Return PolishForums LIVE
  PolishForums Archive :
Archives - 2005-2009 / Life  % width 48

What do Polish people think about Americans living in Poland?


Amanda91 1 | 135  
30 May 2007 /  #1
What do polish people think about americans living in poland ???
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
30 May 2007 /  #2
I don't know any...
TheKruk 3 | 308  
30 May 2007 /  #3
I am one but I don't know what people think of me, well my wife loves me and she's Polish.
bookratt  
30 May 2007 /  #4
Hi Amanda, Hi Kruk, I wish I knew/could get someone, who was Polish-born and living in Poland, to tell me the answer to that question!

I am an American and our family is moving there with my husband for his job.

I was trying, by reading these boards over a few months time, to find out the general attitude toward us, on behalf of an average Pole. My mistake.

I don't think we're perfect but for heaven's sake, they seem to be taking the lowest common denominator from what they believe about our society (NOT a good indicator) and imagining them as the average American. Their mistake.

Try looking at posts by Poles and interacting with Poles at other sites, like ivillage and bellaonline, also, to get a more rounded perspective.

Also try:

expat blog dot com look for eastern europe poland in the lists

If you want to read up on it, try finding the Rochester University lecture series called "Images of America: Polish Perspectives on the US" to read online, featuring Heinrich Szlajfer. If you can't get access online, request info on the speakers or their books, or ask for transcripts of their speeches from RU.

There are many good people here who will engage in rational and reasonable conversation with you and there also seem to be a large number of yobs and dolts about on any given day, as well.

Just don't start to think that this board is a substitute for the conscience or soul of the average Pole and you will be ok, I think.

I wouldn't go to imdb to discuss a movie and believe that the people that post there are average representations of their countries, either.

Have you checked into joining the International Women's Association nearest you, getting their newsletters or attending the lectures and group events?

If you will be living near Krakow, we may end up going to the same meetings.
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
30 May 2007 /  #5
Have you checked into joining the International Women's Association

Maybe rather teenagers association :)
Matyjasz 2 | 1,544  
30 May 2007 /  #6
What do polish people think about americans living in poland ???

Probably, that they don't exist. :)
OP Amanda91 1 | 135  
30 May 2007 /  #7
I don't know any...

now you do, nice to meet you :-)

Probably, that they don't exist. :)

I know my family and I exist for sure and we're here LOL but you're probably right about some people faking being Americans on this forums.
TheKruk 3 | 308  
30 May 2007 /  #8
I can tell you what I feel They think though, I teach english so I know a lot of people some students love my classes some think thay are ok a few I am sure think I am an Idiot. But I have had no negative experiences with people because I was american They usually ask" What the hell are you living here for" and often"Poland sucks go back to america."

They love that I am interested in polish history and cannot get enough of me when I speak Polish they say i sound like a baby and occaisionally the words I string together have caused non-stop laughter. The trick is you must be yourself, yes i am more animated and a little too forward at times as is an Americans nature to make people feel at ease. you will be fine. There is a guy Freebird on this site he has a school somewhere near you. You can e-mail him just sear for freebird you'll find him.

sear I mean search
OP Amanda91 1 | 135  
30 May 2007 /  #9
You can e-mail him just sear for freebird you'll find him.

Thank you for the advice. Freebird is my father LOL. We're gonna have my mom's birthday party in the end of July, maybe you're interested to participate.
Grzegorz_ 51 | 6,149  
30 May 2007 /  #10
nice to meet you :-)

U2.
TheKruk 3 | 308  
30 May 2007 /  #11
freebird is American forgot to say.

oops sorry long day well then freebird should be easy to find.
i wish I could go to the party but I will be visiting the USA in July maybe when I return in Sept. I hear its beautiful up ther. i live down south in Katowice.
Somerled 5 | 93  
31 May 2007 /  #12
If you want to read up on it, try finding the Rochester University lecture series called "Images of America: Polish Perspectives on the US" to read online, featuring Heinrich Szlajfer. If you can't get access online, request info on the speakers or their books, or ask for transcripts of their speeches from RU.

Here you go. I think it's the same one.

rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=2637
Kowalski 7 | 621  
2 Jun 2007 /  #13
I like Americans for they are rather very straitforwad kind of people and on individual basis I find it easy to judge them and thus accept as my company or avoid. They are seldom false, pretending, hiding something, are not sneaky in nature and all that is great. Recently in Poland we would perhaps find it fashionable to bash Americans as this is probably way of coping other European sentiment but still Poles have very favourable attitude toward Americans I think.

^
! I have a picture summing up polish attitued towar Americans!
Here!
nitka.net.pl/~asdf/raczkowski.jpg
larry casula 2 | 69  
2 Jun 2007 /  #14
faking being Americans on this forums

I am a real one!! American that is, and I love Poland!! I am 50% Polish and Italian, but I love my Polish side more, mainly because my Italian side are , well, lets not say.

My Polish roots come from Kierzek, surname Sakowski.
horunPoland - | 109  
4 Jun 2007 /  #15
I'm Polish and i met some Americans here i think that polish people often like American i didn't heard that there was some incidents.

Once i was also with at wedding party and there was one US man and he was very happy and evrybody take him like part of family

don't wory come and try
papafrita_ec  
4 Jun 2007 /  #16
I have got an American friend whose girlfriend is Polish and he is coming in August to see her and also planning to settle down. And everytime he was there he tells me how much fun he has and how kind people are.
Varsovian 91 | 634  
4 Jun 2007 /  #17
Generally, the westerners who come to Poland are quite unusual. A self-selecting bunch, they tend to be much better-educated and informed about the world than the normal person who stayed at home.

