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Post by Jaga on Oct 16, 2007 22:47:52 GMT -7
From what I hear from friends in Poland and also read in newspapers... the life in Poland is changing so much! It does reminds more and more American life! Here is a good article about how different people do shopping in hypermarket in Katowice, Poland: www.gazetawyborcza.pl/1,75480,4577051.html?as=1&ias=8&startsz=x it also talks about people's lives. People usually drive to the stores, do not walk like in the past. They do shopping in these huge hypermarkets instead of small stores (although small stores are still there). Their social life consist of going to fitness places. One difference - the quantity of your shopping basket depends on how much money do you have. There are some very poor people who really cannot afford nothing else except the necessities, there are other people who were lucky to have a good jobs and they can buy without worrying. People also work much more hours than in the past. Also Polish teens and young people rely much more on the help from their parents to start independent life. The apartments are just so expensive than no any regular person coming to a job market can afford to take a loan to buy or rent one without any extra help. |
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Post by Jaga on Oct 17, 2007 9:01:15 GMT -7
One more point. People are thinking about moving out from where they live now to a better nicer place where they can find nice jobs. In the past Poles were very immobile, now it seems they are willing to relocate more, just like here in America.
I wonder whether it is easier to find a temporary apartment in the new place. This was not a case some time ago!
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Oct 17, 2007 11:07:47 GMT -7
Poland is becoming quite like America For God`s sake, no!!! Isn`t it enough that we have to put up with Kaczynski Brothers?  Do we have to put up with G.W.B???
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Post by Jaga on Oct 17, 2007 11:43:42 GMT -7
Jerzy,
no, I do not wish we had another GW Bush.
But it is amazing how much Poland changed during all the time I was growing up there and later after I left.
I am trying to think how much - it is just me imagining that there is such a huge change since I left but.... I believe this is not just my nostalgia to see always the same Poland I left. I hear other to say that the changes are just so dramatic! They are even more dramatic than here in America since it looks that Poland suddenly is just trying to adjust to the political and economical system of the Western Europe and America.
When I turn on Polish TV I hear also so much English words mixed with Polish! It is almost too much for me....
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Oct 17, 2007 12:05:38 GMT -7
Jerzy, no, I do not wish we had another GW Bush. But it is amazing how much Poland changed during all the time I was growing up there and later after I left. I am trying to think how much - it is just me imagining that there is such a huge change since I left but.... I believe this is not just my nostalgia to see always the same Poland I left. I hear other to say that the changes are just so dramatic! They are even more dramatic than here in America since it looks that Poland suddenly is just trying to adjust to the political and economical system of the Western Europe and America. When I turn on Polish TV I hear also so much English words mixed with Polish! It is almost too much for me.... Yes, changes are more visible for a person who lives abroad. But from time to time, I also get impressed. E.g., today I went to the center (I tried to take photos of AGH) and walked past The University Toxicology Department. We went there in 1998 to have a check up for toxoplasmosis, a disease acquired from animals (we already had two cats then), very dangerous in pregnancy. I remember it took us a few hours, was quite expensive and there was a long time waiting for results etc. The Department was the only place in Krakow to have such an examination. Today it can be done everywhere with immediate results. Or do you remember the photos from our local medical center? They installed the lift for disabled people there. I was really amazed to see it.... I know, it is normal in the West, but here in Poland disabled people have a hard life on most occasions, so every occurence of some facility for them evokes impression. |
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george
Cosmopolitan
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Post by george on Oct 17, 2007 12:29:06 GMT -7
Jaga My wife was there in 2002. It was ten years since her last visit. She was blown away by the changes. One more thing. I live in Upstate New York. To me the summers here are lasting longer and are warmer and brighter. I've noticed a change from the last 10 or 15 years. My inlaws in Poland said their summers in Poland are also much warmer than they used to be. Is that true?
