I moved to Poland about 3 months back and must admit that I am having a fantastic time so far. I can see discussions around rascism in this forum, but my experiences have been just the opposite. Around 6 or 7 times, people have come across to me asking me if I was from India and ensuing a really interesting coversations. From a group of drunk pranksters in the middle of the night to a man in his 70's, have stopped me in the street to discuss India and their view of India.
For sure there maybe rascist element out there with whom I am yet to come in touch with, but for sure there is no reason or need to generalise and if forced I would categorise them a warm and hospitable if not anything else!
Though originaly I was assigned for a year, I dont think I would leave so soon. Having lived in a handful of huge metropolis, baring Beijing I have never felt at home in any where else as in Poland..
That is really awesome Sudheer :). What exactly are you doing in Poland? - is it for studies or work? I recently talked to and Indian man who said that there are some Indians coming to Poland to medical schools, I wonder how common that is.
I am working here and on official assignment at our new center in Wroclaw. I used to be with the business strategy and was working on the investments around the world one of which was the busines center in Wroclaw. Hence, when it was time for a job change I decided to come to the center that I saw growing from a distance and work here for a while.
I am not too sure about medical studies and other studies in Poland. But Wroclaw being a student town, I can see that the universities in poland are really strong and invites a large audience from around the world. Also the quality of fresh graduates at work has impressed me to good extent.
Its difficult for me to find negatives yet with my life here. Everyone is asking for the same, and I am trying hard to find em.. But so far, its been blissful :)
I like the laid back nature of Wroclaw and its old world charm. While I can get all the amenities I need without much hassle, the pace of life is a lot more laid back and gentle. The all night nightlife and music concerts that keep coming are a great escape from the mudane corporate life that I am used to.
Rynek and the banks of the river are my favorites as well as the number of green parks so lavishly spread around the town. Then ofcourse the food options, I am yet to finish exploring this side to my content but still the experience so far has been great. As I mentioned before, people have been really freindly and nice. Cant really divide between the young and old, for all have been warm.
Road works does not bother me much as I am prefer exploring on foot and thankfully the weather has not gone bad on me yet. I am used to having Bangalore as my base for many years, which is one of the top 3 worst traffic cities in the world. So I have no complaints...
I love ice skating....I'm there at the beginning of Dec...hope it's been constructed, they used to do it in my home town but for some reason (stupid kids messing about) they stopped!
I have to say I am so excited now....roll on Dec....
Wroclaw... Maybe we can catch up one of these evenings over a coffee near the rynek.. Though I would not call myself a party animal, I am quite surprised at the extend to which I have come to know this city.
However I am a bit skeptical with the kind of growth planned for this city that not too far in the future, this place is going to be yet another big city and may lose its charm too :( Though I completly welcome growth and change for the improvement of the local community, its just not my cup of tea and that when I would be thinking of moving on and to the next destination...
Till then I am here to stay and planing on all the fun that the winter is going to bring with it.
Sudheer, so how do you manage your family life if your job makes you switch places like that?
I was divorced three years back, and since then I was not travelling around and was being a full time single father. The ghost from the past came back a few months back and took away my daughter almost like a kidnapping fashion. The Indian laws give next to no rights for a father and hence, I had to choose between a dirty fight which can result in alienating my daughter and give her a lot of sadness or to walk away. So I walked away, after making reasonably sure my daughter is having a good life with her mother.
Now I am blissfully single (with no plans to mingle) and waiting for my ex wife to give me my daughters custody back as I believe her acts were impulsive. And when faced with reality of bringing up a child responsibly she would choose the right decision for our daughter and send her to me here in Poland.
I have even spoken to a school here and taken an appartment next to the school.. Now all the remains is for her to come!
I studied in Wrocław and went to this ice rink a couple of times. Wroclaw marketplace is beutiful in December with all these lights and christmas trees. I dont understand this talk about racism in Poland on this board too because during studies in Wroclaw I noticed that people are really friendly towards foreigners and polish Universities invite students from all over the world. Maybe its just Wroclaw, such an international city I dont know, but I know its great place and I miss it :(.
Sudheer, thank you for your answer. I hope that things will work out well for you. I have no clue on how custody laws work in the world, but I can imagine that it must be damn hard for the father to take the child away from the mother, even if he far supercedes as a parent.
By the way, have you met a lot of Indians in Poland or for that matter any other foreigners? And how are you doing with the language? I think that it must be difficult to live in Poland without knowing the language.
