USA, Canada / Where do most Polish-Americans identify on the political spectrum? [142]


I think you're actually bang on the money. If you look around online, there's quite a few of the Polonia talking about how disappointed they are in Poland, how it's not like the country that Busia came from from and so on. Usually it's accompanied with utterly misguided political views, too.

Poland is a horribly complicated place, and anyone trying to understand it from the warmth of California without even speaking the language, let alone living and breathing it is doomed to failure.

News / What part of Poland's image do you think is the most exportable? [90]


But isn't the problem with Polish products is that the whole image of "Polish" is essentially "working-class, gritty, moustache" and not the kind of thing you'd use to show off to other snobs?

It's the same reason why moronic Polish snobs are going mad for second hand Dutch furniture rather than the excellent Polish furniture.

USA, Canada / Where do most Polish-Americans identify on the political spectrum? [142]


How do they know that they're Polish and not one of the multitude of ethnic minorities in Poland? We hear time and time again about how Poland was a multicultural paradise in times of past - and even the II RP had plenty of small minorities.

Imagine stepping off the boat in Ellis Island and being asked where you're from. You're a Lemko, but you're aware that they're not going to know what a Lemko is - and you certainly don't identify with the oppressors in Vienna - so you become Polish.

And let's not forget that there has been a huge amount of mixing in Poland - the wide variety of faces here can tell you this.


Jonny, don't you think that most Poles would beat the crap out of him if he went around saying things like "Jihad" in Poland?

Certainly not a popular concept in today's Catholic Poland!

News / What part of Poland's image do you think is the most exportable? [90]


Hard to build an image on niche products though, unless you're a microstate.

History / Polish painting.....Jan Matejko's titled "Under Arrest" [16]


Oh yes, such a person with such a vast knowledge of Poland should easily be able to tell us which paintings should make way for it.

It's a common myth among that peculiar Polish concept of far-right socialists.

Still, amazing what a one minute google search can produce. Speaking Polish is rather useful, I suppose.

News / What part of Poland's image do you think is the most exportable? [90]


Mods?


Mods?


Indeed, anyone living here for...I dunno, two seconds can see that "sexy and cool" is most definitely not Polish. Such attempts in Poland tend to be utterly laughable - in fact, for me, the nicest thing about this country is that it's not trying to be that.

Poland is very much like the UK and Germany.


I think it's quite obvious that you know nothing about Poland from such statements.


That's pretty much the image of Poles too - decent quality, low price.


As the poster says above, Poland's exports (people, cars, etc) are high quality and low cost. It's not a bad thing to have for Poland for now - and when they become more expensive, they should be able to build a German-style reputation for being no nonsense, seriously good products.

A great example - I'm negotiating for someone to supply some locally-produced fruit juice. It's not "sexy", the bottles aren't "cool" - but the juice is great and it's cheap. It's Polish.

History / Polish painting.....Jan Matejko's titled "Under Arrest" [16]


Des, one thing you need to bear in mind is that some elements of the American Polonia media (in fact, most of it) have their own agenda - which is usually the same agenda as PiS in Poland. Much of what's said here is regurgitated by the American Polonia media and repeated as "fact" - even though us living here know that it's utter rubbish. Of course, those living in America often have no choice but to rely on such trash for their news.

The same manipulations can be seen in Lithuania and Ukraine.

News / What part of Poland's image do you think is the most exportable? [90]


Alas, you forget something - French is sexy and cool, Polish just...isn't.

Now, if you want to sell something to Polish-Americans, this is what sells - Dumb products for dumb people.

UK, Ireland / Is the UK referred to as the Islands in Polish media back home? [62]


Don't you think that perhaps it might be best just to ignore them?

USA, Canada / Where do most Polish-Americans identify on the political spectrum? [142]


Of course, that's only what they think they are.

Maybe I'll call myself Polish from now on, just because...same logic.

Work / What is a good salary in Wroclaw? (coordinator position for an IT company) [27]


The problem is that nowadays, especially outside of Wroclaw - it's not as if they're being hired for being specifically a foreigner - they're being hired on the exact same basis as everyone else. They're not going to pay up more than the going rate - why should they, when the job only requires fluent, not native English.

