2:53 The funniest fact about Polish way to fix broken things is that in most cases these temporary solutions work for longer time that the original or professional ones
About point #6 - you’ll probably never get better price than your wife. She’s a woman and it’s easier to bargain prices with guys like electricians or plumbers. They are usually willing to partially help “poor woman”. Another thing is that lots of Polish people see foreigners as a successful persons with tons of money so they don’t see a point for making something cheaper for them. It can even be the opposite if you come across some dodger. ;)
Re: #3 - It is a good habit. There was some research done by psychologists that talking about plans and getting positive feedback gives similar reward response as doing things, which in turn makes people _less_ likely to follow up on those plans.
I can relate to this from a Spanish saying: Never say I won't drink from this water. That's what I thought of my Polish friend, that I had no chances. But, he thought the same about me and now we are a couple.
I'm Polish and my partner is Scottish but I still can relate to almost all of it.... Instead of fixing, for him it's easier to go and grab a new item. Instead of cooking, it's easier to order something or buy frozen pizza xD
@@Julitta06 a moze i tak samo dobrze. Jako dziecko nie rozumialam naszego "dzielic skory", bo nie wyjasnia, skąd ją mamy. Po angielsku jest czytelne - gdy sie go juz zlapie 😄
Oh, mate! You're hilarious! I absolutely love listening to your stories! You are so energetic, optimistic! Just wow! Thanks for making me smile! All the best, take care!
I'm Brazilian, wife is Polish and we just moved to Poznan, month ago, love watching your videos specially to learn a thing or two about life here. There are a couple of things about me that definitely drives my wife crazy and one of them is positivity for sure. Another one is my calmness, specially on dealing with problems, I like to think and plan a solution and for her is always go and do NOW. And for me the funniest one is walking, I like to walk everywhere, 40 mins, 1 hour walk for me is close and for her this is absurd, even to shop next door she needs to drive. Anyway, keep the quality videos coming :D
#6 When ever talking about buying something or getting something fixed here in Poland - my wife tells me to keep my mouth shut. She says once they hear my Canadian accent the price goes up. So we bought a new car and I was in the back ground playing deaf and dumb. LOL Funny thing is I have a job where I negotiate projects worth hundreds of thousands - but not good enough in Poland. Many other things you mention really hit home. Other one is do not talk to people about my job as then they get very jealous - back home if someone is successful we are genuinely happy for them and wish them luck. Man I could go on and on, but love my wife and I love Poland, except for their politics. Take care and keep up the good work.
I can assure you, their politics are much better than here in America. When I was in Poland, It didn’t feel like a dystopian sjw world. I am happy for you though.
I am Polish and my husband is American. I can relate to a lot of what you said. We live in Chicago suburbs. It is Cubs around the whole house and baseball games watching. And I feel like my hubby could fix more stuff but he won't try! He is very/too positive but so are a lot of Americans I met. What annoys me is that when we go to a church or a party he would just wear a tshirt! I always have to pick what is appropriate. But I would not change it :) Can't wait to hear what you don't like about your Polish wife. I will make him do the list too.
Hi! Im from Poland and going to get married with an american! How long it takes to get US citizenship? What will you get in case of divorce with american man? I have heard that its almost impossible to take from man house or money because of agreement, is it true?
@@lidiastrong3005 najpierw musisz się ubiegać o zielona kartę która bodajże jest na rok już nie pamietam, później ubiegasz się o kolejna , a po 3 latach bycia nadal w związku małżeńskim możesz złożyć papiery na obywatelstwo, nie wiem jak obecnie, ale 10 lat temu czekało się długo teraz ponoć jeszcze dłużej żeby pozałatwiać te wszystkie papiery oczywiście koszt jest tez odpowiedni. Co do rozwodu ro zależy czy masz intercyzę i dobrego prawnika ;)
So true! Especially the inability to fix things and shopping. Did you notice that Americans always speak about my doctor, my lawyer, my accountant, my whatever...They are raised in a service oriented society and I think this is part of the reason they behave this way.
5:58 I'm not sure how this works today in Częstochowa, but years back your American accent (virtually any foreign accent would do for that matter) and the body language serve as a clear evidence that you sit on the money. ;-)
In 1987 I was in Rome. I wanted to try Sprite (we had only cola) and I bought one can with my friend. We pay an equivalent of the price of nice sandals from an elegant shop in Poland.For many years (to the 90s)people with any western accent were rich in our country.They didn't seem to be-they WERE .You can erase quickly what existed for 45 years.
I lived in USA for 35 yrs and it was the best time of my life. Americans are so cool and USA is the best customer oriented country. There isn't even one issue you can't resolve fast and positive. I don't know if that is just me but I always was so lucky to meet nice people, work with great coworkers, had wonderful managers who let me have my own schedule and to have long vacation when I wanted to go to Poland. My daughter worked for neuroscience lab at UT and I visited her many times at Houston. My favorite was Austin😊. All my friends who are marry to American guys are very happy. Love your channel.
Thank you for sharing! My husband is first generation American and so I see many unique cultural things in his family that differed from my own upbringing. After years of marriage we have culturally melded the best from both sides and that is what has worked for us. Btw we have 4 kids and 5 grands and counting, so this worked! Keep sharing your videos!
Love this episode :-) My American fiancee absolutely loves shopping! We would go to Walmart together but take two shopping carts. I always end up waiting for him in the car. Same thing when we are in Poland! His favorite stores: Auchan and any targowisko!
