Hello everyone!

So… how does it feel to live in 2010? I see there’s a debate going on in the media (at least in the US) on what to call this year in English: twenty-ten or two thousand ten. I’m in the 20-10 camp myself.
Luckily, there’s no such problem in Polish. It’s rok dwa tysiące dziesiąty (year two thousand ten) whether you like it or not. And yeah, it’s a mouthful, that’s for sure. But that’s how we say it in Polish. And just wait till the next century rolls around! Ha! Then it will get even more complicated. But fortunately, we don’t have to worry about it for następne dziewięćdziesiąt lat (another 90 years).

We should definitely learn how to say those big numbers in Polish, but let’s do it another time.

For now, let’s take a quick look at the last decade. And boy oh boy, was it a busy decade for Poland, or what!

First, we got to finally join the European Union. That was back in 2004 and seems like so long ago now, but in fact it was just a little over 5 years ago. Then we got to join the Schengen zone, and the rest is history. And oh yeah, let’s not forget Canada which very kindly allowed us to visit our friends and relatives in Toronto and Vancouver  bez wiz (without visas). How awesome is that?

Poles can travel freely now, move to and work in other EU countries and basically do what they want where they want.

What a difference a decade can make! Ten years ago who would have thought that people from Canada and Australia would actually desire a Polish passport (polski paszport)! And jump through a multitude of legal hoops to get it!

Yes, it was a very interesting decade indeed!

I am not sure what the next ten years will bring for Poland. Because with Poland, you just never know.

One of my friends wishes for visa-free travel to the US. Personally, I don’t think it will happen before 2156, or so. But if it by some chance does happen earlier, be sure to remind me and I’ll eat my words, OK?

So, what do you think this new decade will mean for Poland? Will things change or will it be just more of the same?

Useful words:

• dekada (noun, feminine, plural: dekady) – decade
• wiek or stulecie (noun, wiek-masc., stulecie-neuter, plural: wieki, stulecia) – century
• rok (noun, masc., plural: lata) – year

PS. And what about your postanowienia noworoczne (new year’s resolutions)? Would you like to share?