Western immigrants then come face-to-face with normal Poles from all walks of life, who have various shades of opinion.
Poles are generally pleasant towards westerners. Some Poles will not be, of course, but there are higher standards of behaviour and politeness here than I was used to in the UK. Except for neighbours, that is! Poles don't make neighbourly neighbours - it's their recent small-village peasant heritage, where the neighbour is seen as someone to steal chickens and plums from.

I'm lucky - I have my sister-in-law one side and a hopeless builder who'll never finish his house and move in on the other. On the third side, she died.
blindside70 - | 13  
16 Jun 2007 /  #18
Well I find that the Polish have a pretty negative attitude towards Americans in general. They think we're stupid and fat. (which true really) But as individuals I feel I'm treated very well. Once they get to know me it's perfectly fine. In fact my biggest problem is that when I try to practice my Polish they're kind enough to speak in English to me. Next time that happens though I'm going to say:

Przeprasam jestem do hiszpankii nie mowie po angielsku....

(forgive the lack of accent marks)
FISZ 24 | 2,116  
16 Jun 2007 /  #19
Well I find that the Polish have a pretty negative attitude towards Americans in general.

Most of the negative stuff I hear is about our food and mass production of everything. Maybe a few Bush comments here or there, but that's everywhere including the US.

I'm also treated very well when I visit.

Americans on this forums.

Who might that be?
Jagna - | 26  
16 Jun 2007 /  #20
Przeprasam jestem do hiszpankii nie mowie po angielsku....

It doesn't make sense... is that what you want to achieve? confuse them ! maybe jestem is not in its place...yeah get rid of it!

I agree with Varsovian most of the Americans who come to Poland are extraordinary, open- minded and make great friends. Polish people generally admire Americans, " American dream" capitalism, freedom of speech, etc make them want to kiss the ground the Americans walk on. So no probs here

The stereotype of a "stupid" uneducated American is also present though. " Paris is the capital of Europe" is one of my favourites but ask Europeans what is the capital of Nevada and then we'll see.

Also it is sometimes our fault that we don't correct the foreigners' view of Poland. Few years ago my English teacher from the US wanted to help us poor cave men and described all the goods of civilisation that she thought we lacked ( Washing- machine among them). No one bothered to mention that we all had them at home.. must've been horible for her to find that out later..
FISZ 24 | 2,116  
16 Jun 2007 /  #21
what is the capital of Nevada and then we'll see

New York City ;)

No one bothered to mention that we all had them at home

What about tumble dryers? ;)

I'm just playing. She sounds like she was uneducated herself. It's sad that a teacher doesn't have the courtesy to study a country before teaching in it.
Stevie 1 | 25  
16 Jun 2007 /  #22
Who might that be?

I be! I be! :P

And about the whole...ignorance of household appliances and their popularity...I just have to say that quite a few of my friends from Poland would lead people along....describing their country as a third world nation...without technology...completely behind the times. They think its funny to mock us and our ignorance :(
FISZ 24 | 2,116  
16 Jun 2007 /  #23
Stevie...this was said :) Are you the one faking being American?

some people faking being Americans on this forums.

Stevie 1 | 25  
16 Jun 2007 /  #24
Oh
Haha...no...I just read the part that you quoted :) Sorry. If I were faking being an American, I'm doing a good job though, right?
blindside70 - | 13  
17 Jun 2007 /  #25
Oh yeah that's really wrong huh... Jestem z hispanskii right? sorry
Magdallena  
17 Jun 2007 /  #26
what abaut Polish people living in America?
marek_can - | 7  
17 Jun 2007 /  #27
What do polish people think about americans living in poland ???

Its like a non-issue for me..... if i had an american living next door or something it wouldnt bother me at all....

i dont think Poles just outright dislike anyone from certain countries, maybe some just dont like the governments of particular ones...... me? i could accept anyone next door that was just a regular person.....
Merrick - | 34  
17 Jun 2007 /  #28
Americans have still an excellent image in Poland. It's in spite of the prevalent Polish negative attitude towards the Iraq invasion (in which Poles have participated too), the Amertican visas rip-off, the condescending behaviour of the American government towards Poland.

The Poles still remain perhaps the most pro-American nation in Europe.

I think that if America really cared about her interests, she should take advantage of this amicality as soon as possible...before it's too late.

My own image of Americans has improved considerably. Guys like Fiszek and Patti from this forum make me just, ahem, very moved.
;)
lef 11 | 477  
20 Jun 2007 /  #29
Polish people generally admire Americans, " American dream" capitalism, freedom of speech, etc make them want to kiss the ground the Americans walk on. So no probs here

What nonsense, more and more people are seeing the negative side of America and express themselves accordingly. American dream, wow what rubbish.
JamesLondon 1 | 26  
20 Jun 2007 /  #30
Lef...my dear fellow, I couldn't agree with you more.

I've met quite a few obnoxious Americans in Poland; one was an American airforce fellow and he had the IQ of an ox; probaly explains why we have so many friendly fire incidents.They appear to be even more uncouth & impolite out of their own country; they make it sound like they are down here to protect everybody.

It is so perturbing to see the Amercians digging their claws into Poland with secret illegal prisons and the sorts.

Archives - 2005-2009 / Life / What do Polish people think about Americans living in Poland?Archived