Author: Mark Biernat

Is the European union bad or good?

I can not believe the number of Americans that have skepticism about the EU. I even had one of my friends say, who knows in the future the US could have an armed conflict with the EU. Right, I can see British troops landing in Boston. People say the EU is socialist or a dictatorship or it is not a country so who cares. There are so many fears and closed minds about the European Union. It makes me ashamed sometimes to be an American. Some Americans are so into conspiracy theories, rather than look objectively at issues. Therefore, I thought I would write a post to set the facts straight. I am an American and EU citizen. If you love America you will love the EU because the ideal are the same, democracy and freedom and promotion of the common good.

Why the EU is good

• Peaceful – When nations trade together they make peace not war. Think about European and world history. Think about the armed conflict where so many people have suffered. The history of the European Union was started out of the a cooperation of the steel and coal industries in Europe in the 1950s between France and Germany with the specific purpose of preventing war by cooperation. Is there any thing bad about this?
• The European Union donates money to charity – The EU give more money than any other organization or nation to charity. Think about Haiti, an US neighbor, the EU gave many times more.
• Free movement of labor – Imagine the USA where residents of Connecticut could not work in New York without a work visa? What a ridiculous mess and extension of bureaucracy this would be. As an EU citizen you can work anywhere and both entrepreneurs benefit as well as workers. If I am an entrepreneur, I have a greater selection of talented workers to choose from as a business owner or more companies to choose from.
• Free movement of capital – Trade barriers and tariffs and restrictions to opening businesses are not good for anyone. If you want to know what works for people to become rich and happy, reduce the restrictions of government trade. The EU is a large free and open market.
• Rich European countries help the poor – Is there anything wrong about this? Many of the Eastern European countries that had communism holding them back and did not benefit from the Marshall plan, now can have a fair chance to develop. I see new trams, educational projects, art funding many nice things coming to countries that really suffered under communism.
• EU promotes good ethical values – It promotes culture, helps the poor, protects the environment. It promotes humanistic value, while respecting religions.
• The EU is fun –  With an EU citizenship you can live and travel anywhere. I could vacation in Sweden or spend the winter in Greece. I think a free exchange of culture and tourist makes people happy. Don’t you like to travel without visa restrictions and applications and fees? I do.
• EU accepts many languages – In the USA there are people that feel that English should be the official language. Why? What if someday 90% of the people are Spanish. A democracy represents the people not empowers a status quo. I like hearing different languages, it is fun, hearing just English all the time get boring.

Why the EU is bad?

• It might become too powerful – It could grow to be too big and become like the USA or Ancient Rome, a huge centralized bureaucracy. Right now it is more a confederation. However, so could any company, country or organization that does not mean people should participate in a community. It is expanding even outside of Europe, but it would not be bad to have the EU as a large government. It is a peaceful, free organization.
• The EU is socialist – I am basically a libertarian. I believe small government is the best government. But the EU is not socialist. It is a parliamentary lose government that tries to help poor regions of Europe develop just like the USA does or any nation does that cares about its citizens. Offering free education to its citizens is not exactly socialist, the USA does this to 18 so what is wrong with extending this to 21?
• The EU is anti-religion – I am religious, I live in the EU and I do see their focus on humanistic values and it does not promote the Christian religion, but the same is in the USA.

How the USA and the EU are different

• In the USA there is a greater emphasis on individual liberty, in the EU there is a greater emphasis on the common good.
• The USA has a strong president, a mini king so to speak, effective for war and fast changes. Europe is parliamentary, more power is in the hands of the elected representatives, effective for minority opinions.
• The USA is a country, the EU is not a country but an agreement between countries. Why does that matter? What matters is that a government whether a national government or a governing body ensure peace and promotes good.

You can see that from my post I am very pro EU. If you think about all the war and hurt that was in Europe in the past 100 years I think citizens of the world would be very wise to support a community that represents democracy, free trade and labor movement and gives an inordinate amount to charity and development of poor regions.

