Living in Poland

[Westy7]

If anyone has a moment to reply to this with any comments I'd appreciate it. I'm a writer and have just finished a travel/memoir giving a light, amusing but informative and descriptive account of five years living in a town in Poland in the early 90s. There is a lot of interest in Poles here but no books, so I was wondering if anyone would read such a thing. Thanks.

[Top Dog]

Yes i would like to read it as i have always met Poles in my travels and always liked them and got on well with them i would like to know more about your book and what town in Poland did you live in

[Proinsias]

Get a good title and you'd be onto a winner...

[Westy7]

Thanks for the encouraging replies guys - I lived in Minsk in the east, worked in a state school and as a journalist but travelled a lot. The book is basically descriptive of life there at the time as it emerged from communism, but is by no means heavy reading at all. While it is a memoir of sorts it tries to paint a picture of Poles and the country and difficulties at the time. Will post with any news of the book forthcoming. Should know soon enough but need a few positive (or negative comments) to help with marketing etc. I don't see much out there so think there is a gap in the market for it.

[Proinsias]

Well if you sell it as something like "Paddy's Guide To The Poles" or something like that, people might just buy it out of sheer "What are these polish lads all about".

Maybe you might think of doing a Polish language version to sell in Ireland if it does well?

[Westy7]

Indeed, it's an idea. Cheers Proinsais.

[Redshirter]

I always thought that Minsk was in Belorussia ???

[bob]

I always thought that Minsk was in Belorussia ???

it is

[HappyMonday83]

I got a good title
"I'm up the Pole".

[EL TORO]

How about .... 'POLES APART'. Got back from Krakow recently, loved it over there. A lot more westernised than i Thought it would be. Reminded me of Prague circa 1992

[Proinsias]

I've started a thread on this very matter:
readhttp://www.peoplesrepublico fcork.com/~peoplesr/forums/showth.php?t=88470

[Westy7]

Thanks again for suggestions. I'm up the Pole doesn't work 'cos I'm a bloke!

[Westy7]

Forgot to asnwer the Minsk bit - Minsk is in Bielorussia, but there is also a Minsk in Poland, a small town that isn't even in the Lonely Planet guides - so that's where I ended up. But it was real Poland...

[Superdave]

Forgot to asnwer the Minsk bit - Minsk is in Bielorussia, but there is also a Minsk in Poland, a small town that isn't even in the Lonely Planet guides - so that's where I ended up. But it was real Poland...


pray tell, how did you wind up there?

how about "my polish pledge"

bit of a play on words there! sure to confuse people if nothing else.

[Westy7]

I was posted with APSO, volunteer body linked to dep of foreign affairs; think they're gone now. Thanks for the suggestion

[The Lord McGrath]

it would be hilarious if 500,000 Irish people moved to Poland and took all their jobs and rode all their women just like they do here!

[Natty Dread]

Great idea Westy - I'd definitely read it. I heard David Norris on the radio last week talking about how gay people get a lot of hassle from Poles in Dublin. One gay bar he alleged had to move when a Polish bar opened nearby and the taunts etc from smokers outside became unbearable for customers of the gay bar.

Obviously this could happen with Irish people too but it does show an interesting lingering conservatism that is possibly part of their catholic up bringing.

I was wondering if there are another social attitudes you saw in recent times in Poland and thought that it made Ireland/Cork seem more liberal?

[Westy7]

Well, Poland has been pretty oppressive in the past when it came to gay rights. The present government does little to help, with one of the parties in the coalition openly anti-gay and in fact urging people to protest at gay rights marches. They even have a 'youth' section which are out to taunt such marches, as they did only a few months ago. It's interesting that you brought it up as I often wondered how difficult it must have been for gay people in Poland - Nazi occupation, communist occupation and the strength of a very popular church behind it all. Although the gay rights movement can expect little support from the present government (and some ultra-conservative media) at least their voices are being heard. As for Poland being more liberal it has a long way to go, I'd say. The church is still too powerful.

Forgive my late post - can log in for a few mins every day. thanks for your reply.

[Westy7]

Oh, for Lord Mcgrath - not sure the Poles are over here to ride our women. Have you never seen Polish girls?

[Superdave]

Oh, for Lord Mcgrath - not sure the Poles are over here to ride our women. Have you never seen Polish girls?

seconded. i think it's only the blind poles that ride our women. they must have some internal Geodie Laforge type heat seeking vision if they prefer our women.

[Superdave]

so, you have much luck with the polish ladies during your tenure then westy?

stunning looking girls but in my limited experience (4 days in krakow 5 years ago and i've not been in cork in 3 years) they tend to have the personality of a spoon.

[Westy7]

I actually married one. Did meet a few spoon types I suppose, but you do everywhere. Suppose after what they've been through it's not surprising. Head to Krakow again - it's a different place. Just spent the weekend there.

[trasnanadtonnta]

I'd definitely read it anyway.

Although I object, as I always do, to the 'church too powerful' analysis. It's way too simplistic. It seems to me to be more likely that Catholicism still has power because people are still conservative rather than the other way around. At most, it's a vicious circle. The idea of all these people, bursting to be free and wear rainbows and so forth, but reluctantly chained to the altar rails and forced to be homophobic and what have you is a bit weak.

[Westy7]

Know what you mean, but it has been the church that has dictated morality and values there for centuries. Recent events - like gay marches etc - have not been greeted favourably by all of the public, and the present government hasn't done much to help. I hate the whole church bashing thing and without the church, in particular Pope JP, Poland would not have had the will to tackle communism that way it did.