Love / Are Polish men chauvinistic? [35]


No different really and not everyone is the same. Still a long way to go to equality though and having doors held open is a poor substitute for abortion rights and easier access to certain professions.

Work / Salary for a senior software engineer in Poland [195]

It's half as much again as the average salary. You won't be rich, but you won't be poor either.

History / Was the holocaust by Germans in Poland the worse genocide in history? [210]

So start a thread on that. In off-topic.

As for anyone slandering PL, it's a historical fact that the Nazis chose to locate their death camps there. No slander on anyone and a simple historical fact - Poland didn't have any choice in the matter.

History / Was the holocaust by Germans in Poland the worse genocide in history? [210]

There were also far fewer Jewish people there. 3,000,000 Poles were Jewish and Poland is situated close to other large Jewish populations and due to the pre-1918 partitions had excellent railway links therefore it made sense for the nazis to perpetrate their crimes there.

Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]

Don't expect financial assistance (and in any case, the amounts of benefit, where it exists, are very low. The posters who've pointed out the difficulties in finding work in Lublin are correct - it tends to be somewhere people move from rather than to. Nice to visit though, but not an economic boomtown and nothing except language teaching (usually very low pay for a newbie) or highly specialised work (and even then...).

Selling or renting out the property are maybe better options.

Genealogy / Siennica, Pietrasze - looking for information about this town in Poland [3]

It's a tiny tiny village so probably very little information to find since there isn't much there. Google Czyżew (the rural district) which contains 30+ such villages with a combined population of about 6000 and Wysokie Mazowieckie (the county it's in) for a broad picture of the area.

News / How Polish diaspora see future of Poland? as ethnic Polish state or just Polish in origin? [120]

I wonder what you mean by "pure country".

Work / What is a physician assistant salary in Poland? [7]

Yep, "we", unless I've got some other home that I hadn't hitherto noticed myself living at for the past 2 decades.

This Physician's Assistant thing (I just checked) is a specifically American profession - their roles would be done by a qualified doctor in Poland. A trial of something similar in the UK (to save public money) is happening with mixed reception.

And yes, our doctors here in Poland are quite poorly paid compared with their western counterparts - some have indeed moved to the UK which has a shortage (and good salaries) however others prefer to stay for all sorts of personal reasons.

Work / Possible lifestyle in Poland? Job offer - 12K to 13K PLN. [40]

Remember that a Pole on that salary may well have inherited the place they live in or have access to a long term mortgage, drive a car they bought on credit and will also probably have a working partner. Also, that salary you mention is more likely in the provinces than Warsaw where the salaries and living costs (and usually expectations) are lower. Living in Warsaw on 2800 is not easy for anyone unless they are rent/mortgage free, and the person asking about 12k will have an added (and very large) expense that Polish people do not - plane tickets home and the expenses incurred when back there on a visit.

Work / What is a physician assistant salary in Poland? [7]

What is a physician assistant? It sounds specifically American. I'm not even sure sure we have them in Poland. Doctors in PL are usually assisted by nurses or work alone. In the Soviet Union they had a profession in between a doctor and a nurse called a feldsher and in the UK they have nurse prescribers something called a physician associate (though this is new and rather rare) however I've never knowingly come across one in Poland.

In Poland, there is an oversupply of doctors and there are many qualified doctors working in other field. Doctors salaries are on the low side. This has caused many to leave the profession. Nurses are also underpaid.

Travel / Taxis from Gdansk airport? [65]

If you're going there from the middle of town and it was a better class of taxi that price is fine. Should be only a little less from a cheaper firm.

News / Polish people's criticism of European Union [104]

Crowie, there is no 'processes' happening. And no particular Slavic civilisation in terms of any sort of credible political or economic alliance. Poland is firmly westward facing, a committed and enthusiastic member of the European Union and there is no particular will to change that or any sort of loyalty or even affection for the Balkans.

News / Polish people's criticism of European Union [104]

Crowe, there's no such 'emerging block' (sic) except in your imagination, support for the EU is strong in Poland which is one of the larger states and one of the key players, and no noticeable political or societal will to align the country with any so-called Slavic civilisations. Poland has a long tradition of facing westwards rather than towards the Balkans and continues to do so.

News / Poland: A Successful case of low criminality in Europe? [97]

We did the same in the UK. In my family's case (in the North and not in a big city) we always left the door unlocked until the end of the 80s or even later. Now crime there is actually falling, though I haven't noticed people leaving their doors unlocked. People have even started to stand at a distance from the first person in the ATM queue, something that I first observed here in Poland.

In PL, I doubt it was fear of the Milicja, more the notorious inefficiency of the Milicja and ease of bribing when caught. Certainly nothing to do with Muslims in either country.

Law / Advice needed on why my Poland National Visa D has been refused? [49]

You just beat me to it. The official link below suggests different consulates have different requirements and advises visa applicants to check with the particular office

msz.gov.pl/en/c/MOBILE/travel_to_poland/visa

Law / Advice needed on why my Poland National Visa D has been refused? [49]

What type if visa did you apply for?

Study / Warsaw School of Economics vs Jagiellonian University [10]

Same here - one reason why Warwick University (also Coventry) lacks something that York has, and why people choose Lincoln over Derby for example. Just a nicer place to be.

UK, Ireland / Polish prince challenges Nigel Farage to 18th Century-style duel [6]

Indeed. Some people had that title (especially Gedyminic titles) as part of the structural legacy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (specifically the Lithuanian bit). Others received titles from other jurisdictions during the partition years. Others still, wrongly assume that szlachta translates as nobility rather than gentry and are, not but what, creative.