The positive/negative thing is very true. Early in the COVID lockdown, she started predicting we’d all be unemployed and struggling. I was “everything is gonna be alright.” We kept working from home, we kept our jobs, everything has been fine except for the inevitable cabin fever
Yeah, the enthusiasm you American people have is a thing Polish people have to get used to. I think it's adorable, but sometimes it's hard to handle all the positivity :D
my ex was from Philippines. What drove me crazy was 1. spending - even though she would earn more than me, I would always have to top up her budget as she would be in debt. she always had to buy the most expensive stuff and shopping was her hobby. And not even for herself. She would buy expensive gifts for others, me included going into more and more debt. 2. family relations - what I've noticed in many Filipino people I've met. Basically after kids graduate, their parents become their children. Being in debt herself and barely affording food she would buy some excercise equipment her mother requested or overseas holidays for them. I understand helping parents in need but not fasting to buy exclusive goods for someone.
OMG that superstition thing of revealing your plans too early because they would fall apart... I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE who thinks this way! PS, it is actually true
No, Sweetie, It`s just LOA working for you. If you believe that your plans would fall apart after telling them to someone, the LOA (Law of Attraction) will do the rest - make it happen. However, if you believe that after telling everyone or at least some people your plans actually would work - LOA will help you make it happen. This is the truth.
Actins speak louder than words. Plus you look silly when your plans don’t materialize perfect . example his father in law. Unless you have visa in hand all your planning is just boasting and fantasy. Which is just as welcome as small talk. Just a useless chinwag.
#1 is spot on. I get that everyday. People go "why are you so positive?" and I'm like "what?... I wasn't being overly positive, just normal". Good video! :)
It's not about marriage relationships, but about our elderly aunt from the US, who came to visit us when I was a child, in the 1970s. She disputed with my dad about something, I think about politics or society. Her final argument was: "But the newspapers said so!" What could dad say, after all his years spent in a socialistic country? "Oh, aunt Flo. The newspapers. Yes, you're absolutely right".
God forbid how many times I told my husband bot to talk about our plans! I even blame him if something doesn’t actually happen😂 now I know to always add “do not tell anyone before I give you a green light” 😂
Do first, talk later....I never realized that was a Polish trait. I thought it was my parents nature. But of course, they are Polish! Being in the USA as first generation, I was around Americans more than Poles to realize the it was not just my family.
It drives me crazy when my Portuguese fiance comes back to the same topic (like: decision about the color of the walls) that we already went through. For me, we had a conversation and the decision was made. End of topic, let's move on. For him, the only thing that happened is the first initial conversation with the first draft of the decision. It drives me crazy and answers the question why Polish people are perceived as pretty much business-oriented and Portuguese as those who are chilled out and speak a lot. For me, there is no time for never ending discussions so I tend to repeat exactly the same that I said the first time as long as it takes for him to understand that I meant what I said :) On the other hand, it gives me space for re-thinking, which sometimes works in my favor. Cross-cultural relationships are very developing!
@@adorinadorin OMG, so funny that you said that! I usually joke that I feel like I'm German when I'm dealing with a group of wonderfully chilled out Portuguese people!
I appreciate your video and points of view about the Polish people. I've seen that curiously we Mexicans and Americans have so much in common (like optimism and making big plans before executing them) but in other senses we Mexicans are a little bit closer to Poles (wanting to fix everything and making deals). Happy Holidays, by the way!
Same for me being English...when I first came to live here 10 years ago all our neighbours and people we met though I was a bit crazy.....because I smile a lot...One man told me he thought it offensive to be happy all the time (with so many disabled children and old people with problems, how can you laugh and be happy?) Over time they got used to me and no they still all look unhappy all the time, even the children...I teach the Odd Russian 'Business English' over the internet and have become friendly with some...They tell me it is the same in Russia!! Anyone happy or laughing is treated as borderline insane.
Only 27 faults on her list? She's very lenient with you. You found one of the good ones. (I'm only joking. I smiled all the way through this ep., and I'm looking forward to your list.)
I agree with no 2 the most. I’m Polish, my fiancé is Mexican but grew up in the US. It’s not that he can’t fix things, he’s just not used to it. Just like you said, he’d rather buy a new broom. The other day he saw me transferring soy sauce from the leftover take out packets to the big bottle (don’t judge me) and got confused. He agrees Poles are very resourceful... 😅
Unfortunately, the reason you get bad prices is that you're a foreigner, and that means you're rich, so they can charge you more and you will still pay.
2 - younger generation Poles are not so "handymen", as their fathers. And their fathers knows how to fix/build anything beacuse of comunist era poorness. In other worlds - you had to be creative, beacuse there was nothing on stores and almost nobody could afford to hire a technic or any kind of specialist.
@@supreme3376 i lived through socialist/ commie 80 early 90 poland u had to know how to fiX many things the mentality of it’s beaken go by new one wasn’t an option. I know what boomer means for some damn reason I just miss read that short little comment . But thanks for your help anyway
So true about the resourcefulness of polish people, very good point! Having grown up in Germany with polish parents and family, I've observed the exact same thing many times. Germans will often buy finished products and solutions or call an expert to make repairs etc. because they trust in their training and qualification and are afraid of touching anything themselves in case they mess it up. Poles tend to be the exact opposite. Not only are they conscious of avoiding any unnecessary spending when there's a cheaper makeshift solution, they also seem to distrust any craftsman or repairman and will oftentimes feel like they can do it just as well if not better themselves. ;D
This is downright fascinating. I love hearing about cultural differences and how people bridge them. I think these videos are my favourites. ** Oh, and please name the other 20 reasons why being married to the amiable-seeming Russell, drives your beloved mad. ** 😜 Pretty please? (I love any shopping too, anywhere, even if it is only window shopping. I can go to Whole Foods and just look around, without spending any money!)
