first, medicine yourself with that), so we went to a bar for a glass of beer. And this outrageous annoyance of a person, who wasn’t even invited but tagged along nevertheless, suggested to me that I pay for his beer, because he had put 10PLN in the hat last night. What a dork. Each of the rest paid 8-10 times that, nobody mentioned it, we shared everything with him, and now he wants me to even out his expense??? Outrage!
Ok, I need to calm down…
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Post by valpomike on Oct 1, 2009 22:30:47 GMT 1
People are most the same, world wide, even here.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 4, 2009 21:04:59 GMT 1
Four Days in This Treasure Trove of Eastern European History
I went to Krakow on recommendations of many people that I met along my journey backpacking through Europe. Krakow and Warsaw are the two largest cities in Poland and the principle attractions for tourists. Krakow located in the south of Poland, however, was closer to the circular route of
the rest of my journey through Europe. My journey to Krakow consisted of two train rides that carried me from Prague through eastern Czech Republic where I would transfer in Katowice to a smaller train to Krakow. The train wound its way through some of greenest country that I had yet seen in Europe. There were many forests and fields along the journey as well as heavily developed industrial areas. I thought a great deal about history as the train carried me through this land of sorrow.
Poland, through the centuries, has been through countless trials which have tested the mettle of these proud people. Poland was absorbed by the Russian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars as punishment for siding with the French. Poland would not be an independent nation again until the reapportionment of Europe after World War I. Poland would again be dragged into war in 1939 as the Poles were on the receiving end of the full fury of the blitzkrieg. Poland was completely subdued by Nazi Germany in weeks and its Jewish population was among the first rounded up and exterminated in Europe. The overwhelming majority of Polish Jews did not survive the Holocaust. After the war Poland, like most of Eastern Europe, next suffered the horrors of Soviet Occupation. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, however, Poland has enjoyed a rare spell of independence and peace. I was highly intrigued to visit a place that had been the stage of so much history, and looked forward to my stay.
After the change in Katowice, several helpful people boarded the train advertising hostels in Krakow, including transportation from the train station. As all of them were young I figured that they must be students working a summer job for the hostels. This observation was further
confirmed when I learned that during the year the hostels doubled as dormitories for local universities. After learning about the facilities and prices of a few places, I chose my hostel and lined up with the rest of the tourists who were going to the same place. Once the long, hot and bumpy train ride came to an end I was soon settled in a hostel located fairly close to the center of the city with free kitchen, laundry and internet access for the equivalent of $12 per night. I was soon to find that the prices of everything in Poland were a welcome blessing to my beleaguered bank account.
I was exceedingly hungry when I arrived so one of the first things I did in Krakow was head straight to a butcher shop to buy some Polish Kielbasa. Back home I had always loved Polish kielbasa but found that it was always so expensive for a few links. In Poland, I soon discovered that homemade kielbasa tasted infinitely better and only cost about a dollar per pound. Needless to say I bought several pounds which I merrily boiled and ate with sauerkraut and mustard throughout my stay in Krakow.
After a few days in Poland I really began to feel the differences in the country. The climate is cool and damp. It rains a great deal; in fact, several times during my stay I had to take cover under some awning or covered walkway from surprise downpours. Everywhere are the reminders of the nation's often dark past. From the window of my hostel I could see huge communist housing blacks, cheap corrugated tin shacks, industrial smoke stacks and nuclear power plants. Any wandering off the beaten path in Krakow quickly leads to endless streets of utterly non-descript dilapidated buildings or outright slums. Poland is unique demographically as, unlike any place I had yet visited in Europe, it is extremely insulated. There are very few immigrants from Asia or Africa. The Polish people are also very distinct in appearance. Some people are extremely large grim faced peasants who look as though they could smash through walls with their strength and vitality. There are also many petite blonde women with distinct Eastern European faces. The people seem somewhat aloof and rarely during my visit did I spend much time chatting or mingling with the locals.
Krakow is a very easy town to get around. The old town is very small and highly centralized. A quick walk from my hostel down town led to the oldest portion of town. Old Town Square, an enormous public square filled with merchants and gigantic flocks of pigeons, is the heart of Krakow. At
the center of this square is the Cloth Hill Market, a palatial market filled with vendors selling some of Poland's most beautiful handicrafts. The wares for sale at the market are extremely reasonable prices. You can buy hand carved wooden chess sets for less than ten dollars, vanity boxes for less than twenty. Poland also sells enormous quantities of Baltic amber, which literally washes ashore on from the Baltic Sea. Merchants sell coveted sterling silver and amber jewelry at extremely reasonable prices along with hand crafted crystal ware. Surrounding the Cloth Hill Market on the perimeter of the square is an excellent selection of bars, clubs and restaurants. In the neighboring streets are statues of Polish heroes and martyrs, churches and cobblestone promenades lined with more shops and restaurants.
