USA, Canada / Not everyone that lives or comes from America is RICH! [300]


I think this is called "the viewpoint of someone who lives in a cocoon".

You owe the world a hell of a lot of money, and worse still, you owe plenty of it to countries that aren't afraid to use economic warfare against you. Sure, you can devalue the dollar, but where will that take you? It's not like the UK, that can mess with the Pound constantly and somehow get away with it.


I really couldn't care less about any missile defence system. I never saw the point to begin with - why bother attracting attention, just to protect America?

Anyway, Americans are dying in the ditch because you don't want to pay for them. It's that simple.

Gotta love the "rich Americans like me" comment - from what I've seen personally, rich Americans don't tend to mention it.

Anyway, *what* economic aid package to Poland? I seem to recall that part of the reason for the mess of the 80's was because America didn't actually want to bail Poland out.

Can America even afford to "bail out" anyone right now anyway?

USA, Canada / Not everyone that lives or comes from America is RICH! [300]


No big deal, Poland has universal health care. Thankfully, just like America, it doesn't fund pointless "detox" programmes made up by some quack.

News / 100 days of Komorowski presidency [41]


The reforms can't happen yet, PO are going to really hurt a lot of people in the short term - and this would cost them the election if they were to enact them now. But really, I'm not sure why they didn't just call snap elections to coincide with the local elections.

USA, Canada / Not everyone that lives or comes from America is RICH! [300]


Sounds like someone overreacted and ended up paying a small fortune because of hysteria. Funnily enough, I'm not surprised the American Medical Association put him out of business if he was charging 8000 dollars for a "detox" that wasn't required.

Incidentally, under the Polish system, you can pay nothing for a filling, or pay between 50-100zl for a "white" filling under the NFZ system. It's worth pointing out that the "white" ones aren't much better than the "silver" ones in terms of harm done.

Work / Finance Work in Poland - is it hard for a non-Polish speaking person? [35]

Well, ask yourself several questions -

1) Are you comfortable with a significant drop in living standards? If you're an accountant, I guess you'll be taking home at least 20k a year in the UK - you're just not going to see the same kind of money here.

2) Can you cope with the environment? Poland is rather unpredictable and frustrating at times - if you want stability, it's not a good place. It's also not a great place to bring up kids. As an adventure, it's great - but if you want to have a future, it's not so great.

3) Are you happy putting your career on hold? There's not much in the way of such work in Poznan unless you're relocated - I know the "big" names are cutting costs to the bone at the minute.

4) As for teaching English - would you be happy doing this for years on end? Could you drag yourself out of a warm flat at 7am in December to go out into -20c temperatures - and likewise, not get home until 9:30pm in warm, summer evenings when you'd rather be in the pub having a drink? Also, the unpredictable, varied hours. "Normal" is 7-9am, then 5-9pm in the evening. It's demanding physically and mentally - especially in winter!

It's not impossible, but you need to consider yourself first - would you be happy throwing everything you've studied away just for the sake of living here?

On the other hand - if you have money to come here and invest, then it could be a great place for you.

Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]


It's not a crime to not be able to afford a house. Generally speaking, in Poland, both partners work for a living.

News / Smoking ban in Polish bars and restaurants (AT LAST!) [400]


Is it actually being enforced? I've had a ridiculous teaching schedule for the last two days and haven't even had the chance to drop into pubs to look :(

News / 100 days of Komorowski presidency [41]


He's doing exactly the job he was elected to do - be a figurehead, not a politican. He's corrected some of the absurd injustices of the Kaczynski era (such as the refusal to recognise Michnik) and he's doing the job peacefully and quietly.

Work / What qualifications are needed for English teachers in Poland? [49]


Only for those without an imagination.

I've just looked at my timetable tomorrow, and it includes two company directors, one lawyer and a meeting with an international group of people - among others. Boring? Not a chance - they're all such different, interesting people. Sure, I could do something else - but at this point in life, I'd like to meet as many interesting, different people as possible. I've no desire to spend all day stuck in front of a computer.

Of course, if you're only fit to teach Callan, then of course it'll be boring.

Life / Where did the books of British Council go to [10]


Of course. A real Polish forum would be full of arguments, aggression and not be of much use whatsoever.

Wait.

Real Estate / Buying a flat in Krakow; prices are still falling? [200]

Why do you care so much?

Ah, that's right - Poland requires both partners to be working in order to afford a flat!

Life / Where did the books of British Council go to [10]


bppragapd.pl

Moved here, apparently.

As I recall, the BC slashed funding in Europe to focus on more "interesting" areas.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Council#Criticism

I've no time for them as an organisation.

Work / Internship in Poland (if you don't speak Polish) Tourism, Food Production, Cooking [5]

But you don't have the experience, nor the language skills. Education counts for nothing really - it's more about the experience and what you can do. If you had 10 years experience in high end kitchens - then maybe. But a graduate of some food "university"? No way.

Well, if you come here, work for free and get a foot in the door, you might find someone willing to take a risk and hire you. But I cannot see how you could get yourself hired without being in the country and with proof that you can handle a kitchen.

Bear in mind that even if you did get hired as a first level chef, you'd be looking at no more than 300 euro a month, without accomodation.

Work / Internship in Poland (if you don't speak Polish) Tourism, Food Production, Cooking [5]

To be blunt - you've got between little and no chance. You don't speak the language, you aren't a chef with a shitload of experience - really, why would they hire you over a Polish national? There's over 10% unemployment officially in Poland - really, this isn't the place to come if you're just starting out as a chef.

If you want an internship, then I know someone who might be willing to let you work there for free in Poznan.