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Oct 17, 2007 13:15:17 GMT -7
Jaga My wife was there in 2002. It was ten years since her last visit. She was blown away by the changes. One more thing. I live in Upstate New York. To me the summers here are lasting longer and are warmer and brighter. I've noticed a change from the last 10 or 15 years. My inlaws in Poland said their summers in Poland are also much warmer than they used to be. Is that true? Yes, it is true. That`s why air-conditioning is a standard in cars in Poland today..... Soon I will post pictures from my vacation in the mountains. This year there was a drought... |
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Post by Jaga on Oct 17, 2007 21:53:33 GMT -7
I remember that I noticed the first big changes in Poland from 1989-1993 before I left. I remember walking on the streets next to the center and seeing all these new well-equipped stores suddenly. I believe hat there is quite a difference in the mentality of different generations. The generation of my parents is not that much involved in this change as the generation of my nephews and nieces.
Referring to global warming, everybody in Europe believe it it, but here in America this is still considered a political issue.... so I am not going to comment too much. But in spite of having an early snow a week ago, we have still a relatively warm Fall. I am finding some fresh rasberries on my rasberry bush.
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Post by kaima on Oct 18, 2007 0:04:30 GMT -7
Referring to global warming, everybody in Europe believe it it, but here in America this is still considered a political issue.... That is pretty easy to explain Jaga. Europe is still under the influence of corrupt scientific principle, while the USA has advanced to a faith based society. I guess with that it is appropriate to close with "God help us!" (Europe will help itself and perhaps God will stick to "helping those who help themselves" as we used to believe. Kai the Believer Burn the Bush ! |
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joyce
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Post by joyce on Oct 19, 2007 2:42:02 GMT -7
"Or do you remember the photos from our local medical center? They installed the lift for disabled people there. I was really amazed to see it.... I know, it is normal in the West, but here in Poland disabled people have a hard life on most occasions, so every occurence of some facility for them evokes impression."
There are places still in the US that are not in compliance with the disabilities act, which should make all things available to those who are disabled. Sidewalks with ramps are a must for those in a wheelchair, but yet there are cities that don't have the ramps. Most buildings were not made for handicap people. Trying to open doors with a cane or a walker is most difficult.You are most fortunate if someone is kind and holds the door open for you. But there are alot of people who cannot take the time to help their fellow man/woman when needed. So one has to be reliant upon themselves. It's extremely frustrating when you can't do something, when everyone else takes it for granted-such as walking up a few or a flight of steps or crossing a street.
Joyce TX by the way-I have to use a chair lift.
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Oct 21, 2007 5:15:53 GMT -7
There are places still in the US that are not in compliance with the disabilities act, which should make all things available to those who are disabled. Sidewalks with ramps are a must for those in a wheelchair, but yet there are cities that don't have the ramps. Most buildings were not made for handicap people. Trying to open doors with a cane or a walker is most difficult.You are most fortunate if someone is kind and holds the door open for you. But there are alot of people who cannot take the time to help their fellow man/woman when needed. So one has to be reliant upon themselves. It's extremely frustrating when you can't do something, when everyone else takes it for granted-such as walking up a few or a flight of steps or crossing a street. Joyce TX by the way-I have to use a chair lift. Yes, sidewalks without ramps and other obstructions are common in Poland. Fortunately, it started changing after the transformation. What do you think is the reason for the lack of compliance with the act? Is it so that the USA is behind European states such as Scandinavia because Americans had to build up their potential to win the cold war and then keep it up to remain the main superpower? And there wasn`t enough money to comply with disability act? Or there are other reasons, like simple ignorance? |
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Post by Jaga on Oct 21, 2007 8:52:42 GMT -7
What do you think is the reason for the lack of compliance with the act? Is it so that the USA is behind European states such as Scandinavia because Americans had to build up their potential to win the cold war and then keep it up to remain the main superpower? And there wasn`t enough money to comply with disability act? Or there are other reasons, like simple ignorance? Americans are not going to spend their time and efford to do petty things. They have more grandiose problems to worry about like.... invading Iran. I wonder how low dollar would go after that! |
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Post by hollister on Oct 21, 2007 9:41:23 GMT -7
Pawian, the sad fact is that the disabled do not have a very powerful PAC (political action committee) that spends lots of money to gain favor with politicos so there is little political pressure to enforce the legislation. As much of the legislation is unfunded (meaning that it is up to the local officials to come up with the money to put the legislation into action - is goes largely ignored and undone.
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Pawian
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Post by Pawian on Oct 21, 2007 13:56:50 GMT -7
The results:
VICTORY!!!! hahahahahaha
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