Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

"tea bag reusers"! I've seen one in New York. She kept a few completely dried out tea bags in a saucer on the sink counter and offered such tea to guests (the very few times I went to her place, I asked for coffee ;)).

Of course, one must be careful in order not to get in the red but there is a minimum ;).

I normally save 1,800/2,500 per month but I don't count grosz not only for myself but also for others (when I say how much I pay my cleaning lady, people look at me with very big eyes ;)).

Sorry, life is short and spending money is a pleasure of life. I know that some people would recommend Church going ;) but I prefer to spend my free time at shopping malls ;)

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

@Jon; It is not normal to be obsessed by other people's sexuality, even if not 24/7 like someone does here ;).

Probably crypto or bad experience with ONE person that happens to be gay/lesbian so he puts them all in same bag ;).

Work / What is deducted from a salary in Poland apart from Income tax? [155]

probably Dominic means 'ZL".

Yet, I know people who spend very little and put away most of what they make ;)

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

I do too believe that Crow is not homophobic. He sures loves women but has nothing against gays and lesbians. As a matter of fact, I am surprised because nationalists and on top of that in that part of Europe are strongly anti homosexuals.

Work / First English teaching job in Poland (Katowice) [75]

1,800 ZL, gross or clear? Even gross and even with accommodation provided (what type of accommodation, most probably not a castle;)), it is very little. Sure in those one-horse dumps 1 hour from Kce, it's cheaper but as there is nothing to do (besides going to ... Church ;)), to see, need to to travel back and forth to go to Kce all the time. With this kind of money, need to count each grosz and what about (dental and other ..) emergencies? No way to sightsee around Poland.

Sorry but accepting to work for peanuts hurts fellow workers. If someone can do work for 1,800 + a lousy communist furnished kawakerka in rundown area full of alcoholics, why hiring others with better salaries and conditions?

Also, to work for peanuts show low esteem or total despair so nothing to brag about!

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

@Englishmman: Well said! In short "live and let live".

Work / Looking for accommodation & teaching job in KATOWICE [78]

@Dougpol; 1. as to "pretty girls", since hetero woman, I don't really care ;).

2. When going now to Kce, it's only for 1 or 2 days, and as I am alone, I don't go to bars.

Classifieds / Flat in Krakow for German students for one semester [24]

@Richi: of course wise to do so! Upon arrival, also check with your school as they have tips for you...

Work / Looking for accommodation & teaching job in KATOWICE [78]

@Jon: as a matter of fact, I have rediscovered Kce for the past 2 years and I believe for emotional reasons, I'll go there once in a while. My first time there was in early ... 1990 so believe me, most different from what it is now. I don't know any bar, as now going there by myself, I don't have the guts to go to bars ;).

Fortunately they have renovated the Centrum areas and now, besides, some bars, Jon has referred to, there are shopping malls and quite a few shops, cafés....

I believe people are friendlier than for instance in Warsaw (I guess province vs. capital, like everywhere) and also, as to me, although I still have trouble to understand Polish as spoken in Warsaw, I have no problem in Katowice (probably because my first contact with the Polish language) but nevertheless I would never live there - too limited + too polluted.

@Dominic: It is true that in terms of seeking happyness, who the hell would consider Poland, and also Katowice???? I have noticed that 99.99% of foreigners moving to Poland are either of Polish origin or with Polish spouse (my case). Not only in terms of money but also in terms of life quality, Poland is far behind....

Of course, 6,500 (gross) per month seems a very good salary in Poland but what is it compared to Western salaries? 6;500 is the minimum wage in most Western European countries so coming to Poland, moreover in Katowice, for .... 6,500 unless desperate does not make much sense.

Classifieds / Flat in Krakow for German students for one semester [24]

Come on, you'll! the guy is coming only for 1 semester (= 4 months)! So why not first of all asking the school? I am sure they assist foreign students especially not only because of the language barrier and also because not easy to rent for such a short period. If not, like I said, he just comes over and stays for a few days in a hostel while looking. Whether student or anybody else, nobody in their right mind rents a place without checking visiting it, without checking neighborhood...

Life / Passport Photo Booth - Warsaw [15]

Like I said, best to go to photographer's because they'll know what to do. It'll cost something like 40zl but so what???? Going to a booth and pay let's say 20 or 25zl for photos that shall be refused and therefore: 20/25 + 40zl to go to photographer + waste of time ;).

Why complicating things?

PS: No, it was not Blue City but Reduta since next to Carrefour ;)

Work / Looking for accommodation & teaching job in KATOWICE [78]

@Jon: I know about those women's associations in Warsaw but no everybody can fit in such circles ;). Nevermind, it won't concern the OP since husband shall be concerned and it'll be in Katowice.

Although I have strong emotional ties to Katowice, I would not live there as it is very limited in terms of everything, still underdeveloped (need to leave the 2 or 3 streets in "downtown" area and the new shopping mall at the new PKP station), the pollution is awful. Like Dominic says, people got quickly recruited by an obscure language school and that's it, they are on their way to Kce. Of course, 6,500zl even gross is a fabulous salary in Kce if compared to salaries earned by most locals but money is not everything. One needs to consider the quality of life (including social interacting or most often isolation for foreigners) and unless coming from worse shi####thole, nothing to be excited about.

I am aware that not everybody wants to and can become "petroleum engineer" but ending up in a place like Katowice seems even cruel ;). Of course, people do what they want or what they think is right but if they ask questions on a forum it's because they are not sure...

