Life /
Do expats living in Poland speak Polish? [233]
Chipmunk,
First rule of Poland. (actuall second, the first is 'rules are made to be broken') Anyway, don't take things personally. Polish manners are different from American practice (you seem American, I don't know if you are). Just because someone yells at you, doiesn't mean they don't/won't like you. Poles aren't much into suffering in silence. Speak up in whatever language you can.
(asking if people speak English is kind of insulting or rubbing salt in the wounds of those who don't since those who do speak English spend a lot of time trying to make the rest of their compatriots feel stupid - stop doing that, just ask what you want and if they can't find anyone who speaks english then shrug your shoulders and leave)
Second, it's very often impossible to be polite in two cultures at once. You can be polite in your native culture and (possibly) offend people here, or you can adapt to local practices while feeling rude. Your choice. Which is more important to you a) getting what you want b) being in the right according to your own culture's rules. Usually in Poland you're not going to have both.
Third, the nice think about my first point is you can yell back when you get frustrated and people won't get very upset (even if they return the yelling with more yelling). If anything they'll like you better as someone who stands their ground and doesn't give up (Polish people generally like determined people and don't have much use for wishy washy people).
