Language / Need some Polish language help.....with a twist! [39]

Typically, Polonia will have courses for their children or grandkids as a way of keeping up with the culture- it is worth a look anyway.

Work / Minimum basic salary in Poland [96]

somebody posted not too long ago about an advert for cashiers at Biedronka and the pay was something like 1800 to 2200---I can't remember exactly, maybe somebody else does.

I found a link for 2007 and the pay was 1400 pln per month. no doubt it is more now.

Language / Need some Polish language help.....with a twist! [39]

there must be some sort of group course around you? I think I learned the most this way. There must be something organized through a Dom Polonia or Polish church in your area?

Work / Minimum basic salary in Poland [96]


I agree. I can use my husband as an example or any of his friends. For the first three years we lived in Warsaw we didn't take any holidays- just xmas, easter. Fast forward 8 years later and my husband goes into work when he wants and sets his own hours. but it didn't come easily.

Work / Minimum basic salary in Poland [96]

too right. it is the national past time. and it carries over into Polonia in the rest of the world.

Work / Minimum basic salary in Poland [96]

this is one of the main differences that I have noticed between Poles and foreigners. Perhaps it has to do with working and living under communism, but there are many people that I have come across that just want a 9 to 5 park your brain kind of job. Of course not all Poles are like this but my husbands cousin is one of these- once he gets a job then he just sits back and plans how to spend his salary. They have ambition but once they land the job then they don't have the same determination as before. In Canada these are typically gov't workers. Day in and day out same thing- park your brain.

Work / Minimum basic salary in Poland [96]

averages don't mean anything in Poland. The population is widely spread out across the country and there is a lot more working class. The expected salary for somebody in a white collar job in the north is about 7,000- this is not entry level but somebody who has 5 years experience. In Warsaw it is more.

why should somebody straight out of school make that much money. nobody, anywhere in the world, makes a huge salary straight out of school. It takes time, dedication and experience. It takes a willingness to resign from a holiday the first few years in order to prove oneself and work the way up the corporate ladder. That is just the way it goes.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

I have seen a group of topless girls on the beach up north. it was really embarrassing. they were taking photos of each other while they frolicked on the beach. They were making arses out of themselves. no doubt these photos were going to end up on nasza klasa. i have no problem with those who want to go topless- but no need to make everyone else aware that you are topless.

my personal favourite is the 50 year old men with g string speedo's. sick.

so you are proud of "teen mom" and "16 and pregnant"--that is fecked up.
i have bigger aspirations for my two daughters than ending up on a white trash reality tv show.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

The story is too flawed from the first point. there is no story here.

News / Should countries be boycotted for offending Poles? [60]


no it isn't. There is a generation of Poles that still think like former communists- I don't mean the average worker- I mean those who came out shining during communism---those in the high ranks- those that still expect a little kick back under the table. At this moment these very people are leading companies and corporations that are involved in the updating of Poland. totally ironic.

News / Should countries be boycotted for offending Poles? [60]

if Poles could get the country up to standards on their own it would have been done a long time ago. The fact is Poland needs help- for roads and infrastructure, for businesses and for other things. It is not an easy task converting from a communist mentality to one of the western world. Poles are upsetting the Dutch- big deal. Calling for a boycott- that is ridiculous. Perhaps if those who immigrated to other countries actually assimilated instead of moving into a Polish ghetto than there wouldn't be so much hatred.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


why because you say so. total bullshiit. sorry. White collar workers in Poland make good money. I know this from living in Warsaw and also my husbands cousin in Tricity. Perhaps in Lublin and Bialystok they make less but that is typical.

common knowledge- please give me a link.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

yes- but there are shiitholes like this all over the world. Canada has Hamilton, the U.S. has too many to list and then there are the mining towns in the U.K. If you grow up in a shiithole then there is good reason to leave. My husband grew up in Tri city- it is beautiful and always wanted to come back. He never lived in a block and because his father was an officer on a ship(staunch anti communist family) he always had access to western items. For him leaving Poland was a tragedy- but for somebody who grew up in, lets say, Pruszkow Gdansk- you might have a different feeling.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

Do you have any statistics for this? My husband deals with white collar every day -in fact he is white collar- we are not poor- and my husband is 100% Polish. There is big money in Poland and a lot of it is Polish.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


yes and no. I don't think it is a fair comparison - the war and communism didn't have the same effect so these countries didn't have to start from scratch. I think a more fair comparison would be as compared to the former eastern block countries.

I also think that Poland has an inferiority complex when compared to other countries- people have always left Poland to greener pastures so it is hard to imagine Poland as a rich country.

I also think it is easier to be poor in western Europe or Canada (not U.S) because there are social systems set up to help these people where as in Poland they don't exist to the same extent.


so basically you want to work, pay no taxes and get free healthcare? interesting concept however taxes pay for health care. and who is responsible for your retirement and disability if you are injured?

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

If Poland is so poor than why are so many new apartments, cars and other big ticket items still being purchased? They aren't cheap.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


they taste like crap because they are crap- full of chemicals. Polish fruit and veg is still organically grown. no gmo.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


so others will think they are rich.