When I was single I always traveled solo on vacation. Why? There is more adventure when your single than traveling with a a pack of guys or a buddy. With your friends you will be in your comfort zone. Alone anything could happen, including meeting girls. Think about it, do you like to approach a girl when she is surrounded by a pack of her friends ready look you up and down, while you are trying to chat their friend up?  Well girls do not like it either if a group of guys come into a place and try to meet women. What happen to the traveler of old or the Hans Solo type guy.

The only advantage of traveling with a friend to meet girls is that the women see you have one friend in the world at least so many you are not totally all that bad.

Remember this is not a how to meet girls this site is about how to meet the love of your life. I have been around the world and from experience being with guys makes you do guy group male bonding things not meeting the girls of your dreams.

Better is to travel to a city you want to see for historic or tourist reasons anyway, and then while you are out and about, chat up with the ladies. I have learned a lot about traveling and history by being single and alone. I hitched hike arrounded Europe when I was 22, alone for many months sleeping under bridges and in barns. That was a good baptism by fire.

Where to meet girls when traveling alone

• Meeting girls in cafeterias – Do not go to fancy restaurants, go to the cheap student cafes and places where real people go. For example there is a milk bar (cafeteria) on Grodzka street in Krakow. Go there for a meal. It is always over crowded and you will most likely have to sit with so stranger. This translates to me to some studentka. Ask her if you could sit at her table. She will say yes. If you speak English she will want to practice with you if you smile.
• Meeting women in clubs on vacation – Sure you can do the pub crawl thing, but I do not drink and I do not think a club is the optimal place to meet a girl when travelling although some of my friends do. Go for clubs that locals go, not tourist traps. And do not buy girls drinks. I have never ever done this, in all my tours of duty. It makes no difference if you spend money on girls or not. Better is to talk to them about their culture or your travels and drink water. A lesson I learned from an old sailor who had a woman in every port was there is no correlation between price and quality. Do not spend money on girls, unless she has a ring, that you put on her finger.
• Be the accidental tourist to meet women – Walk around the market square in the city you are visiting and collect girls mobile numbers by just asking them directions, the time, or how to you say a phrase in their language or whatever. Chat them up for a few minutes. next tell them you are traveling as you like the history and culture and ask them if it is OK to SMS them just for a cordial rapport. I am not Brad Pitt but if you are a little bit charming you should get about a 50% yes rate, even if the girl has a boyfriend. The good thing is the girls in Eastern Europe are so beautiful that you will eventually find a girlfriend that will make George Clooney jealous. You do not have to be a movie star, just smart about where you look for girls.
• Hire a private female tour guide – Use some of the message boards I recommend on this site like Gumtree.com and you will be able to find a girl to show you the town. Do not hit on her or expect anything, rather, just see a little bit of the city. Maybe a 1 hour tour. Mix it up. Hire five different girls to show you a different part of the city incase the first one is not cordial or willing to flirt. If you hire five one hour tours, you will see the city learn a lot about history and maybe one of those guide will be willing to meet you latter for coffee. Alternatively before you go chat up some women on the Internet, meet them at the local bookstore when you get there and ask them to give you a free tour.
• Meeting girls in a foreign city is a numbers game – Being a foreigner you have a huge advantage over the local guys. Why? You are exotic. Even if you come from some suburb of a rust belt town back home and are nothing special in the eyes of the women in your town, you will go to your target country like some sort of adventurer of old. Women will think you are cool, even if you are not. At least it worked for me and I am not cool, trust me on this one. Get phone numbers. When you sms one, then work on another. Girls will take a day or so to reply. Oh believe me they are checking their cell phones every ten minutes but they always make you wait. Better to move on while waiting.
• Gym, Yoga, dance class – Go to class, whatever it may be. Take three dance classes and there is no way you will not meet ladys. I always too yoga classes in foreign cities. Not to meet girls but because I was into it. See if you travel alone with the one and only intent of meeting a wife this is OK but better is to go with the intent of learning something about the culture or language and you will have more mobile phone numbers at the end of your trip than you will know what to do with. I came to Poland to study Polish and sure enough I meet my wife.
• Park benches –  Girls love to read books on benches in Europe. Join them. Remember this is Europe not the USA (maybe the UK too). I think girls in the USA freak out a  large percentage of the time when a guy starts a conversation. On continental Europe there are less freaks, and girls are significantly less paranoid.