The fact that the job requires an MA is also a bit misleading for foreigners, given that MA's are handed out like sweets in Poland.

Work / Chartered accountant from India joining a company in Poland. Cost of living in Poznan? [29]


Stop looking at it from a Western perspective, because such perspectives rarely apply in Poland. Such small, self employed accountants are never, ever going to share assistants - it's just not the way things are done here.

It's also not a matter of "efficiency", but rather "trust". Some of us also prefer working with accountants who work by themselves, as they're responsible to themselves only - and there's no messing about with "assistants" or "clerks" who know nothing.

And yes, they get paid. How much do they earn? It's impossible to say. Prices can range from as little as 100zl+VAT (what I was paying) through 2,000zl a month depending on workload.


Again, you're looking at this from a Western perspective. Unemployment is chronic among young people in Poland - it's an employers market. And you seem to be mixing up what you're talking about - someone who has serious real world accountancy qualifications won't be working with small clients in such practices. They'll be working in serious jobs with big clients.

Incidentally, it's quite normal for young graduates to work for far less than average wage - Poland tends to start young people off on pathetically low salaries, but then give them large payrises for experience.

Work / Chartered accountant from India joining a company in Poland. Cost of living in Poznan? [29]

Ask the idiots that trade FX ;)

The zloty exchange rate seems to never be actually based on fundamentals.

Work / Chartered accountant from India joining a company in Poland. Cost of living in Poznan? [29]


As I said above - people like this tend to be self employed with perhaps an assistant, but no more. There's just not enough profit in working with small businesses like this to build an empire.


Why is it a bit low? Poland doesn't work like Western Europe when it comes to salaries.


At 3zl-$1, it would be about right :) It's only with the Zloty collapsing recently that's messed up the figures.

As it stands though, outsourcing to Poland makes a hell of a lot of sense right now.

Work / (English and teaching in Poland) Help needed urgently re a VISA [13]

When her visa expired, she automatically got granted the 90 day tourist visa in the Schengen zone. So - now we know that it was nearly 3 months ago - can you confirm exactly when her visa expired? She absolutely must be under 90 days.

The relevant date is 90 days after her visa expired. Doesn't matter about the rest of the documents, the only date that matters is the date in the passport.

If - and this is a big if - she's under 90 days, then she needs to go and apply for a residence permit NOW. Not tomorrow, not next week - now. The Foreigners office can issue an extension to the tourist visa if the paperwork is being processed.


If she's under 90 days, apply for the residence permit.

If she's over 90 days, you're out of luck. No lawyer can help you, unless you pay a huge amount of cash to someone who is well connected enough to help.


Won't work - Norway and Switzerland are both in Schengen. Going to a non-Schengen country for a few days can buy some extra time, however - but only if she's under 90 days.


Well, it will give her 2 extra days in Schengen ;)

Study / Racism in Czestochowa? I'm a black student from France. [14]


Well, if you choose to eat popcorn rather than confronting sad historical facts...

Work / (English and teaching in Poland) Help needed urgently re a VISA [13]


First question : when did she get the last entry stamp into a Schengen country?

Ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law - the Schengen 90/180 law is widely published and every border crossing will be able to tell you about it.


It's not an option in Poland, as you need to be legally resident.


Let me know when her *last* entry stamp is from. Then I can advise you accordingly.

Actually, the spouse of an EU citizen still requires a residence permit, just not a work permit.

Study / Racism in Czestochowa? I'm a black student from France. [14]


No history?

Start by examining Polish attitudes towards the Ukrainian minority, 1918-1939. You can also indulge yourself in Polish attitudes towards the Jewish minority, 1935-1939, and perhaps finish by examining the destruction of the Lemkos in the post-WW2 period.

History / Are there still communists in Poland? [58]


Ah, you need some medicine too, I see.

Don't worry, the doctor prescribes a great deal of sour grapes to deal with your condition.

Work / Poland salary and compensation package - What is included? [28]


Jonny, it pains me like hell to say it, but she's right for once.

The concept of "council estate" never really existed in Poland as far as I understand it (they turned the city centres into council estates instead) - "Spółdzielnia mieszkaniowa" are most definitely not council estates in terms of being owned by the municipality.