I can't be bothered to fish around in the Fürstlicher Haüser to check up on this guy's credentials since life is way too short though it's worth mentioning that no official authority in Poland today confers or recognises titles or has done since 1918.

Much more interesting to read about The White House, a palace in London that he's created from a suburban house. Modest and understated it isn't, but I wouldn't mind having it next door to me at all. It certainly suggests that whoever/whatever he is, he isn't Baron Hardup and more importantly he's got vision, flair and panache.

Life / Concerns of a Swede who is about to go to Poland for work [53]

You don't need a vast amount of money to enjoy what you described once as 'cheap highlife' in Poland, Pigsy; you do need however to avoid a mismatch between what you expect and what you can afford - otherwise it can lead to misery. Cheap restaurants in Polish cities are rarely good, long-distance bus (or TLK) travel isn't for everyone and sharing a flat with strangers can go badly wrong. The OP however is 23 not 53 and is looking perhaps to have enough to live on rather than dine on lobster or use a limo service every day.

Life / Concerns of a Swede who is about to go to Poland for work [53]


It's actually quite cheap in Poland, Pigsy, certainly cheaper than the OP is used to in Sweden.


This is very true and something that people often forget. A Pole living as a sloik in Kraków or Warsaw just needs to pay for a train or even a bus ticket to visit family for a weekend. A foreigner has a longer and more expensive journey. Plus, if you move abroad, you might as well be able to enjoy all the benefits of your new home instead of wondering if you can afford to eat out somewhere nice.


On this we differ. Very few 90 year olds wish they'd worked longer as a suited monkey making the stockholders of some corporation even richer or yearn to have studied financial whatever instead of Art, Literature, History or Music or Maths. If in doubt, following your heart is usually a good choice (or at least a more interesting one) and if you like a place and have a chance to live there for a while, why not? Though yes, Poland is far lower down in the international joie de vivre rankings than Greece or Spain :-)


No such club (except maybe in your 'mind') and I doubt many of the posters here who are originally from Britain go to the pub "virtually every night". And if any do, why the hell shouldn't they?

Classifieds / Companies in Poland that rent out trucks with trailers? [6]

These people up in Gdańsk might be useful for you. I haven't used them myself - I just asked a friend who's in the business: truck-poland.com/index.php/en/

Classifieds / Companies in Poland that rent out trucks with trailers? [6]

Prices in Polish zlotych?

Classifieds / Companies in Poland that rent out trucks with trailers? [6]

In which part of Poland?

History / Question about historical inter-region settlement patterns in Poland. [3]

You don't mention the time periods in question which could well be relevant, however yes, people do and did move house for a whole variety of reasons, usually economic.

Travel / Suggestion for nightlife in Poland [28]

Warsaw has the best nightlife however on the whole it isn't a 'party destination'.

Travel / Getting from Krakow to Warsaw [99]

Train or Bus, Wielkipolak, not much difference. They both use the same ticket. The train station at the airport is quite an annoying walk away and the bus stop just outside arrivals - that's the main difference. Also there are more buses than trains so less waiting. The train goes the long way round (though it stops at Warszawa Zachodnia where all the Kraków trains also stop - could be handy in avoiding crowds etc) whereas the bus goes on a more direct route (though it goes slower during the morning rush hour). The train is slightly mor comfortable however both train and bus are short journeys.

A taxi's less than £10, much quicker and worth considering, as is getting on the Kraków train at Zachodnia.

UK, Ireland / Polish prince challenges Nigel Farage to 18th Century-style duel [6]

Both of them exhibitionists but good that the Prince has had a go.

Life / Concerns of a Swede who is about to go to Poland for work [53]

Hi Gosc, I probably have more experience than you think on this matter. Remember welfare isn't just the money (though many people DO have to survive on it) and don't "just die". It involves a whole tranche of services including housing, food stamps, medical services, social care etc.

Hard to see how this is relevant to the OP though who is most concerned about whether his appearance and cultural background will cause a problem. I'd say no, not in Krakow which is fairly cosmopolitan and has residents from many cultures and religions.

It is however something of a 'closed' city (c.f.York) and I've always found Warsaw people to be more open and sociable if not always initially polite. As a very young person who doesn't speak the language this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Life / Concerns of a Swede who is about to go to Poland for work [53]

@Gosc, I'd say it's far from symbolic, especially for those who depend on the money and on the other services provided like community nursing and social housing. The problem is that it's spread very thinly and depends on voluntary sector support to prop it up.

This won't be a problem for the OP though - the job he's been offered pays around the average. Plenty of opportunities for him to do some volunteering though and that of course is a good way to pick up the language.

Life / Concerns of a Swede who is about to go to Poland for work [53]

@Swede, you'll be fine. People in big cities aren't negatively interested in other people's skin tone (though avoiding bad areas at night is always a good idea whether you stand out or you don't); people are nominally Catholic but most don't go to mass regularly, especially the educated and city dwellers (though in central Krakow you'll easily be able to find a church that isn't ultra-conservative) and in Warsaw and Krakow people are very used to foreigners.

That amount of money is ok for a 23 year old however you should be aware that many of your peers wil rent rooms in flats rather than have their own place.

By the way, there's a vast welfare state in PL ( the EU compared it to Sweden's) however it is very underfunded, the amounts of money/resources are small and it tends to be a large town/city thing for reasons to do with the way it's funded.