Study / Mexican moving to Wroclaw for 3-Month-Internship, tips needed! [15]

Thanks a lot all of you for your help, I will be moving there next week.

The company just confirmed me that they will give me full accommodation the whole time of my stay, so that's not a problem anymore.

Thanks for the restaurant tip, but since I'm mexican im used to cook mexican food at home, so I better look for nice polish food :) Anyways is always good to know where to go for a home-made snack :)

Have a nice day!

News / What can Poland do to maintain its Ethnic Integrity? [118]

I agree on the point that immigration helps to boost economies (e.g. like USA and UK) and also brings big troubles like people not integrating to society.

We have to think also, which kind of people is the majority of the immigrants. I know there are skilled people who would like to go abroad and so on, but most of the migrating people are people in need, in real need that are looking for a better (or at least decent) life abroad.

I'm mexican and raised in Mexico (lived in USA 1 year and 2 in Germany, both because of studies, now making a 3-month internship in Poland) and I know the mexican poor economical reality.

I also understand americans' opinion (sometimes) when they complain about many mexicans in USA and that they are criminals or they dont integrate or cant speak english. But I also can't blame these poor people, they hardly had something to eat back in Mexico, so it's hard to think they were learning english and preparing for integrating to american culture, and of course, because of their poor-status they are unable to get a proper visa to have a better life somewhere else.

I know the root of the problem is in the country of origin and the lack of education and opportunities, but, you as a human being, can't explain your hungry kids that you are waiting for a macroeconomical miracle to bring something to the table.

I compare (and share) such feelings to polish in UK and turkish in Germany, if you have the great bliss of understanding, you can figure out that such people are not making an effort to integrate, not because they dont want, but probably because they are too busy working-hard and bring something to the table back in the home-country.

I'm not pro-islam, pro-slavic or pro-latino, or against any of them, I'm pro-understanding the root of immigration. If you, as rich-country citizen, don't like such globalization effect, you can organize yourselves and propose more strict immigration policies to your government, but as long as your economy needs low-skilled workers for such jobs no one likes, there will be someone in need that will take them.

Moral of the story: live and let live!

p.s.1. im totally against crime and racism, if migrants bring such things, I think they shouldn't be allowed anywhere.

p.s.2. im pro-mexican-food :)

have a nice day!

News / What can Poland do to maintain its Ethnic Integrity? [118]


I totally agree Jaszczolt. I was just comparing the "need" both immigrants had in their home-countries. Hell of a differences between Mexico and any muslim country, really!

I don't understand Islam but IMHO for me it looks like an obsolete way of living, impossible to be ruled by something written thousand years ago, it's like if us mexicans still behead people in top of the aztec pyramids, just because it was written somewhere!!!

Study / Dormitory conditions of Polish Universities [7]

Hi groundlers, another guy asked the same question, but regarding the dormitories in Wroclaw. As I have understood, most of the student dormitories are mostly the same overall Poland, then I'm copying you my experience in dormitories (I live in one in Wroclaw).

Good luck!

------------

The word that best defines the student residences is CHEAP. You can't beat the prices, for one bed you pay 192 zlotych (50 euros) monthly.

First of all, you share room, you can't live alone. You will have 1 or 2 roommates, and the whole room is about 16 square meters.

Second, it is a building with 10 stories, and each story have like 18 rooms (meaning around 50 persons per story), and there is one kitchen for all of you. The kitchen is basically 2 sinks to wash dishes and two old gas heaters for cooking, and one table!

Also there is only 1 washing machine per story which your room is allowed to use one day per week.

Third, ambient it's ok, not dangerous, friendly among erasmus people (because I live in the same story as all the erasmus), but also you should follow some security measures like closing your room every time you're somewhere else, to avoid being robbed (you never know when can this happen!)

Fourth, yes, it is loud. You can hear noises from the rooms next to yours, from the bathroom (which you share with another 3 rooms, meaning 12 people), from the hall and even from outside. And if you add that people usually listen music loud or party and drink in the halls, well, its not the best place for sleeping/studying.

Fifth, it is near to the uni, just 10 minutes walking or 2 tram stops. And next to this building there are 5 other buildings of the same kind. Meaning that with good weather everyone is in the garden making grills.

Sixth, thing that annoys me the most, in every room there is a loudspeaker, through which the administrator speaks to the WHOLE building WHENEVER they want. Just imagine it is 1am, you are almost sleeping in your bed, and suddenly one voice in polish starts giving some announcement (which in my case I never understand because can't understand polish!). VERY ANNOYING!

Hope it gives you a better idea of your next home! Remember, its the cheapest around!

:)

Love / Mexican in love with Polish girl. Need advice on what to do. [49]

Mexicans are allowed to whole European Union without visa for a maximum period of 90 days, of course based on the principle you will be here as a tourist.

Some countries can ask you further questions when you try to enter, like UK or Germany, because they had experience of people entering like tourists and staying.

Im mexican, with legal status in European Union, when I get visits from friends from Mexico they never had need visa. Only countries you need visa for in Europe as a mexican are: Ukraine, Belarus and Bosnia Herzegovina (which are basically not-EU members).

In my personal experience, when I traveled to London with a friend, even when you don't need a visa, you are being asked questions like: where and how long are you going to stay, show reservations from hotels, show your ticket or reservation to go out of UK. I have traveled all around EU (around 15 different countries) and this happened to me only in UK. In other countries they just see your passport very detailed, because its not so common for a polish officer lets say, to see a mexican passport.

I dont want to give you illegal ideas, since Im also against illegal stuff, but once you get in the EU, only thing u need to renew your 90-day period is to go out of the shengen area, lets say, cross the border to Poland or Rumania. In any case Poland will be in schengen area in january 2008, so that means you must travel longer to get out EU, and get in again with a 90-day period for tourism.

Of course neither of the options mentioned entitle you to work anywhere in the EU, and this is not US where you can survive with spanish and/or english everywhere you go. If you want to make your way in Poland, you must learn some polish at least.

My advice to you: get legal somewhere (preferably in Mexico), come as a tourist, marry your polish girl in Poland and stay in Poland until you get your residence (3 years). And please, try to be legal!

Travel / train Berlin to Warsaw [9]

You can buy it directly in Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) or buy it in advance through bahn.de it costs 39 euro each direction for adults over 26 years old.

Love / Mexican in love with Polish girl. Need advice on what to do. [49]

I'm just encouraging him to do things right, what I wrote its completely legal.

I'm not sure if he is a felon or something, that's not my business anyways.

And if he comes to Poland, wouldn't you be satisfied to have one less illegal mexican in U.S. territory? :)

Travel / Warsaw aiport to the central train station??? [16]

You can take bus 175, you can take it directly outside of the arrivals terminal, don't forget to buy a ticket and validate it once you get in the bus, since there are random controls which are very often in this route. It will take you like around 15-20 minutes to get to the Warszawa Centralna, it will leave you just in front of it, be aware of the stops once you are in the bus, they are all shown in a small screen inside the bus. Good luck!

Life / Polish Train Travel - Scary? [101]

You're completely right Magdalena, I've been using Polish trains since 3 years to the present date (during day or during night) and never had a trouble! Now ask me how many times I've been looted/attacked in Italy? The 3 times I've been there, 3 times been assaulted, and still can't says Italians are like that! Anyways, I have not many desires on going back there hehe no offense to my italian amigos!

Work / How hard/easy is to find a job in PL for a non-EU with european MSc.? [6]

Well, most of the time had practical work in software development: ASP/JSP web applications, database management, IT project management, UML design for OO applications.

This whole year been mostly into researching and designing algorithms for automated reasoners for decision-support systems.

Experience on the IT-industry and banking related companies.

any advice so far?

Work / How hard/easy is to find a job in PL for a non-EU with european MSc.? [6]

Thanks a lot dude, I will take all this into consideration.

:)

Travel / LUBLIN. Any facts needed about the area. [16]

Dear Paul,

my girlfriend is from Lublin and lives there, I met her in Germany while both were studying an exchange semester. Since then I am with her, and been to Lublin something around 10 times. I could say I know the area good.

First of all Lublin is far away from West Europe, to get there you must fly either to Warsaw or Rszeszow, both are something like 200km away. Then you can take a small bus that will get you there in around 2 hours for 25zl. Or if you want to save some pounds you can take the eternal bus that crosses Poland and gets there in something like 16 hours starting in Berlin.

Lublin is quite charming, has a beautiful old town, and the nature of the Lubelskie region is also very beautiful. Statistical economical data says Lubelskie is the poorest region in Poland, but honestly speaking I don't find it "that" poor like other regions I've been to in PL. However, you wont find skyscrapers or modern stuff, but it is fair developed. Shopping malls, clubs, cafes, etc are all around the center. It has something like 350.000 inhabitants and some of the most important universities in Poland, meaning it is also a student town.

Prices are a little bit cheaper than other places in Poland, for instance, one bus ticket in Warsaw cost you something like 2zl and in Lublin around 1,40zl. Same with restaurants and so on. The times I have been there I have met nice welcoming people. Most of the skilled and educated people of Lublin usually end up working in Warsaw because it is not far away as I said.

Around Lublin there are interesting small towns like Zamosc and Kazimierz Dolny, and also natural parks and crystal water lakes.

Let yourself be surprised by expecting nothing and finding a charming true polish town. And if you will have nice company, this time will be lot nicer.

Hope all this helps you!

Regards,
Olito

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

She lives in Lublin, but honestly speaking I don't find any chances there; she agrees.

We are willing to move to any bigger city if I find a job there (namely Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw).

The issue is only the good-job-finding!

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

Szarlotka,

yes I have real work experience.

- 1 year for an IT consulting group as a programmer in Mexico
- 2 years for the Business Informatics department of a mexican bank
- 1 year as a programmer in a solar technology company in Germany
- 7 months for my thesis in Airbus
- 3 months as an internship for an IT-company in Wroclaw (don't know if this also counts as real work experience, but its my only work experience in PL)

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

My God! I just checked and 1 euro equals now to 4.9zl, that means that if you are LUCKY to find, let's say a 8000zl/month job, you get around 1000 euro in your pocket.

This is what you get in Germany as a Werkstudent and working only 20 hours per week!

Definitely is not the best time to go to Poland! :(

Work / Moving to Poland in April 2009, need to find IT-related job! suggestions? [21]

Dear Charlie (and anyone else who could help),

my e-mail is sondoobie [at] hotmail [dot] com, let me know which kind of help you can offer regarding IT jobs opportunities.

Greetings,
Olito

Life / Latinos/Hispanic people in Warsaw or Krakow [34]

Hey there cabrones! I'm mexican currently living in Lublin (not too far from Warsaw).

Yes, polish girls are very friendly, it seems that the difficulties that one experience on our countries and the catholic religion mixes up in a similar fashion here and in latin america.

However, there are notable differences in behaviour but friendliness is not an issue. A common issue could be the language!

Anyways, I'm not allowed anymore to chat too much with other polish girls, moja dziewczyna would not approve it :)

By the way, polish guys are friendly as well, but it takes longer for them to get used to latino guys, you know this old thinking regarding "you come here to steal our women". But do not focus on this, after all most of them are friendly. I have had only good experiences in PL, can't complain at all!

Law / Long term visa vs. residence permit [7]

I don't want to sound pessimistic but currently it is very hard to find a job in Poland, even more if you don't speak polish.

Probably your best chances are as English teacher like most of the foreigners in Poland do, however I guess Warsaw is a little bit saturated with them.

Even if you manage to find one job within this 90-days, the procedures to get your temporary residence can take several months, meaning that at some point you will have to leave the country for some time or stay illegal.

Probably marrying it's not such a bad solution after all...

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]

You can take the bus 175 from the airport (just outside the lower level of Warsaw airport) and it will take you to the Warsaw Main Train Station (Centralna), cost 2.80zl. It will take aprox. 20-30 minutes.

Centralna is in the corner of Al. Jerozolimskie and Al. Jana Pawla, from there you walk 100 meter direction north in Al. Jana Pawla, and you will find many small buses (for up to 15 persons) stopped next to the sidewalk. They all travel to Lublin or surroundings, everyday almost every hour, for 25zl. Some bus companies in case you need to recognize them: Contbus, Big Bus, Misura.

The bus ride takes usually 2.5 hours, same time as the train and it leaves you directly next to Lublin Castle (Old Town) in Ruska street. Train leaves you a little far away from center and this is not a so beautiful neighborhood, specially at night. Also, train costs you something around 36zl.

It may seem complicated to do, but believe me its safe and the cheapest/fastest way. I commute every two weeks between Lublin and Warsaw and know what I'm talking about. Just be aware that Friday afternoon maybe a little bit crowded to find place in these buses, due to many people that live in Warsaw go and visit relatives to Lublin for the weekend. In this specific timeframe I would highly recommend train. Don't be shy in approaching the bus drivers to buy your tickets, some people just don't respect the line and will jump before you to ensure a place in the bus!

Good luck and enjoy your visit to Lublin!

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]


haha you are right on that one, It can also get pretty spooky around there late at night :)


Contbus actually cancelled this reservation service because many people just called to reserve a place and sometimes didn't show up. Now you must buy the ticket on advance from contbus.pl however I have never done this.


The ones going to Lublin don't go through Pulawy, however once there was an accident and they closed the road, so the only way to get to Lublin was through Pulawy :)

Travel / What is the best way to get from Warsaw airport to Lublin? [13]


I'm serious, I always travel with Contbus and they have never stopped in Pulawy in their way to Lublin, maybe another company does it.

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


Probably you misunderstood what I'm meaning, I understand salary levels in Poland and I know that many people earn lot less than this and still make a decent life. I am meaning that for a high level studied and multilingual experienced professional its is not a good offer, if you consider living in a city like Warsaw which is in no way cheap anymore.


Software applications project leading.


I have to disagree, for fresh-graduated programmers this is the salary expectation, but for IT project manager or Senior Project lead it is not.

Some figures of salaries of IT professionals in Poland, F.Y.I.

hays.pl/library/pdf/poland/IT.pdf

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


Well I was meaning 4.000 gross salary


This is what my wife tells me all the time. I don't come from a rich country, however in Mexico well prepared people are well paid. Maybe my mistake is to expect such situation here... hmmmmm. Thanks for your feedback!

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


I never mentioned I turned down jobs, I said I only had 2 interviews, and actually none of them was with Comarch. The offering from them is through a contact that told me I would get that money if I agree to work there as a programmer.


I guess you are not an H.R. manager, so that saves me from your judgment of being employed. Thanks anyways.

Work / 5 months looking for a job in PL and nothing! suggestions? [22]


OK, I get everyone's point on this.


Yes I did, most of the IT-related: IBM, HP, Microsoft, Sabre, Nokia-Siemens, Google, Accenture, CapGemini... just to mention some..


Already registered by MichaelPage, Hays, Manpower and Randstad.


I agree