Hi, Russell! I am reviewing this delightful video, and I am still wanting to hear the other 20 reasons, why you drive your beloved wife ... mad! 😉 Pretty-please? 😉
The negotiation part is as easy to explain, as it equally impossible for you to master. You ARE an American, can't fix that. Back in the communism, there were official prices for the clients from "Second monetary area" ("drugi obszar płatniczy"), which was pretty much just "West". A night in a hotel could have regular Polish price for local and 10x higher for Westerners. Therefore for you trying to negotiate price with Polish people is like bringing a knife to a gunfight :D
It's not the political point. Western client was always perceived as more rich and therefore and therefore more likely will pay higher price without question. I agree that same bias it's still very strong and lot of people will try to charge more and expect higher tips from western tourist.
Russell, that is so true but the bargain part , I am the one in America..i can squeeze out those high prices. Thank you for sharing with us you are a great speaker 👍👍
My wife is from Alabama and went to the University. She turned me into a huge Crimson Tide fan. I'm happy to hear that if we ever need to flee the States to Poland, we will still be able to see Tide games.
@@LoveMyPoland That would be wonderful! Off topic, but do you have any recommendations a course of study for adults learning Polish? We are planning to travel to Poland for my cousin's wedding in 2022 and my wife wants to be able to speak with my family. She majored and minored in Spanish and Italian, but Slavic languages are a different animal.
I’m native Polish under fake UA-cam name and I’m certain that the most important reason for higher prices is your American accent. We strongly believe US is far richer, more developed so people earn more and have easier life than natives. They think those money mean less for you than for them.
You see, I once talked about my plans before realizing them (well, I did like 1/3 of things, but still), and then covid came ruining those plans. Maybe its better to keep it quiet
I'm in the US, and the funny thing is, just about everything in this list can describe my parents, but in reverse. My dad's side is Polish, and my mom's is German-Italian (all of their grandparents, and some of their aunts/uncles are immigrants). My dad is the one that can fix anything, whereas my mom is technically challenged (The remote control is her nemesis), but my mom could talk about upcoming plans all day long like they're going to happen. My mom could spend 10 minutes trying to open something, or get something to work, and my dad is like, "Here, let me do it", and it would open/work right away.
Learning each others original language. My wife is French and I am Polish but we both grew up in English speaking countries so we speak English to each other. Taking online lessons to learn another language is just not the same as living in an area surrounded by other languages. We both understand this is not an issue for neither of us but our respective families constantly ask us how well we can speak the others ethnic language
About repairs, your broom…..your father-In-law may have fixed your broom, but for how long? I remember my dad’s commercil speed queen washer, the pump quit. I took it out and for $5 I could get a repair kit that had 2 new bearings (sintered copper) and a new impeller with shaft. A new pump was $15. Trying to save money, I bought the repair kit. I used a hydraulic press to put In bearings and everything was good. However In 2 weeks the pump froze as before, now I put in a new pump, which i know lasted about 3+ years until the building was sold. My Dad was raised In Poland till he was 17, he was a Vegetable Farmer In Warsaw. His method of repairing anything was done by patching something up, aiways a temporarily fix. This was done this way because repair parts were always hard to find In Poland. Not so In the USA. Last year or so there have been shortages, but I have been ordering parts on line for Cars and home things with no problems. I don’t even have duct tape, because it doesn’t even work on ducts, it dries out and crumbles In a few years and doesn’t work. They now use a metal tape that works 10 times better, I do have & use it. Thanks…Jim PS…..i was born in 1946 in a displaced persons camp. Both my parents meet there and never returned to Poland, lived in Belgium. We came to the US in 1952. So l have lived in the USA since 1952. I married a Polish women, that was here in 1965 and we married in 1970. I have been to Poland many times, first time in 1983. I have run into some of your problems, but in the scheme of life, they are something you can overcome or do together with your wife. She’s a tough cookie and sharp. Kasia sounds like a great partner and your soul mate…..GOD bless you both! Thanks…Jim PS….my wife’s name is Krysia!
I’m married to a French. Sharing meals is super important to them. They will be offended if you eat without them, even if it means starving to death waiting until they come home (in Poland, we would sometimes eat at different times according to one’s schedule, the others would keep you company but were not expected to only eat when EVERYONE is back home). No touching your phone or watching tv while at the table. No cutting salad leaves with a knife. Cheese only after main course and before the desert, or as a desert. Wine with food. No eating in between meals. My tactic is to say I’m Polish so I can eat cheese whenever I want 😂 And telling him to chill 😛
I am planning on going to Poland for a while (said planning because I dont want to jinx it) and totally identify with all the Polish peoples reactions, all the American things you mentioned annoy me as well! This makes me really look forward to going to Poland, perhaps I have finally found my true home.
My husband (a foreigner) can't fix a thing. It drives me crazy. I need to fix everything by myself - _- And if I don't know how, I just call my dad to ask ^^
The strange thing is I now know how similar America and Kurdish culture are. I live in the uk and like so many my girlfriend is my motivation to learn more about Poland .
#5 is something I started really doing 3 years ago when started going to the uni bc there were a huge gaps between the day's plan that couldn't be filled so I went around New Sącz going though electronic stores to see what is the deal #1 is especially visible in Małopolska's smaller towns and villages. If you're not as miserable (or look miserable) then you're a hostile element.
Oh gosh, some of those things are true. I'm married to an American and there are few things that drive me crazy like in case of your wife. I'd just count them here: - not even trying to fix stuff - too much faith in people - firstly talking, then doing. But there is an extra thing to your video, going to diner places so often and eating out! Let's be honest, the food in the US is not the healthies and not always the best quality, and portions are massive. I do like going out for a dinner but most of Polish families eat at home, put a lot of effort in preparation, and this can really be enjoable. Luckily my husband slowly gets to that point and he prefers my cooking then going to diner places :D
The food in the US is not the healthiest?!? It depends how much you are willing to spend. Generally it will be of higher quality than in Poland and risk of food poisoning is lower. The variety is of course much better than in Poland v
8 miechów i już na kobiercu? Bez oceniania Rusel, ale jak na Polskę to naprawdę "szatgan łeding" :D Niech Cię Pan Bóg chroni, jeżeli kobieta mówi ci że masz problem z ilością zakupów. :)
Moi sasiedzi znali się 3 tygodnie. Obchodzili 59 rocznice ślubu. Znamy ich 30 lat i są bardzo dobrym małżeństwem. Charakter się liczy , nie długość znajomosci.
