This week marked the 30th anniversary of the “Gdansk Agreement”, a social contract between the people of Poland and the Communist government. This agreement was reached largely thanks to the actions of the workers at the then named “Lenin” shipyards in Gdansk. As a result of the agreement the worlds first non-communist party controlled, self [...]
Some of readers might be despondent these days. The school year begins today, the weather hasn’t been clement recently in Poland, the days are drawing in, and autumn is imminent. For no apparent reason all those unfavourable circumstances prompted me to make criminality a leitmotiv of the tenth translation competition. Actually not all the phrases [...]
Here’s a fascinating story that I’m willing to risk my very life to bring you: According to Polska Times, a US psychologist has concluded not only that woman can be a bit catty towards other women, but that Polish women are the cattiest in the world. The first part of this conclusion is about as [...]
I have long been intrigued by Polish names and how they are used, even before I moved to Poland. In the first of a series on names in Poland and how they are used, I will be looking at the differences in personal names, nicknames and diminutive names from a masculine and feminine perspective.
What [...]
Plans to relocate Warsaw’s presidential palace to a “more suitable” location have been scuppered by street violence. Clashes between riot priests and angry protestors prevented officials from moving the building late last night in scenes that have been described as: “a fairly typical Wednesday evening.”
The palace on Krakowskie Przedmieście was chosen as a temporary location [...]
This story, from Reuters, is making the rounds of the world’s media sites today. It’s a classic, end-of-the-news chuckle that manages to hit almost every Polish stereotype in less than 200 words:
A Polish man living in Germany went about his business for five years without noticing he had been shot in the head [...]
Polandian has previously looked at the logos of the main cities found in Poland. This time will be somewhat of a step up as we look at the voivodships (województwa), more commonly known as the regions within Poland. Once again we look at the coats of arms that represent the regions. There are 16 voivodships [...]
Because we are now media giants who have been mentioned on the evening news at least twice, all kinds of global corporations regularly get in touch with us asking how they too can become movers and shakers on Poland’s internets. As long as they can satisfy Scatts’ insatiably lust for Hummers, we try to help [...]
The heat(ing) is on, the new President has been sworn in, holiday period is drawing to a close. Life provides us with plenty of situations when we can we hear some drivel. To help deal with this and overcome the absurdities let’s tackle another dose of linguistic puzzles.
1. świrować – to go bananas (EM)
2. opowiadać [...]
Having the good fortune to be living 2 minutes walk from one of Kraków’s few remaining open air markets, it is a place I always enjoy visiting. Hala Targowa can be found on ul. Grzegorzecka close to the viaduct. The market is a throwback to days of old, when shopping involved buying one or two items [...]