Best countries and cities to travel alone

Poland girls – Polish girls are very nice.

Crimea – Why go to Russia when you can meet Russian student girls on their summer vacations on the Black sea-coast

Lviv, Ukraine – I am not a fan of Eastern Ukraine as it not as European as western Ukraine. Western Ukraine and Poland are clearly democratic, religious and very European. Tarnopol has been called the last city in Europe.

Moscow girls – 10 million women in this city more than any other European city. I prefer St. Petersburg because of the culture but come on 10 million Russian and Eurasian girls, if you can not find one girl here you need more coaching. Wait again just close your eyes for a second and imagine ten million women.  Do this. One of my friends visited Moscow and I asked him was that before or after he got married, he lowered his eyes to the ground and said after. I do not know why he did that.

The Baltic countries – Many nice girls in these countries and such an interesting history.The one issue is if you are religious Estonia is not.

South American travel – I loved Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentine girls are a little stuck up but they are beautiful, the average is about an 8 there. Brazilian girls more easy-going but poorer country and some of the problems that come with that, such as finding one that will love you for who you are than your money.

Italian and Spanish girls – Many sweet girls in Mediterranean land and very good catholics that will make nice wives.

The bottom line is if you travel solo you can cover more ground and make a one week vacation a culturally enriching experience and an adventure. Travelling alone will build your self-confidence and your ability to think on your feet. You will meet more girls as you will not be perceived as just some blok coming through town with his football buddies, women despise this. They want to meet their future husband in a library or a church or walking though the market square. Put your best foot foward and be prepared to be rejected and move on. I recommend multiple tours of duty, rather than thinking you will find someone on your first trip.  I travelled ultimately not to find women but because I loved it and history and culture. If you have that attitude you will find yourself in a win-win situation. Write me if you have any travel question, specific or general.

Love, money and women

If this was an IQ test and you see three words: money, girls and love, which one does not go with the others? What is your answer seriously?

Do women go for rich guys, that is men with money? Not in my book. I do not care what some Freudian looking academic will tell you about how women want to marry a millionaire, you can get girls without money. Sure many girls are attracted to a rich guy like a fish to a shiny fishing lure. However, I have had money and I have not and for me it made no difference in terms of attracting girls. And the girls that go for money governed by their appetite desires and reptilian brains are not worthy of you.

American women and money – Many American women have high expectations in terms of men and wealth. They after all are seeking to attract a potential mate and provider.  American girls have a reputation of being materialistic. When I use to date a girl like that, I would simply explain, ‘if you marry for money it will be the hardest way to earn it’, and dropped them like a bad habit.  Do not let yourself be talked into the American cultural idea that money and marriage and love are connected. They are not.  Love and money are never ever connected.

There was a time when I was unemployed and I think I was dating the most women and of the best quality. There was a time when I had a high-powered six figure job and I dated losers.

Personal examples of love for love not money

• When I meet my wife I was unemployed, lived in a 190 square foot apartment and had no car. Oh one more thing, I spend an inordinate amount of time talking about what good price I got on carrot juice.  She is a beautiful spiritual person.
• My brother when he got married 30 years ago had no income, really they lived on cordial dogs and noodles and now he is a millionaire . The funny thing about it is they say they are just as happy as they were when they are poor. With love cash makes no difference.
• My mother married my father who was a very poor man. He grew up in a two room apartment with eight people, he slept on the floor. My mother’s family was in the United States longer and was much better off. They have been married 59 years and he is a millionaire.  Of course, when they were poor they loved each other just the same, it makes no difference if you are a spiritual person.

A well paid job is highly over rated

Guys wake up, the biggest lie when you are in your 20s is a well paid job is something good to strive for. In your 30s maybe you still believe this as you see other guys pulling ahead of you and you need to compete. If you still are believing this myth in your 40s you probably should have a big ‘L ‘ on your forehead.

