Culture

 

AMERICAN WAY OF LIVING

Many Poles living here in the country often make the mistake of thinking that America is the same as Western Europe only much bigger and more prosperous. The United States is an entirely different kind of state.

 

 

  • Americans are known as energetic people, willing to take risk, full of faith and optimism. Rules of behavior in the United States are quite different than in Europe. All Americans say the same: I’m fine, I’m great, I’m cool. Admitting to headache, would not be a typical behavior, and those who complain aren’t truly welcome in this country.
  •  There is no barrier in contacts between people. Americans are full of positive energy, spontaneous and open in relations with others. A characteristic feature of American society are: small talks - conversations about everything and anything: How are you? How is work? How are children? What a beautiful day. These are conversations in the bank, in office, with shop assistant, taxi driver, postman.

 

 

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  • Hot dogs, hamburgers and locals serving fast-food is an American idea. Mc Donald's, KFC can be seen everywhere. Americans don’t like cooking or are too lazy or haven’t got time. They cook  on special occasions, but almost always with a ready-prepared meals or semi-finished so they rather warm up than cook. A separate theme is barbecue - cooking outdoors, in this Americans are the true champions. Most of Americans love eating outside, not just on special occasions, but every day. By all roads and major streets are countless bars, restaurants, cafes. That is why many Americans are overweight.
  • American attitude towards the issue of clothing is a special blend of comfort and liberty. This trend started in the United States after the Second World War. Then there was a need to create practical, functional and cheap clothes, which model could be duplicated in thousands of copies. This style is based on a combination of sports clothing and every day fashion, far from exclusive clothing presented in fashion magazines.
  • The American approach to life is characterized by consciousness of time. Each person’s duty is the active use of time according to the principle "time is money." Europeans see the time as the idea. Meanwhile, for Americans - the time is material for distribution. Americans are the first who introduced to modern civilization continuous race against time. Americans get scared that they will not manage to achieve everything possible. They grab in a hurry as much as they can to stay ahead of competitors.. U.S. companies quickly decide and act quickly. Nobody is interested in the matters, which consume too much time. If they can not conclude a contract with a partner, they immediately look for another. They seem more interested in the matter than the people with whom they speak. If the conversation is too long, they become impatient and start glancing nervously at the watch (the wristwatch syndrome).

 

Just remember- these are just a bunch of stereotypes which might be true in general but not about specific individuals.

 

reporter: Marta Gaida


 

Holiday of thanksgiving.

In the USA it is on 4th Thursday of November. In Canada it is on 2nd Monday of October. The holiday of thanksgiving is a family holiday. There is a richly set table. People thank God for everything what’s good. A roast turkey stuffed with the filling of bread is a traditional dish. People also eat ham, sweet potatoes, bean with cranberries, pumpkin cake or apple pie.

English pilgrims went on a pilgrimage to America. Their ship "Mayflower" reached the coast and pilgrims setted in Plymouth. After the first hard winter 46 of 102 people died. Native Americans helped pilgrims and taught them how to survive. The pilgrims were grateful for saving their lives, in return they shared their crops with the Indians. People celebrate that event as a Thanksgiving Day.

 


 

- BRITISH CUSTOMS -

A   GUIDE   FOR   A   POLISH   VISITOR   TO   BRITAIN

 

Polish customs are different from British ones.

Before you go to Great Britain you must know that in Britain people drive on the left hand side of the road.




You must take many different clothes, I mean: a raincoat, waterproof shoes, because there is a lot of rain.


And don't be surprised when you see separate taps for cold and hot water.

People in Great Britain are reserved. They usually meet friends in pubs, not at home.

But when they invite you home, remember:
-don't take off your shoes when you enter the house,
-thy drink tea with milk (you must absolutley try it!)
-you must be punctual, or 5 min late (don't come earlier!)
-they usually shake hands as a welcome (don't kiss them on a cheek if you don't know them well).

Britan is worth visiting after all. Just keep your eyes open and you won't  make a mistake. It will be the trip you'll never forget! ;)

                                                                                                      

Reporter: Klaudia Macioł


 

NEW YEAR AROUND THE WORLD

 

China- New Year's Eve in China is celebrated in January or February, and it lasts for 15 days. There are lots of dragon parades, people dance in the streets.