Not far from the town square lies Wawel Castle. Wawel Hill is an ideal fortification, with a commanding view of a bend in the Vistula River below. Human beings lived on Wawel Hill as far back as the Paleolithic era. During the medieval period, Wawel Hill was a bustling center of trade and, recognizing this, the first Polish kings built their palace on the hill. The current incarnation of the castle was first built during the 16th century by King Sigismund I. The King engaged the best German and Italian artists to build his Renaissance masterpiece. Today the palace exists as a masterpiece of different artistic styles. The castle, a natural fortress is surrounded by large brick walls. It is a comparatively squat castle but does boast a number turrets and cupolas of green copper that are, perhaps, its signature feature. Its interior courtyard is surrounded by a fine two tiered arcade with windows that look out over the city below.
The nearby cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus is the final resting place of many Polish monarchs from the medieval period. The cathedral is Poland's national sanctuary and was almost the burial place of Pope John Paul II. Much like the castle, Wawel Cathedral was commissioned by King Sigismund I-who is himself buried there-and executed by various Italian architects and artisans. It is considered one the finest examples of Italian renaissance architecture north of the Alps.
After my walking tour through the principle monuments of downtown Krakow, I spent a few days relaxing, shopping and enjoying myself. Luckily my hostel was filled with lots of young people looking to have a good time and I had no problem finding people to hang out with. My two roommates
and I went to dinner at the John Bull Pub, which is a old English pub and restaurant located on Old Town Square. One night another group of guys from the hostel and I also discovered an extremely cool underground bar, Club Uwaga, which had been dug into the earth below Old Town Square. Club Uwaga has antique chandeliers, sconces, large wooden tables and various stone chambers to discover as well as good music and reasonably priced drinks. Although I was only in town for four days, I got the distinct impression that in Krakow there are plenty of options when you want to have a good time and enjoy a night of music, drinking and dancing.
On my third day I returned to the train station in order to buy a ticket to the small town of Oswiecim. Oswiecim is a small, industrial town located about forty miles from Krakow. It has a small population but very good rail access to the rest of Europe. These are the very features the Nazis recognized in Oswiecim in 1940 when they built their first and most infamous concentration camp there. The Polish refer to the town as Oswiecim but the camp as Auschwitz.
The train ride was long and bumpy. As the train came to a halt in Oswiecim, I stepped down to the platform in what appeared at first glance as an extremely small and forlorn town. Since I had just missed the bus to Auschwitz and it was located less than a mile away from the station, I decided to walk. There were many factories and empty lots but very few people or residences. I could not help but think how perfect this town was suited to the vile purposes of the Nazis. No bombing missions or spy planes would ever find this small place in the middle of the Polish countryside. As I approached the camp I began noticing abandoned chemical works from the war. The large rectangular buildings still stand intact but with broken windows and instruments strewn haphazardly inside. Finally I came to the camp.
You have to enter through the visitor's center. The walls are covered with quotations from various international dignitaries about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. I purchased a guide book and made my way out toward Auschwitz I. The first camp at Auschwitz was originally a barracks for the
Polish Army. In 1940, as the Nazis were looking for a location to test out their proposed methods for the "Final Solution" Auschwitz was mentioned. The first prisoners were Polish political prisoners. Later came Soviet POW's. As the SS perfected the grisly methods of torture and murder that would become the hallmark of the Holocaust, Auschwitz I became the template upon which later death camps would be based. While Auschwitz I held as many as 20,000 prisoners, the Nazi's quickly exhausted its capacity and soon realized that they would have to construct a larger camp. This led to the construction of Auschwitz II, a few kilometers at Birkenau. Birkenau would be the principle camp in which the vast majority of the 1.1 million Jews killed at Auschwitz would die. A third camp was also established at Monowitz; this camp was placed under the direction of the German chemical manufacturer IG Farben and was designed to use the slave labor of the camps to produce synthetic rubber.
During my visit I was able to walk around and photograph Auschwitz I. As I approached the camp I was able to quickly discern the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" inscribed over the entrance gate to the camp. The complex of buildings looked like it could have been anything: a hospital complex, a modest school or research facility. The buildings were constructed of a plain red brick with wooden roofs. The most telling feature, however, was the labyrinth of barbed wired electric fences that surrounded the place. Small signs with skull and bones signaled the danger from these fences. Today most of the buildings are exhibits detailing different aspects of camp life. One building houses monstrous collections of shoes, eye glasses, hair and prosthetic limbs take from prisoners. Another building shows the sleeping conditions-burlap sacks and straw placed upon wooden floors and wood planked sleeping bunks. Yet another building housed illustrations created by artists who had been in the camps of daily life and death in Auschwitz. I visited the bathrooms, kitchens and infirmary where thousands of people received just enough food, medical care and sanitation to keep them barely alive. The furthest blocks from the entrance, however, were reserved for the worst. The last block in Auschwitz I, known as the "Death Block" was devoted to the uses of the Gestapo. The German Secret Police used this block as a means of torture and murder for thousands of various political prisoners. Some prisoners were placed in cells too small to lie down, others were suffocated and still others were starved to death. In a courtyard adjacent to the Death Block, thousands of prisoners were lined up against a stone wall and shot. These places, bathed in respectful silence, are a living shrine. The flag of Israel flies over the remnant of the stone wall where people were shot.
