Poland: The Things That Make Foreigners Lift a Brow

I have caught my mistakes, when I word things I try to be more careful now. so
coming here give me lessons in life as well :)

As precise as ever Puzzler. I should have used the word different rather than strange. I agree that some of our house naming and/or numbering is a little different and sometimes illogical for visitors.

Patrycja19 inquires:'Things are done differently then in the west. what /why does that make his statement prejudiced?'

Do you mean that in Poland things are done differently than in 'the West'? If so, what things are done so differently and what do you mean by 'the West'?

Have you read my reply to Steve's rant? If so, do you think I've pointed out his strong Polonophobic bias?

And why do you Polish Americans and Canadians have to endure 'Polish jokes'? Why don't you do anything about it at last? Why don't you catch the rat deal with him properly?

Where's your honour, where're your guts?

By the way, hm, yes, I might call you a Polish Sister, but as to folks such as miranda, I'd hesitate to acknowledge any family ties with them, due to their obvious Polonophobia.

By the way, Patrycja, you seem to be biased at times too, which bias, I suppose, you have acquired automatically and unconsciously from living in a Polonophobic milieu and being exposed to the hate propaganda carried out by newsmedia psychopaths.

PS. So you, Patrycja, agree with Steve's main message that Poland is different from 'the West' and is not part of 'the West'?
:)

Szarlotka, what the house numbering in Poland and England is 'different' from?
;)

no Polish jokes here.

maybe my friends are afraid they will get punched or get a baseball bat to the head.

you never answered my question, but only avoided it. I explained Wigila, does
everyone have wigila? does the british celebrate this? no. they have their own

in the united states they do, but only the Polish, the whole united states doesnt
participate, because there is so many different cultures.

I am pretty sure our laws arent the same. the cars are different. and they drive
on a different side of the road in the UK. gun laws? hmm that was discussed
on another thread. schools, money is even different.

if it was the same, i am sure that people wouldnt go to visit because they can find
paradise in their own backyards..

I did explain that Poland has " A Culture" its own, we as Americans do not have
a specific Culture. as Krysia stated, things that are not done in Poland are very
much a reality in the United states.




Yes. is the Uk ( west) same as the united states? NO. there is a great deal that is
different. our govt works differently, our whole way of life.

Things that are the same, love, taking a shower, eating, going shopping etc.

I am talking things that are part of a culture. which makes it different. steve wasnt
being biased, he was pointing out things which make those a Nation.

even here in America, the American indians dont do things the same as we do
they have a culture, traditions which seperate them from the obvious. and yes
they do things differently, we also have Amish people, who live by standards they
set in place which have been the same for well over 100 years, I think much longer
and they dont use electricity, they use horse and buggy. no one says anything
and they are different, but its not a bad thing is what steve has pointed out.

ok i think that summed it up.

why do you want to call me your polish sister? I didnt think you liked me as a sister
:)

it dont happen now, during my childhood and teenage years it did.

now I would clobber them!

I have clobbered some.. those who said it because they were just playing around
I would point out their nationality in a joke.

I was stating that because of the fact that people say it, no matter what generation
you are, I am 2nd generation and my dad being first.
And those who came here to America, we had Polish jokes here, then now as
2nd generations who want to learn about poland, call us Polish wannabes..

So between two lands acceptance was a battle.and still is.

when they left, Poland would have them back in a heartbeat, and America with
reluctance, now, if we left America would have us back in a heartbeat. and Poland
reluctant to accept. only those with open heart, mind and Arms.

That is good Witek that you didnt have to hear those jokes, but there was one
who came on in anther thread asking for advice and this was recently. he was
canadian. I am sure there is more.

honor comes with having something to be honored about. how can one be honored
or honorable when they are not accepted in either place?

but dont worry, my attitude here should tell you that I stood up and always have
even though I didnt understand why at the time people would say that.

where did you get your facts Puzzler??

how can you take on a biased view of me not fully knowing the person, only
the posts? and which posts show you this?

Biased is to easily judge, you seem to be determined to judge those of us you
dont know, or cant fully understand, possibly it is yourself you are referring to?

ever since you joined, you have had some harsh biased views of everyone, not
I disagree or agree. I think everyone minus Shawn_H who stroked your ego
is prejudiced in your eyes. how about spare me the questions and show me
some proof.

yes, today I will be instutional biased. I want proof.. is it ok to pick which day I can
be biased?

:)

Puzzler, everyone has a "bias" in their opinions. You know that!
;) Even researchers make allowances for research bias.

LMFAO, eloquently put mate :)

well, in any city, avoiding dark parks and alleys is advised. I dont care what country
you are in. so you can take this post as a warning. for those visiting because even
though Poland has lesser crime, it still has crime non the less.

I want to take a Poll, how many think that the UK and the United states are the
same?? and Poland and the united states?? what seperates them??

