Work / Moving to Warsaw, teaching but hoping to deviate into business environment [16]


Not hard for everybody, judging by the brand spanking new cars all around. I've seen more new upmarket cars here than I ever saw in Hampstead, London. Those who have made money here, or who have generous credit facilities to borrow, seem to be very comfortable indeed. Of course, they could be all fur coat and no socks, but there is a heck of a lot of them in that boat if that's the case. Frankly, I often wonder if Britons back home realise just how prosperous many Poles in Poland seem to be. Those who have done well don't seem to be a minority either, as I count the shiny motors coming past me at the bus stop here. I'm not so much envious as amazed (but also somewhat envious of course).

Work / Is 6500 PLN salary gross enough to live on for a small family in Wroclaw? [20]


Yes, but that's a try on price in my opinion, not a realistic achieved rent. The OP could probably find something for between 1400 and 1700 after negotiation, somewhere else. These 2500 a month landlords (probably foreign owners detached from reality) will have a long wait unless they get lucky and find a corporate tenant with a generous housing allowance. In my experience, it won't happen for a while and it will be a void (empty and tenantless) for many months, and the landlord will then lose more than if he or she had been realistic with price in the first place. Of course, some landlords only want to let to well off tenants, and don't care about losing rent. These are the sort of business men and women who don't last long when interest rates are normalised, as they surely will be.

Work / Is 6500 PLN salary gross enough to live on for a small family in Wroclaw? [20]

It seems that some landlords have recently been hiking rents here. I have been shocked to see an increasing number of 50m2 flats at 2500PLN lately. Whether they let is another matter but am seeing more increases over the last month, including where I used to live they hiked the rent 35% for the next tenant (of course, no one's rented it yet).

If you look carefully, you should find a decent 60m2+ flat for 1500 a month plus 400 or 500 service charges. Electricity can be anything from 75 a month, gas and water similar (all metered). A travel pass is 100 a month. Food isn't cheap. Entertainments aren't cheap except compared to Central London. If you deal with an agent, negotiate their fee down. Also try to negotiate the rent, some landlords will drop quite a bit.

Love / Do I need to be Confirmed in order to get married in the Catholic church in Poland? [41]


Yes, something like 90% or 93%. I don't think they are regular churchgoers or participate fully, however. But otherwise I'd agree, a very high number of official Catholics.

This academic site says approx. 90 per cent of the population, other sites say anything between 89 and 95. princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Religious_denominations_in_Poland.html

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

Thank you, again, @gask7
As a small but sincere token of my gratitude I will tell you that I think the word you want is basis and not bases :o)

UK, Ireland / Calling all Brits! Travel in England advice [32]

South Oxhey, near Watford, for perhaps a real taste of Britain today. Body-armour sometimes optional.
ilivehere.co.uk/south-oxhey-2.html

Travel / Pub Quiz in Warsaw? [19]


Are there enough British people in Warsaw to provide business for a pub? Or is it, as would seem more likely, that the clientele are Poles as well as foreigners from other countries such as Britain and the US? Probably a silly question but am curious in case Warsaw looks like Spain or France (full of Brits).

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]


Thank you :o)

So, I assume the NIP must be shown on all receipts and also invoices sent to a customer?

Work / Moving to Warsaw, teaching but hoping to deviate into business environment [16]


Sounds a bit like Partynice, although some of the apartments in 'nice are surprisingly good quality from what I've heard.


Perhaps, but I certainly recognise the mother-in-law stuff. Maybe the people I know just had bad luck, but it strikes some resonance I can tell you that much...

Language / Do these sentences make sense in Polish? [12]


Welcome to Polish. But, it does get easier (I'm told).


Very true.

Language / Do these sentences make sense in Polish? [12]


Every time I use Google, Polish native speakers wet themselves laughing at how Google translates English into Polish that has them in hysterics. And, I'm not sure you Mr Bing should be grinning like that either, you're not much better, in my experience.

Work / Moving to Warsaw, teaching but hoping to deviate into business environment [16]

1. Probably something like 150 a month, depends on how much tax you have to pay (and how much ZUS)

2. You might find a large estate agency that needs an English speaker but probably they'll make do with their own bi-lingual staff. Sometimes call centres have work but it isn't well paid. Warsaw probably has opportunities that I'm unaware of, but generally there's not much for a Brit sans certain IT skills

3. No idea but probably lots
4. See https://polishforums.com/life/driving-test-english-speaking-school-20101/
5. Get used to lots of traffic jams, and nicer trams than Wrocław's

Have fun!

