UK, Ireland / 700 are arriving every day from Eastern Europe into Britain [50]

Having read these articles I can't honestly say any of the quoted figures surprise me. From my own personal experience, living in a city with many new arrivals it's difficult to draw many conclusions. I have enjoyed some good nights out in the Polish bar here exchanging views and banter and have not felt any animosity whatsoever but on the whole would say that any degree of integration still appears some way off the mark. In fairness, my wife moved to the UK 6 years ago from Estonia and until recently regularly remarked about not "fitting in" because of her background despite working with predominantly British colleagues, having fluency in English etc, etc.

Whether right or wrong I imagine that integration is not a priority for those here short term wherever they come from and that if any degree of integration is to be achieved anywhere it is a two-way process and people must be made to feel welcome.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


Very interesting post that got me thinking, it would indeed be boring if we all spoke the same. Not so sure how easy it is to "lose" an accent, I know of many people who have been in the UK 50+ years and still have a "twang":-) Although I know of a few Danish and Dutch sportsmen that have plied their trade in the UK that are "indetectable" by their accent the vast majority of those speaking English as a second language have an accent of some kind.

In my eyes, the goal when I speak another language is to make myself understood in every situation, I can work on the accent later;-)

Travel / Polish Airports and Air industry are pathetic [32]

If they have to make the airports as pleasant as the cities I've visited then I don't envy whoever is charged with that task;-)

Must confess, an airport never really makes that much impression on me unless I'm stranded there for hours.

Travel / Polish Airports and Air industry are pathetic [32]

Even worse that Easyjet? Remind me never to fly with Lot then;-)

UK, Ireland / Applying for a visa to US from England being Polish, is is possible ?? [3]

Hi,
My wife was granted a tourist visa by the US Embassy in London but that was in 2002. Although I can't see that you would have any problem in applying in the UK it might be worth dropping them an email to check beforehand to save any possible aggro when you get here.

All the best for your visit.

USA, Canada / Advice for Polish girlfriend getting tourist visa to visit America? [45]

In answer to Pallula's question, the US Embassy is the only place in the UK that can issue visas for visits to the US as it is now a requirement, with limited exceptions, to apply in person and be interviewed (even for a visitor's visa). Full details are on the US Embassy in London website.

The Polish Embassy in London only deals with visas for non-EU/EEA Citizens that require one to visit/live in Poland. Cheers, Vas.

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]

The minimum wage in the UK is fast becoming the maximum wage in a lot of industries.

Food / Sweet or salty cottage cheese?? [6]

Sounds similar to what they call "kohupiim" in Estonia which is smoother than cottage cheese (it's actually curd, but is often mistranslated as cottage cheese) which is served in a variety of ways such as salted, sugared, with raisins, chocolate coated (sounds disgusting but is actually pretty good;-))

UK, Ireland / Unemployed due to Polish who work in the UK [126]


A similar thing is happening in Leicester, a shop run by Poles just outside the city centre is selling the same Polish foods as a shop less than a mile away run by Turks. Almost everything in the shop run by Poles is between 10-50% more expensive hence the reason I've stopped shopping there.

Food / Convenience foods [17]

I've tried the shop bought pierogi and they are not in the same league as "proper" home made ones.


There's always a plentiful supply of those around here. Well tasty;-)