Czasem wiesz że to jest to i szkoda czasu na głupoty ;) Ja też się ożeniłem niecały rok po spotkaniu żony... i jakoś cyknęło tych 16 lat i jest dobrze 😎
O dear! Just be careful choosing topics for your next video Russel 😅 Mixed marriage is such a challenge but teaches us patience and tolerance the key is not to take those differences too seriously 😆 looking forward to see what drives you crazy ....
I can agree with every point at least to some extent, but the last one, I believe it's not like a Polish-American marriage challenge, but more of a marriage with a sports fan challenge. I know if I'm interested in a game, I wanna watch it live, later I just watch highlights. And I believe the most of sports fan around the world, highly prefer watching it live if only possible
I don't know anybody from U.S. but everything you are telling about us Polish poeple is treuth :D One thing I can agree with you that watching a recorded game the day after is forbidden. That just can't happen, the game have to be watched no matter the time and no matter the place :D
I don’t know if it’s a unique immigrant thing, but I find this paradox that while Poles are very much do first, then talk, they also seem to express highly optimistic possibilities. For example, I have often heard my family say, “Well, maybe this (good thing) will happen.” What do you think?
Number 3 definitely not everyone here is like that :) Once me and my father almost opened a bakery. Obviously we did it only in our minds and that never happened in real world :D
As for shopping, even window shopping as a form of entertainment, this is sort of becoming a thing in Poland too, there are many people, especially teenagers or young adults who consider it one way to spend free time, and shopping malls certainly cater to such people. It's just a new idea that certainly seems foreign to the older generations, and might seem 'vain' to some younger people as well (as in, there might be more productive ways to spend your free time, and also consumerism culture doesn't sit well with everyone). (personally, I'm only guilty of spending hours shopping online, checking the entire offer of an online shop before deciding what to buy) As for watching sports on TV - I guess it's the same everywhere. Take a Polish guy to USA, and he'll stay up at night to watch Polish football live. Not my thing, personally, but I know many Polish guys who would.
About watching sports: there are many people (Polish people too) who are just fascinated by Euro or ski jumping and spend much time for watching it. I don't really understand it or get it cause it's not my piece of cake, but I have friends (married couple) who makes even party for watching selection matches before Euro with their friends.
2:53
The funniest fact about Polish way to fix broken things is that in most cases these temporary solutions work for longer time that the original or professional ones
If you can't fix something with super-glue or WD-40, it was created to broken.
Yes. It drives my wife crazy, when I try to fix literally everything.
Kozakow equals to: “made in China “
@@stefanczarnecki9588 Chinese stuff is usually quite easy to fix. Problem is that you can't fix something that wasn't supposed to work :P
@@bessarion1771 my father would fix even a plastic garden chair
Dude, tell us the rest of this list. I laughed so hard. :-)
'Three sons, and a minivan', or as we say in Poland 'kredyt na 30 lat i 10 letni passat' :D
Miszcz xD
10 letni? szacun ;o
Jeśli jesteś typowym kowalskim (nie kołoskim) to tak ;)
Or less Opel astra 2 Kombi
About point #6 - you’ll probably never get better price than your wife. She’s a woman and it’s easier to bargain prices with guys like electricians or plumbers. They are usually willing to partially help “poor woman”. Another thing is that lots of Polish people see foreigners as a successful persons with tons of money so they don’t see a point for making something cheaper for them. It can even be the opposite if you come across some dodger. ;)
Re: #3 - It is a good habit. There was some research done by psychologists that talking about plans and getting positive feedback gives similar reward response as doing things, which in turn makes people _less_ likely to follow up on those plans.
"If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans."
I can relate to this from a Spanish saying: Never say I won't drink from this water. That's what I thought of my Polish friend, that I had no chances. But, he thought the same about me and now we are a couple.
The Japanese have another take on it: "Talk about the future and the devil will laugh."
Very nice list and I am 100% with your Wife. Thumbs up to Her.
I'm Polish and my partner is Scottish but I still can relate to almost all of it.... Instead of fixing, for him it's easier to go and grab a new item. Instead of cooking, it's easier to order something or buy frozen pizza xD
Jestem Ameicaneim (with Polish heritage) but agree with your wife!
Amerykaninem. :)
In Poland we say "nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu" which mean "don’t divide the skin while it’s still on the bear"
English equivalent would be "don't sell the skin until you have caught the bear" or "don't count your chickens until they hatch".
Po angielsku nie brzmi tak dobrze
@@Julitta06 a moze i tak samo dobrze. Jako dziecko nie rozumialam naszego "dzielic skory", bo nie wyjasnia, skąd ją mamy. Po angielsku jest czytelne - gdy sie go juz zlapie 😄
@@scorbiot dont count the chickens till they hatch :)
@@igaw5469 shut up Iga
Great list of insights. Please tell us the other 20! PLEASE!
Oh, mate! You're hilarious! I absolutely love listening to your stories! You are so energetic, optimistic! Just wow! Thanks for making me smile! All the best, take care!
I'm Brazilian, wife is Polish and we just moved to Poznan, month ago, love watching your videos specially to learn a thing or two about life here. There are a couple of things about me that definitely drives my wife crazy and one of them is positivity for sure.
Another one is my calmness, specially on dealing with problems, I like to think and plan a solution and for her is always go and do NOW.
And for me the funniest one is walking, I like to walk everywhere, 40 mins, 1 hour walk for me is close and for her this is absurd, even to shop next door she needs to drive.
