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patrykt
Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 51
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 Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I can't say as that I notice so many linguistic differences, but rather cultural. A big one that I noticed when I first moved here six years ago was the bewilderment of my Polish students and co-workers that I could be so far away from America for so long. How could I not be with my family for Christmas? Americans think little of picking up and moving to different apartment, city, state, country, etc. That being said, I tell all my students that the Americans in Poland aren't typical. If they were they would be in America racing around trying to earn enough money to buy their third TV. I don't really mean that in a bashing sense. Life is good in America if you're into "stuff". Actually I spend a lot of time sticking up for Ol' Uncle Sam. It's so easy these days (especially since Bush got elected and re-elected) to so say "America sucks".
I'd like to comment on the statement from gregoryfromcali. Let's look at the earnings of a Polish girl who works in Cafe X in Poland and an American girl in Starbucks. Cafe X pays 5 zlots an hour and a cup of coffee costs 5 zlots (Poznan prices). Starbucks pays $6 an hour and coffee costs $2 for a similar sized coffee as in Cafe X. Do you see the difference? I know this firsthand as I used to work at Starbucks and my Polish wife here in Poznan used to own a cafe. I don't excuse Poles for stiffing their friends, but you can see why they may not be big tippers.
Money is something I haven't figured out in Poland. In my most well-paid job I get 95 zlotys for 45 minutes. Do I really deserve to earn over 20 times more an hour than the girl in Cafe X? If I were teaching in the States I would be getting paid $120 an hour in comparison to the girl at Starbucks. Is that nutty or what? |
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gregoryfromcali
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Posts: 1207
Location: People's Republic of Shanghai
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 11:07 pm Post subject: |
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| One weird thing I've found in my ten years' experience of Poland is that they are really bad at buying rounds.In England it's a normal thing to do. |
Actually the funny thing is that in China they can't figure out why Westerners split the bill. In China if you invite someone out you pay for everything.
None of this, "You had two beers. You ordered extra..."
Funny I suppose Poles must see us FTs as classless slobs from time to time too. |
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biffinbridge
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 701
Location: Frank's Wild Years
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 9:53 am Post subject: crogo |
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| Who took the jam out of your doughnut?I wasn't bashing Poland,merely stating a fact based on ten years' experience of the place. |
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gregoryfromcali
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Posts: 1207
Location: People's Republic of Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| Who took the jam out of your doughnut?I wasn't bashing Poland,merely stating a fact based on ten years' experience of the place. |
I never said that you were bashing Poland.
But if do the math it makes perfect sense why Poles don't buy the rounds.
My story about China was my way of laughing at this whole discussion.
You're complaining because Poles don't buy the rounds and the Chinese see us Westerners as classless because we invite people out and don't pay for their meal.
Two sides of the same coin.
Anway I'm just trying to lively up this board.
We're all cool and the gang! |
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gregoryfromcali
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Posts: 1207
Location: People's Republic of Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:45 am Post subject: |
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delete
Last edited by gregoryfromcali on Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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philobedo
Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Krakow
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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i still find the dziekuje thing when you offer someone something odd.
Do you fancy a coffee?
Thanks.
In Polish here 'thanks' means 'NO thanks'. Dead confusing at first that. |
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philobedo
Joined: 13 Feb 2006
Posts: 7
Location: Krakow
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh yeah, and my parents always asked people who rang at dinner time to call back in an hour, or said they'd call back, unless they were ringing from abroad or sumat. Meal times were sacred and that seemed normal. I tend to do the same, though not in Poland any more. Here you're liable to piss someone off. Phone calls are sacred. |
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gregoryfromcali
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Posts: 1207
Location: People's Republic of Shanghai
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| In Polish here 'thanks' means 'NO thanks'. Dead confusing at first that. |
That's the same in the States too.
If someone asks, "Would you like a beer?"
"Thanks." means, "Thanks, but no thanks."
But if you say, "Have a beer."
"Thanks." means, "Thanks."
| Quote: |
| Oh yeah, and my parents always asked people who rang at dinner time to call back in an hour, or said they'd call back, unless they were ringing from abroad or sumat. Meal times were sacred and that seemed normal. I tend to do the same, though not in Poland any more. Here you're liable to piss someone off. Phone calls are sacred. |
I do like that about Poles. They definately value their time with their friends.
I've been told that Poles are shocked when they go abroad and meet other Poles who think it's rude to just drop in without giving a day's notice, yet this is true in most English speaking countries.
In fact I'm the same way. But I do like that Poles aren't.
Being away from Poland I also miss the way they always do favors for each other.
I have some Polish friends outside of Poland and when I ask them for favors, they act the way people typically do in the English speaking world. "I don't know if I have the time."
It's such a strange contrast even among Poles inside and outside of Poland.
An interesting place Poland is. |
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Khrystene
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 271
Location: WAW, PL/SYD, AU
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| Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| gregoryfromcali wrote: |
One big difference I notice is that in Poland when you walk in a room you are supposed to say "Hello" first.
Where as in the states and in the U.K. you usually welcome someone by saying "Hello" to the person entering.
This can cause some tension. As people take greetings for granted.
After two years I just realized that a man is supposed to greet a women first when they are in the same room.
Again this is one of those things that can make a foreigner feel like a constant outsider.
And of course. Saying "bye" is important. I worked with an Aussie teacher who would leave work without saying "bye" and she seemed very unfriendly to the school. |
I always say goodbye, and those who don't, I also find very rude... Weird... Perhaps she was genuinely a rude person...
I know a New Zealander here who's quite rude though, but then I don't think it's because of where he's from rather his anti-social nature... [and he wonders why ppl don't like him].
Interesting topic. I missed this while I was offline due to moving house... etc... |
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