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Post by varsovian on Jan 11, 2006 4:59:19 GMT -7
Culture, character and traditions make foreigners stick out here. Some differences between Poles and me:
Wishbone - Poles are bemused by my kids pulling the wishbone of a chicken Soccer - I'm not that interested (more into rugby and cricket) Christmas i) We celebrate Wigilia en famille and on the 25th have a Christmas Day goose or turkey followed by the Queen's Speech. ii) Mince pies - do you have those in the States? They're a revelation for Poles. (Can't buy them in the shops here - made to order by the chef at the Irish Embassy) iii) Christmas crackers - they're probably unknown in the States too, I suppose. Church and nationalism - in the UK Catholic churches are non-nationalistic. Not surprising seeing as much of your typical congregation has Irish roots. In Poland, the opposite is true. Speaking your mind - Poles have the habit of couching statements in conditionals, and massively overusing their word for 'perhaps' (chyba). They speak in a code you just have to get used to. In classroom situations they will refuse to venture an answer unless they are sure - informed guessing isn't an option. That makes foreigners appear loud-mouthed and arrogant ...
I'm sure I could go on. What about you? How do you square up to Poles as regards behaviour/customs?
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Post by justjohn on Jan 11, 2006 6:14:22 GMT -7
Culture, character and traditions make foreigners stick out here. Some differences between Poles and me: Wishbone - Poles are bemused by my kids pulling the wishbone of a chicken Soccer - I'm not that interested (more into rugby and cricket) Christmas i) We celebrate Wigilia en famille and on the 25th have a Christmas Day goose or turkey followed by the Queen's Speech. ii) Mince pies - do you have those in the States? They're a revelation for Poles. (Can't buy them in the shops here - made to order by the chef at the Irish Embassy)iii) Christmas crackers - they're probably unknown in the States too, I suppose. Church and nationalism - in the UK Catholic churches are non-nationalistic. Not surprising seeing as much of your typical congregation has Irish roots. In Poland, the opposite is true. Speaking your mind - Poles have the habit of couching statements in conditionals, and massively overusing their word for 'perhaps' (chyba). They speak in a code you just have to get used to. In classroom situations they will refuse to venture an answer unless they are sure - informed guessing isn't an option. That makes foreigners appear loud-mouthed and arrogant ... I'm sure I could go on. What about you? How do you square up to Poles as regards behaviour/customs? This was discussed in the following section: jagahost.proboards79.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=1132957927
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nancy
European
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Post by nancy on Jan 11, 2006 7:57:22 GMT -7
Do you mean those little party favor items (not edible!) I recall seeing them sold in specialty catalogs, but it has been a long time since I looked at such catalogs. Do they contain a New Year's fortune or toy?
This is a very interesting observation. I have noticed that the Poles who post in this forum often have a very - shall I say- gentle way of making their point. Peristent, but very courteous. Perhaps this manner reflects your observation. I had not thought of it as a widespread characteristic.
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piwo
Citizen of the World
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Post by piwo on Jan 11, 2006 8:21:21 GMT -7
When I hear of "Christmas Crackers", I usually think of opłatki, where everyone has a wafer, and you go to each other, break off a small piece of the other persons, and profess well wishes. www.oplatki.com/ Are these the "crackers" you describe? We had them as a child when we lived with my Grandmother, then not when we had our own home. We've since re-instituted the practice. But maybe there is another type of traditional Christmas cracker I am not familiar with....
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nancy
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Post by nancy on Jan 11, 2006 8:27:54 GMT -7
Had to google: www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/crackers.html"Crackers are very popular and accompany many meals over the Christmas period and especially on Christmas Day. A Christmas Cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted at both ends. There is a banger inside the cracker and when it is pulled by two people, the cracker snaps in half with a bang. Inside the cracker there is a tissue paper hat, a joke and a little gift. Christmas crackers were invented by Thomas Smith in 1846. He had imported some French novelties to sell as Christmas gifts, but these were not popular until he wrapped them up and added a snapper. "
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Post by gardenmoma on Jan 11, 2006 8:49:31 GMT -7
Mince pies - do you have those in the States? They're a revelation for Poles. (Can't buy them in the shops here - made to order by the chef at the Irish Embassy)Mince pie...one of my husband's favorites! He is of German (Bavarian) ancestry...family came to the U.S. in early to mid-1800s. Well, we've lived in New England for almost forever so maybe that accounts for his liking Christmas crackers - they're probably unknown in the States too, I suppose...They are known and fairly easy to obtain...as Nancy said from catalogs or in specialty shops. I buy them occasionally, depending upon whom will be with us on Christmas Day. When I was a kid in Cleveland, OH we had them for birthday parties
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Post by varsovian on Jan 11, 2006 9:04:02 GMT -7
I had to laugh at someone putting a link to Woodlands School, Tonbridge - I taught many children from that school! A curiously small world ...