Think of movie stars, they all get divorced. They all have tons of assets and basically all, with few exceptions, get divorced. VIPs are unhappy.  There are no Romeo and Juliets among that crowd. Consider this:

• Rich guys are poor in dating – All, not some mind you, of my rich lawyer friends and business capitals of industry got less women to choose from than I.  I am not Brad Pitt either. I could date many intelligent beautiful women as a poor man. Guys that work all the time or were attracting women with money, got very fake boring girls and lower quality in terms of looks. Trust me on this love and money are two different ideas.
• A high paid job will cost you in terms of health. You will be in for a short life and a sluggish, mildly depressed life.
• A high paid job destroys your soul if you start to attach your ego to it. All you will be is your money, what happened to the child inside you?
• Most guys that are high paid are boring and girls know this. Any guy that is interesting will get more girls that could fall in love with him than a rich guy. Girls do not respect rich men. I do not know why. They laugh at them.
• Poor guys and women – Many poor guys are total player and have wives and many kids. Rich guys if they get married they have like 1 or 2 and their wives leave them.
• I see really rich and famous guys marry hopeless women. I see many poor guys marry submissive beautiful fairly tale princess they that will cherish them all the days of their lives.

If you have not figured it out by now, the corporate world is sticks. This is not living. I understand if you need to pay the bills but do not put your ego and pride into your job. A job is just that, to pay the bills if does not define you.If you understand this you will not have to worry about girls and money. Love is something spiritual. Love is from God.

What to do on a date if you have no money

• Go to a used bookstore and buy some worn out copy of your favorite writer and take your date to a park bench and read to her. Make it a big deal, pick some flowers and make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. If you have charm this will work better than any expensive restaurant.
• Walk along the river and charm her with fantastic stories of your childhood.
• Tell her about your family or friends or something you are passionate about while you sit in a meadow.

These are a few ideas to start. But if you start from the beginning that money is not part of your relationship, then she has no choice but to love you for who you are. If she does not, it is better you go your separate ways as she is not poet enough to see your beauty.

What if you are poor and can not get a date? Put your life in God’s hands and say God whatever you want of me, thy will be done. There is someone for everyone and if you open your mind and heart and ask the universe to bring you what you need in your heart of hearts and you will use your gifts for Gods work on this earth, you will be able to move mountains. You will not get any more dates, you will get your one and only love. However, you must be willing to give up all that you have, including your attachment to money to find this peal of great price.

What about women who have financial plans, believe in prenups and mutual funds

Good for them, do they want love or money. God give each of us a very limited time here and God is love. God does not care about your bank account. If you want to live like your divine creator, a life of love and fulfillment, enter relationships not based on cash, but love. Love is always enough.

What about all these financial adviser women and lawyers tell you that you need a prenuptial agreement and love and money are to be well thought out? I would not ever date any of them, they are some 40 something girls with short hair and a control stick to grid. They are lost souls.

Oh one more thing, they are not attractive on bit. These women financial gurus and advisors are not exactly cordial.

If not money what do women want?

They want someone who makes their heart skip a beat when they come into the room, someone who turns their world upside down, that if you tell them to turn the page of a book they will. Someone who makes the moon appear in the sky and the stars shine at night. You can be a total geek with no money, but if you are a girl’s champion and with all the sincerity in your heart believe she is your other half and pursue her and look her in the eye and tell her you need her, until she has no choice but to love you, then this is what a women wants. Total surrender.

Prenuptial agreements

I highly recommend you do not get involved in a prenuptial agreement before you get married for the following reasons. I think these pre-marriage contracts are a bad idea because:

• Love is all or nothing – Either you love someone or not. Love is similar to trust and faith. If you do not trust someone 100% or put conditions on marriage than why get married? It is better to just have a partner and date and not swear before God and the community that you will cherish each other all the days of your lives.
• Divorce lawyers are greedy – Oh I am sorry they are calling themselves “marital attorneys” now. They have a huge incentive to create a culture of distrust and ‘just in case’. They talk about legal rights and dividing assets and family law. Do not believe it, you are building a house on sand. What good is it if a man gains the world but loses his soul?
• Is money your god? – I do not care if my wife takes all my money. In fact, I would rather put it in her name as money is not my god. People put a too high premium on material wealth. I live in Eastern Europe many people survive on very little here.  In the past people had nothing.  I believe  protecting assets in case of divorce is putting trust in things of this world.  I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who is the same for the Jews, Christians and Muslims. I believe  prenuptial agreements are a vote of mistrust of the unconditional love of your partner and trust in money. I trust her 100%.  Further, if I am as smart as I have confidence in myself and know I can always make money. What are you afraid of, someone will take all your toys away?
• You are not 18 years old getting married – Every person has a complex life situation. Few people meet their life marital partner at the age of 14 and get married at 18 like my mother and is married for 60 years. Do not fall for the scare tactics that play on your fears of lawyers. Everyone has debt or children or previous marriages or emotional problems with trust or broken ideals and dreams or never had a real relationship or well into their careers. This is called being human. Like Shakespeare wrote ‘take up arms against your sea of troubles’. Be strong in the face of adversity and do not take council of your fears.
• Prenups creates bad feelings – If my fiancé or partners asked for one I would not get married. No matter what I felt or how deep in love, it would always mean my love and relationship is not real. It is fake, nothing more than a business agreement.

Personal view on signing a prenuptial agreement

If you are a man and your future wife wants a premarital contract to protect her assets – Check out some of the women on my website. They are beautiful. The world is full of opportunity.

If you open your eyes you will be amazed. There are smoking cordial slim 10 years younger plus long-legged loyal girls everywhere (fewer in the USA). Do not settle. If you settle for anything but your dream I can not help you.

If your a man and considering a prenup –  Be the champion of your girl.

With your strength and wisdom show her your courage. Make her your princess and do not think of anything a base as assets and money and divorce lawyers, excuse me I mean marital legal counsellors.

Before you get married you need to:

• Know yourself  and view of marriage – if you do not know where your sense of values and the meaning of your life comes from, find out.
• Know your partner’s view on marriage – Ask your partner directly about their values. Ask them clearly and straight on. Ask them what if scenarios.  I can not believe that people are not direct and compassionate with their partners and do not have long conversations about values before marriage. Maybe people feel funny about it, but do not.  Romantic love brings people together that should never be brought together. So ask the questions and the what ifs. Smoke them out in the dating phase. Let the wisdom of time help you. I do not care what your age do not feel rushed in having your wedding.

What if you want to marry a foreign lady friend? Take your time to get to know her. The acorn does not fall too far from the tree. Observe her family and her commentary on the relationships in her family.  Her commentary on her parents and other relationships in this world will tell you everything.  What if her parents are divorced? So what.  She might say the greatest way I can honor my mother and father is not live like them and not get divorced. She might be religious but does she go to service once or more times a week? How does she feel about money? Does she believe in love and money or just love, or maybe just money. Does she show an interest to stay in her country or get excited when you mention moving to the USA or the UK?  I stayed in Poland after I go married. In fact my wife does not want a US citizenship. Ask her questions about what if this happens in marriage or that happens.

Besides one partner no wanting to have children, there is basically no reason to get divorced. In that case the marriage is not valid and it can be annulled.  Some people say the only reason to get married is to have kids. Other than that you can just date and enjoy your life. I do not agree. But understand that marriage is forever, not for as long as the love shall last.

I am a man of the world. I am not bragging but I think that few people could say I have not had my share of life experiences. Not just traveling the world but in business and other things.  I am not 17, I am 47.  I still believe in love and marriage like I always did. If anyone chooses to differ with me on the idea of should you get a prenup I am very open. Let me know.  I believe in love and marriage without limits, conditions and prenuptial agreements.

If you understand a few basic things you can have a happy marriage.  There are three important points you need to understand if you want to know how to make your wife happy. And if you are married, you should want to make your wife happy.

