Hello Everyone. I just found out about Polishforums today and couldn't resist not signing up, its such an interesting website. I've read most every topic with much interest, and thought I might as well make a contribution. I'm 19 from (Perth, Australia) but have polish parents. I just visited Poland a few months ago for the very first time, and all I can say is WOW! Its such an awesome country, so lively, and full of culture. I experienced more in one month in Poland than in 19 years in Australia. Clubbing (Dyskoteka), so many parties, late nights, hiking in forests and mountains, collecting mushrooms and forest fruits (pacht), and overall something was always happening. Life in Poland was Active.
So, i'm really interested in the opinions of people who visited poland, and if your visit changed your life. Did you experience more in Poland?
It is true one can experience more of Poland when you are on vacation, spend money without hesitation etc. But when you live there every day and ordinary life it could change your views. Starting from Polish bureaucracy and ending on politics.
Well yeah, I'll admit holidaying is different from living, but surely everyday living still remains dynamic. Even the little things, like watching the activities or tasks of shop keepers, or restaurant staff or anyone. They seem so "into" their work, rather than just do it. Maybe that just sounds stupid, but Poland is more like a movie than real life.
i have been to both places. you forget you have nature's playground in the ocean. poles have mtns. it was an amazing trip 2 both places. in poland i noticed women do not travel alone so much. i felt isolated not knowing polish. In OZ people are very independent. In Poland the scenery was beautiful. i did not get to party so much . hikiing in the tatras wore me out. i literally passed out each night. i had family i had never met before. the hospitality was incredible. of course the food rocks too. I stayed most of my time with family who had children. I stayed with 1 single cousin who did not like to go out and party. we did hit the jazz fest in kazmiersz. rooftop concerts was nice.
I was very glad to see where my grandmas people came from and learn about those circumstances when poland did not exist. our papers say ostreich. It was an emotional experience lighting a candle in a polish church for my dead grandmother.
I met a holocaust survivor on the train from krakow to praha.
OZ was more amazing because of the diversity of geography was greater - bigger country. blue mtns, great ocean road, penguin parade, darwin's walk, great barrier reef, ayers rock. Talking to aboriginal people and seeing their art.
poland is a beautiful country. I hit the tatras, biescady, pienneys......Even with the fattening food, I lost 2 pant sizes!!!!! I hope to visit there again.
I loved krakow but i loved prague more. Prague has the largest eastern europe disco there. More people speak English so I think they seemed friendlier. I could live in Krakow or Prague for a summer. (I hate cold) Tourin was a great city to visit. I did not go to warsaw othere than for train connection.
on the city bus I got dropped off at the wrong place. I ended up hiking into slovakia by misstake. 1st place i come across is a liquor store. so i go in. There's nothing but old people in there but i figured - what the hell? Does anyone one speak english? 4 old folks turn around and ask me what i need! hey were all from the south side of chicago where my family is from and they were staying in poland!? Can u believe that!!!?????
Ha, it's a bit strange - many poles think of Australia as a promised land ;) And you want to move in opposite direction ;)
Do you speak polish? it would help you a lot? one thing you should consider: I am currently in London and I just came back from holidays in Poland. You can expect prices similar to those in UK, with twice smaller salaries. But generally it's ok - you can live quite comfortably.
btw: I always dreamed of going to Perth for studies ;) Shame that I couldn't ;)
Opposite direction? Wow first time I hear that point of view.
Im not really after money at this time, im rather interested in experiences. Perth is beautiful, but life is like so:
"I woke up to another hot day today. Have to go to work now, so i go and catch the bus. As usual I see the same old sites, and sometimes ppl. Get off at my stop and walk to work. Work."
Where as in Poland (even while holidaying) its like:
"wake up. Have plan to go into town today. Go and catch bus. Bus is leaving so I make a short dash. On bus am approached by suspicious ticket inspectors. Manage to lose their attention. Now, i get off at my stop and i witness high speed chase. While walking around town, I notice some event taking place in the town centre. Go visit EMPIK and am approached by chick who starts a convo."
hahaha I have to tell you that it's like this anywhere you go - I moved to london and I felt like you, but after two years spent here - it is "perth scenario" now. plus it's raining a lot ;)
squirells and rats instead of snakes, dead fishes instead of sharks ;) But my co-worker(from Australia as well) had the same attitude: "something is going on here in london while Australia is sooo boring"
as we say in poland: grass is always greener on the other side of the fence ;]
I share a similar view.. I've been to Poland twice in the past 4 years and the first time i went there I arrived in Krakow and it felt like home.
Poland is nice as it is also ugly but what i love about it the most is it is very different to Australia. I love Australia, but sometimes you need a change... you don't want to spend your entire life in one place.
Poland is a great base for seeing the rest of Europe too. Most Aussies make the mistake of going straight to the UK and haemoraging money at a rate faster than they can earn it.
I'll be heading there for a stint at the beginning of next year, who knows how long for.