Christmas crackers - an absolute, silly must for the Christmas Day table.
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nancy
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Post by nancy on Jan 11, 2006 9:06:58 GMT -7
I had to laugh at someone putting a link to Woodlands School, Tonbridge that was me, the information hound! That site had the clearest explanation of Christmas crackers ...
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piwo
Citizen of the World
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Post by piwo on Jan 11, 2006 9:40:13 GMT -7
Nancy That was a very well presented description and history of Christmas Crackers. I was not sure of a Christmas Cracker untill now. Thank You Charles Nor was I, but suppose that should be added to the tradition as well!
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Post by leslie on Jan 11, 2006 10:17:38 GMT -7
Hi Varsovian Welcome to the forum; I get the impression that eventually your postings are going to stir things up! If so, I'm with you! Did I miss something when you came on the forum? I'm not sure I can make you out. Are you English living in Poland, Pole living in Poland with an English wife, or are both you and your wife English? ? If you are English, how long have you lived in Poland and where do you come from in UK? 'Varsovian' suggests you are in Warszawa? Look, if you don't want to answer my questions, just ignore this posting or tell me to ... - several of the fraternity here (general not sexist) will tell you I am fairly hard-skinned! Leslie (from near Sheffield now, but previously from all stations north, south, and east - and I mean that literally!)
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forza
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Post by forza on Jan 11, 2006 11:59:42 GMT -7
Hello varsovian. So what's this "I'm not into soccer" all about? Do you think being not into soccer is typical for English people? Welcome here.
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Post by leslie on Jan 11, 2006 12:12:20 GMT -7
Varsovian Besides, if he should think of swaying away from right, we will send the ghost of a thousand axe swinging screaming Teutonic warriors in his direction.... Charles I am surprised at you - why do you need a thousand axe-swinging Teutons to get me, when you can simply send Nancy and Chris! Leslie (shaking with fear )
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Post by leslie on Jan 11, 2006 12:28:40 GMT -7
Varsovian As an out and out Englishman (a typical one Charles will tell you) I have been to Poland quite a number of times in the last four or five years (the time during which people paid me to go there!) and I have never felt any different to the people I have met and many with whom I have made friends (one enemy - that I know of) and they didn't seem to treat me any differently (other than be more gracious and generous that most of the English people I know). Is it not a case of 'how you treat me, reflects how I treat you', or as Peter Honey, English Behaviour guru says 'Behaviour breeds behaviour'. Ok. there may be differences evident because of our different cultures separated by a thousand miles (Nancy - such as eating smalec), but because I am in Poland I try to modify myself because after all we are exhorted 'Właząc między wrony, krakaj jak i one'. But I also remember the other Polish proverb/aphorism 'Wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu, Wszystkimi mozna przejechać mimo'. Pozdrawiam Leslie
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Jan 11, 2006 13:44:57 GMT -7
In classroom situations they will refuse to venture an answer unless they are sure - informed guessing isn't an option. That makes foreigners appear loud-mouthed and arrogant ... Poles still need to become more self-confident. And the more intelligent class or audience there is, then probably the more timid they tend to be. "I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance." Of course, it depends on the teacher or instructor a lot. If he/she behaves in a loud-mouth, arrogant way him/herself, then the class prefers to stay timid hahahahahah.
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Post by varsovian on Jan 12, 2006 8:07:54 GMT -7
Thanks for making me feel welcome! I suppose I'd better introduce myself ... I'm living just outside Warsaw, having come to Poland 6 years ago. My Polish wife was tired of England after teaching French (our first common language) there for 10 years. In answer to Leslie I'd say that no matter how you try, there will always be cultural differences - I should know after 16 years of marriage and 20 years of coming to Poland. Child-rearing makes culture an important issue - just as I read fairy tales in Polish to my children when we lived in England (and watched Polish TV etc), I am not going to turn my back on giving them what I see as the benefits of English-speaking culture. It's funny that, having come to Poland, I feel I am coming to understand New Englanders better ...
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