USA, Canada / Would you live in California, USA? [240]


Nice area. I lived in Oceanside and Carlsbad for 25 years before moving to Poland. I loved the place. Great weather, nice beaches, close both to both deserts and mountains. Traffic? I lived and worked in the community so I didn't face long commutes to San Diego on weekdays. Crime? Not much in my area. As is true in any city, avoid the bad areas and you'll be fine. The way to stay out of bar fights is to stay out of bars. It's really that simple.

Politics? You'll have to make your own decision about that. You'll always find something to disagree with no matter where you live.

Earthquakes and forest fires are an integral part of life in Southern California. Earthquake codes are stringent. Since the quake in San Francisco-88 or 89, there's has been relatively little damage done even by major shakers.

In short, if I ever move back to the US, North San Diego County is where I'll go.

USA, Canada / Culture Shock.. my Foreign Import's 90 days in US [7]


When you can find them, and there's not a large selection to choose from. Granted, I'm biased as I'm from Southern California and the produce section in most markets there is almost as big as BOMI. Sigh.

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]


Blame their mouths, not any particular system. This as lame an excuse to explain the answer to the question the OP asked as any I've ever read.

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]

Again, not true



Add Australia to your list of obese people. About two years ago they surpassed the US in the percentage of obese/overweight people.

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]


Sadly, not true for the reason stated above. I see far too many overweight kids here.


OK comrade, or should I just say Sieg Heil?

Life / Why Polish people are fat ? [81]


The only reason why people in any country are fat is because they eat too much. Ask any doctor/nutritionist and they'll tell you the same thing.

Language / Pronunciation difficulties for Poles speaking English [40]


I suggest you meet more Poles. The Polish teachers at my school speak excellent unaccented English, some with American, British or Scottish accents. One of them fooled a British teacher at my school, who, upon meeting Matt, asked him what part of England he was from. He was amazed to learn that Matt was Polish.

It can be done.

USA, Canada / General differences between Poland and the USA? [184]

So, in the 37 years I worked in the US before coming to Poland, how did I manage to work for companies that provided both? Just lucky I guess. :)

USA, Canada / This is what I was talking about America [19]

MrAlbert, the link you posted is in direct contradiction of your first post.

Man, you need some serious attitude adjustment.

Travel / Taxis from Gdansk airport? [65]

That's a fair price considering the distance.

Work / Is it possible to live on 2200zł a month in Poland (teaching position) [13]

I've lived here for six years. You can do it on 2200zl (nett?) if you don't have to pay rent. After rent, I pay 82zl a month for internet and basic cable (UPC), about 20zl for gas and about 120zl for electricity. Heating etc is in my rental p[ayment and I use a mobile. No landline. Who needs one?

I budget about 50zl a day for expenses-food, smokes, beer etc, but obviously some days I pay more, especially when I go to restaaurants.

The answer to your question is what kind of lifestyle do you want to live while you're here.

If you teach English in Poland, you will have an evening job. Probably split ***** which include morning lessons followed by after/evening lessons.

Work / Available jobs for Teaching English in Poland? I have no TEFL or CELTA certificate [4]

Hi Kelly,

In a nutshell, without a CELTA, NOT a TEFL cerificate, your chances of finding a teaching job here are pretty slim. As you'll read on numerous threads on PF and on esl cafe it's the only accepted qualification.

For a number of reasons, teaching experience in Asia isn't given much credibility by the better schools here. Some don't even consider it valuable at all because so many "teachers" there have no qualifications.

I don't mean to rain on your parade even more, but as an American you'll have to hustle to apply for residency almost as soon as you arrive in Poland and to get a residency card you'll almost certainly have to have a job or your own company when you apply. BTW, I'm an American who has been teaching in Gdansk for almost six years and I know a little about the process.

Because the US isn't in the EU-thank God-it's very difficult for Americans to find legal work in many countries in Europe. See the threads on eslcafe for specific countries.

If you're really set on teaching English in Poland, come to Poland in the summer, take a CELTA course and start looking for work in late August/early September.

Law / what is the deposit amount insured in Poland by the banks [8]

Vincent, if you can't be be bothered to register, I can't be bothered to answer, even though I know the answer answer to your question.

Classifieds / Free Beer Brewing lessons in Tri-city. [9]

You have a pm.

Life / Hey, Nice Airport Wrocław! Or! Day #1 for an American Ex-Pat in Poland. [128]


That hasn't been my experience, and thankfully there's no damn carp on the table. :)

Language / Learning to speak Polish(?) for traveling reasons. Help!? [30]

Isn't that always true? :) It has been in my experience.

Language / Secret to the Polish Rolling R [40]


That may be because most English people pronounce r as ah. That's the single biggest complaint I get from my students about British English, which I don't speak.


Yep.

Work / 4,000 zl in Piła as a teacher - enough to live? [14]

True, if he has to pay ZUS. I don't know his situation so I can't comment on that.

Work / 4,000 zl in Piła as a teacher - enough to live? [14]


Tax is 19%, so you're right. You can live on that but you also have to pay for a flat and related expenses, so take that into consideration before you accept the offer. That's more than I mad during my first year in Poland and I was OK with it.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]


Which it isn't, as anyone who has been to Provence will confirm.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

I was reading my French cookbooks this evening, and when I looked at the ingredients I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, especially when reading fish recipes. Fresh fish is difficult, if not impossible, to find in Gdansk. When I show the book to my Polish friends they just tell me that it looks good but I won't find the ingredients for most dishes in Poland. The new Provence? Maybe when hell freezes over.

Study / British Council for Celta, Warsaw [8]

A CELTA is a CELTA regardless of where you get it and how much you pay for the course. At the end you get a certificate that says CELTA. Period.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

I've been to Provence and I live in Poland. Believe me, when it comes to food, Poland is light years away from Provence.

News / New uniforms for Polish Army [30]


If 12 years in the US Marines and a tour in Vietnam count, I have. So I'll leave these discussions to to the amateurs here.

Classifieds / Language exchange group, Tricity [60]

There's a large parking lot in front of Teatre Wybrzeze by the Golden Gate.

Classifieds / Language exchange group, Tricity [60]

I'm interested and I should be able to make it to Costa Coffee this Thursday.

Food / What's your favorite Polish beer? [870]

8% is too strong for me as it spoils the taste of the beer.

I recently found £omźa Niefiltrowane-unfltered. I really like it.

Travel / City break in Gdansk 24th-27th January 2013 [5]


Sure. There are lots of good places for both, but before I give you a laundry list of names, please tell us what you're looking for. What kind of food, what sort of atmosphere you like when you're out drinking, etc. You don't have to go to Sopot for those unless you just want to see the place.

WWII history? There's none in Gdansk. :) Check out the Gdansk History Museum on ul. Długa in the Main Town Hall and don't miss the photos on either side of the Golden Gate as you continue your stroll up the street.

When you arrive in your hotel, pick up a free copy of Gdansk in your pocket and spend some time reading it, or you can visit their web site at inyourpocket.com

If you have more questions, post them here or send me a pm. Hope this helps.

.

News / Poland braces for economic slowdown [30]


True that running up debt is madness, but what country doesn't have a deficit? And how does a state/country earn money other than by taxation? Oh, I know. They can operate an airline like LOT or railway systems. How well has that worked out, either for Poland or the US-see AMTRAK.

Life / Copy shops common in Poland? If yes, does anyone know one in the Gdansk area? [6]

Are you in Gdansk now?