Yesterday, the political party PiS organized a March of Independence and Justice in Warsaw. I was thinking about the anniversary of martial law in Poland yesterday and apparently PiS was thinking about something else. There were a lot of…
Polish language
Little Rosie has angina. Angina!?! you say. Don’t worry. It isn’t that serious. She has angina po polsku. I remember the first time I heard the word angina in Poland. One of my students called me to cancel her…
Ratunku “Kiedy przestaję już ogarniać współczesność, kiedy świat mnie otacząjący stawia bariery, który nie jestem w stania sforsować umysłem, gdy zdumienie nad zmieniającą się kulturą masową i obyczajowością przyjmuje już formę graniczną – wtedy sięgam po książki Zygmunta Baumana…
Sitting at a particularly long traffic light (90 seconds red, 45 seconds green and another 90 seconds red before I could go), I switched over from my usual talk radio station to the other station, the station I don’t…
Rosie did not get into pre-school in Stage 2 of the recruitment process. I think that the principal and I have a different understanding of the phrase nie martw się (don’t worry). When I asked about my Rosie in…
For some reason when I first came to Poland, people liked telling me jokes especially the joke (maybe you know it) with the punch line “piłka…do metalu” (complete with arm motions showing a ball and then a saw). The…
In case you haven’t heard, Poland has suffered a serious spelling gaffe, by our President none the less. Here’s what happened. President Bronisław Komorowski and wife wrote an entry in the book of condolences at the Japanese Embassy. He…
Are pampuchy and kluski na parze the same thing? What’s the singular of pampuchy? pampuch? pampucha? And why do my leniwe pierogi require 4 times more flour than the recipe? Czy pampuchy i kluski na parze to to samo?…
Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket -Nie wkładaj wszystkich swoich jajek do jednego koszyka
Today I heard a very distasteful addition to the English language. It is a variation on the old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” meaning, spread out your risk. Here’s the new expression, and I hope…
I’d just like to go the book store and be surrounded by titles I can read. I want to buy any newspaper and easily understand all the articles. I want to talk with someone without having to think through…