Should I expect culture shock when coming to Poland from the US or UK?

Hello All

My lady friend thinks I will have culture shock if I move there. What have you found to be the biggest differences between the US or Great Britain and Poland?

lf99

more smiling people in the us....

The Language.

Is it true if you smile(specially with teeth showing) that they think:

Why are you smiling, you must have money & how come you arn't helping me.

Is the level of comfort really that bad that I keep getting told about it?

it's nice to see people smiling... even if they think 'i don't care alright...' .... but those are strangers and it's nice to go to a store (for example).... in PL it's a different story...

I have been told that since I am American that they will not be as judgemental on the smiling thing. Even my lady friend has a hard time not smiling but she had lived in the US for a while.

I don't need alot to be happy.

i mean, cmon...what's wrong with being happy and show it....
i like this attitude and i'm the same way... it makes your day....

I agree!

Its just been brought to my attention a few times my my lady's old room mates.

My GF is just worried that I won't like it due to not having as many comforts.

My only worry is the language.

step by step.... is she Polish? she may help you... and be patient :)


it is a different attitude... more open people live in the us... sometimes you can be supprised, but if you learn about the culture more...it will get easier

come on, give us a few clues....

Where in Poland? There's a huge difference between Warsaw and a small village in the mountains.

And where in the US / UK would you be coming from? Massive difference between NYC and Alabama... likewise London and Cornwall.

No culture shock!!!...First of all, on arrival you will just stare with an open mouth, then its the comatose stage, when the novelty wears off its time for the depression stage (usually when trying to register for a temporary address at the local office), then, its the vodka stage and everything is well in the world, bit like a Disney film really. Enjoy your stay.

If you start walking around smiling at people you are likely to be on the end of a head butt quick smart.

When in Rome, drive like them, be arrogant like them, drink like them but most importantly dont trust anyone and be as aggressive as possible in business.

Took me about six months to learn the above, good will to your fellow man goes out the window the minute you get in the cue for the plain bound to poland where ever you are flying from.

1st. I don't drink and I don't plan on starting again.

2nd. I can't doing what is natural to me.

3rd. I have seen a sense of reserve in the Polish people even here in the US. However, its not every person. Maybe they are not as open and expressive as people here but once they warm up to you everything they express is more open and honest.

4th. I have been in the business world for close to 20 years. I might not be the smartest person in the world but I have a good feel for people.

lmfao....

I went through these stages.... still stuck on the vodka stage lol...

and if you want to live in Poland follow Wroclaw Boy's advise...
When in Rome, drive like them, be arrogant like them, drink like them but most importantly dont trust anyone and be as aggressive as possible in business.

Drink like them,be horny like them and be as aggressive as possible in your reports about them.

ahah that kind of scares me into not wanting to visit Poland.

dont be scared ive been here for 6 months now and all is cool...
its like anything else in life its what you make it dont get me wrong there are some differences but if you got a strong personality and a strong sense of bieng you will get on alright

She lives in Zeliona Gora but she might also be in the Malbork/Gdansk area depending on school. I am looking at a teaching position near where she is Poznan is looking good right now.

I'm from Detroit.

I do have a strong sense of self and personality.

What part are you in Hu_man?

Well, expect a huge culture shock :))

Why's that?

For starters, unlike downtown Detroit, you can walk in Zielona Gora. The city is quiet and perhaps more like Windsor, ON, only a little prettier and seems to have more character.

I wouldn't mind living there again some day, but god help me if I had to live in Detroit ;)

I would put Detroits burbs' up against any city. I know what you mean about the city proper. Its slowly changing for the better.

The big thing she worries about is my dealing with lessor comfort.

you won't have to wear your bullet proof vest anymore. LOL

Its not that bad, of course its not that good either. Where I live I can drive less then 5 minutes and be in farm land. The Detroit metro is about 5 million people of which less then 1 million live in the hood, Umm I mean the city proper.

jelenia gora is by the mountains.. it's a very nice area.. comfort: you can hire a butler in PL, i don't doubt it.

That will depend on how much you are willing to spend to stay comfortable. It's no tlike A/C or cars are not available in Poland. On the other hand we both know pretty shabby areas in the US where "comfort" means people don't have to dodge bullets.

Butler hahahahahahahaha yeh right!

I have never had AC in my life. As long as I have a fan I will be fine.

I'm actually excited to live in a place where you do not need a car to survive. Just for Basic Car Insurance and Gas run me at least $200 a month & that does not count repairs or other things like plates.

I don't need alot to be happy either. A place to sleep, food to eat and my G/F.

You'll sleep well, you'll like the food. Public transportation is great (make sure you use your elbows though). Just stick you your G/F as there are a lot of hot chicks all over the place ;)

im in Katowice not far from Krakow...... and im from London.

of course there is going to be a culture shock in a different country and you probably don't speak the language so there will be a lot you wont get even if you have someone to constantly translate or explain you still will never fully understand what's going on....

but i kinda like that in a weird way

I'm working on leaning the language. It would be much easier with out all the masculine feminine stuff.

I like my g/f and it has to do with more then looks. I'm to old to be chasing the young high maintenence skirts. If I gave you a list of why I like here there are 10 things I list before her looks and to me she is smoking hot.