The crematorium is outside the fence. It is a small, squat structure, but from its roof rises the ominous spire of its chimney. The Nazis destroyed the crematorium when they evacuated the camp but the Polish government has restored the building and its ghastly implements. Inside one can
see the shower room where people were gassed. The ovens were also reconstructed meticulously. They resemble any kind of furnace at first glance. Installed on the floor, however, are short tracks leading to the ovens where the SS had once installed carts designed to convey bodies into the oven more conveniently. Everywhere in Auschwitz is the same disgusting efficiency with which the SS blithely did away with countless human lives. Once outside again, I felt some small measure of comfort to behold the scaffold where Rudolph Hoss, first commandant of Auschwitz, was hanged in 1947 for his crimes against humanity.
Visiting Auschwitz was no easy matter. The place does not necessarily exude evil; it actually seems rather pedestrian at a glance. Surrounding the camp are large trees and green fields stretching into the distance. However, knowing what happened there, recognizing the camp as the embodiment of the evil to which men can sink, makes it very hard to stand. I took very few pictures and most stood in stunned silence just to be there. I do feel that it is the duty of anyone who is able to see these camps at least once in their lives. They should see them and tell other people what they saw.
I spent my last day in Krakow lounging around town. I bought some souvenirs and gifts at the Cloth Hill Market. I did research at an internet café about my next destination, Slovakia. I enjoyed visiting Poland. The country bears many scars, but it is recovering and growing into its own. The Polish people are proud and determined to make their nation a successful part of the EU and they will succeed. As time goes by, more and more Poland will become a cultural treasure to behold.
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Post by Bonobo on Dec 28, 2009 0:52:57 GMT 1
A few quotes from polishforums:
This is my 2nd school year here and I am still in love with Poland. I come from a small town in the US and can't say enough good things about the culture, food, people, and scenery of Poland. Although I won't be living here forever, I will ALWAYS come back for visits. Like hu_man, home is a depressing landfill of fake overindulgant people. Poland is more simple adn laid back. Much more appriciative of what life has to offer.
Yes. I moved to Poland in August 2007, spent five weeks in Warsaw getting my CELTA, then moved to Gdansk where I'm teaching now. I love this place. I work for an excellent school which helped me get my residency card (I'm American) and I started studying Polish on my own while still in the US. I'm still learning slowly but I can get around OK and every day I get a little better.
Obviously Gdansk is very different from San Diego, which I call home after living in a lot of different places. Weather, food, language, pace of life, etc. I had visited Poland briefly the year before to see if I really liked the place or whether it was just a fantasy of mine to live in another country again. It's no fantasy and I intend to be here a long time. I doubt that I'll return to the US again except for an occasional visit.
Poland's not perfect-no place is-but I'm beginning to feel very much at home here. I don't get annoyed at the lack of customer service or things like long lines. It is what it is and I've accepted that those are just parts of my daily life. Poland's not for evryone, but it is for me.
Hi everyone
I am also new to this forum and want to share some experience and thoughts about PL.
I came from Lithuania, which is extremely helpful for me while living here. Lithuania and Poland were one country for 300 years, so Poles consider us as brothers and they are absolutely nice to us:). I moved to Warsaw in October 2007, because I got 2 years contract in BIG 4 company (I am auditor). The company provides me with language courses and loads of work, of course:)
I find Poland more or less the same as Lithuania with certain exceptions:
- they have absolutely horrible streets in terms of the quantity of advertisements
- in general POles are people, who save money and they will always look for the cheapest option (in majority cases)
- all Polish men are married or busy, although they are very OK:)
- all Poles are extremely polite, which makes me feel guilty most of the time, because I was not used to be over polite back home:)
- young peole are religious..many of my collegues do not drink at this moment (before Easter), go to the church every SUnday, etc. Respect!
So, I rather feel like at home...I like living in Wawa, because they have much bigger choice of everything: clubs, bars, shops, cinemas, parks, etc..
But what I lack here is friends! I have some friends - collegues, but I want to meet some more. Are there any organisatios/associations of foreigners in Wawa? I would join with pleassure
I think you guys are still in 'Phase 1' of living in Poland. 'Phase 1' is fine. I moved to Krakow four years ago and so far have been beaten up twice in the street. Once I even got frog marched to an autobank by two guys who demanded 200pln! which I ended up giving them in order to save another kicking. Have also been threatened with court and a 30 000 pln fine over not understanding a tax return form, paid 400 in the end. A phase of enormous problems about my national service status due to my parentage, that was a book in itself, believe me!.
I must admit I also got fed up of 'overindulgent, fake people' in London but now I think, at least they were entertaining, individual, great fashion sense, generally pretty nutty and made me laugh a lot. Am still here as I am married to a Polish woman whom I love dearly and she is possibly one of about 15% of the Polish population who do not want to leave Poland (we lived abroad before moving back here). This is a personal account and in no way is supposed to be a generalisation or reflect on anyone elses experience of living here!