Anyway, keep the quality videos coming :D
Are you sure that she is Polish :)
#6 When ever talking about buying something or getting something fixed here in Poland - my wife tells me to keep my mouth shut. She says once they hear my Canadian accent the price goes up. So we bought a new car and I was in the back ground playing deaf and dumb. LOL Funny thing is I have a job where I negotiate projects worth hundreds of thousands - but not good enough in Poland.
Many other things you mention really hit home. Other one is do not talk to people about my job as then they get very jealous - back home if someone is successful we are genuinely happy for them and wish them luck.
Man I could go on and on, but love my wife and I love Poland, except for their politics. Take care and keep up the good work.
Thank you. Good stuff! 😊
I can assure you, their politics are much better than here in America. When I was in Poland, It didn’t feel like a dystopian sjw world. I am happy for you though.
I am Polish and my husband is American. I can relate to a lot of what you said. We live in Chicago suburbs. It is Cubs around the whole house and baseball games watching. And I feel like my hubby could fix more stuff but he won't try! He is very/too positive but so are a lot of Americans I met.
What annoys me is that when we go to a church or a party he would just wear a tshirt! I always have to pick what is appropriate.
But I would not change it :) Can't wait to hear what you don't like about your Polish wife. I will make him do the list too.
Hi! Im from Poland and going to get married with an american! How long it takes to get US citizenship? What will you get in case of divorce with american man? I have heard that its almost impossible to take from man house or money because of agreement, is it true?
@@lidiastrong3005 najpierw musisz się ubiegać o zielona kartę która bodajże jest na rok już nie pamietam, później ubiegasz się o kolejna , a po 3 latach bycia nadal w związku małżeńskim możesz złożyć papiery na obywatelstwo, nie wiem jak obecnie, ale 10 lat temu czekało się długo teraz ponoć jeszcze dłużej żeby pozałatwiać te wszystkie papiery oczywiście koszt jest tez odpowiedni. Co do rozwodu ro zależy czy masz intercyzę i dobrego prawnika ;)
@@lidiastrong3005 I get the feeling that that's your plan. Merry the guy, get citizenship, divorce him and take him to the cleaners....
@@turboturtle2002 yes, and so what?
@@lidiastrong3005 AAAA, galerianka chce na salony. Taka rozkminka to po mamusi? lol
So true! Especially the inability to fix things and shopping. Did you notice that Americans always speak about my doctor, my lawyer, my accountant, my whatever...They are raised in a service oriented society and I think this is part of the reason they behave this way.
True! 😊
5:58 I'm not sure how this works today in Częstochowa, but years back your American accent (virtually any foreign accent would do for that matter) and the body language serve as a clear evidence that you sit on the money. ;-)
In 1987 I was in Rome. I wanted to try Sprite (we had only cola) and I bought one can with my friend. We pay an equivalent of the price of nice sandals from an elegant shop in Poland.For many years (to the 90s)people with any western accent were rich in our country.They didn't seem to be-they WERE .You can erase quickly what existed for 45 years.
@@beatapogorzelska1241 1987 sprite in Poland does not exist alt least for common citizen
@@supreme3376 That's right.That's why I wanted to try it in Rome.
Haha. This will be good
I lived in USA for 35 yrs and it was the best time of my life.
Americans are so cool and USA is the best customer oriented country.
There isn't even one issue you can't resolve fast and positive.
I don't know if that is just me but I always was so lucky to meet nice people, work with great coworkers, had wonderful managers who let me have my own schedule and to have long vacation when I wanted to go to Poland. My daughter worked for neuroscience lab at UT and I visited her many times at Houston.
My favorite was Austin😊.
All my friends who are marry to American guys are very happy.
Love your channel.
That was funny abd so truth 😊 I'm Polish Living in Poland and couldn't agree more.
I am married to Italian, and also he is not good with fixing things... At all
Well that is Polish Thing
Jesteś niesamowity. To poczucie humoru zaraża.
🙏
Thank you for sharing! My husband is first generation American and so I see many unique cultural things in his family that differed from my own upbringing. After years of marriage we have culturally melded the best from both sides and that is what has worked for us. Btw we have 4 kids and 5 grands and counting, so this worked! Keep sharing your videos!
"Next time I will tell you things that drive me crazy in my wife" 😁
So I am assuming that next video after that will be titled
"My Polish divorce"
super pomysł na filmik :) czekam z niecierpliwością na następny !
Love this episode :-)
My American fiancee absolutely loves shopping! We would go to Walmart together but take two shopping carts. I always end up waiting for him in the car. Same thing when we are in Poland! His favorite stores: Auchan and any targowisko!
No jinxing! My plans go bust the minute I start talking about them.
Texan here. I hate shopping. Especially Wal-Mart.
The positive/negative thing is very true. Early in the COVID lockdown, she started predicting we’d all be unemployed and struggling. I was “everything is gonna be alright.” We kept working from home, we kept our jobs, everything has been fine except for the inevitable cabin fever
Yeah, the enthusiasm you American people have is a thing Polish people have to get used to. I think it's adorable, but sometimes it's hard to handle all the positivity :D
Jasna sprawa, nie wolno zapeszać :P
Very nice video. Maybe you could make a second part, with rest off her list ?
my ex was from Philippines. What drove me crazy was 1. spending - even though she would earn more than me, I would always have to top up her budget as she would be in debt. she always had to buy the most expensive stuff and shopping was her hobby. And not even for herself. She would buy expensive gifts for others, me included going into more and more debt. 2. family relations - what I've noticed in many Filipino people I've met. Basically after kids graduate, their parents become their children. Being in debt herself and barely affording food she would buy some excercise equipment her mother requested or overseas holidays for them. I understand helping parents in need but not fasting to buy exclusive goods for someone.
That just sounds like addiction...
