It can be amusing to see what searches bring readers to this blog. Some of the more interesting have been:
I titled this post “Behind Closed Doors,” and I’ll bet they’ll be disappointed with the turn it is going to take. I wanted to point out, what is to me, a very noticeable cultural difference, and it has to do with closed doors.
My husband mentioned this when he first began working on a Polish Air Force base. He immediately noticed that that everyone closed their office door during the duty day. This seems to be the norm in Poland, even in public places.
To an American, the closed door says do not enter. It conveys the message that there is no one on the other side, or the person on the other side is engaged in some very private or confidential matter and is not to be disturbed.
That’s not the case in Poland. When I visited a museum in Lodz, I stood in the foyer trying to find the place to buy my ticket. It took me 4 or 5 minutes and a bit of looking around. I finally realized that the solid wood, closed door off to the right of the entrance had a small sign on it that read “kasa.” I remembered seeing this word at the check-out at a book store in Boleslawiec. (Google translate tells me that it means cash register or safe.) I bravely opened the door and found a few other people in the small office; I stood in line to by my ticket.
When I visited the main library in Poznan with friends, we ran into closed doors inside the library. We wandered the hallway, read signs by doors indicating that they were indeed open for business, and the nervously opened the closed door to find a large collection, several staff, and library patrons on the other side.
Closed doors may be more common here in the home too. Every room in our apartment has a door. We could close the door to the living room or kitchen – something I’m not used to. I’m more accustomed to the public rooms in a home being open and connected, but it is kind of handy to be able to shut the kitchen door. It keeps Benson, our dog out of trouble.
An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com, she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook, available on Amazon and on her website.
Suzie-Q
Germany is the same — doors on every room. It may have to do with heating and/or cooling. Electricity is very expensive, for some reason, so Germans will close doors to rooms they're not using so they don't have to be heated.
I have been know to use the word "pussy" in my blog when I talk about the cats just to frustrate the people searching for porn! It works!
Kasia
I have arrived here from the "kielbasa" blog. I have a lot to catch up – 40+ posts. I am from Poznan. I met my American husband when I studied at UAM. I have lived in the States for 16 years. I am looking forward to reading about your Polish experience…
Lois B
Sue – our electric bill runs about $10 per month.
Kasia – thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading your comments. Your hometown is beautiful.
tralf
It's a good thing my kitchen doesn't have any doors to close– I'd never do the dishes, just keep piling up the used ones until I ran out.
Dennis
All the older houses in the US northeast are the same, and I think it was definitely a heating issue, but customs are different all over. Maybe it come out of all those years of Soviet control…any privacy was welcomed? In Austria, I have been told that it is polite to keep your hands above the table while eating, which meant that no one could pass weapons to each other under the table!
Lois B
Tralf – I hadn't thought of that!
Dennis – that's too funny. I'll try to remember that when we attend a dinner party this week.
madkasia
I have arrived here from Kielbasa blog as well. I don't even remember how I found Kielbasa, though.
Hmm – You are totally right about closed door in Poland. I guess when it comes to doors I got fully Americanized. 🙂
Chris
Hi- I think the closed door thing can first of all be a heating thing. We have an old German farmhouse and every little room has a door. Another thing can be privacy, for many Polish folks a living room or even kitchen can double as a place to sleep as well.
I used to work for an American co. here in PL and it annoyed me how I would have to always knock on my boss's door. In our co