I hate living here, at first it was great, a new experience cheap living etc.. Nothing used to phase me but after the past year of visting offices trying to get things done and the constant lies and deceptions attempted by the Poles in general doubled with the mentality I can honestly say Im looking forward to moving on.
i find it a bit disturbing reading henrykz's post about muggings and beatings I have never been on the recieving end of anything even remotely associated with crime. Oh actually some bast#rd nicked our bird bath the other day, but thats it really.
Obviously there are things which i will miss but in general i miss the standard of living i used to take for granted in the UK.
what standards.... i dont find my standards have droped since moving here
Following my first year in Krakow (3.5 years ago!), I wrote an article for a local expat magazine called 'Krakout' (now since defunct) about this topic.
At the time I was an English teacher in Krakow, and I had done a class which I had downloaded from the internet about 'culture shock'.
According to research, there are four stages of culture shock experienced by expats when they move to a foreign country.
The first is positive - you are really excited to be in a new place, everything is exotic and different. You are partying, making new friends etc. It can last anywhere from a few days to a few months.
The second is negative - it's the 'shock' stage. You have the realities of life in a foreign place getting you down. Finding a job, dealing with bureaucracy, language barrier etc.
This phase can last a few months or so. Many will not get over this stage and will return home. Others will get over it by seeking out people from their own culture, finding someone to share your experience and your gripes with life in this foreign place.
The third and fourth phases are for the long term expats, the ones who decide to make this new place their home. The third, I think it was called 'acceptance' and involves you learning the language, settling down, making local friends and generally acclimitising to your new surroundings.
If you stay long enough (5 years +) then you may reach the fourth stage where you develop a dual identity. You essentially become like a local, though it's of course not possible to forego the identity/culture you grew up with.
At any point in time, you may decide to go home. It is at this point (and it depends how long you have been away) that you encounter 're-entry shock'. You have been changed by your experience, grown as a person. The only problem is that your friends and family at home haven't changed. They are more interested in what is happening in their own life and don't particularly care for your stories and experiences.
If anyone is interested, I will track down the original article and post it here when I get the chance.
I am also Irish and have been living in Krakow for 6mths now, I have done a lot of travelling over the years and lived outside for about ten altogether in various countries, so its not knew to me not living in Ireland. I will be going back to Ireland in the summer and honestly I am seriously looking forward to it. I have a lot of Polish friends in Ireland some for at least 3 years so I was fairly familiar with culture etc also I had visited 4 times in in the last few years. There will be a lot of general things that you will miss however what I miss most is the humour and just the banter. There is a very drepressing feeling in the air here which is probably understandable considering the history. Yes the city is stunning and a lot of the people are very helpful and friendly but I have also found an element of bitterness and sheer rudeness. I think the prices of holidaying here were a big draw for people previously however as it gets more expensive they will have to improve the abrupt manner that a lot of people in the restaurants, cafes etc have. You should really visit a couple ot times first and depending on where you are located will also factor!
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 6, 2010 21:51:17 GMT 1
From Polish forum:
was in krakow there last weekend. had plans to move over and live with the girlfriend but finally got a job in dublin (after nearly a year) and as it's a nine month contract will stay and look at moving later on in the year.
my plan was to teach english if i couldnt get an english speaking accounting job with one of the multi-nationals.
say you'll need polish to work if you don't plan on teaching english. most of the younger generation seem to speak english and heard plenty of irish, british and american accents but defo should learn the language if you plan to live there.
i thought it was dirt cheap there €2 for strong local beer and 40c for 1.5l of water.
didnt come across any problems while there (albeit only for five days) but culturally somethings will take alot of getting used to.
poles have serious staring problems, the old adage of it being rude to stare obviously doesnt hold true there, and don't expect much interaction let alone a smile when it comes to customer service. don't think they mean to be rude though it's just the way they are.
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Post by valpomike on Feb 6, 2010 22:36:59 GMT 1
I want to correct his statement, there are no rude Polish, they must have been living in Poland, from Germany.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on May 5, 2010 20:41:33 GMT 1
Myth #1: Polish people are rude
I’ve thought about this long and hard. Everybody I’ve ever met who’s been to Poland has wrestled with this question. And almost everybody thinks it’s kind of true and kind of not true. This is the current state of my understanding:
The truths
1. Polish people in shops, businesses, and government departments often appear rude to foreigners visiting Poland (not to mention to other Polish people).
2. Polish people are extremely polite and hospitable in private social situations.
3. Polish people sometimes are, in fact, extremely rude because they like being extremely rude.
In other words, there is no simple answer to the question ‘Are Polish people rude?’ Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. The problem arises because the occasions on which they are rude and the occasions on which they are not rude do not correspond to the expectations of the average Western visitor to Poland. This is known as culture shock.
The reasons
1. Polish people working in shops, businesses, and government departments at the ‘customer relations’ level are usually poorly paid and utterly disinterested in the public perception of the institution they work for. In these situations they tend to feel powerless and undervalued. It’s not difficult to understand why these people fail to interact with customers in a positive and smiley way. I wouldn’t, and neither would you.
