Posts tagged w/ national characteristics

Kombinowanie continued

Posted by Anna Ikeda
Nov
2
2009

So, let’s go back to the issue of kombinowanie for a few more minutes. Turns out that the person who claims that Poles are a cheating, scheming and otherwise dishonest bunch also reads this blog. Oh, hi! Small world, isn’t it? Thank you for providing us with such an interesting discussion topic!

And to another reader - thank you for pointing out the fact that I didn’t explain the really first thing first about this word. So, in order to rectify that oversight from the other day, here it is:

  • kombinowanie (noun, neuter, plural: kombinowania, though I don’t think many people would use the plural form) – and that’s the noun version of kombinować.
  • kombinować (verb, imperfective; the perfective form would be wykombinować) – wangle, maneuver, get things sorted out, cheat, scheme, arrange something, etc…

And here are some examples of kombinowanie that should be easy to grasp (even for my very honest American readers, wink wink).

Personally, I have seen tons and tons of kombinowanie in the US. Heck, you want to see kombinowanie as an artform the American way, then go to any jury selection process and see how people kombinują to get out of performing their civic duty.

Another example of kombinowanie is trying to get a reasonably priced sublet apartment in Manhattan. That’s when kombinowanie turns ruthless, even by Polish standards. Anything goes (short of murder, but then again, who knows?) – lying, cheating, scheming and bribe giving (and a few other things that I shouldn’t mention on a PG-13 blog).

But I think that basically kombinowanie starts in school, and that’s a proven fact the world over. Proven how? Show me a bunch of 13 or 14 or 15 year olds who are NOT trying to get out of some undesirable school activities by any means necessary and you’ll see a bunch of witless pushovers.

So, actually, I don’t think that the totalitarian regime of the communist days had much to do with the Polish kombinowanie way of life. If you read how those really ancient guys like Mieszko and Chrobry got to be princes and kings and otherwise mighty and powerful guys, then it’s obvious that kombinowanie (and this time definitely including murder) has been with us, Poles, for a lot longer than the last 50 or 60 years. In fact, you can even say it’s kept us alive through the centuries, it’s helped us survive wars and other calamities.

And what happened if we ended up stuck (no doubt of a result of kombinowanie of other powers) with a witless wonder of a ruler who couldn’t kombinować even if the very survival of his country depended on it and concentrated on building pretty palaces instead? Like Stanisław August Poniatowski, for example? Everybody knows.

So yes, kombinowanie may be our way of life, and I don’t think it’s more prevalent in Poland than in other countries (it seems to me that in Asia and South America it’s physically impossible to get anything done without some very skillful kombinowanie). We are just a lot more honest about admitting to actually doing it.

PS. Do you still see any goofy computer language in my posts on this blog? I am using a new computer and a new internet provider (microwave wireless something something) and I hope there will be no more glitches.

 
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Poles and kombinowanie

Posted by Anna Ikeda
Oct
27
2009

Today we will tackle something that is a bit controversial. Or maybe not, I guess it all depends on your point of view. But we’ll see.

I really don’t like sweeping generalizations, though that doesn’t stop me in making them myself from time to time, to be perfectly honest. So most of the time when I hear such a general comment, I just take it with a grain of salt. But when those sweeping generalizations begin to include me, well, that’s a whole another story. It’s personal then, and for me that’s when the gloves come off.

But yeah, what kind of generalizations are we talking about here? You know, those broad comments that encompass perhaps an entire nation or an ethic group, like that the French are generally rude (not true) and the Americans fat (again, not true). So why am I getting all worked up about it today? Somebody has told me recently, and to my face no less, that Poles are a conniving, dishonest bunch that can’t be trusted. As a proof of those national characteristics, the person used the famous Polish art (or is it a skill?) of kombinowanie.

Now, I know those comments have been around for centuries, and I know that Poles made kombinowanie into a whole new art form in its own right (that much is true), but when someone says it to my face, that makes it personal.

