Advice for meeting her Polish parents!

siema,

I've been together with my girlfriend, but due to studies/travelling/etc. neither of us have met the other's family. I'm flying over to meet them just after Christmas and naturally im a little nervous (boje sie strasznie!).

I've not had any formal polish lessons but i am a reasonably confident speaker, me and my girlfriend can happily communcate everything we want to say in Polish, and rarely have misunderstandings.

Firstly, i want to bring them gifts. I'm not sure if her dad likes whisky, and vodka is a no-no as we all know its much better over there
I thought about maybe buying some flowers on the way to their house for the mother.
Anybody got any other suggestions?

The main question is are there any customs to do with meeting i should be aware of? Should i just shake hands with everyone? Also should i be using the 3rd person pan/pani all the time?
Also is there another way to say 'bardzo mi milo'?

I've spoken to my girlfriefnd about this a lot but as you can imagine, she means the world to me and i want to get it right, i nie chce byc meczacy dla niej teraz.

Any help would be appreciated,

A nervous Rusty

Nice flowers is a good idea and whisky or brandy(cognac) - it is good gift for father.You could also bring something - maybe nice sweets or something special from your own country.

I think that shaking hands with everyone is fine-it is formal but proper for first meeting.

I would recommend call them Pan/Pani . I guess that sooner or later they will ask you to call them by names.

Shake hands and be polite to everybody. Bring good brand vodka for father (or even better - brandy or whisky) and flowers to mother. Pretend you like Polish foods (even if you don't .

finlandia or maximus vodka

Jameson Irish Whiskey

being polish do you think they would appreciate finnish vodka??

and jamiesons is cheap rubbish...try chivas regal, glenmorangie, glenfeidich or dimples.

Being people, they'd appreciate a gift And finlandia IS good



Blasphemer (Jameson is sweet)

Powers is also a nice whiskey tez