2. The woman behind the post office counter who treats you as if you were slightly less important than the dirt she wipes off her shoes would, if you met her in a private social situation, be a paradigm of politeness and hospitality. The private and the public spheres are strictly but unconsciously divided in the Polish mind, If a person is introduced to you by a friend you treat them with genuinely impeccable politeness and generosity. If you happened to meet the same person in the guise of a customer or passerby on the street you treat them as if they were a potential child molester.
3. And this is the ace in the hole that adds spice to the issue. Rudeness is an art form in Poland. Polish people take great, but secret, delight in the devastating insult or social slight. It appeals to the essentially black nature of Polish humor. In other words, sometimes Polish people are rude because it’s extremely funny to be rude. Just about every Polish film regarded as a ‘classic’ features endless scenes of incredible and extremely funny rudeness. After many years I have to admit, it IS in fact devilishly funny.[/i
polandian.home.pl/index.php/2008/03/21/myth-1-polish-people-are-rude/
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Post by tufta on May 5, 2010 20:52:51 GMT 1
I agree there are good point in the resume presented. But my opinion is different. Poles as a nation are neither rude nor polite. There are rude Poles and polite Poles. In my long history of travelling world-wide I have seen too many examples of artificial politness which turns into rudeness in certain circumsnatbces to believe there are polite or rude nations. There are polite and rude individuals.
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Post by tufta on May 5, 2010 20:54:19 GMT 1
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Post by Bonobo on May 5, 2010 21:00:44 GMT 1
I agree there are good point in the resume presented. But my opinion is different. Poles as a nation are neither rude nor polite. There are rude Poles and polite Poles. In my long history of travelling world-wide I have seen too many examples of artificial politness which turns into rudeness in certain circumsnatbces to believe there are polite or rude nations. There are polite and rude individuals. Hmmm...... But don`t you think that Eskimo tribes are extremely polite? E.g., husbands share their wives with travellers. Mike! The next ship to Greenland leaves in June. |
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Post by tufta on May 5, 2010 21:03:56 GMT 1
But don`t you think that Eskimo tribes are extremely polite? E.g., husbands share their wives with travellers. Not polite, just helpful ;D ;D ;D Mike, you can still go! |
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Post by valpomike on May 5, 2010 21:29:30 GMT 1
On all of my trips to Poland, I have only meet a very few, rude Polish people, and some of this, what they were just having a bad day. You want rude, come here.
Mike
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Post by seanbm on Jun 22, 2010 9:13:53 GMT 1
Myth #1: Polish people are rude
The problem arises because the occasions on which they are rude and the occasions on which they are not rude do not correspond to the expectations of the average Western visitor to Poland. This is known as culture shock. I agree, visitors from the west are often here in Poland for the cheap flights, cheap beer and good looking women and have only ever been to places (like Spain) with their mates. Never straying from the path, never leaving the one bar they find easiest. They want convenience and people to kiss their bums because they are spending money. They never (to my knowledge) see the subtleties that exist in different cultures and only take things for face value. One of the things I often tell people who visit me here is that Polish people do not smile with their mouths but smile with their eyes. Eye contact with a stranger in Ireland can often communicate confrontation or seduction (depending on circumstance of course) but in contrast here in Poland everyone looks at you. The reasons
1. Polish people working in shops, businesses, and government departments at the ‘customer relations’ level are usually poorly paid and utterly disinterested in the public perception of the institution they work for. In these situations they tend to feel powerless and undervalued. It’s not difficult to understand why these people fail to interact with customers in a positive and smiley way. I wouldn’t, and neither would you. I think this is because of communism. It did not matter in the least if you smiled or not, everyone was employed. The hangover from communism is most evident in the service and administration "bureaucratic" sector here in Poland. But it is not the waiter, bartender, office clerk's fault the blame lies squarely with their boss'. I go to offices in Wielicka and Niepolomice often with work related issues. In Wielicka, the clerks are in an institutionalised looking building, with jail bars on the windows and a sickly green colour everywhere under the flickering fluorescent bulbs. The clerk has a big miserable face on her and is inflexible and unwilling to help. it's a prime example of the hangover from communism. And since the salt mines bring in a huge revenue, I can't for the life of me understand where all the money goes but that is a different story. By stark contrast, Niepolomice is the nicest town hall I have ever been to in any country, it was restored from part of the old castle, it is very well lit and looks beautiful, the people have been instructed to help anyone who comes through the door, they will do everything that is possible to make the procedures as quick and easy as possible. Stanisław Kracik was the former mayor of Niepolomice, I have met him for business purposes and he did a fabulous job with Niepolomice (I think he should be mayor of Krakow).
2. The woman behind the post office counter who treats you as if you were slightly less important than the dirt she wipes off her shoes would, if you met her in a private social situation, be a paradigm of politeness and hospitality. The private and the public spheres are strictly but unconsciously divided in the Polish mind, If a person is introduced to you by a friend you treat them with genuinely impeccable politeness and generosity. If you happened to meet the same person in the guise of a customer or passerby on the street you treat them as if they were a potential child molester. Well that's a bit extreme with the child molesting comment but you have a point. And again I see this is as a hangover from communism "Us" the normal people and "Them" when working in the communist system. This mentality gets passed down from generation to generation and diluted until it will disappear altogether.
