What can I expect in Poland compared to the United States?

Yummy, no need for a knife or fork then :)

no neither have i

It was a bit of a suprise for me too

Maybe it was some sort of gadget/invention to wash potatoes ? Cos Polish people eat a lot of potatoes I understand :)

<grin>

You are probably right. The suprise came when I went to make coffee one morning...

I found driving in America on the whole as easy as pie, lots of big straight roads the only real danger comes from falling asleep at the wheel. In Poland driving is very exciting and I for one love it. Narrow lanes littered with pot holes and rutts, lunatic drivers coming at you head on in the opposite direction.

When in Rome.........

NOPE! Basing my opinion on what I see on this forum

Its very convenient. One can wash one's dishes and shower at the same time. Saves on water too.

pillage like the barbarians?

I lived in marquette for a year, mom has a summer place near cheboygan, and family lived all through the U.P.

What can I say about Poland compared to northern michigan.

Weather is damn near the same.

Food is different but good. You will pay about the same once you convert the money. The one thing I miss is a good breakfast resturant. Lots of cabbage on the menu, good thing I like it.

Since you usually walk or take the bus it's hard to shop for more then a few days at a time. Make sure you have a good backpack.

Mass transportation is incredable and resonable. I have enjoyed not driving for the most part. However, some of the bus drivers are scary. We almost rear ended a car the other day.

People have been very nice and helpful. Get a good phrase book. I have not had a hard time even with my basic Polish. I speak enough Polish and most speak at least a few words of English.

How long have you lived in Poland? are you originally from Northern Michigan?

more the bread is good here and cheap and must be brought fresh and the vegetables taste so much better
people value the time with their families much more and attend church, more holidays the poor people are white not black or latino people drink much more and there are not many homeless people or at least u dont see them much

Is that an endorsement?

just a difference that is all

No, I am from the Detroit burbs.

I lived in a flat in the center of Warsaw with a bath tub in the kitchen. They do exist.

Produce quality is much lower. Most supermarkets and small food shops have loads of rotten or bland fruits and vegetables and you might find a decent one mixed in if it hasn't been discovered first. Onions are a particular example...seems the bin of onions is always full of soft and rotting ones. The CarreFour mega supermarkets have a bit better produce...the smaller CarreFour (old Alberts) generally have crap selection.

Buying on the street from the people who sell produce out of vans and trucks get you better quality but still not like the variety and health of what you are used to.

Bread is generally not the same either. I miss some breads from the USA and while I can survive the bread here it is not my favorite.

For Yellow Cheese...if you like real cheddar you will have to look very hard...its mostly plastic cheeses like Gouda and Edam.

Anything other than what Poles consider normal is really expensive....TexMex stuff...Baltic meats...anything from the US or UK. The prices on these things will make you laugh...I don't need to pay 4 times the US price for some food...I can wait until I visit home again.

Someone else covered clothes, shoes and anything electronic....2-4 times higher...sometimes more. Fuel is also twice the US cost if you plan to drive.

I have a 2 room 400 square foot flat for 800usd per month (2 rooms means 2 rooms not 2 Bedrooms as we say in the US)...in the US I lived in a 3 bedroom HOUSE of 1300 square feet for 650usd.

Poland is not a "cheap" place to live for sure. Maybe if you camped out and ate potatoes and cabbage all the time. But if you want to approximate your life at home...it will cost more...a LOT more.

The carrafour express by where i am sucks. It smells like **** and has nothing in it.

what do u miss that great wonder bread? I love the bread in poland fresh and cheap dark bread


I disagree completely the vegetables are fresh if u go to the fresh market excepting winter time and the taste is substantially better than in the us and they dont have gmo here. organic/non sprayed stuff is the same price as normal


guess it depends on where u live and ur lifestyle. its half the price for me

another difference is u r less likely to get shot in poland