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Unfortunately, a mod decided my smiley response was not enough to warrant staying on this thread. I therefore must write something more substantial to express my appreciation of your wit !

I will also add a cheese comment, to absolutely guarantee this post cannot, in all conscience, be binned, by a moderator.

MANDATORY CHEESE COMMENT: Jon said he thinks VS is a bit bland. I am yet to try mine. If it is anything like Cathedral City I'll be delighted. I find Lidl's more niche mature cheeses to be a bit too strong for me, although doubtless they're very good and well-priced. I'm hoping Lidl continue to stock this line and don't lose heart if sales slow a bit. I think if VS is even half good, many Poles will get hooked on it and buy again. The only problem, as with all cheese, is the salt content. One has to be careful.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

Please tweet us in real-time when you open the pack. Pictures of it on a Jacob's cracker would, however, be too much to bear.

Law / I was fined for not having a tram ticket in Poland. How does this affect me? [68]


I know, I love doing that on one of the bus routes I use. I then pull out my over-sized Android phone and put my ID round my neck. You should see the worried looks I get! I then go "Just kiddin'!"

By the way, for some reason I'm just not very popular in these parts.

Work / Virtual offices in Poland. Anything similar to AllDayPa (All Day PA)? [9]

Thank you, both, I will try your suggestions. I already found uslugisekretarskie.pl, getsix.pl and dorita.pl and a few others, but not sure they're quite what I'm after. I'm looking for a site that allows home-workers (ie mums or anyone unemployed but with skills) to do admin or similar work from home for, perhaps, some small business who don't want to employ their own staff.

Love / Is it considered rude to stare ( especially at women ) in Poland? [12]

No one stares at me hardly at all, ever. Unfortunately! And the only reason I say hardly at all is because I think an 80 year old grandma stared at me once after she heard me speak English.

However, if I were a 20something blonde babe or Brad Pitt, probably it'd be a different story.

Definitely you can't be caught staring or looking at people in the UK or the US. I noticed people stare at me in France once, but perhaps I had bits of croissant in my hair.

Love / Poland's virginity market [17]

Nowhere does it say that the girls interviewed are Jews. So, where do you get that idea from?

Must also admit, I have never previously heard of this site that carries the story. I assume it's a local blog of some kind: sz-n.com/2014/01/polish-virginity-for-sale/

I could not find the GW article about Polish women, but I think I did stumble upon a story about women doing it from at least one other country. It may or may not be true, but I suppose probability suggests it does happen.

Work / Wanting to move to Wroclaw. Any ideas of how to get a job sorted before moving out? [5]

Well, don't want to put you off but I'd have thought that if you don't have some skill in demand already, then you need to acquire an IT skill that's in demand or be sufficiently good at Polish to get a job that somehow a local Polish native can't get. Wages will be low for the latter, however, even if you find such a job. If your first language is English,teaching English is a possibility but anecdotes suggest the market has got quite lean for that, so you'll be lucky to make ends meet. Some succeed though, probably. Anyway, PM me if you want some job search website links and tips etc, but I think it's going to be a challenge to get anywhere sans an IT specialism. (This assumes you are an EU resident btw.)

Law / Pepper Spray Legality in Poland [9]

Did you report that bouncer to the police? Did you have a witness? Is it all on CCTV?

I note from an earlier thread that you want to be a boxer. But, outside of the ring, rather than 'teaching anyone a lesson' the best thing if someone's troublesome is to get away from them, then call the police. If you retaliate when you could simply get away, it can simply make you look at fault. You can later smile to yourself that you showed very mature restraint in the face of provocation, and keep your good name and boxing licence.

Bouncers in London, if I recall, can be similarly unpleasant. Since you mention skin colour, I will tell you a true story: In London in the 90s, myself and a black friend went to a normal nightclub. The black bouncers on the door wouldn't let us in. One challenged me to a fight, when I protested. My black friend either seriously or jokingly stated loudly that it was because he was black. We then went somewhere else and had a great time at an equally good club that admitted us with no problem whatsoever.