3. And this is the ace in the hole that adds spice to the issue. Rudeness is an art form in Poland. Polish people take great, but secret, delight in the devastating insult or social slight. It appeals to the essentially black nature of Polish humor. In other words, sometimes Polish people are rude because it’s extremely funny to be rude. Just about every Polish film regarded as a ‘classic’ features endless scenes of incredible and extremely funny rudeness. After many years I have to admit, it IS in fact devilishly funny.[/i
polandian.home.pl/index.php/2008/03/21/myth-1-polish-people-are-rude/ We call it "Taking the piss"  I have a lot more reading to do before I can post more... well either that or I will get drunk and post anyway ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by valpomike on Jun 22, 2010 16:54:26 GMT 1
Well said, thank you.
Mike
Long live the happy people of Poland
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 22, 2010 20:08:46 GMT 1
I agree, visitors from the west are often here in Poland for the cheap flights, cheap beer and good looking women and have only ever been to places (like Spain) with their mates. Never straying from the path, never leaving the one bar they find easiest. They want convenience and people to kiss their bums because they are spending money. They never (to my knowledge) see the subtleties that exist in different cultures and only take things for face value. I am afraid we all do the same thing when going abroad as tourists. If I paid through the nose for a package holiday in Spain and was treated rudely, I would be furious and complain about boorish Spaniards etc! ;D ;D ;D ;D And hearts. Being a true Pole, I don`t like smiling like crazy to strangers in the street. But I always help happily when there is a problem - without too much smiling. I never paid attention to that aspect. Yes, I look at the person and into their eyes (excep when I take secret photos). What is the problem with direct eye contact? If you stand or lie, you shall get 2 grand - old proverb said. It means the progress hasn`t reached Wieliczka yet because clerks in Krakow`s offices are very polite that sometimes it looks like brown-nosing. The change came abruptly about 2 years ago, I had to renew some documents and I was shocked at their politeness. The revenues from salt have always been spent by kings and queens on luxury!! Daylight robbery!! This is outrageous! ;D ;D ;D ;D Have you seen the thread about Niepołomice?: polandsite.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=krakw&action=display&thread=751Yes, Kracik has an ambition to go up even further. I think he is a good manager with a vision. What if these are Polish national traits? ;D ;D ;D ;D Hopefully. |
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Post by seanbm on Jun 22, 2010 21:21:43 GMT 1
I agree, visitors from the west are often here in Poland for the cheap flights, cheap beer and good looking women and have only ever been to places (like Spain) with their mates. Never straying from the path, never leaving the one bar they find easiest. They want convenience and people to kiss their bums because they are spending money. They never (to my knowledge) see the subtleties that exist in different cultures and only take things for face value. I am afraid we all do the same thing when going abroad as tourists. If I paid through the nose for a package holiday in Spain and was treated rudely, I would be furious and complain about boorish Spaniards etc! ;D ;D ;D ;D I try to believe (sometimes unsuccessfully) that many people enjoy this type of "travelling". I think it is basically a matter of taste and if that's what people like, then so be it but I don't like these package deals, it's like going to a zoo and poking the animals, I prefer to get in the cage ;D And hearts. Being a true Pole, I don`t like smiling like crazy to strangers in the street. But I always help happily when there is a problem - without too much smiling. I bet you smile with your eyes and aren't even aware of it. I never paid attention to that aspect. Yes, I look at the person and into their eyes (excep when I take secret photos). What is the problem with direct eye contact? It depends greatly on context but lets say you're a young man about 18 and you stare at someone in Ireland the way people do here, if you did it to another boy, it would be interpreted as confrontational, as if you are sizing them up. If you did it to a girl, it would communicate sexual desire  But it does depend on context, it is seen as rude for these two reasons although I have heard other theories as to why this is the way it is in Ireland. but if you are a young man and you wink at an older lady or older man it is considered friendly. If you stand or lie, you shall get 2 grand - old proverb said. That's it exactly! It means the progress hasn`t reached Wieliczka yet because clerks in Krakow`s offices are very polite that sometimes it looks like brown-nosing. The change came abruptly about 2 years ago, I had to renew some documents and I was shocked at their politeness. Hahahaha, shocked? ;D I hope it will change and I know many of my Polish friends feel the same as yourself, they hate the "How are you?" and take it as a genuine question rather than the meaningless greeting it is meant to be. But there is a lot to be said for a smile from a stranger and i think Thai people know this better than any other nation and it is contagious ;D The revenues from salt have always been spent by kings and queens on luxury!! Daylight robbery!! This is outrageous! ;D ;D ;D ;D So who are the kings and queens of today and howcome nobody notices where the money is going? it is one of the biggest attractions in Poland and yet the place is a dump??? Ah lovely, it is a great town. There are Bison there too  I have many photos of there, I will try to find a better way of putting photos on here, as this photobucket thing is very very slow. Yes, Kracik has an ambition to go up even further. I think he is a good manager with a vision. I agree completly, just look what he did to Niepolomice, he was voted the best Mayor in Poland a few years ago. I really hope he gets to improve Poland the way he did Niepolomice. What if these are Polish national traits? ;D ;D ;D ;D I know it isn't because I have lived and visited many other ex-communist countries and it is always the same, miserable faces, horrendous customer service and mind boggling bureaucracy. Actually of the ex-commie countries i know Poland has managed to adapt best to the changeover. i think this has a lot to do with the fact that Poland was not part of the U.S.S.R. (although a puppet) and the solidarity movement. It is very interesting if you take all the communist hangover from Poland and look at Poland again. it is a vibrant, progressive, traditional country with many things going for it. Just compare the contrasts to other ex-commie countries. i could talk about this all day I think I am using this forum incorrectly, I have to eidt every section of your text with a: quote author=admin board=general thread=641 post=18141 time=1277233726]What if these are Polish national traits? ;D ;D ;D ;D[/quote : before and a [/quote after just to reply to each point, is there an easier way to do this? I am probably missing something... |
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 5, 2011 23:11:58 GMT 1
Dear Dr. Ovlowska,
Help! I just found out that my boyfriend likes to dress up like a woman when I’m out of town, and I don’t know whether to be mortified or excited. Right now I’m just confused. What do I do?
