Work / Opportunities for Fluent English/Polish Speakers? [7]

All English native speakers, who also speak Polish should consider applying to all International Companies, where language both skills may be useful. However, please remember, that there are now thousands of multilinguals chasing the same jobs and that other skills (such as accountancy, HR) may be required in order to secure a well-paid post. Also, with the recession in Poland, there is a likelihood that language schools will not be hiring many new teachers, as student numbers decrease.

No, it is 'not a big deal' nowadays to speak just two languages (English and Polish), you have to offer some other skills.

Work / Opportunities for Fluent English/Polish Speakers? [7]

>>>>Actually, I've observed the exact opposite. With the global 'crisis', people need to be better qualified, hence the need for English teachers.

....Good English teachers with wide experience will never be out of work.
I thoroughly agree, that people need an extra edge to chase those few jobs that are available. I foresee that language schools will have to drop their prices in order to attract more students year after year or there will be a mushrooming of private tutors, where a -one-to-one tuition gives a student more in an hour than a school ever could do.

Work / 4000 zloty Wroclaw - what kind of life can I expect for that? [20]

Many people have to manage for far less and they have a family to consider. People earn 2,000 gross and it has to do.
What exactly do you mean by 'manage' - eat margarine/smalec and cheapest bread or going out to restaurants and paying 50zl per meal - different people have different perceptions of what it is to manage.

When you have to manage - you do.
As for an international company offering you 4,300 gross, go and ask them to reconsider (in my view it is not enough) - but again, it all depends on what the job is and who the company is.

Work / 4000 zloty Wroclaw - what kind of life can I expect for that? [20]

to these costs you must add:
gas/electricity/phone
travelling costs
clothes/shoes
going out/cinema/pubs

Anybody can manage on the salary, but make sure you are not being 'cheated'

Travel / The best way to travel from Warsaw to Katowice [5]

Get to the main train station in Warsaw (Warszawa Glowna) (there should be a bus nearby) and from the main train station take a train to Katowice.

Travel / The best way to travel from Warsaw to Katowice [5]

>>>You've never been there, I guess...It's Warszawa Centralna.
Yes, I have, but some years ago now, (just forgot the name). I used to work in Warsaw in 1994-96, which seems like centuries ago. Still have fond memories of the railway station. I suppose I need another visit to be more up to date.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]

I thought all the French aristocracy were beheaded during the Napoleonic era.

Law / Does anyone have experience of getting a karta pobytu from Krakow? [13]

I too have tried getting a karta pobytu. But the experience left me in a state of total nervous exhaustion up to the point where I said...Oh, dear me, except the 'f' letter was used.

And now the story....
I bought a flat in 2002 in Krakow and was told that I needed to be registered (zameldowanie). (This is where it all went wrong-I was told duff info). I live in UK permanently.

I am on a British passport, so I could only get the 3 month zameld. It meant that for a few years I had to make sure that every 3 months I turned up to renew the 3 month zameld. However, doing it for the umpteenth time, last time, some job's worth told me that they couldn't do it anymore, as the 3 months zamel. no longer existed and I had to register for the 5 year one. From Urzad Miasta I went to St. Sebastian St, where I was told that I needed 'insurance'. This is where it became laughable. I told the girl, that never in a million years would I use the Polish Health Service, as I would go private anyway, bo no, it wouldn't do. I did not realize at the time, that UK NHS card would have done for that-thank you for that.

Story continues...I walked out...and told them to stick it. As I live in the UK I did not see why I should be zameld. in Poland anyway, as the longest I ever spend in 2 weeks 5 times a year in my flat. And that was another thing..even when I was doing the 3 months zamel. I had to prove that I am the owner and I am the tenant of the flat, therefore I had to give myself permission to live there. Laughable, I know.

However, now that I have calmed down, after the last experience about a year ago...I have not given up and will try again.
And don't even get me started on trying to get proof my my Polish nationality.
I was born in Poland of Polish parents and Polish grandparents. I have my Polish birth certificate, my Polish christening form, my exam results from school (I attended for a few years) and the woman told me that these facts did not mean that they would recognise my Polish nationality...When I said I was born in Krakow, she said that she wasn't exactly sure if she could accept that Krakow was in Poland. I left without saying a word and got drunk that night.

Law / I'm going to give up (selling furniture in Poland) [5]

The problem is NOT with your furniture, but with the ingrained attitude of Poles not to buy new furnityre every so many years. The older generation has their own furniture which they have had passed down from their parents or grandparents, and the younger generation does not have the money to buy new.