Make your wife happy

• Choose the right wife for marriage – Romantic love brings people together that never should be brought together. If you do not get this one right nothing will save you. You need to find your other half. The characteristic will be different for everyone.  It is about finding the one for you. However, generally I recommend a submissive wife. I know the idea of a wife being submissive is unbelievable for American and Canadian women, but I am writing about determinant criteria for a happy marriage not trying to score points with anyone.  I am writing the way I see it.  A wife who is  a materialistic is a woman you will not be able to make her happy in the long run. Make the right choice in marriage, someone who puts the ‘we’ or ‘you’ before the ‘I’. Someone who wants to make their husband happy. My wife clearly says she hopes she makes me happy. Make sure during the dating phase the girl understand that love is without limits and selfishness or materialism has no room in a loving relationship. Marriage is about total surrender.
• To make your wife happy be a flirt. – You need to win your wife’s heart everyday.  Be charming and a flirt with her (no one else, do not even look at other women). Smile and look into her eyes and tell her with sincerity she is the one. Be light and breezy and easy going. Dress nice and stay in shape and be the good looking charming flirt that you are.  Basically think of the ideal as represented in the movie First 50 dates. This is a love story about a girl with no long term memory so her husband had to make her fall in love everyday a new. You have to behave like it is the first date every day. You have to get her to “yes” and “I do” by the end of the day.  Often times I will even ask my wife at the end of the evening did I win your heart today?
• Make her feel safe in your relationship – This is about spending time with her to build trust.  That is the way you make a girl feel safe. But also maybe take care of her.  I am not a materialist and would have no problem being Mr. Mom. But on the other hand, I bring home the bacon in my relationship. I earn the money and even though my wife does a disproportionate amount of the domestic work, she is OK with it as I take care of everything. I am the leader and make the decisions.  She can trust me 100% and can focus on just being herself.  If a women does not feel emotionally safe or safe in other ways, she will be very good at handling things, but it will get tiring after a while. This will lead to marital unhappiness. Therefore, I recommend a traditional marriage. One where the man spends all or most of his free time with his wife and family. The one where the husband makes the money and the wife takes care of the nest house.  Going out with the guys and watching sports all the time is not my idea of making a woman feel good.  I am with my family 24/7.  I am not saying you have to do this but, in your own way, make her relax about her life and forget all her fears. If she is an emotional roller coaster, just be easy loving and say your sorry with sincerity. Love is about making the other person feel good about themselves and never about being right.

There you have it. These are 3 simple rules to be happy in marriage and make your wife happy. If you can choose the right one, be a flirt and make her feel safe, you will be very happy in your relationship.

If you have read my blog you know I am a dual US and EU citizen. EU citizenship has many benefits believe me. The purpose of this post is to briefly tell you how to have a passport from more than one country, or at least my personal experience on how I achieved this.

First  off EU citizenship from any country is a privilege.  It is not something that is to be taken lightly. It is only for those who have a sincere interest in contributing to the nation they are living and working in. Usually this is reserved for people who have a historical connection or association with the country. My family for example live in Poland since the beginning of the nation. The only reason they left was Poland was partitioned and war was breaking out. After the war they wanted to come back for re-nationalization. However, the politics were too difficult, and so it was I who was repatriated.

I have written a post on how to get a EU citizenship, this is a good starting point. However, beyond that if you have any questions please ask. The following was my story.