Sincerely,
Confused in Krakow
Dear Confused in Krakow,
Your apprehension is understandable but you need be neither mortified nor excited. The moment has come for you to double-check how deep your love is for your boyfriend.
On the surface, transvestites might appear like carnival pranksters and indeed their fascination for women’s clothing can produce some hilarious moments. However, “cross-dressing” is another word used to describe transvestite behaviour, and unless sexual arousal is involved that’s all it is.
Indeed, playing around with, testing and trying the clothes normally associated with the opposite gender has always been part of civilization. At times, it has even been used for political purposes, with Joan of Arc being the most obvious example.
So it is crucial how your boyfriend perceives his special interest, and indeed how you react, now that you have discovered his secret.
For I am pretty sure he has been keeping it secret. Most transvestites do not know how to interpret their urge, and in many countries it is automatically classified as a sexual deviation, condemned and misinterpreted much as homosexuality and sadomasochism are vilified.
This is where your reaction is of great importance. A sensitive person living out cross-dressing urges may be very confused as to how to interpret their own actions. If they are met with apprehension and mortification, maybe even anger from the people they love, they could just drive themselves down into a deep, dark hole of despair and end up taking their own life.
If, however, you eagerly grab his hand and say “Hey handsome, let’s go and look at the shoe shops in Bonarka together,” it might just open the door to an entirely new level of intimacy and understanding. Not because it is sexually arousing to look at shoes, but because you give him proof that you love him precisely as he is.
And in the end, isn’t that the secret of all loving and lasting relationships?
I wish you wisdom, love and a very Happy Christmas to you both.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Ovlowska
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Post by valpomike on Jan 6, 2011 16:41:22 GMT 1
All she has to do is tell him he is German, and must be, and leave him for a true Polish man.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 23, 2011 22:56:04 GMT 1
Dear Dr. Ovlowska,
I met my Polish girlfriend in Ireland and fell hopelessly in love with her fun, flirtatious ways. I thought I made a big statement when I agreed to follow her to Poland and settle in Krakow but now, four months later, I am seriously wondering if I made a mistake. She is jealous and controlling. She never smiles and keeps running off to see relatives or go to church. Can you explain what is going on?
Dumbfounded from Dublin
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Dear Dumbfounded from Dublin,
I have an important job for you. If you are serious about this girl you have to seduce her. Prove that you are the handsome, mysterious stranger she fell in love with in Ireland.
Make 2011 a fantastic year, dripping with sensuality and surprises for her. Don’t let her take the lead just because you are in her country now. Your great trump card is the English language.
Give her lessons in words and phrases that can only be whispered in a lover’s ear. Tell her she is lovely. Take her hand without any apparent reason. Sing for her if you can—the Irish are famous for their beautiful voices and the Polish are hopelessly romantic; a perfect match.
My guess is that she is suffering from mild depression. Most of us react very strongly, on a subconscious level, to the surroundings we were brought up in, and it is rarely positive memories that bubble to the surface.
Communication must have top priority. Women get warm and friendly when they feel free to talk. Invite her to open up and find out what really makes her tick. What turns her on? Does she like to wear mini skirts and high-heeled boots? Does she like to watch blue movies, read naughty SMS messages from you, or would she like you to take her to a Salsa course? This kind of intimate information is indispensable for the future success of your relationship, and she needs to formulate and put it into words for you.
And on that note, allow me to wish you and the many faithful readers of this column a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. May all your most ardent wishes come true.
