One reason I really like to go skating here in the winter is that it affords me a very rare opportunity to see competent and confident Polish men. This society provides so few opportunities, it seems, for people to demonstrate their skills openly, without fear of cynical or passive aggressive responses, and men in particular typically appear quite unsure of themselves*. But on the skating rink? Those dudes know what they are doing, and they REVEL in it. They show off, they take advantage of their bodies, they FLIRT. It is a joy.


* which is why they are so appreciative of a captive audience when they find one, eh?