( this is not for prejudiced but for uniqueness which each country holds)

I will go first, only because this I heard from friend at work who went to the UK

that the UK doesnt have convienences like we do, we have 24 hour grocery stores
and pharmancys and gas stations , resturants etc.

I know Krysia can add to this post with the poland and US diference. what are some
of the differences with the uk and poland as well.

no yeahs or neahs?

man you people are difficult!! lol...

America and the Uk are exactly the same we just speak different languages.
Seriously though since this is about things that make you lift a brow.
Why Carp for Wigilia? my Mother in law made it special and I had to eat it and it damned near killed me its more bone than meat! And you have the best Trout I have ever eaten and yet Carp is the Holy fish for Wigilia please explain this one. There is a reason that Carp is only one letter away from Cr.. well you know what. Not to offend the Chinese but they are gastronomically brave and even they don't eat it.

Mcdonalds KFC and Pizza Hut are equally popular in Poland and the USA perhaps more popular in Poland they are always full and the Poles love to say how terrible American food is.

And how all of our fruits are bigger :) American blueberries...the bigger ones:)

im an Irish guy living in Poland and "steves " views are so inaccurate for instance if he had spoken to some educated people he might of heard of how good the Polish education system and how so many people finish university with really good degrees.
The fact is all he seemed to do was look for the countries faults and im sure where he comes from is just as bad in different ways, for instance cocaine and heroine are not as popular in Poland as in the "west lands" especially in england, Ireland and the usa.

as for the food i have never had better so tasty and healthy for instance golabki pierogi and many many more. In fairness they are quite hardcore when it comes to religion but thats not so bad is it??

And about the birthday thing 18th is really important other birthdays usually celebrated with close family

Only thing i can say is come and see for yourself you wont regret it:)

My main problem was the toilet signs, I had to go out of the cinema halfway through for the toilet, then had to run back in to ask my girl what one I oughta use :)

Guns most people carry a gun in the usa but do not in the uk, the us takes the p..s out of the Poles, the uk takes the p..s out of the irish, every one else just comes to the uk to take the p..s

No way, dont believe everything you see on t.v.

Some ppl have permits to carry a gun

otherwise if you get caught carring a conceled weapon
your looking at some serious jail time.

Has anyone heard of a Saints Day?? My grandfather is from Poland. His middle name is Roman (Ive read the that most people from Poland are given a saints name for their middle name?) and he celebrates his saints day as his birthday... and he cheats and celebrates his birthday too:) Has anyone heard of a Saints day before???
I live in AZ and dont have much of a Polish family living near me anymore. So I have really enjoyed reading all the info provided on this site!

Your first name is celebrated on a Saint's Day.

It's on a few threads on the forum.

O Yeah, has anyone had sileovivwz ( I am sure I am spelling that wrong...) ? My polish grandfather crushes prunes and lets them soak in vodka with some sugar, then we let it sit for as long as we can tolerate (we try for several months). I’ve had the idea that this must be a popular polish custom... is a correct assessment or not so much?

sliwowica - and do you know the delicious soup called “czarnina” (black soup)? It is basicly some real blood from a duck and plums ;D

Here what wikipedia say on it:

Czernina (from the Polish word czarny - black; sometimes also Czarnina or Czarna polewka) is a Polish soup made of duck's blood and clear poultry broth. In English it is referred to as Duck Blood Soup.

Generally the sweet and sour taste of the soup comes from the addition of sugar and vinegar. However, there are hundreds of recipes popular in different parts of Poland and Lithuania. Among the ingredients used are plum or pear syrup, dried pears, plums or cherries, apple vinegar and honey. Like most Polish soups, czernina is usually served with fine noodles, macaroni or boiled potatoes.

Until the 19th century czernina was also a symbol in Polish culture. It was served to young men applying for the hand of their beloved ones after the parents rejected their proposal. It is a plot element in Pan Tadeusz, a famous Polish poem by Adam Mickiewicz.
It is also be a regional dish in Kaszuby and Poznan'.

Czernina may not be for everyone, however those willing to give it a try often find it to be hearty and satisfying.

I am from the UK and I have lived in Northern Poland for 6 months. There is a lot of truth in the main article, but for me, I find the Poles a very friendly people who would do anything to help you. Most of them would be mortified at the thought of offending you. I have shared train compartments many times with Poles who are very curteous and friendly. I have laughed for hours with complete strangers and we don't even speak the same language. I would say that Poles only suffer from a depressed economy which is a throwback of communist corruption, the symptoms of which are numbed by drink and other social vices which are also seen in many other western nations. All in all I think they are individual, proud, unique and I love them to bits.

I guess this means I really blew it when I didnt talk with this very hansome polish musician/conductor on the cruise I was on ,a couple of years ago. To this day I regret not talking with him!!! and wish I would bump in to him in the near future!!!

That part shouldn't be really so exotic to visitors from UK.

What was that recipe for hagis?

Stomach bag of sheep, sheep's liver, sheep's lungs, sheep's heart, gravy from liver. Of course some spices to kill the foul taste :)

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