Yours sincerely
Dr. Ovlowska
Visit Dr. Ovlowska’s website: www.ovlowska.eu
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Post by valpomike on Feb 24, 2011 3:05:10 GMT 1
Life with a wife, is what you make of it. Both have to set down some rules, and guidelines, and work within them. A happy mariage must be worked at each day, without fail. Neither one must take full control. This works for me, for many years now, more than some of you have lived, and we are still happy, but she did get the best of it, in me.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 9, 2011 23:45:06 GMT 1
An American studying medicine in the PRL 1978-1985: my story By Rybnik From the polishforums
When I was younger I thought I knew the answer to the question "Why did you choose communist-Poland of all places to study medicine"? Now I'm unsure. Anyway, with your permission and patience I'll start laying it out for you in the days/weeks to come. You see, no one has ever asked me to talk about my time in Poland and my memories of that time are a bit hazy. I'll be relying on the forum, to a certain extent, to jog my memory with your questions.
Both my parents were Polish. My mom was born in the eastern town of Stanislawow and my dad just outside Raciborz, in Upper Silesia. They met in Scotland after the war and emigrated to the States. Mom was an only child and dad's family was split between living in Poland and Australia. My childhood was devoid of an extended family-no uncles, no aunts and no cousins. This was an abstraction for me. I remember how sad I used to become upon hearing of my friends' recounting their fun weekends with cousins and family. I wished I had cousins! I used to think connecting with Polish family was the main reason for going to Poland to study. that I'm older I see the reason I went was to please my uber-Polish-nationalistic father...........My journey began in August of 1978 along with a plane-load of other young, excited and hopeful Polonians. The plan was this: spend a month in Krakow, attend Polish language classes, after "passing" the language test in early September continue on to your Akademia of choice. I was strongly
advised to stay in Krakow for the year to work on my Polish, which I did. It turned out to be a good decision (although I remember being crestfallen at the time). This first year in country was organized in the States by the Kosciuszko Foundation based in New York City........No. There was no "interview" from the PRL side at all. I remember filling out a student visa application, that's it!
The flight in 1978 from New York to Warsaw was long and bumpy. It was only the second airplane flight of my life and it was taking its toll. My ears were killing me! I had never experienced such pain. Later, much later, I realized my uncomfortable flight was an auger of things to come. For most of the ride I suffered in silence. I don't recall hearing much conversation going on amongst my fellow polonia. Maybe I just couldn't hear them!
After 8 1/2 hours we finally landed. I recall noticing how empty of planes the place was; how small, dull and gray the terminal was. Oh boy. I'm here. I'm finally here on Polish soil. The land of my forefathers and I'm sad. I'm sad because the place looks sad!
We filed out of the airplane onto the tarmac and into this large, loud, smelly bus. We were packed in tightly (more preparation for things to come).Thankfully, the ride to the terminal was short. Inside was a large space with several lines of travellers having their passports checked and stamped. The polish officials were very intimidating in their uniforms,badges and hats. I remember being quite scared. My God real communists! They could send me back for being a capitalist! Keep cool; show no fear and SMILE I recall telling myself. Of course they let me through. Actually. the only people there excited by my presence were the money-changers "chenge mahnee" and the taxi drivers!
From the airport we were all taken to Warsaw's Old Town, some grand place with nice old furniture. I want to say Dom Polonii but I'm npt sure. I remember being very tired and hungry. The food was delicious I recall as well as the beer(fantastic Czech brew "Budweiser" in a 0.33l bottle!)
After lunch off to Krakow. I slept the entire way. We arrived to a rectangular, grey concrete building DS "Piast". It was very depressing in its appearance; warning us to what lay inside. Our room was very small, two cots and a window overlooking the courtyard. Our mattresses were filled with straw. We shared a bathroom with two other guys from the adjacent room. The accomodations were spartan to say the least. But I had some of the happiest, and saddest, times of my life.
I paired-up with a guy from Queens New York, who soon became know to us as PT. He was a very sweet, honorable and sensitive man. We too had many sweet and exciting adventures together.but we also fought like rabid dogs. Despite the fighting, we remained roomates and later house-mates for the entire seven years. I'm ashamed to say I might not have been the best friend to him and he might have expected a bit too much from me. Suffice it to say we both left Poland not speaking to each other. I'm seriously thinking about writing him to bury the hatchett. PT will appear frequently in the text. We were always together until the "skirts" appeared. That's for another day.
My first days in Poland were filled with so many emotions. It was intense!! I was so stoked to be finally in the land of my ancestors. In a place where everybody spoke the language my parents spoke' where everyone knew how to pronounce my name correctly! No stammering, no pausing, thinking to yourself, then asking "how do you say this"? I WAS WITH MY PEOPLE!
Kraków was mystical. Period. I was hooked. This country-bumpkin was quickly and soundly seduced. For the most part it was the people. Those ever-curious, always bowing-in-politeness Cracowians quickly won me over. However, there were times, where I was overwhelmed. Most notably in the beginning, I felt like a piece of red meat thrown into a river of piranhas. These people were as hungry for knowledge as those Amazonian creatures were for flesh! It was very hard at first. I had never been a rock star before. Every encounter with a Pole was another interview. I had no clue as to how one behaves. It was all so new, so strange and so very, very cool.So how much does a worker make an hour"? "How much does a loaf of bread cost" "How long must the average American have to work to afford a car?" We "from the west" were bombarded with these and many, many more questions each and every day. |
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