When I was in England I was talking with a few colleagues about some of the differences about living in Poland vs Canada. In Canada it is not typical for people to show off their money(except Montreal). It is almost like people dress down if they are super wealthy. Most of the people I was with said it was the same thing in the U.K.

In Poland it is the extreme opposite. People will get themselves into debt but as long as they have a name brand shirt or jeans than they appear wealthy and those that are super wealthy have so much name brand stuff it just becomes a tacky joke.

My husband gets razzed a lot by his work colleagues because he doesn't drive a fancy big car. All of his work mates drive bmw's or audi's or some other showy car but he has a simple hatch back and they are all in debt- but at least they look rich.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

I was in England in October- there is no way that food is cheaper.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


It is only rich or poor when compared to another country. If we don't compare at all but just define it based on its own merits then it is different.

Yes I live in Warsaw but my husband is from the north as is all of his family- I am not talking about my 2 square km radius.

Of course there is poverty here. There are people that live in one room flats with their families and the dog. But they still have access to health care and any social system that they qualified for. It is not like India where there are families that make their living from the garbage dump or a ghetto in Chicago. Poland is in a transitional stage and those that are suffering the most in my opinion are the elderly. They are not given enough. And of course those with problems such as addicts or alcoholics.

Poland is like any other country- there is rich and poor but overall it is not a poor country.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

I don't think it is poor at all. Of course there are poor people but over all it is not poor.

Law / Starting a private College in Poland - procedures and information [15]

let me just tell you that those that can afford to pay for private college or university would rather send their children abroad- so that they can tell everyone that they pay for school abroad. it is a status thing.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]


fruits and vegetables, meats, cheese and dairy, breads. of course I am talking about whole foods and not hamburger helper. Even French or German products manufactured in Poland such as Danone and Dr. Oeker are cheaper in Poland.

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

sort of. the spread between the rich and poor is quite large. There is not a lot of "middle class" compared to the western standard. More and more Poles are becoming "middle class" but it is relatively new- it is a good thing.

Plus- there are 44 million people living here and quite well spread throughout the country- so those that live around Lublin or Bialystock- who may not be poor there- would be poor as compared to those of the same income that live in Warsaw or Wroclaw based on the standard of living in those regions.

Work / Cost of Living, Average Salaries and Job sites in Poland [263]

no it is a bachelor. quite common here. In fact throw in the mother in law and two dogs and it is quite typical. Perhaps you would know this if you were in Poland, no?

UK, Ireland / Common pitfalls for Poles learning English [187]

it is quite simple why there is such problems. It is that the tongue is placed differently when pronouncing words. It is much easier for those in the Slavic languages to learn similar and the same with english- solely based on tongue placement. The TH sound for Poles is so difficult because they need to learn how to place their tongue properly. Of course I am talking about those who are learning a second language later on in life as opposed to learning from childhood. My kids and husband can switch back and forth from Polish to English with no noticeable difference where as I have a difficult time with the z sounds and people know I am foreign when I speak Polish.

Life / Supermarket culture rules in Poland? [18]

Jan Piekarz in Konstancin is amazing- bakes its bread on site. There is another one close to galeria Mokotow on Wilanowska- can't remember the name.

There will be a fish monger in Konstancin (top secret at the moment)
I admit to going to a supermarket- I have no choice. I live in an area of Warsaw that has no shopping but a corner store. I would love to be able to walk to the end of my street where there were loads of shops- much like the British version of the "high street", unfortunately big box seems to be taking over. In Kabaty/Ursynow it is possible to go shop in this method but I don't live there.

Food / Anybody in Poland actually eats soup-mix soups? [27]

Poland is eating more highly processed foods- macdonald's and the like. the children are fatter - as are the people and this is evident, one only needs to look out their window. I am seeing more and more obese people- particularly those that are quite poor and those that have a lot of money. those with no money buy garbage foods that are cheaper and those that have the money buy processed foods from a box or at restaurants such as mcdonald's, burger king, etc. people drink coke or red bull like it is water- not to mention all the sugar added to coffee and tea.

seemingly intelligent people that make good money and have an education really make poor choices when it comes to foods. since the joining of the e.u. Polish people have gotten fatter faster. It makes sense. Corporations prey on Poland B- they are the majority of the country and quite easy to market towards. Put a little English language on the wrapper and hell it must be good food. McDonalds set up in poorer neighbourhoods and advertise a great lifestyle.

I could go on and on- this is a very heated topic for my house. Most importantly read the labels on the food you buy. If you buy fresh meats, cheeses, fruit and veg- then you don't have a lot to worry about. If your food contains corn or soy additives- stay away from it.

Food / Anybody in Poland actually eats soup-mix soups? [27]


you should stop. they are really sickening fake "foods". full of processed ick and chemicals. don't tell me it is fast- that is just stupid. it is just as fast to make a sandwich. I take my lunch to work every day too. i have humus, veg, fruit, cheese and meat. nothing processed or from a package. I make my lunch every day and I have the same amount of time as everybody else, in fact I have to get my kids off to school and walk my dog all before I go to work. no excuses- just don't eat that shiit. It will kill you.

Food / Anybody in Poland actually eats soup-mix soups? [27]

disgusting and if poles keep eating this same garbage they are going to be fat just like americans. they have a pretty good start.