OK, you didn't want a lecture. In a nutshell: I am sorry to read of your experience. I urge you to promptly call the police (997/112) if anyone gets physical with you, and to also bear in mind that I know for 100% sure similar stuff happens in many parts of London by doormen/ochrona/security of British and foreign background. You can probably carry some concentrations of CS spray in Poland in most public places but I think using it is not without legal consequences. Far better to back off and call the boys in blue, that's their job, and I'd give them a chance to do it.

Have a good 2014 and good NYE :o)

(PS CS/pepper sprays and similar are not legal in the UK, of course.)

Law / Cash register till 20.000 zł - online webshop in Poland? [3]

I think you still have to issue receipts and presumably they are used to demonstrate your income.

When people go to fruit and veg markets, however, I don't think the stallholders always issue receipts. I can't remember for sure, but probably some did and some didn't.

Real Estate / Mortgages in Poland while living and working in the UK? [20]

I will PM you with a link or two but not sure you need it, or you might already know what's what. I hope it works out and you enjoy a happy time in PL.

Real Estate / Mortgages in Poland while living and working in the UK? [20]


Congratulations on being foresighted enough to have a specialism that's in-demand in Poland. It's otherwise very hard to find work unless you can speak Polish as well as English and have a specialist skill in demand, plus another language on top is often a bonus (ie French, Spanish, Korean).

(Those people who come to Poland to teach English and then get a mortgage based on that have a very difficult time of it.)

News / The poor and alone receive free food at Christmas in Krakow (video) [4]


Good work from many churches. I have seen homeless and vulnerable visit local church offices here for, I assume, some sort of help.

But, why would they see a shortfall if the economy is recovering in "Poland A", with people or families doing better, as is being reported?

Additionally, I have observed some rents here have ascended to ridiculous levels with some landlords (you'd think it was Warsaw), and still my old apartment remains a void although it now looks cheap compared to the ludicrous rents I'm seeing advertised more and more over the past 2 weeks.

News / SPECIAL REPORT: The Brits who left the UK for a life in Poland [28]

Oh I see, apologies to you. Well, Ironside, because people may say it's me and not my nationality, it's pointless to list my observations. I am however totally convinced that I experienced bad attitudes which were caused simply by my not being a Pole but being on Polish soil. And yeah I know Poles experience the same in other countries, but never from me so it's not payback or karma. Happy holidays and thanks for taking an interest in my post, have a very nice Xmas etc.

News / SPECIAL REPORT: The Brits who left the UK for a life in Poland [28]

Sometimes stating the obvious is necessary, some people would otherwise not twig.

News / SPECIAL REPORT: The Brits who left the UK for a life in Poland [28]

The Brits who left the UK for a life in Poland - and what are your experiences if a Briton?

I did a search in the archive and didn't find a thread on this although it must be somewhere.

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043562/SPECIAL-REPORT-The-Brits-left-UK-life-Poland.html


I dare say that some of the people mentioned in the article might know of this forum!
The article is from 2011, but I dare say there have been success and failure stories since. If anyone would like to post their success or otherwise story on this thread, please feel free. It would be good if you could say whereabouts you found success (or failure) in Poland.

My own take which is just my opinion and experience and should be construed as nothing more than that: very limited opportunities for work or even voluntary work, it's a place for marrieds and young families more than anything, it has complicated politics and loyalties stemming from a turbulent history, some Poles don't much like Brits or foreigners and don't care that they make it obvious, customer service in shops can be abrupt and poor generally, food is very limited if you're a veggie or not good at cooking or just don't have the time to cook, the roads and a quite a lot of drivers seem below average, the air is poorer than it should be in some cities, lots of things are surprisingly expensive considering Polish wages. But: it's a better place if you're under 30 and have at least one other language apart from English and maybe in addition to Polish plus a skill in demand such as some software and IT disciplines, are Catholic, enjoy the arts, relish the countryside and farming or agriculture, love skiing and are keen on cycling. It's probably at its vert best if you have a Polish partner or spouse to smooth your path and a good bit of money spare. Failing that, a decent company relocation package and some luck.

Happy holidays all and wishing you a good and prosperous 2014.

I see a mod found the original thread in about 2 seconds :oD


Certainly agree, very few Britons here in Wro unless visiting on the p**s.

Travel / Wroclaw Fountain is Amazing - is it working in winter? [12]


If he means the one in the Rynek, I think it's off.