Spring Break '08 in Poland

I'm headed to Poland to follow in the footsteps of Elie Wiesel with my University. About 20 students are coming and a couple faculty members. Anything we need to know-other than try not to stick out like an American tourist...though I'm sure we will-before we get there? We have a woman from Poland going with us but she remembers the "old" Poland and I assumed times have changed. I don't want to be labeled as a stupid American, what can we do to avoid that?

Don't act like one. Don't brag about anything, and be polite. Don't act like you know everything and rule the world. Those are the most things poles don't like in americans, at least i do.

Please, please, please don't do as the rather misguided Americam student whom I met in a club in Krakow once.... he was wearing a Russian Millitary coat and hat combo and calling himself "The Tsar"

<weep>

just speak Polish and nobody will notice you are an American ;P

All the Americans I was with when going to Poland are amazed by the country and don't act like they know everything. They are very polite and respectful. They love the culture and architecture and respect Poland.

You don't have to worry that you stand out. There are many tourists in Poland so they are used to this, and they will welcome you.

kinda of cold for spring break most people go to the beach
but have fun anyways:)

sorry - I forgot to add have a fab time.

Whereabouts in Poland are you going?

try and be wary about how loud your voice is...and stay away from starbucks.

not much, the word is out. I am kidding. Just be yourself, enjoy and you will be OK.

is it true that polands dont like americans? why?
i know from my country (turkey) we dont like them because they think they rule the world except europe. so why dont polands like the americans? is there anything bad in the history? or anything about their behaviors?

Then stay in Turkey. Who says 'polands' doesn't like americans?
What is a 'polands' anyway?

Lol. I imagine, I don't know if I'm misguided or not, that a lot of countries don't like Americans or the stereotype we are all given. Well, and I assume many of us live up to those stereotypes. It's like the fact that most Americans think that they don't like the French. We stereotype them as weepy, unmasculine, weirdos that don't understand real politics and war (no one seems to remember that they financed a large portion of our war for independence). We wrongly stereotype the French and while some live up to their image we produce I hope that not all Americans live up to ours.

We are mainly going to be in the Krakow area. Our main reason for going is to follow in the footsteps of Elie Wiesel (author of "Night" who came to speak at our university). So of course we are visiting Auschwitz and Buchenwald. We are also going to just be around Krakow and visit some of the universities and surrounding areas. I'm super stoked.

I will definitley not visit Starbucks as I don't like coffee, lol! But if they don't have Dr.Pepper I will have to try really hard not to freak out (I know that the country itself does, I assume, have Dr.Pepper or Coke). I won't be loud, haha! I'll have to work on that. I mean, we're not only coming from the US but from Texas-ahhh! Haha. And I definitley won't act like I know more or am better than a Polish person because as soon as I do I'll fall flat on my face and be proved wrong! God can be funny like that!

So wrong....and I have never heard anything like it in my life

any way just enjoy, the English are louder in Krakow than the Americans so you should be fine ;-)

yeah,tip,dont use your next expresion while on the trip...


(ps,at the risk of being rude,you wont be visiting buchanwald as thats not in Poland...birkinau maybe ;) )


omg,my poison too!rare as hens teeth last time I was in Poland :(

We hate everyone...

Great author. Prepare to come out a changed man when going to the concentration camp. Not nearly as brutal as it was during the war, but you will exit thanking God you weren't detained there.


:]

I suppose a baseball cap would be a dead giveaway

Yeah, baseball cap - definate give away.

and bum bags (or fanny packs as americans call them) are a definite giveaway.

I havent seen one of them in years.. we used to call them fag bags

Wear a t-shirt with something that doesn't make sense written on it in english
"Team Good Racing" is perfect. and wear a N.Y. Yankees baseball hat and as many trademarks as you can all over your clothes and you will look Polish.

(please don't hate me but it is a little true especially for the younger generation)

You go to a bazar in Poland and everybody sells American t-shirts so you should wear them too and you'll fit right in.

So, i stay in Turkey. Who said that i'd leave my country?


I would like to mean people who live in Poland. If that is not true, i apologize.