Just wanna share my feeling when staying in Poland and ask about the Poles attitudes towards the foreigners. I don't intend to offend your country and your people.
Coming from Thailand, I spent 4 months in Gdansk.
Planning to learn Polish in Poland, I was discouraged when finding out many Polish words include many consecutive consonants with 1-2 vowels. I am uncapable to read, to pronounce Polish.
I lost my confidence about communication. I could not be independent. I mean I could not travel alone, I could not enjoy shopping alone in town centre. I just went to Auchan where is very close to Złota Karczma.
Auchan was only one place where I could relax on my own. But during 4 months over there, It was quite long period for me to notice I was curiously/weirdly stared at.
On the Auchan shuttle bus, everyone stared at me from head to toes. The way they looked at me was as if I came from MARS.
Sometimes, I tried to understand the old people were not familiar with the foreigners.
But the teenagers, seeing me, they stopped what they were doing and looked at me and murmured.
Sometimes, I admitted I was in bad mood. So I could not help wondering it was in 2005 not in 1005, there were many countries in the world, not only Poland. Moreover, Poland is in Europe, not in a very far far far country.
However, I also found many kind Polish people. Once I was on the bus and wanted to go to Department of Foreign Affairs. A lady took her effort to let me know where I would get off after I showed her my note of my destination in Polish.
And again, at the train station in Warsaw, seeing my note in Polish saying:
I would like to buy a single ticket to Gdansk, please give me a seat nearby window.
Please tell me where my platform is.
Please confirm me this is my train.
all kind Polish people who were asked, nicely helped me.
Last year, I went to Gdansk again. But I didnt feel as above. Probably, I am older....hehehe
Hi Tajka! I dont know what for you were in Poland. Either exchange student or for a job contract. I would like to tell you that you are not alone, and I have seen my Asian friends in Poland, specifically in the trojmiasto (Gdynia, Sopot, Gdansk) going through the same things in this country. But most of them were speaking English and it was by far much better in terms of communication. Not that everybody in Poland would come and speak back in English even some of them do speak but feel shy about practising. Of course out of clubs and social spots where ladies feel attracted to foreigners and men find foreign ladies cute bla bla. I have experienced being wih them and people staring at them, but they were also with this " i dont care, i dont understand u either" attitude that kinda put some distance into this situations. Thats the only way actually. In my case I am Latinamerican and to be honest and hoping not being misunderstood, I have no problems here cos everybody is being nice to me, trying to speak in English as much as they can and also helping me even with hand signs. But it is also a matter of being empowered, u have to know who you are and what are u doing in a foreign country as an expat. I am a skilled worker and I am in Europe for almost two years with a very good professional profile, I have never had any problems of adapting myself and if I have seen differences with people in Poland and the way they deal with The Unknown, well is their issue, their problem. Is their country of course but there is nothing u or me can do if they are not open minded "enough" nor familiar with dealing with "us", the non-locals. One thing is patronizing their lack of world, and another facing discrimination. You were victim of ignorance,but why did u choose to come to Poland, maybe also out of lack of information. For example there must be a good reason to arrive to a country u dont speak the language. The experience is with you and carefully choosing your professional or educational alternatives should be a priority for you now on. I mean between scholarship in France or a job offer in France and going to Poland...do I need to hesitate? Of course many people would choose Poland, fine, but thats only cos we have our own particular reasons. Without a motivation, people wont just do the trip : boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers, job offers (good ones otherwise why the hell would u come here anyway). Cos as much is a trip to the Unknown for them, not even touching Intolerance issues, is a very deep trip into the unknown. I was not chosen as tenant for a splendid flat for not speaking Polish thats the only time in my life ever I was discriminated (by definition) for something, not being "qualified". I move on, i wont be in this country much longer anyway. There are much better ways to sacrifice your youth in other countries working hard and making ur dreams come true. OH , AM I SPEAKING LIKE A YOUNG POLISH ....
I would like to correct my message
" Cos as much is a trip to the Unknown for them, not even touching Intolerance issues, is a very deep trip into the unknown for us."
Thats what I meant
And also my last line " AM I SPEAKING AS A YOUNG POLISH" sorry but just listening to my Polish friends, does it hurt some sensibilities to remind what you are possibly thinking as well right this moment?
I am the one tiring them up with my thoughts that Poland could b a much better country if they were prouder of their background and history, not just showing off without a point cos that only annoys (of course no foreigner would tell u that, in my case I have done it and its amazing how u cant stand reality). Poland could b greater - for real, as long as u catch up quickly to new EU scene, if u believe more in urselves.
Hope not listening things like when I was in Italy last year : " Oh we feel so good here we dont even feel Polish"
WTH
Wish everyone the best in their ambitions for u and ur families
Hello Lauren, Thanks for your kind point of view which I got.
It was just my feeling as a new comer to Poland where is considered as my second home. I was not just a tourist who just visited and left Poland.
So, expectation overwhelmed me.
Anyway, the fact & my experience contributed to my proper adaptation which brought about my fantastic 2nd visit to Poland.
Currently, I take an effort to learn Polish after I gave up when I was in Poland.
For 3-4 time of learning Polish / week, I am able to compose few simple Polish sentences. Porbably, my next visit to Poland, I could communicate slowly in Polish.