OMG that superstition thing of revealing your plans too early because they would fall apart... I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE who thinks this way! PS, it is actually true
No, Sweetie, It`s just LOA working for you. If you believe that your plans would fall apart after telling them to someone, the LOA (Law of Attraction) will do the rest - make it happen. However, if you believe that after telling everyone or at least some people your plans actually would work - LOA will help you make it happen. This is the truth.
Actins speak louder than words. Plus you look silly when your plans don’t materialize perfect . example his father in law. Unless you have visa in hand all your planning is just boasting and fantasy. Which is just as welcome as small talk. Just a useless chinwag.
Can't wait to see next episode. You could make a whole series about mixed marriages
Great video, I love to learn about American culture from your clips :)
Interesting vid, thx! Actually I wish there was more positivity in us Poles, less anger, complaints and disputes
If you have Polish blood, no matter where you live, complaining and arguing is as natural as the sun rise in the morning.
#1 is spot on. I get that everyday. People go "why are you so positive?" and I'm like "what?... I wasn't being overly positive, just normal". Good video! :)
It's not about marriage relationships, but about our elderly aunt from the US, who came to visit us when I was a child, in the 1970s. She disputed with my dad about something, I think about politics or society. Her final argument was: "But the newspapers said so!" What could dad say, after all his years spent in a socialistic country? "Oh, aunt Flo. The newspapers. Yes, you're absolutely right".
OMG, so much true about DOING first and TALKING later
Yeah my wife has these superstitions too
I have these superstitions too !
God forbid how many times I told my husband bot to talk about our plans! I even blame him if something doesn’t actually happen😂 now I know to always add “do not tell anyone before I give you a green light” 😂
Do first, talk later....I never realized that was a Polish trait. I thought it was my parents nature. But of course, they are Polish! Being in the USA as first generation, I was around Americans more than Poles to realize the it was not just my family.
Great Episode ! Can't wait for the other side perspective :D Keep it up !
It drives me crazy when my Portuguese fiance comes back to the same topic (like: decision about the color of the walls) that we already went through. For me, we had a conversation and the decision was made. End of topic, let's move on. For him, the only thing that happened is the first initial conversation with the first draft of the decision. It drives me crazy and answers the question why Polish people are perceived as pretty much business-oriented and Portuguese as those who are chilled out and speak a lot. For me, there is no time for never ending discussions so I tend to repeat exactly the same that I said the first time as long as it takes for him to understand that I meant what I said :) On the other hand, it gives me space for re-thinking, which sometimes works in my favor. Cross-cultural relationships are very developing!
It sound like you were German! :)
@@adorinadorin OMG, so funny that you said that! I usually joke that I feel like I'm German when I'm dealing with a group of wonderfully chilled out Portuguese people!
@@magdalenaszczypka6228 German wouldn't find it funny :I
Yeah! Drop his ass and get a decent Pole!
My wife is Latina. They will drop NOTHING.
I appreciate your video and points of view about the Polish people. I've seen that curiously we Mexicans and Americans have so much in common (like optimism and making big plans before executing them) but in other senses we Mexicans are a little bit closer to Poles (wanting to fix everything and making deals). Happy Holidays, by the way!
Happy holidays to you and your family 🙏 Thank you 😊
Iceland awaits my friend :)
Beautifull story, with this 2 weedings.
Same for me being English...when I first came to live here 10 years ago all our neighbours and people we met though I was a bit crazy.....because I smile a lot...One man told me he thought it offensive to be happy all the time (with so many disabled children and old people with problems, how can you laugh and be happy?) Over time they got used to me and no they still all look unhappy all the time, even the children...I teach the Odd Russian 'Business English' over the internet and have become friendly with some...They tell me it is the same in Russia!! Anyone happy or laughing is treated as borderline insane.
Can agree with a lot of this. 28 years in Warsaw...
Only 27 faults on her list? She's very lenient with you. You found one of the good ones. (I'm only joking. I smiled all the way through this ep., and I'm looking forward to your list.)
Cool 😎 I’m looking forward to the next video
Haha I also married my American husband after 8 months, greetings from Texas!
I agree with no 2 the most. I’m Polish, my fiancé is Mexican but grew up in the US. It’s not that he can’t fix things, he’s just not used to it. Just like you said, he’d rather buy a new broom. The other day he saw me transferring soy sauce from the leftover take out packets to the big bottle (don’t judge me) and got confused. He agrees Poles are very resourceful... 😅
I totally agree with your points!
Hello, Władysław 😁
Hello Ross. It is pleasure for me to see you growing on alien land for you. I hope it becomes less alien with each day.
Unfortunately, the reason you get bad prices is that you're a foreigner, and that means you're rich, so they can charge you more and you will still pay.
Love the love story at the beginning of the video
The jinx part is totally true. Learnt it hard Way 😂😂😂
2 - younger generation Poles are not so "handymen", as their fathers. And their fathers knows how to fix/build anything beacuse of comunist era poorness. In other worlds - you had to be creative, beacuse there was nothing on stores and almost nobody could afford to hire a technic or any kind of specialist.
Answer is simple - prosperity.
That is simply not true and you are spitting boomer crap
@@elmarsonino2834 what is a boomer crap?
@@Bartz109 That you are too old ;)
@@supreme3376 i lived through socialist/ commie 80 early 90 poland u had to know how to fiX many things the mentality of it’s beaken go by new one wasn’t an option. I know what boomer means for some damn reason I just miss read that short little comment . But thanks for your help anyway
...and now I also wonder which ones you decided to drop from the list. What are you hiding my friend, lol!!
So true about the resourcefulness of polish people, very good point! Having grown up in Germany with polish parents and family, I've observed the exact same thing many times.
Germans will often buy finished products and solutions or call an expert to make repairs etc. because they trust in their training and qualification and are afraid of touching anything themselves in case they mess it up.
