the English-Polish thing
It’s funny how nowadays Polish people seemed to ‘made themselves comfortable’ out there on the Isles. Recently while in Manchester I saw in front of the Lloyds TSB Bank a huge sign in Polish advertising the banks offer. And it was in the very city centre. When my friend and I walked in a nice young lady approached us and said: “Dzien dobry. W czym moge pomoc?” ["Hello. Can I help you?"]. I must say that was dreadful. Can you really tell we’re Polish? Is it THAT obvious?! 
But anyway, it all seemed strange to me as I’ve never before seen any bank making such an advert in Hindi or Arabic. And ‘they’ are much longer in Britain than we are, aren’t they?
I mean, I understand polish products in TESCO or even those bankers – after all it is money for them. But special Polish job centre consultants, or English Policemen learning Polish language?!? How freaky is that? Do you really like us that much?
Not many years ago [5 or 6] it was a lot different here in Poland. When you went to England – you were the man! And I mean it! Not only it was almost impossible to cross the British border ( you had to posses a lot of acting skills ) but also if you finally managed to get there and work for few moths you returned home rich and happy and with truly impressive English.
And about that, it looks like nowadays, you actually have to seek for an opportunity to speak English in England. Ironic? Well, I now I shouldn’t complain and I appreciate the good intentions. But how is the Polish student supposed to improve her English if as soon as she takes of the plane in Liverpool she hears only: “Dzien dobre, dzin-kuje” (hello, thank you) ? Or: “Have you got a pasek?” (belt) !!!! a PASEK??? Why the f** don’t you just say “a belt” ? It’s a shorter word and you’ve already said the whole sentence in English anyway!
But to be honest. I love English culture. I love the nation. I really do. And I love flying to England where people smile at me on the street and in the shops and everyone is sooo polite. Hopefully the grumpy Poles will learn some manners from the Brits.
