Day 103: A Pole There, a German Here
In his flat in Stargard, Sergiusz (A), who has recently come back after twenty years of working in Munich, tells his daughter Rozalia (B) about his latest success on the estate.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a Polish word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native Polish, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
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A
Od poniedziałku nikt pod naszym blokiem nie parkuje na trawniku. Wystarczyło trzy razy wezwać straż miejską.
Since Monday nobody's parked on the grass outside our block. All it took was calling the City Guard three times.
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B
Wiem, tato. Sąsiedzi mówią, że wyjechałeś do Monachium jako Polak, a wróciłeś jako Niemiec.
I know, Dad. The neighbours say you went to Munich a Pole and came back a German.
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A
Ironia losu: dwadzieścia lat byłem tam „tym Polakiem”, a tu po półtora miesiąca jestem Niemcem.
The irony of it: for twenty years I was 'the Pole' over there, and here I'm the German after a month and a half.
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B
Bo tam nie wieszałeś na klatce swoich zarządzeń. Trzy czwarte bloku już cię omija szerokim łukiem.
Because over there you didn't pin your decrees up in the stairwell. Three quarters of the block already give you a wide berth.
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A
Mimo to ktoś musi tu zaprowadzić porządek. Tam zarówno sąsiedzi, jak i urzędnicy szanują przepisy.
Even so, someone has to bring some order here. Over there, the neighbours and the officials alike respect the rules.
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B
Tato, dwadzieścia lat tęskniłeś za Polską, po czym wróciłeś i robisz z niej Bawarię?
Dad, you spent twenty years missing Poland, and then you come back and turn it into Bavaria?
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A
Tam byłem obcy przez akcent, a tu przez to, że przestrzegam przepisów. Ani tu, ani tam nie jestem u siebie.
Over there I was an outsider because of my accent, and here because I follow the rules. I don't belong here or there.
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B
Wobec tego kandyduj do zarządu wspólnoty. Przynajmniej będziesz się czepiał sąsiadów z urzędu.
In that case, stand for the residents' board. At least then you'll be picking on the neighbours in an official capacity.
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A
Już kandyduję. Pani Leonia z parteru obiecała na mnie zagłosować, o ile przestanę wzywać straż do samochodu jej zięcia.
I already am. Mrs Leonia from the ground floor has promised to vote for me, as long as I stop calling the City Guard on her son-in-law's car.
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