I know it's schematics, but thinking about where I live - the flats were built by the Spółdzielnia in the 70's/80's/90's - the ones in the 90's were sold directly on the open market, and the 70's/80's ones were either bought directly or rented at a normal price. The only twist was that they were sold in the early 90's for peanuts to existing renters - but this is without any comparison in English.


That's how it works in Poland at least - social housing is what still exists in of Poland, which is why you see them occupied by drunks who pay peppercorn rents (or don't pay at all). If the Spółdzielnia mieszkaniowa's were council - then they would be controlled by the council, but they very much are controlled by the Spółdzielnia (and ultimately, the residents).

History / Are there still communists in Poland? [58]


Don't be so...silly!

I mean, instead of taking a picture and selling it for a load of cash to Gazeta Polska, he chooses to post about it on here. We should be thankful!

Study / Information Needed: Skarbek University, Warsaw. [57]


You can work in Kebabistan or similar joints for 5zl an hour.

There are no jobs for Indians who can't speak Polish and who can barely string a sentence together in English.

Food / Coffee in Poland: cheap and undrinkable / expensive and good [89]


You do realise that in a place like Wroclaw, there's plenty of people aged between 16-25 with wealthy parents who support them?

They certainly aren't eating "soup packets" and "paczek" - more likely, they'll be driving to Starbucks in their nice new car, before going shopping in Arkady and perhaps finishing the day with dinner in Masala or similar.

Incidentally, I don't know any students who live off soup packets and paczek. Where'd you meet such people?


Pretty much exactly that. Horrible coffee, horrible people (look at me mum, i'm drinking STARBUCKS) and absolutely nothing worth going there for. At least in Poznan, there are millions of independently-owned cafes that serve far better coffee in a far more pleasant environment.


They're not paying for the coffee, they're paying for the image. Look at me, I drink in Starbucks, I'm SOMEONE. The aforementioned students are the worst for this - they're drinking it with daddy's money, yet they think they're somehow superior to everyone else. Same thing throughout the world - Starbucks is just utterly bland.


Nothing new there.

The only good thing about Starbucks in Poland is that you're more or less guaranteed that the service won't suck.

Law / MISTAKES IN CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION - FAKE DOCUMENT? [7]


People are often blinded with greed.

USA, Canada / I now have a USA and Polish passport - How to behave at the border? [18]


Facts according to who? You're talking about "playing it safe" and all this other rubbish.

Take a look here - newcitizen.us/losing.html - can you see anything there that suggests that you can lose US citizenship for not paying taxes? Nah..didn't think so.


What has that got to do with your situation? You're not a "naturalised" citizen, therefore it's a moot point.


And tell me - how do you think the American Government will find out about your Polish passport?

Needless worrying/scaremongering, that's all.

Law / MISTAKES IN CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION - FAKE DOCUMENT? [7]


No, absolutely not. It wouldn't be approved by Companies House in the UK with mistakes like that.

Food / Coffee in Poland: cheap and undrinkable / expensive and good [89]

Not a "laptop", but a Mac. Must be a Mac. :)

(and they're as much coffee people as I am, and I know nothing about the stuff and don't drink much of it)

Food / Coffee in Poland: cheap and undrinkable / expensive and good [89]


Style over substance, indeed.

Always admired the way that Starbucks managed to create some sort of mystique about the place, despite the fact that the coffee sucks and the place sucks.

Work / Salary Expectations Question (Krakow, Fund Accounting) [19]


Essentially, it means no-one else doing the same job as you can earn more than you. If someone does, then they have to increase your pay accordingly. I have it in my work, for instance.

Not popular in Europe, but worth asking for all the same.

USA, Canada / I now have a USA and Polish passport - How to behave at the border? [18]

Typical American response.

You can't be "stripped" of American citizenship - once you get the magic document, there's no need to "play it safe" - the only obligation is that you can't identify yourself using a foreign document.


I'm wondering the same. An American citizen is an American citizen surely.

About the only thing I can imagine that would **** them off would be handing over a Polish passport without a US visa in it, then expecting entry as an American citizen.