Brasil-
in Brasil people wear white clothes, they believe it brings good luck; they go to the beach and jump over the waves 7 times.


 Thailand-
New Year's Eve in Thailand is celebrated on 13th of April, then people pour themselves with water, it's a kind of game.


Japan -
In Japan at midnight bells ring 108 times. On New Year's Day people drink Sake (it's a traditional rice wine) , and children get  red envelopes with money.


Venezuela- people wear yellow underwear for good luck, at midnight people listen to the bells, and every time a bell rings they eat 1 grape. When someone wants to travel in New Year, he must walk with suitcase around his home.


Italy - in Italy New Year's Eve is celebrated at the same time as in Poland. At midnight there are fireworks, they eat lentils at a big meal. Some people wear red clothes for good luck. Another tradition is to light candle in the window for each member of family.

Klaudia Macioł


 

Christmas in England and Poland

 

 

Christmas Eve (24th December) is the day before Christmas Day.

Polish Christmas Eve traditions are completely different from English ones. In Poland 24th December is the most important day. People wait for the first star to appear, share the holy wafer, sing Christmas carols, open presents found under the Christmas Tree, they go to midnight mass. On the table there are: hay under the tablecloth, additional cover for the unexpected guest and traditional 12 dishes, for example borsch, carp. In England people don't celebrate this day. Children hang only long, colorful socks- Christmas stocking by the fireplace. St. Claus will put them gifts at night.

Christmas Day (25th December)

In Poland it's the day when people meet their family and friends, giving them presents and singing Christams carols. In the U.K. it's the most important day. Inthe morning children open gifts. At round 12 p.m.  they sit down at the table. Before the meal is served, everybody pulls Christmas Crackers. There is a funny poem or a small toy inside them. After that the meal is served. The most important meal on the table is turkey stuffed with vegetables. The meal ends with pudding. Traditionally, on the first day of Christmas the Queen delivers a speech to her subjects.



Another Christmas custom is kissing under mistletoe hanging above the front door- you can kiss someone there ( even when it isn't your partner). It's a very popular custom in England.

Sandra Gonschior.


 

HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween is on 31st October. It's very popular in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Scotland and England. On that day young people visit scary farms. Scary farms look like places from horror. On Halloween people play a lot of games. These games are: bobbing for apples: grabbing apples with your teeth in a bowl full of water, jumping above candles- you have bad luck if one of the candles goes out, and eating cookies hanged to strings. Children and adults dress up as monsters, witches, vampires, skeletons. Children walk from house to house and they say: Trick or Treat. If they don't get sweet they'll play tricks on the owner of the house. It is one of Halloween’s customs. Halloween symbols are ghosts, witches, bats, black cats, zombie, owls, pumpkins, fire and Jack O'Lantern. Jack O'Lantern is a lamp made from the bored pumpkin. The pumpkin has bored holes: eyes, nose and mouth. The pumpkin should look like the face. We put a candle inside and put on the window or in front of the door of the house.

reporter: Ola Mucha


 

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

1. Ile jest gwiazdek na fladze USA?
a) 44
b) 50
c) 34
 

2. Kto podarował Amerykanom Statuę Wolności?
a) Francuzi
b) Anglicy
c) żadna odpowiedź nie jest prawidłowa
 

3. Co jest stolicą USA?
a) Nowy Jork
b) Manhattan
c) Washington, DC
 

4. W którym stanie jest grób Elvisa Presleya?
a) Tennessee
b) Kalifornia
c) Montana
 

5. Co oznacza skrót KFC?
a) Knees Feat Colder
b) Kentucky Fried Chicken
c) Kentucky Fast Chicken
 

6. W którym mieście jest Empire State Building?
a) Las Vegas
b) Salt Lake City
c) New York

7.  Kim jest Quentim Tarantino?
a) kierowcą  limuzyn
b) bohaterem Gwiezdnych Wojen
c) reżyserem

8.  Jakie są dwie partie polityczne w Stanach Zjednoczonych?
a) Demokraci i Socjaliści
b) Socjaliści i Republikanie
c) Demokraci i Republikanie
 

