Category Archives: Culture

Independence Day

12
Nov
2008

Yesterday (November 11th) was the Polish Independence Day (Dzień Niepodległości), but according to my contact in Gdańsk, the celebrations were mostly invisible. The white and red flags appeared on street corners, but I was told that was about the extent of it. Most people were just happy to get an extra day off. And what [...]

By Anna | Comments (4)

Stary Piernik and Other Expressions, part 1

8
Nov
2008

John H. came up with an excellent suggestion for a blog post and I gotta say that neither I nor my friends have ever had so much fun gathering material and doing “linguistic” research. Some of those expressions – I even forgot they existed. Like “stary piernik” for example. When translated literally, it becomes “old [...]

By Anna | Also posted in Vocabulary | Comments (3)

Diversity or Political Correctness?

5
Nov
2008

A while back I pledged that I wouldn’t write here about politics and religion, and for the most part, I stuck to my promise. But today, I will break it and talk about religion, albeit vaguely and not in the way you think.
People abroad always think that Poland is a uniformly Catholic country. And it [...]

By Anna | Comments (2)

All Saints’ Day

2
Nov
2008

Yesterday the entire Poland celebrated the holiday of All Saints’ Day (Wszystkich Świętych) and initially, I wasn’t going to write about it. I’ve always found this occasion to be totally and utterly depressing, regardless of how beautiful all those flickering candles may look. There is something about it that I just can’t wrap my mind [...]

By Anna | Comments (2)

Unfortunate Menu Translations

28
Oct
2008

Though I am no longer in Gdańsk, I will keep writing about it until either I run out of things to say, or you, my dear readers – get bored.
I didn’t go to Hel this time, but no worries, I’m returning to Poland in about three weeks to pick up my ID card (dowód osobisty) [...]

By Anna | Comments (12)

Reporting From Gdańsk, part 2

25
Oct
2008

I feel terribly uncouth and totally under-dressed. These women here walk on cobblestones in heels. HIGH heels. And then there’s me with my sensible walking shoes (read: hiking boots). I can’t walk in heels even on a regular smooth sidewalk, and just imagining the ordeal of walking on cobblestones gives me instant foot and back [...]

By Anna | Comments (6)

Reporting From Gdańsk

22
Oct
2008

Al from the Polish-American Genealogy blog, which by the way is a great resource for anyone interested in tracing their Polish roots, tagged me with the 10 Years Ago tag…
I’m not much for blog tags and normally ignore them, but how could I say “no” to a fellow Kashub (“Kaszub” in Polish)? I couldn’t. Especially [...]

By Anna | Comments (13)

Dear Sir/Madam

8
Oct
2008

Yesterday I got an email from somebody, and I just about fell over while reading it. Luckily, I was sitting on a bed.
The email began with the words “Szanowna Pani!” which would be something like “Dear Madam” but much more pompous. “Szanowna Pani” ??? People still use this expression? Even young people? Dang, I must [...]

By Anna | Comments (8)

You’re Welcome!

4
Oct
2008

Like I said in the comments to the previous post, it’s official, I have the best readers ever! Thank you so much for all your kind words, and even more – for your suggestions.
Today’s post is inspired by a comment made by Thomas in the post below. Remember his problems with finding the Polish equivalent [...]

By Anna | Also posted in Vocabulary | Comments (10)

Subtitles: Yes or No?

27
Sep
2008

There’s been quite a discussion going on among my friends about this plan of TVP2 (one of the Polish TV channels, link sadly in Polish only) to start using Polish subtitles for some of its programming. And it’s about blerry time, I’d say!
You see, while most countries either use subtitles in their native language or [...]

By Anna | Comments (9)