10 Steps to EU citizenship

1. Family tree – My first step was  in Excel create a detailed family tree. Use birth, marriage etc dates and locations. Be detailed but readable. Mine was on one page. It does not have to be a work of art, but it does have to be factual and clear to an ordinary person.
2. Original documents – Try to collect as much information as you can from original documents. You can get US birth certificates etc no problem. They even have on the form a question why you need it, you can check off dual citizenship. US municipalities get these requests often.  Get your parents and anyone else you can also. Collect all US documents then focus on foreign documents. The Polish government in Warsaw had my grandparents records from 1900 even thought they were from and area which is today Ukraine. I went to the local church priest and found documents. I basically built a case of original documents that supported my family tree. Paper is everything. Before I live in Europe I paid someone, he tried to rip me off I got my money back, when I threatened to sue the middle man. There are many honest people that can help in local countries. I prefer to do things myself.
3. I got applications from the embassy –  I let the foriegn consulate represntive guide me, as well as talked to the people who worked there to the right government offices to go to. They will tell you what you need.
4. Legal help – I considered a lawyer but by the time I talked to one I knew more than they did.
5. EU visa – My first step was a visa. From there I was in the system. I got this based on the right of blood. Jus sanguinis – You are who you are.
6. Dual citizenship – Unless you want a Ukrainian citizenship, you can keep your US citizenship for almost any country in Europe in the European Union or not. Countries do no care if you are a dual citizenship as long as you obey the laws of the country your in. You are a citizen of that country only, where you are and can not go crying to the USA for help if you get into legal trouble.
7. Buying a citizenship – You can basically buy a Russian citizenship legally if you have the cash to set up a business, but it is not the way to go. A CIS citizenship is not as good as a EU citizenship. Buying an EU citizenship is not possible.
8. Getting official translations – Putting your doucments into the language you need is a moot point, there are a lot of official translators.
9. The citizenship application – When you apply, write from your heart, you have to personally write a strong case of why you want to be a citizen.  It can not be for frivolous reasons, like it is cool.  Write how you have a historical connection that goes way back. Write what is true and honest. That you have an interest in the culture and the language and the people. If possible you would like to add to the society someday. Be sincere and into the country you are trying to get a citizenship for.
10. The EU government – Be patient. It may take years but is worth the wait. Remember every coutry in this Union is an individual country and where you apply is important not the Union as a whole. Your passport will come from one of the member countries.

You can read more about the European Union citizenship on their home page.  Or better yet as a question to a real person, me. If you have any questions regarding citizenship or even questions like citizenship of babies born in a foreign country,  or marriage and citizenship questions, please ask.  I am not an expert but I can tell you based on my personal experiences.

I noticed a while back match.com had a slogan “it’s OK to look”. The question is if you are married is it OK to look at girls on the Internet or women on the street?  Or wives to look at cute guys. Even just for fun and it does not mean anything?  My answer is clear. But let me convey some real life examples. These example will better answer this question.

Is it OK to look example 1

When I was in Boston and single there was a cute yoga instructor. I never seriously considered dating her but we were on a cordial basis. One day I saw her in the trolley and instead of her normal smile and greeting she turned away. I was like, ‘what was that all about?’ I latter learned she got engaged. It dawned on me, she saw me as a male not just as a student. I was very impressed.

I mean often in American culture we have this attitude that it’s OK to look at a woman or a guy as long as it does not mean anything. But here was someone who did not even show me a glance or smile because of the dynamics of the situation. My respect for her increase significantly as she was someone who lived by a moral code.

Women often have hen parties where they go out drinking and doing crude things to strange men and hopelessly look to their lady friendsmaid for the nod of approval to see if it is OK while one the dance floor grinding some guy. Guaranteed this American girl did not. I respect her.

It’s OK to look example 2

I live in Krakow, Poland and I noticed that there were a lot of Jewish guys walking around this beautiful old town with their heads looking at the ground. I was again, ‘what is this all about?’ – Latter I was reading the book A day of pleasure by Isaac Bashevis Singer and read about a married man who would not look at a strange woman directly even if it was about business as he was married and it would be wrong to do so.

I was very impressed. Then I made the connection, this is why the men in Kazimierz, the Old Jewish district of Krakow were not looking arround, so their eyes would not accidently catch a glimpse of another woman and feel lust.

It’s not OK to look makes sense if you are married and promise your life to someone before God. You should think about them not someone else, or why get married? Do not get married unless you really mean it and you are hopelessly in love.

It’s OK to look example 3

I am married and before I was married I dated other women.  I often wondered what would happen when I got married to my desire to fantasizes and check out girls on the street etc. It worried me as I was someone who had ideals but in practice was less then perfect. Well then I meet my wife. When I first saw her I thought this girl was so attractive she would not ever speak to me. This is how you should feel about your spouse.

Love is both primitive and spiritual.

I found someone who was my fantasy and dream come true. She was from my dreams and the unspoken prayers of my heart. We have been together for years and I think about her this way and more than the day I meet her. I can not even conjure up other women in my mind even if I wanted to. Why would I want to, she is the one for me. It is not out of moral highness I do not do this, but because I love her.

However, if I would surf for bad hots or look at other women it would be wrong.

I did not have a bachelors party, what would be the point. We all went out with our friends together.

Women and it’s OK to look

I have ask women about this and they say as long as their guy does not do anything it’s OK to look. I think this is a lame relationship.  And what does he think about in bed with you?  They do not like it but accept it. Maybe they have to hear the truth. It is not OK to look. I am sorry I think it is hopeless if you are with your partner and scoping ladys. On the other hand she should not be flirting/ smiling with guys and talking to her friends about some cute UPS man (I use to work for UPS and yes women flirt and smile).

Disloyalty comes from the heart, then the mind in the imagination. Imagination is where the divine resides. Be careful what you imagine as this is your connection to the divine.

If you are in the habit of doing this, it is OK, maybe because you never heard this point of view. Going forward consider what I said and maybe if you start breaking the habit of your devious ways you might start experiencing a richer life.

The next time you hear someone say Oh, It’s OK too look at other women or smile flirtatious at other men, ask them why?

Living in Poland I have seen a lot of changes. The one thing that strikes me the most is the real estate market in Poland. I am not in the business of real estate, rather I have a Master’s degree in Economics and passively observe market changes. After about four years of watching the pull back from its bubble I think it is still not ready to do anything but continue its downward path. I am very pro Poland, but being realistic about the economic situation in the land and housing market.

Why Polish real estate is not ready to recover

It is all about supply and demand. This is what determines prices and nothing else. Cost and value are notions that are through back from Marx’s economic theory that the price of an object was determined by the labor or cost to make it. Modern economic theory says value is subjective and determined only by supply and demand. This applies to housing prices also.

• EU is not only in crisis but the Euro might fall apart, and leave the EU in shell shock for a few years, maybe ten. Countries that were throwing money into the Polish land rush are now fighting to save their own houses and collapse. Ireland, Scotland and England were the main speculators and now their lands are in trouble.
• Supply of housing has increase in Poland based on speculation that there is a huge over capacity of residential and commercial units. Because of the economics of the business cycle plans that were started years back are being completed now and the result is a huge over capacity. Empty lots and luxury appartements can not even be rent. Why would they be?
• Demand is continuing a down. I see large buildings that are brand new, falling apart a little as they have been empty for years. My friends are building new houses themselves in the suburbs rather than living in over priced city flats. Credit has not and will not ease any further. The population is not growing. Unemployment is about 13% which is not the best for a high prices.

When I get the cash I will most likely build a house in the countryside, cheap. A house designed to my specifications and liking not some builders conceptions (to maximize profits) of a boxy house with small windows and a over sized red rood. I will build my dream home, eco friendly and in American style home. I want Polish people to do the same, that is have their dream home in their idea not someone builders idea and they pay it off with a mortgage for 30 years of hard work. Its very unfair to the people that live here.

Is this all bad? Not at all I am a patriot. I love Poland. However, prices are adjusting to normal levels from inflated highs based on foreign speculation. A unit in a city should be about 2000 Polish złoty a meter, but it is still about 5,500 pln a meter. The average person can not afford real housing because the Polish real estate agents and developers are trying to keep the prices inflated at all costs.

My brother in law build a home in the Polish countryside for under 1000 pln a meter. Its beautiful and not far from Krakow, where he works. Granted he did a few things himself but mostly local guys did it for him. A full house done by a builder now is about 2000 pln a meter.

How long will the prices of land and buildings in Poland stay inflated

Price will stay excessively high until they come down to 1/3 the level they are at now. So if a unit costs 6,000 a meter it will have to come to 2,000 a meter. I have seen the same situation in the USA. Prices in Florida and California are cheaper than Poland. These are luxury condos on the beach. I have seen bear markets last 10 or 15 years or never recover. People are fooling themselves if they think they can just wait it out. Take a look around you in Europe what is happening. It might take years if ever.

The good news is only the builders and Polish real estate agents lose. The Polish people will get reasonably price real estate again.