9. Która rzeka tworzy Wielki Kanion?
a) Colorado
b) Humboldt
c) River Reach
 

10 Jakie wydarzenia  historyczne są tłem filmu „Przeminęło z wiatrem”?
a) II wojna światowa
b) Wojna secesyjna
c) Atak na World Trade Center

11. O co walczył Martin Luter King?
a) O równouprawnienie czarnych
b) Sprawiedliwość społeczną
c) Wszystkie odpowiedzi są prawidłowe

12. Jak miał na imię renifer z popularnej piosenki i bajki bożonarodzeniowej, który miał czerwony nos?
a) Arnold
b) Rudolf
c) Andrzej

13. Kiedy się woła “Trick or treat”?
a) W sądzie
b) Jak się wsiada do taksówki
c) W Halloween

14. Kto był pierwszym prezydentem USA?
a) Bill Clinton
b) John Kennedy
c) George Washington
 

15. Jak nazywa się  siedziba  prezydenta USA?
a) Pałac Prezydencki
b) Biały Dom
c) Czarny Dom

 

Answers:1- B   2-A    3-C    4-A   5-B      6-C    7-C     8-C     9-A    10-B   11-C   12-C    13-C  14-C    15-C

Reporter: Grzegorz Kaczorowski

 


 

CHRISTMAS QUIZ

1. Why Christmas is especially happy for children?
a) because they get presents  b) because they eat dinner  c) because they go egg hunting

2. What do people do in the weeks before Christmas?
a) send Christmas cards  b) wear red socks     c) wear special costumes

3. How people decorate their houses?

a) they put presents everywhere  b) with Christmas tree  c) with colourful eggs

4. What do you do with your boyfriend/girlfriend under the mistletoe?
a) play cards  b) kiss  c) say "cheese"

5. How do children decorate Christmas tree?

a) with glass balls and lights  b) with trousers  c) with potatoes

6. When does Father Christmas give presents?

a) when you eat  b) when first star appears on a sky  c) during the night

7. Father Christmas is a ... ?
a) a grandmother  b) a very happy old man  c) discoverer

8. What does he wear?

a) red clothes  b) bikini  c) tracksuit

9. What does he have on his back?

a) false teeth  b) beard  c) big sack of presents

10. Why can he ride over the houses?
a) because he's old  b) because he has beautiful sleigh  c) because he has magic reindeer

11.When do people celebrate Christmas Day?
a) on 25th of December  b) on 8th of December  c) on 25th of June

12. What do people do on Christmas Day?

a) surf theWeb  b) go to Church and sing carols  c) play basketball

13. What do people usually eat at Christmas Dinner?
a) roast turkey, potatoes, cabbage with mushrooms b) biscuits c) fish & chips

14. When is the Boxing Day?

a) on 24th of December  b) on 26th of December  c) on 31st of December


1.a 2.a 3.b 4.b 5.a 6.c 7.b 8.a 9.c 10.c 11.a 12.b 13.a 14.b

Reporter: Klaudia Macioł

 


 

How do TIME4TEENS reporters celebrate Christmas?

In Poland people celebrate Christmas on 25th of December.
My family spends Christmas at home. On the table there are: soup with mushrooms, fish - usually carp, potatoes, and cabbage with mushrooms. We drink fruit compote. We eat dinner, when first star appears on a sky. At first we share a special wafer, then we wish each other all the best. When everyone finishes eating, children go wash theirs hands and then the parents put the presents under the Christmas tree. At midnight people go to church to watch Nativity play and attend shepherdess. Before Christmas we send Christmas cards to the members of family with special wishes.

 

Reporter: Klaudia Macioł

 In the weeks before Christmas, my family & I are very busy. We send Christmas cards to all our friends & relations. My dad decorates the house & the trees around it with little coloured lights. My sisters & I decorate the Christmas tree with chains & balls. My mum prepares the meals.
On the Christmas Eve we eat the dinner when the first star appears on the sky. Then we give each other presents. At 10 o’clock we go to a special mass.
On Christmas Day we go to the church, because we want to see the little Jesus, who was born at night. It’s a special day for Christians all over the world.

Reporter: Amanda Kuś

 

Here are some facts and stereotypes about them: