Law / Banking in Poland, as a foreigner. [26]

G'day Ozdan,

Alior Bank.

I have opened an account with them and I have money from Australia, UK, and U.S with them..

It's free to transfer money to this account. Money can be withdrawn in each currency then taken to an exchange place(kantor), which offers better exchange rates.

It also provides free withdrawals from any cash machine in Poland and the EU.

Oh yeah...it's also free(no monthly charges).

Study / Celta - Application Form [24]

Don't worry about the answers. They'll take anyone.... :)

They just want to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons as they want to maintain a high pass rate..

If you are that worried just pop into your nearest IH they'll happily explain everything:)

Work / Teaching English in Poland, no degree just certificate [41]

I teach English at at UJ ( Jagiellonian University) and AGH and I have a BSc.
So you do not require a Masters to teach at Polish Universities.

Work / Interview at a Callan School [204]

Thank-you thread.
It's been amusing.

I feel sorry for your students, looking at the numerous grammatical mistakes that have appeared throughout.

No wonder half of you teach speaking as you obviously can't write.

ha ha ha

Australia / Famous Australians [97]

Banjo Patterson - Waltzing Matilda
Cate Blanchett - (lots)
Bryan Brown - Cocktail
Mel Gibson- american born...Australian raised
Paul Hogan - Mr crocodile dundee
Steve Irwin - the crocodile hunter
Barry Humphries - Dame Edna
Hugh Jackman - (lots)
Nicole Kidman - american born...Australian raised
Guy Pearce - LA confidential
Geoffrey Rush - "Shine" won 1997 Best Actor Oscar
Yahoo Serious - Young Einstein
Jack Thompson - Australia
Toni Collete - muriels wedding
Slim Dusty - country singer
Delta Goodrem - innocent eyes album....5 consecutive no1 hits
Melissa George - greys anatomy...alias....la confidential
Heath Ledger -the joker

Musicians:
Tina Arena
Jimmy Barnes lead singer Cold Chisel "Khe Sahn" the most known song in Australia
Jason Donovan
Peter Garret - was lead singer of AC/DC
Michael Hutchence - INXS
Natalie Imbruglia...Torn, Johnny English
Dame Nellie Melba - opera singer
Kylie Minogue
Danny Minogue
Olivia Newton John - Grease
Holly Valence
Kevin Bloody Wilson
the 12th man commentary team

Cricket: Sir Donald Bradman, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Alan Border, Glen Magrath to name just a few
Tennis: Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter, Pat Cash, Yvonne Goolagong, Rod Laver,
Swimming: Dawn Fraser, Ian Thorpe,
Athletics: cathy Freeman, Raelene Boyle, John Landy, Herb Elliot
Golf: Greg Norman, Ian Baker Finch
Rugby: George Gregan-most capped player in the world,139

Rolf Harris-
Elle Macpherson - the body supermodel
Ned Kelly - bushranger

Life / Insuring a car for over 90 days with an English insurer? [16]

Hi,

I was wondering if there was any Polish insurance companies that would insure a rhd car.
the reason is rhd cars are at least twice as cheap as lhd. so if i can have a car for 5000zl instead of 20,000zl just because the steering wheel is on the other side ....i'd like to save my money.

thanks for any help

UK, Ireland / Supermarkets in Poland: differences and similarities to the UK. [62]

yes that's right they've had no training in tills and it is a huge problem....

most aren't the sharpest tool in the box but it actually comes from Tesco's UK where they won't give the budget to train and also due to recession and budget cuts over the past 2 years....savings have to be made in certain areas and checkouts get hit the worst but in Poland it hasn't affected takings ...as Polish customers have been brought up waiting.

it's a slow process but steps are changing throughout the country.....some egions are far worse than others....

My advice shop in Lidl if u r happier there :)

Work / Advice on WHEN to go to Poland to teach English [30]

Hi,

I'm an English teacher in Krakow and definitely get a CELTA the sooner the better- for purposes of getting experience. Callan schools exist but anybody can get a job in these if they speak English but as such the pay isn't very good.

In Krakow I recommend starting your search in the 1st week in Sept. as nothing exists before that yet most jobs will be gone by the end of Sept.

The English teaching year usually starts 1st/2nd week of Oct.l

No point in coming in April as it's the end of the year and everything is starting to close down so you'll only get a months teaching in at best. I'd recommend teaching on a summer school in England to get some experience before you have to do it for real...

International House, Kra
kow is also where you should take your CELTA......it'll help in the long run.
Anything else you want to know just ask....

Travel / Where to eat in Wroclaw and Krakow [14]

Krakow

best steak house ...Argentinian Steak House..Pimiento starts@ 35pln

cheap pierogi....El duende off Krowordska 1pln/pierogi

Zapiekanka....plac nowy....6pln

Offcyna ....corner of Rynek near Galeria Centrum..fantastic burgers and other food ...vgood value for money...just v slow service

Pizza/Italian.....Mama Mia.....Karmalicka or Trzy Paprycki(esp. in the summer gr8 outdoor garden).................also there is some high end Italians but they carry high end prices and the food isn't worth the price tags

Mexican...all crap

Thai/Sushi/Indonesian...Horai (fantsatic place good prices) try the Bami Goreng 25pln PLac Wolnic

Polish--the best is in Podgorze but can't recall name...very traditional vgood and i dont like Polish food

Super Feast...Sheraton on Sundays 100pln...Sundays 12-5pm eat as much as you like drinks included

News / The most useless things in Poland [140]

I concur ;

electric sockets...mine keep falling out...new flat 3 years old
Wine prices....Laughing Magpie Darenberg Estate £10 or 130pln in shops...
forget wine in restaurants
driving....indictators / red lights / parking /spaces /what are they?
car lights on all year, all day
paying toll between katowice + krakow when the road is being rebuilt for 2 years now

dogs.....labradors living in flats from 35sq metres is just cruel / shitting wherever
ZUS / tax costs
gilette razor blade prices being twice as expensive as uk

Life / WHAT WILL $1 and $100 BUY IN POLAND? [20]


It's been along time since i've seen a beer for 5pln unless its maly or in the shop.
Not in krakow, warsaw, poznan or wroclaw

News / The most useless things in Poland [140]

Quoting: inkrakow
the ban on registering right hand drive cars

those cars are freaking useless in poland. why would you even want one?

because cars in the UK are more than 50% cheaper than Poland + in better condition ...thats why we want to register rhd cars here.

Language / SMS known to English speakers? [6]

Both equally in the UK.smsing texting

Travel / PKP 1st class pospiesny [5]

not necessarily ...
on the IC trains it does if you schedule which train you are catching but not on the general pkp trains.....
but in my experience 1st class is generally empty on pkp trains except at rush hour times between cities like poznan - wroclaw as theye dont have IC trains

IC trains are the ones which are fast and only stop at major cities(also much more expensive (ie:poznan -krakow pkp 78zl IC starts at 135zl depending on time)

this site tells you more than most train stations can..
rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en

UK, Ireland / BRITS LIKE POLISH FOOD [51]

when i'm in the UK i miss pierogi stuffed with spinach and aioli from a local bar in krakow and of course kielbasa grilled over coals :) yum yum

Travel / Skiing in Poland - Krynica [4]

Hi was there over new years 2 years ago...it was great a bumper snow year though...i was at the top and -35 however on one day so wrap up..it was usually about -11....

last year the snow conditions were appalling all over poland ...fake snow everywhere

Krynica for me is the nicest place to go...it has a great place called The Pub on the high street where you can get good food and plenty of beer...its the most party pub i've been to any polish ski resort

there's a few other tghings to keep you occupied ice skating and of course go to the natural water springs....supposed to have super health benefits if you can cope with the s,ell and taste of the water..

there's also plenty of other places Muszyna is not to far away and also good.

remember though this is not france/austria/ or anywhere like that...its cheap and its cheap...if you are expecting difficult red/black runs you won't find them in Poland oe the apres ski...but for a short cheap break krynica would be my no1 cjoice of polish ski resorts...

enjoy kielbas and drinking mulled win and warm honey beer on the slopes :)

Law / Do I set up Company in Poland or UK (to invoice my schools and students)? [11]

hi benszymanski ,

i'd love some help in setting up the same thing you do...i don't suppose u r based in krakow?
any information will be grately received
thanks in advance

Travel / Poor Edward in Kraków [28]

it wouldn't even be 30 euros in a taxi from the airport to centrum, there's also buses for 3zl

Law / Do I set up Company in Poland or UK (to invoice my schools and students)? [11]

i understand but many/most schools want to pay you via invoices now...yes a couple of years ago cash in hand was fine ...but its limiting my options....i can always claim against whatever tax i pay...

i heard you dont have to pay tax for the 1st 2 years..qand zus is alot cheaper to sety up a sthey have a special offer going but would running my company from england not prove more fin=ancially viable as i probably wont reach taxable bands that much once i've changed it into uk currency?

we're just talking about setting up as a sole trader i think...i need to start 2 get the ball rolling very quickly whichever way i go

Life / Appreciate any remarks on life in Kraków [41]

having lived in Krakow for 3 years I don't know of any such club for foreigners...just bars etc where people go and watch sport etc...thats how most meet if not through work connections.

the only bad thing about krakow is the weekend stag do's...they bring a bad name to the english...the rest of the week is fabulous NO drunken english or not many at least

on the weekends around the rynek the main language you hear is english...i moved because it's pisssed me off so much but after being away from krakow for 3 months i'm moving back i still miss it so much :)

Work / Would ESOL help me find work in Poland? Or maybe CELTA is better? [11]

Hi,
I have a celta and a degree in all my time of teachin no one has asked to see my degree but are far more intersted in the CELTA qualification.

You can find work without it (CELTA) ie callan schools which is just repetitive talking and some of my friends don't have it but we halped get their foot in the door.

If you plan to teach longterm then a CELTA is definitely worth getting...I highly recommend International House Krakow...1 it's a highly established and recognised school...2. it's cheaper to take it their than anywhere else i know...both course fees/accomodation and your own living allowances.

hope that helps

News / Should we change the rules to let Poles join the British Army? [119]

If you were there in ww2 then you can tell me your story if not...then realise everyone every country has their own version of who and how the war was won.....If you have a few days I'll talk you through the Royal Corps of Signals role...you can talk me through the Polish role :)

News / Should we change the rules to let Poles join the British Army? [119]

Being an Ex Officer in HM forces I clearly state NO
Being part of the British Forces means serving Queen and country....I don't quite see how being Polish people could follow such orders when its not from their own nation.

Also when you are in a battle situation when you require the confidence in your colleagues.....would you really have it (100%)from someone who comes from Poland. If you do, then fine let them join. I unfortunately see a % of Poland as a very corrupt society. I have 1st hand experiences of this both in the UK and Poland.

I think if Polish you should fight for and with your own country. Then you are following your own countries decisions and not anothers. However good the Polish troops in Iraq/Afghanistan are.

Life / When in Poland, should I be British or Scottish? [104]

I'm actually Australian although I've spent half my life in the UK.....
If you speak English you are English maybe sometimes American as far as poles are concerned.
I'm not being nasty but they just don't seem to realise that other countries apart from those two speak English....
sorry but its true

Life / is there wireless internet in poland [19]

Krakow has plenty of free wireless hotspots / bars cafes too :)

Life / Simplus - topup online or shop? [5]

I can top up online through my polish bank account.
Simplus has to be regularly used...it has a timeline for use as well ....so i think it has probably become outdated...it's happened to me when i go away for 3 months each year.

my simplus pay as u go doesn't work in the UK.

to ask in a shop....

prosze karta simplus dwadziescia zloty (that'll get you 20 on your phone)
prosha carta simplus dva jeshtya zwoty

Study / English language universities for undergraduate in medical fields [5]

krakow and poznan both offer English medical courses
krakow cheaper and nicer city and world famous university

Law / Do I set up Company in Poland or UK (to invoice my schools and students)? [11]

Lodz would be nice... but my friends are in Krakow..

I just know whether too set up /register company in Poland or the UK?

Life / Appreciate any remarks on life in Kraków [41]

Krakow is fabulous.......
Warsaw is more expensive to reant / eat n drink ....so whatever you earn cancels out.

Krakow is a fantastic value for money city...

Life / How important is it to have a car in Poland? [37]

After living in Krakow,Warsaw and Poznan a car is not a necessity....yes it may be quicker in a car but not really in these cities as traffic is just a nightmare.....public transport is greatr value...petrol is very expensive....the overland trains may not be 1st class but they get you there eventually but CHEAP....

2nd hand cars are at least twice as expensive as the UK sometimes 4 times especially cars between 10,000-20,000pln in england that same car would be at least 50% cheaper ...i feel ripped of each time i drive car in Poland