And personally, some of the most dishonest and untrustworthy people I’ve met in my life were single males between the ages of 22 and 32, university educated, no less. Does that mean that I’m going to pass sweeping generalizations that all single males between the ages of 22 and 32 are dishonest pricks? Of course not. So it really bothers me when narrow-minded people apply such generalizations to whole nationalities and ethnic groups.

I explained as much to the person I was talking with, and his response was “but you guys (meaning Poles) have a bad reputation everywhere you go.”

Oh really? Is that true? Am I that out of touch with how the Polish people are perceived by foreigners?

And is “kombinowanie” really all that bad? I’m as good at it as the next Pole, and yet I’ve never used it for nefarious purposes. Quite the opposite in fact.

But what is that “kombinowanie” anyway?
Some of my fellow countrymen will tell you that it’s one Polish word that can’t be translated into English. I disagree. It can be translated, but how you do it depends on the context.

The verb “kombinować” can mean many things. It can be used as in “to scheme”, “to fix”, “to sort out”, “to arrange” and so on. You get the idea. Nothing wrong with a little “kombinowanie” itself, it’s why you want to kombinować that might be perceived as less than honest by some people.

So yeah, we are the masters of kombinowanie, but does that immediately mean we are dishonest and untrustworthy as a nation?
Your opinions please. Honest opinions, of course.

PS. I apologize for the recent lack of comments from me, but we’re moving again and have internet issues.

 
Posted under Culture, Vocabulary
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Polish Pessimism

Posted by Anna Ikeda
Aug
27
2008

A friend sent me this link and asked me what I thought about it. Go ahead, read it, it’s in English.
So, apparently, Poles are pessimistic about the future. And how exactly is that news? Poles think that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Yeah, what else is new?

Complaining about the future of the country is a long-standing Polish tradition. My countrymen have been doing it pretty much continuously for the past 1000 years, if not longer. I’m pretty sure that back in the days of Mieszko I the local tribe leaders would get together, drink mead and complain about the direction Poland was heading. And then they would drink some more mead. And complain some more. And it’s been going on like that until now. Except these days mead is no longer in vogue and people prefer vodka. And instead of Mieszko I, we now kvetch about what Mr. Tusk and Mr. Kaczyński are doing.

Why are Poles like that? Why are we so gloomy and pessimistic about the future?

These days Poland seems better than ever. There’s construction everywhere, the streets are clogged with shiny cars, and the people are well dressed in foreign fashions and well fed on imported and locally produced yummies. There’s toilet paper in the stores, tampons and plenty of everything. Those who want can leave the country and move elsewhere to work or study. Those who can afford it can travel pretty much to wherever they desire. And those who can’t afford it still do it and just charge it on their credit cards.
I mean, things can’t be that bad in Poland if those who left four years ago are coming back now, right?


The place is definitely as beautiful as ever. That’s for sure. Dolina Gąsienicowa, Tatry.

Yet you ask any random Pole how things are and you will hear “bad”, or “it’s getting worse”.

So, out of curiosity, today I decided to experiment a little and asked a couple of my friends how they were doing. What can I say? I was bored. But the results were very telling.

Anna: “hey! Long time no hear! So, how are things?”
Friend #1 (sounding a bit apprehensive): “Oh, hey. Oh, you know…”
Anna (decides to play stupid): “Know what?”
Friend #1: “Same old, same old… nothing ever changes. And if it does, then it’s not for the better. I tell you, this country is going down the tubes.”
Anna: “So I hear. So, tell me, how’s your new house coming along?” (my friend is building a massive new family dwelling, big enough for about 20 people)
Friend #1: “Oh yeah! It’s gonna be great. You totally have to come and visit. You’ll love it. But when I think about how much it’s going to cost to furnish this thing…”

And so on…
My conversation with friend #2 went more or less like this:

Friend #2: “This country is a total mess. Nothing ever works. It’s getting worse and worse.”
Anna: “So I’ve been reading. Anything new?”
Friend #2: “Oh yeah, I just bought a new BMW.”

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. If a Pole is not complaining, check his pulse. He’s probably dead.

photo: BiLK_Thorn

 
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