UK, Ireland / Homeless Poles living on barbecued rats and alcoholic handwash? [62]


3500 in London sounds much more realistic than 464 in the whole of England!

Travel / Why won't internet work from the network provider on my Android phone -htc magic vodafone? [20]


Yep - you want to pay for a specific data package.

Dial *110#, select option 5, then you have a list of data packages to choose from. Simplus is quite pricey for data though - 35zl for 0.5GB. And whatever you do, make sure that you always have a data package - I think it's about 2gr for 10kb of transfer if you don't.

You can check how much data you have left by dialling *121#

Love / Irish woman dating a Polish man - need advice about my polish boyfriend and marriage [24]

Nor are quick divorces.

It's not that common either, and as far as I can observe, the ones who fall in love and want to get married all have one thing in common - they turn out to be control freaks.

Stay well away.

Work / What qualifications are needed for English teachers in Poland? [49]


The truth is that (as Richfilth says) - you can be the most fantastic candidate, but if you aren't "on the ground" - you'll be paid exactly the same and treated the same as some beer swilling backpacker.

The problem is that if you get too hung up on linguistics, you end up becoming like the Polish English philologists - many of whom are very poor teachers because they've forgotten how to teach it on a simple level. Being able to communicate clearly and effectively is the most important thing. I actually refused some contract the other week because the director was exceptionally hung up on technical aspects of the language and seemed to have forgotten about what the main aim is.

The most important thing is to know what you specialise in. I have no time for native "teachers" who profess that they can teach anyone, especially if they've only been teaching for a couple of years. The same "I am native speaker" idiot reckons that conversation is the best way to teach people - which is such nonsense that it's not even funny.

In my humble opinion, the best thing is to be reliable and to give them what they want. If the students want a native speaker, then they'll have already a good idea about what they expect. Give it to them. Be honest - if you can't teach someone properly, admit it rather than milking them for all you can get. Don't be afraid to speak up. There is absolutely no point in wasting someone's time if you don't have a connection with them on a personal level - nor is there any point teaching them if you have no passion for what you're teaching. Common sense should be used as well - walking into a classroom full of busy corporate types and demanding that they learn complicated grammar is just going to cause them to hate you. I've only ever taught one corporate type who positively enjoyed it - and he's a freak who puts in 10 hours a week of English practice by himself as well.

And above all, find your place in the marketplace.

Work / What qualifications are needed for English teachers in Poland? [49]


I think it's actually starting to - I'm meeting quite a few "beer n gurlz" types who are finding it exceptionally difficult to pick up anything here. Maybe it's different elsewhere, but I've picked up quite a lot of work this year simply through having my own office and the ability to give an invoice.

I don't know about elsewhere, but Callan and the other "methods" seem to be dying quite rapidly. It does certainly seem as if the market is shifting towards people who are flexible.

But still, everything you said is absolutely bang on. There's one clown here who actually writes online "I am native speaker of English". Twat.

Work / Average monthly salary in Poland is around 1000 PLN (few hundred bucks). [387]

I suppose Americans, sitting in a cold, dark flat in Krakow while making their wife work for peanuts (because she didn't go to a good university) would be miserable, yes.

Work / Average monthly salary in Poland is around 1000 PLN (few hundred bucks). [387]

Health care is perfectly adequate for the country's position, the education isn't bad (how can you say that unlimited, free education is "obsolete" and retirement can be ridiculously well paid, as it's based on your own contributions to the scheme.

Then again, you don't live in Poland, nor do you know much about the country.

Language / Polish - individual classes or course? [15]


It's a rubbish course - it's designed for students, and as such, the lecturers aren't specifically trained in teaching Polish to foreigners.

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]

Shouldn't you sort out your own house first before complaining about others?

Life / Is the word "Polack"rascist? [185]


Yep, doesn't seem so at all. I'm sure they've got their own nicknames for us - I know the French do!

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]


Indeed, it's not that difficult. Form a political party, get your men in the Dail and leave the EU. Job done.

Life / Is the word "Polack"rascist? [185]


Is Jerry offensive? We use it all the time towards Germans, I've never known any Germans to be particularly bothered by it either. Jap and Paki are worse - possibly because people say those terms to anyone who looks vaguely like one.


Makes them a Polack, I suppose ;)

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]

And this, my friends, is why I'd rather live in Poland than put up with the xenophobic nonsense that you hear from the Brits and Irish on a regular basis about the Polish.

Of course, the fact that he's online during an ordinary work day in Ireland tells you all you need to know ;)

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]

There seems to be the same problem in the USA as in the UK - good schools are good, bad schools are truly awful, and then there's everything else in the middle where it all depends on the student. Given some of the ignorant comments I've heard from Brits about Poland, really, Americans are no worse.


Polish education needs such wholescale reform. I'm still shocked that school directors aren't "professional", but rather elected.

The worst thing is that most ordinary teachers are of a very decent standard, but the management is just unbelievably sucky in general.

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]


Jeez, this is something that I cannot understand. I'd kill to have the American university system in Europe - it's so well set up for all aspects of society and yet produces incredibly top notch graduates. The really nice thing about the American system is the way that it allows people to choose exactly what they want and where - really, their university system is miles ahead of the EU.

I bet Fuzzy will be along in a second to tell me about what interesting classes he took in university, just to make me jealous :(

Life / Are Poles bigots and xenophobes? [205]

Without a doubt. :)

Fuzzy, what's the worst stereotype you've heard in Poland about America?

(hey, speaking of this - apparently an American diner is opening here - and it's allegedly authentic. I have my doubts....)