Poles tend to be the exact opposite. Not only are they conscious of avoiding any unnecessary spending when there's a cheaper makeshift solution, they also seem to distrust any craftsman or repairman and will oftentimes feel like they can do it just as well if not better themselves. ;D
We try to fix everything because of communism. It's some kind of tradition.
This is downright fascinating.
I love hearing about cultural differences and how people bridge them.
I think these videos are my favourites.
** Oh, and please name the other 20 reasons why being married to the amiable-seeming Russell, drives your beloved mad. ** 😜
Pretty please?
(I love any shopping too, anywhere, even if it is only window shopping. I can go to Whole Foods and just look around, without spending any money!)
Hi, Russell!
I am reviewing this delightful video, and I am still wanting to hear the other 20 reasons, why you drive your beloved wife ... mad!
😉 Pretty-please? 😉
The negotiation part is as easy to explain, as it equally impossible for you to master. You ARE an American, can't fix that. Back in the communism, there were official prices for the clients from "Second monetary area" ("drugi obszar płatniczy"), which was pretty much just "West". A night in a hotel could have regular Polish price for local and 10x higher for Westerners. Therefore for you trying to negotiate price with Polish people is like bringing a knife to a gunfight :D
Never heard of that and I doubt it’s the case. More likely people think that foreigners are easier to trick into paying more. Which might be true.
@@jendorei which is my point exactly
@@leszekkadelski9569 but you add some weird philosophy and made up political bullshit to it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's not the political point. Western client was always perceived as more rich and therefore and therefore more likely will pay higher price without question. I agree that same bias it's still very strong and lot of people will try to charge more and expect higher tips from western tourist.
@@jendorei No, he did not. Everything he says is true. I am Pole and 37 y/o so I remember "old times".
Russell, that is so true but the bargain part , I am the one in America..i can squeeze out those high prices. Thank you for sharing with us you are a great speaker 👍👍
Polish women are very very difficult. I know I've been married to one for over 20 years . 😁
So are Polish men, regardless of where they are born. Half my ancestry is Polish and my wife will tell anyone how difficult I am.
Great talk as usual!
My wife is from Alabama and went to the University. She turned me into a huge Crimson Tide fan. I'm happy to hear that if we ever need to flee the States to Poland, we will still be able to see Tide games.
Yeah! Of course you can even join us for a game if need be. RTR 🐘
@@LoveMyPoland That would be wonderful!
Off topic, but do you have any recommendations a course of study for adults learning Polish? We are planning to travel to Poland for my cousin's wedding in 2022 and my wife wants to be able to speak with my family. She majored and minored in Spanish and Italian, but Slavic languages are a different animal.
I’m native Polish under fake UA-cam name and I’m certain that the most important reason for higher prices is your American accent. We strongly believe US is far richer, more developed so people earn more and have easier life than natives. They think those money mean less for you than for them.
You see, I once talked about my plans before realizing them (well, I did like 1/3 of things, but still), and then covid came ruining those plans. Maybe its better to keep it quiet
So basically it's your fault we have COVID. If you wouldn't talk about your plans then COVID wouldn't come to ruin them. Shame on you :-)
Funny as hell ! First 6 are so true ;-)
I'm in the US, and the funny thing is, just about everything in this list can describe my parents, but in reverse. My dad's side is Polish, and my mom's is German-Italian (all of their grandparents, and some of their aunts/uncles are immigrants). My dad is the one that can fix anything, whereas my mom is technically challenged (The remote control is her nemesis), but my mom could talk about upcoming plans all day long like they're going to happen. My mom could spend 10 minutes trying to open something, or get something to work, and my dad is like, "Here, let me do it", and it would open/work right away.
Awesome vid!
Learning each others original language. My wife is French and I am Polish but we both grew up in English speaking countries so we speak English to each other. Taking online lessons to learn another language is just not the same as living in an area surrounded by other languages. We both understand this is not an issue for neither of us but our respective families constantly ask us how well we can speak the others ethnic language
5:45 powinieneś pojechać do Vivapolu w Blachowni ;)
About repairs, your broom…..your father-In-law may have fixed your broom, but for how long? I remember my dad’s commercil speed queen washer, the pump quit. I took it out and for $5 I could get a repair kit that had 2 new bearings (sintered copper) and a new impeller with shaft. A new pump was $15. Trying to save money, I bought the repair kit. I used a hydraulic press to put In bearings and everything was good. However In 2 weeks the pump froze as before, now I put in a new pump, which i know lasted about 3+ years until the building was sold. My Dad was raised In Poland till he was 17, he was a Vegetable Farmer In Warsaw. His method of repairing anything was done by patching something up, aiways a temporarily fix. This was done this way because repair parts were always hard to find In Poland. Not so In the USA. Last year or so there have been shortages, but I have been ordering parts on line for Cars and home things with no problems. I don’t even have duct tape, because it doesn’t even work on ducts, it dries out and crumbles In a few years and doesn’t work. They now use a metal tape that works 10 times better, I do have & use it. Thanks…Jim
PS…..i was born in 1946 in a displaced persons camp. Both my parents meet there and never returned to Poland, lived in Belgium. We came to the US in 1952. So l have lived in the USA since 1952. I married a Polish women, that was here in 1965 and we married in 1970. I have been to Poland many times, first time in 1983. I have run into some of your problems, but in the scheme of life, they are something you can overcome or do together with your wife. She’s a tough cookie and sharp. Kasia sounds like a great partner and your soul mate…..GOD bless you both! Thanks…Jim
PS….my wife’s name is Krysia!
Great video! 😃
I’m married to a French. Sharing meals is super important to them. They will be offended if you eat without them, even if it means starving to death waiting until they come home (in Poland, we would sometimes eat at different times according to one’s schedule, the others would keep you company but were not expected to only eat when EVERYONE is back home). No touching your phone or watching tv while at the table. No cutting salad leaves with a knife. Cheese only after main course and before the desert, or as a desert. Wine with food. No eating in between meals.
