UK, Ireland /
Culture shock (my neighbours in the UK are Polish and Slovak) [88]
Thankyou and yes it does sound like constant arguing...even discussions seem loud lol
That's normal. In my experience the volume increases over the course of some conversations until it gets quite loud. What sounds like an argument may just be a discussion. And Hythorn is right - Poles can often seem abrupt, rude even, but that does not mean they are actually being rude. It is the nature of their language and society. This is especially true further down the socio-economic ladder.
As for charging for a favour - in Poland it's normal (again, among the less classy parts of society) to pay someone for helping you. It is not normal however to ask for the money or name a price! There are some pretty screwed-up individuals in Poland and it looks like whoever asked for the money is one of those. In case of doubt, be on your guard.
If your neighbour seems a bit cold, you should know that it isn't unusual (in Warsaw anyway) to completely ignore neighbours. In the posher bits of town people tend to be politer but this is the exception rather than the rule.
As for burglary, you shouldn't worry too much - Poles are generally fairly law abiding, however common sense, like having good locks and not leaving things where they can be stolen is a sensible precaution. In Poland there is an absolute absence of trust - people lock their doors far more securely than in the UK and never trust strangers. Your new neighbours would find it strange if you acted differently.