The best thing I can suggest is to barrage stores large such as Ikea or similar and see if they would be willing to try to sell your goods, or try and get involved with Trade shows where furniture is one of the items on display.

Travel / Wroclaw Train station to the Airport [15]

Yes. I've looked on 'Wroclaw airport' and there used to be a bus no 406 which took you to Wroclaw Train station from the airport. The no might have changed, but there is always a bus. If you are going to take a taxi, agree a charge beforehand (approx 70pln)

The bus also goes the other way. From the station ask for Autobus na Lotnisko no 406 (czterysta szesc)

Travel / From where to get travel insurance... for visit in Poland :-) [6]

Travel insurance is only needed for your journey. This insurance WILL NOT cover you for a year. (read the policy thoroughly).
If you are coming for a guaranteed job, they have a responsibility to insure you through ZUS. However, you will find that it's always best to keep some money spare for medical emergencies (dentist, doctor etc) where you might need treatment immediately and will have to pay privately.

UK, Ireland / Buying a used car from a private seller in UK. What is the law if... [18]

The law is very clear when you buy anything from a private person, you do not have the same rights as buying from a shop/garage etc. Cars from private indiuviduals are 'Bought as seen'. (Buyer beware -caveat emptor). It is up to the purchaser to satisfy himself that the goods (car) meets his requirements before he parts with any money. Your friends have no leg to stand on - they cannot demand their money back - as they willingly (ie being an adult and with full faculties) made the purchase willingly. Whether the car has or does not have an MOT - they should have asked before buying. There is no point calling the police - they saw what they were buying and bought it. The police cannot do anything.

One get out would be if they 'specifically' asked him about faults and have witnesses to this, i.e. do the breaks work?, are the tyres new? and he told them a 'definite lie' then you would have to sue them through the courts. It all depends on the value of the car. Best way out is to get it through its MOT and sell it on or sell it for parts.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

ragtime27
I assume that you are a Polish national (or at least with a Polish passport). The purchase of land by foreigners is still forbidden by law. I think you would have to get permission from the Ministry if you wanted to purchase land. Make sure you are thoroughly covered before you pay anything over. Any deposit is USUALLY non-refundable, except if the seller pulls out.

You need a good notary agent who can prepare a contract. If you do not understand Polish well enough, make sure you have a good translator - you cannot pull out of a contract later, saying that you didn't understand the terms and conditions.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

Charges for the services of the notary agents will generally be the same.

Some more observations,
I suppose you have already made doubly sure that you can actually build on the land -and that it is possible, if not already done, that the services such as water, gas, electricity etc are already attached to it, if not, you will have to factor the costs of bringing these to the land.

The design of the house has to be approved by the Town Architects office, which can take some time, and then finally, once you start building make sure that any contracts with the builders have time frames for finishing certain parts and any penalties.

Other than that, I wish you good luck with the purchase and the house.

Life / Looking forward to move to Poland in September, but I have some questions. [12]


Just one question: WHY?
Do you not think that these goods are available in Poland? If I were you I would sell them in the UK and buy new in Poland.

Travel / Opinion about polish tourists [9]


One can only imagine (and this is for those with a very fertile imagination) what he intended doing to the poor waste bin.

Travel / Few questions - Canadian-born travelling to Poland in less than a week [9]

Don't carry your passport around with you.
Behave just as if you were a native of Poland, do not draw attention to yourself by acting as if you were lost. Just carry on and then ask someone for the correct address/ bus/tram.

Beware of pickpockets in crowded places. Do not leave your handbag anywhere and do not wave money around.

Life / Where to do laundry in Krakow? [24]

>>>On Wrzesińska street there is Laundromt ,,Frania Cafe", where can you wash and dry your clothes in 1 hour.
This is just off DDietla, opposite the tram stops.
I have used this laundromat on many occassions. Excellent service.

Language / Overuse of the words 'po prostu', esp among females [41]

Ewa speaks good Polish of course, but her guests.. let's say they aren't from the 'upper class' ;-)

Well, this is interesting.
What is good Polish? - could we find the equivalent in - 'what is Good English'?
Can you name me Polish people whom you would consider 'upper class' and then convince me that if they came to a pre-recorded family show, that this would make good television. The purpose of the programme is to entertain.

Language / WHO AND WHEN COINED THE TERM DUPEK? [13]

The best Polish translation I've heard to date is for the well-known classic film "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.

In Poland it became " Pol zartem, pol serio".
Just how did this happen?

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

Notary – They are responsible for checking the title, and land/registry documents,
...a little bit of addition here. The notary IS NOT responsible for checking the legal ownership of the land, nor any other encumbents on it (i.e. debts which may be secured against the land). It is up to the Purchaser to check this with the courts/ksiega wieczysta. This is what I had to do when I was buying a flat, (unless it is totally different when you're purchasing just land).

...'entering new records into the books', ...this is done at the Courts by the courts officials after the notary sends the official paperwork. Confirmation that this has been done is received straight from the Courts.

...'ensuring that both parties understand the contract and freely sign it'...If one party does not understand Polish, the notary may suggest an independent translator (paid for by the purchaser). The notary will not go through the contract word by word to explain everything. The purchaser and seller need to read the contract thoroughly before signing anything.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

Three problems...
...'legally obliged' means that they will suggest a sworn interpreter that they know (you will have to pay for this). In that position I would go with one of my own. They would need to know beforehand that one party does not speak Polish.

...I would need to understand what you mean by 'fluent in Polish'. The reason for this being, that even a normally-educated (i.e. without letters in front of their name) Polish person does not always understand the nuanses in a formal contract, so what chance does someone else have.

...sometimes you may not even have an idea what questions you should ask.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

>>>>I've read elsewhere that notary will ask from the vendor to prove the ownership,am I wrong?
Yes, but remember that a lot of land in Poland has passed down the generations and the paperwork (if it exists) does not always show the names of the actual owners. You could always ask them to show you the paperwork before you start the process.

There have been cases where properties/land has been sold by people who had no rightful title to it.
Generally, the purchaser pays all the costs. You can ask how much these will be beforehand (as they are set, depending on the value of the sale).

If there is such a letter, make sure that it is dated the day before, and not months before the sale.
Also, I am not as yet convinced, that anyone can build on land they do not fully own.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

>>>>>Yes, notarial fees are calculated based on the value of the land/property, but can be negotiated down. The PCC tax of 2% applies to the value declared on the notarial deed.

Make sure that the price quoted on your notarial deed reflects the 'true' value of the land. I have heard of occassions (and I'm talking property here - flats or houses) where the price quoted was half of the actual price of the property. The other half was paid over in cash to the seller without it being recorded in the paperwork. This was done in order to avoid the tax due on the transation.

News / Polish priest publishes sex guide [97]

Next time I'm in Poland (in 2 weeks time) I will buy this book, read it and express an opinion as to its contents. Knowing a little bit about what happens in the 'bedroom department', I'm sure that it would be easy to spot, whether he is writing from 'experience' or from the 'spiritual angle' and imagination.

Watch this space.

Work / ADVICE: WANT TO TEACH ENGLISH IN POLAND WITH TESL WILL I GET HIRED!!! [13]

>>>>>>I just checked out the application form for IH celta. Why the hell do they require applicants to submit a self photo along with the form????

...This is the usual requirement when you apply for any job in Poland. There is nothing sinister in it.

Law / Savings advice in Poland ..any views would be appreciated. [3]

I would carry on doing this. The best time to put money into your Polish bank account is when the exchange rate is 5zl or more, then put as much as you can in.

You withdraw the money from your account when zl is 4.00 or less.
Simple mathematics.

Real Estate / Flexible payment arrangement for land purchase in Poland [30]

I think I've sussed out what's going on here. You have to own something for 5 full years before you can sell it without being liable for tax on the profits.

Your friend needs to make sure, that the 5 years counts when the final contract is completed, and not when the deposit is paid. Need to check this up.

Do you know which one? WZiZT or Pozwolenie na Budowe? You should also check how long it's valid for.

News / Polish priest publishes sex guide [97]


I take it that this also applies to homosexual relationships.

UK, Ireland / Driving a Polish car in the UK [3]

>>>>Has anyone here any experience of driving a Polish registered car in the UK?
...Plenty of Polish people seem to do it in the UK without any problems.
>>>I'm actually a Brit, but buying a car in Poland this weekend to take back to the UK.
...First, make sure that the car is insured for the journey. If an accident happens you will be stuck and driving without insurance is a crime.

...Also remember that within 6 months of the car crossing the border at Dover, you must have the car registered in England. This is, unfortunately, a ball.....

>>Is it straight forward? How about going through customs at Dover? What are they like?
You should have NO trouble at all going through customs as long as the car is insured and licenced (and has passed any technical examinations etc) and with a registration document (that the car is yours).

..Make sure that the Insurance you have covers you for driving the car. Seek guidance from your English insurance company about this. This can also be a ball....