Namaste ji Sudheer, Aap kaise ho? Glad to know another indian is in poland :) makes me happy... :) :) How long are u there for and what made u select poland? have fun! :)
Nandini - Bahut khoob.. Mauj masti kar raha hoon.. Lekhin meri hindi bahut achi nahin hai.. As I mentioned before, it was the old world charm of Wroclaw which lured me to this part of world, as my other options were Bucharest, Barcelona, San Jose (Costarica) and Gudalajara (Mexico). I dont know how long I would be here, but I have not made any return plans as of now... So let us say 2years to eternity..
Wroclaw - You are not wrong, but I would spell it as Aap Kaise Hain? though can sound like 'Hay', there is a slight 'n' sound in the end. But dont ask me what is the difference between 'ho' and 'hain' (think it is past tense and present continous), for I am not too sure nor an expert in hindi :( Went to Ksiaz castle today and just back... Excited on the first European castle experience :)
Kowalski - it is sad that we are starting to generalise characters based on religion, but unfortunately the realities of this planet are moving in that direction.. I hope with all this globalisation and information highways, radicals tone down and start living in a path of peace, acceptance and cooperation. Twenty years back the planet was much more polarised than today, hope in the next twenty years or so.. we are much more united and harmonious.....
Marzena - I have about 3-4 Indian collegues and there are a handful of Indians otherwise in Wroclaw. Plus erasmus is expected to bring in more here.. but I am not a very Indian seeking person. After having lived a rather long life in India, I am looking forward more to meet and spend time with locals and as many other nationalities from europe than to meet specifically Indians. Ofcourse I can help them where needed, but otherwise I am not a big fan of flocking toghether based on ethnicity.
Language has not really hurt me much yet, for sign language and common sense toghether has took me so far. I am watching a fair deal of polish movies with english subtitles and when I am ready for it, my company would arrange for polish lessons. Hence path is drawn out, just that I have not treaded on it yet. At the same time, I am surprised at the level of English knowledge atleast in Wroclaw. Even beggers have asked me for money in english which was surprising!
I used to be with the business strategy and was working on the investments around the world one of which was the busines center in Wroclaw. Hence, when it was time for a job change I decided to come to the center that I saw growing from a distance and work here for a while.
When you worked in the investments around the world area, what investment area (s) did you focus on? Was it real estate, bio-companies, natural resources companies, etc? What area specifically. What kind of returns investments were you looking for? In Poland, what area (s) do feel offer great investment opportunities?
Polaca - I would have to disagree with you a little bit. I think that although Polish universities provide good education, they don't have enough flexibility to allow people make more satisfying career choices. And also, it is way too hierarchical and at times it tends to sway away from the purpose of teaching to a display of power.
However, it seems to me that this is more of a European thing then just specifically Polish.
Opts - Erasmus is the student exchange program of European union. This program encourages students to do a part of their university studies at a different city/country than the one in which they originally enrolled. For example an Italian friend of mine is heading home, where he shall enroll for his masters and after the first semester he would do his subsequent one in Brussels.
More on erasmus at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_Student_Network
With regards to investment, I was working on expanding the operations of the company I was working in, or in other words - which countries to expand to have a regular supply of human resources with the optimal quality and cost, so that we can expand our operations as the business requires. For example, we hired about 500+ people in the last year plus in Wroclaw and can grow in similar fashion into the future. So basically it was a matrix of human capital and quality which were the guiding factors. Hence, in eastern europe we found Poland and specificaly Wroclaw to be ideal for our investment and now that investment has paid off well!
I don't agree with you. I think that polish universities really teach people to think, the part I have a problem with is the infrastructure, that stops many smart people from getting good education. I'm comparing it with the US system. But of course it's not a fair comparison, because education in the US is extremely expensive, so they are geared to make money, while in a free, high-level university, the rules are much more strict. That is also the case with top US universities, that are very hard to get into and require a lot of adjusting and accepting.
I have a problem with is the infrastructure, that stops many smart people from getting good education.
I dont agree with u. Infrastructure isnt perfect but u can find many opportunities for young creative people. Just u must find out this and working hard cos nobody gives u this. Young people must study hard and look for nice offert. Thats all. If someone is lazy nobody help him.
But. I have heard too many stories from students here in Wroclaw who have to follow the published works of their lecturer and ignore those of the guy next door.
Wroclaw, while that can be certainly true, I don't think it's a rule. You may be hearing stories from frustrated students. Also, a lot depends on the professors and how they teach, and there are variations like that everywhere.
I am arguing about the method of that education. I believe that students should be given more space to think for themselves. Have you ever said " I think you are wrong because....."
In Poland we have a particular style of education, which does work, but I think could be better.