My tactic is to say I’m Polish so I can eat cheese whenever I want 😂 And telling him to chill 😛
Cool video, thanks!
Brackets are are your friend. My dad has them in all kinds of shapes and sizes and uses them to help fix all kinds of things :D
I agree. When it comes to sports events only live coverage!
I am planning on going to Poland for a while (said planning because I dont want to jinx it) and totally identify with all the Polish peoples reactions, all the American things you mentioned annoy me as well! This makes me really look forward to going to Poland, perhaps I have finally found my true home.
My husband (a foreigner) can't fix a thing. It drives me crazy. I need to fix everything by myself - _- And if I don't know how, I just call my dad to ask ^^
Mine type of Girl :)
The strange thing is I now know how similar America and Kurdish culture are.
I live in the uk and like so many my girlfriend is my motivation to learn more about Poland .
About number 5 - normally wife likes go shopping, and their husbands hate it :-)
Yes I definitely think our enthusiasm is #1. I would say “jestem bardzo szczęśliwa” which caught some laughs. Szczeliwa jest wystarczający
#5 is something I started really doing 3 years ago when started going to the uni bc there were a huge gaps between the day's plan that couldn't be filled so I went around New Sącz going though electronic stores to see what is the deal
#1 is especially visible in Małopolska's smaller towns and villages. If you're not as miserable (or look miserable) then you're a hostile element.
Oh gosh, some of those things are true. I'm married to an American and there are few things that drive me crazy like in case of your wife. I'd just count them here:
- not even trying to fix stuff
- too much faith in people
- firstly talking, then doing.
But there is an extra thing to your video, going to diner places so often and eating out! Let's be honest, the food in the US is not the healthies and not always the best quality, and portions are massive. I do like going out for a dinner but most of Polish families eat at home, put a lot of effort in preparation, and this can really be enjoable. Luckily my husband slowly gets to that point and he prefers my cooking then going to diner places :D
The food in the US is not the healthiest?!? It depends how much you are willing to spend. Generally it will be of higher quality than in Poland and risk of food poisoning is lower. The variety is of course much better than in Poland v
I totally understand your fascination with Target and Walmart 😉
8 miechów i już na kobiercu? Bez oceniania Rusel, ale jak na Polskę to naprawdę "szatgan łeding" :D
Niech Cię Pan Bóg chroni, jeżeli kobieta mówi ci że masz problem z ilością zakupów. :)
Moi sasiedzi znali się 3 tygodnie. Obchodzili 59 rocznice ślubu. Znamy ich 30 lat i są bardzo dobrym małżeństwem. Charakter się liczy , nie długość znajomosci.
my z moją żoną pobraliśmy się po 3 miesiącach
Czasem wiesz że to jest to i szkoda czasu na głupoty ;) Ja też się ożeniłem niecały rok po spotkaniu żony... i jakoś cyknęło tych 16 lat i jest dobrze 😎
O dear! Just be careful choosing topics for your next video Russel 😅 Mixed marriage is such a challenge but teaches us patience and tolerance the key is not to take those differences too seriously 😆 looking forward to see what drives you crazy ....
I can agree with every point at least to some extent, but the last one, I believe it's not like a Polish-American marriage challenge, but more of a marriage with a sports fan challenge. I know if I'm interested in a game, I wanna watch it live, later I just watch highlights. And I believe the most of sports fan around the world, highly prefer watching it live if only possible
Awesome story
1:22 Największe zazdro z powodu tego minivana.
No tak. Jeśli żona nie ma racji i już masz jej to udowodnić to warto się zastanowić - chcesz mieć żonę czy rację ;)
Sometimes it does not need to be multinational for poles, milticounty is often enough to have a list like that ;)
I don't know anybody from U.S. but everything you are telling about us Polish poeple is treuth :D One thing I can agree with you that watching a recorded game the day after is forbidden. That just can't happen, the game have to be watched no matter the time and no matter the place :D
3 sons, my condolences :))
I don’t know if it’s a unique immigrant thing, but I find this paradox that while Poles are very much do first, then talk, they also seem to express highly optimistic possibilities. For example, I have often heard my family say, “Well, maybe this (good thing) will happen.” What do you think?
Oh I love Action too... There is none in Krakow. But every time I go to Oświęcim or Częstochowa i step in ;) P S I love your video
😍👍Thanks
Number 3 definitely not everyone here is like that :) Once me and my father almost opened a bakery. Obviously we did it only in our minds and that never happened in real world :D
I'm married to an American, and your wife is 100% correct.
Trzeba było być mądrzejszą!
@@KrissowskiM Madrzejszym. Ja sie ozenilem z Amerykanka, ktora nienawidzi tego, ze probuje wszystko naprawiac.
Bessarion 1 no coz - to również niezbyt mądrze...
As for shopping, even window shopping as a form of entertainment, this is sort of becoming a thing in Poland too, there are many people, especially teenagers or young adults who consider it one way to spend free time, and shopping malls certainly cater to such people. It's just a new idea that certainly seems foreign to the older generations, and might seem 'vain' to some younger people as well (as in, there might be more productive ways to spend your free time, and also consumerism culture doesn't sit well with everyone).
(personally, I'm only guilty of spending hours shopping online, checking the entire offer of an online shop before deciding what to buy)
As for watching sports on TV - I guess it's the same everywhere. Take a Polish guy to USA, and he'll stay up at night to watch Polish football live. Not my thing, personally, but I know many Polish guys who would.
About watching sports: there are many people (Polish people too) who are just fascinated by Euro or ski jumping and spend much time for watching it. I don't really understand it or get it cause it's not my piece of cake, but I have friends (married couple) who makes even party for watching selection matches before Euro with their friends.