Work / Looking for accommodation & teaching job in KATOWICE [78]

@Dominic: even in Warsaw, expats' wives (and also husbands when their wives work and they don't) can be bored to death. Katowice is of course much worse ;) and very soon couple shall face hardship. The wife shall go to work (and what about if not happy with her work?) and the husband shall turn around all day in lousy city and to do what? At best, they'll hang around 1 or 2 other foreigners and that's it.

What bugs me is that people thinking about coming to Poland only ask about salaries! When moving abroad, there are a lot of other factors besides money to consider.

In other words, considering Warsaw, Cracow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Gdansk (with great conditions), OK but NOT to move to Katowice and other Poland B sh@@@holes (unless coming from similar sh@@@holes ;)).

Work / Looking for accommodation & teaching job in KATOWICE [78]

I happen to know Katowice (was there last Friday) and honestly I would not live there. Although there have been (few) changes for the better in the Center, the city is still most unattractive. If husband on top of that does not work, he'll get crazy or turn into an alcoholic. Another bad thing there is the air; after a few hours there on Friday, I cleaned my face and the cotton disk was all black (normal there); imagine the sh##### in the lungs after several years there ;).

If one wants to come/work in Poland, there are far better places than in Katowice.

Life / Passport Photo Booth - Warsaw [15]

Hi! Yes, best to go to a photographer's as the rules are very drastic. Head has to be turned in one way, ears and hair have to show in other way and you obvioulsy won't know how to do it. You'll end up spending more if you do it otherwise since your photos won't suit and you'll have to have more taken.

In May I had to have pictures taken for my national ID card (criteria are exactly the same as for Polish passport). I went to a photographer's (I don't remember name, it's a chain, maybe something like "Photo Lab") in Blue City, just next to Carrefour and I paid 40 ZL for 4 pictures. I had expected less but the photos were taken the right way and they suit administrative demands.

Don't waste your time and money, go to photographer's!

Law / EU citizen - Register in Poland - Amount of a bank account [8]

@Nathans: permanent residence status is not issued right away in Poland ;). First, it's temporary residence status (same everywhere else).

News / Does democratic Poland guarantee it's LGBT citizens respect for human and civil rights? [1169]

@Pol: being homophobic is not only aiming at physical destruction of gays and lesbians but it is also denying them the equality in rights as citizens and on a daily life pattern, insulting them, making fun of them, in other words stigmatizing them because they have a different sexuality. And yes, you and your friends, Johnny, Levi and some others whose names I don't recall are truly homophobic.

I bet you don't and you would not socially interact with gays and lesbians solely because they are gays and lesbians. Am I wrong? ;)

When not in their bedrooms, gays and lesbians get up, take shower, have breakfast, go to work, pay tax, have lunch, dinner, go to movies, theater, shopping, on vacation ... just like you and your consorts do. When they are sad, they cry, when they are happy, they laugh.... Don't they teach you anything else but hatred at your Church?

@Johny: who the hell are you to decide who lives in "sin" and who does not? Personally, I don't give your bible (written by whom?) more credit than what I might read in Fakt, SuperExpress or Mickey Mouse Magazine ....

Gays and lesbians are not interested in what you do in your bedroom so please give them a break and mind your own business.

Life / Poles - what other nationality would you say you are most like? [125]

@Y: you are talking to wrong person! I used to live in Atlanta so I know there are OK and great people over there but considering Levi's "way of life", it is obvious that he was refering to rednecks ....

Classifieds / Flat in Krakow for German students for one semester [24]

@Richi: best to come to Poland, stay at a hostel for a while and look for a place (you'll aslo get tips from school and other students). It does not make any sense to look for an apartment from abroad. You obviously need to look at it, check the neighborhood.. Besides, it is most likely that you'll get ripped off.

News / Prime Minister of Poland, Ewa Kopacz, shops at.... Biedronka? [20]

A lot of fruit for Spain, Greece .... . The grapefruits, pineapple, lemons.... ... sold on the street don't come from Poland ;). But it's true, since EK meant to pretend to be "one of us", it would have been better for her political image to shop at small Polish businesses.

Of course, in her private life, she does what she wants but since she is campaigning for re-election..... all détails count...

News / Prime Minister of Poland, Ewa Kopacz, shops at.... Biedronka? [20]

Witam! Also as a Polish politician, she should favor Polish businesses instead of giving money to foreign capitalists. Why not shopping for instance at Piotr & Pawel, which is - I believe - Polish and as to buying her vegetables and fruit, why not buying from Poles selling on the streets in the summer (what I do?).

News / Prime Minister of Poland, Ewa Kopacz, shops at.... Biedronka? [20]

@cms: she could have started recently because of the upcoming election ;).

Sorry but when the rich or those comfortable pretend to live like the poor, it makes me uncomfortable as I find it ...weird ;),.

Law / Advice needed on why my Poland National Visa D has been refused? [49]

Is your wife Polish? How long have been married and where? I don't know their conditions but maybe they think that your wife does not have enough money to support both of you. What is your situation? where are you from? I guess that having a Polish husband or wife is not enough to be entitled to visa.

There is nothing we can do on this forum. If you think you have not been treated right, you need to hire a lawyer.

News / Prime Minister of Poland, Ewa Kopacz, shops at.... Biedronka? [20]

Sorry, for me it looks demagogy.

I make less money than she does and I shop at better stores...

As to hairstyles, yes, the same for all! ;)

Love / Acceptable age difference for a couple in Poland. [13]

@Crow: are you sure that this was said in ancient Rome?

News / Heil-Hitlering Korwin-Mikke in European Parliament [29]

@Polonius: "stupid like a fox"? I thought foxes were clever.
Yes, Palikot seeks publicity but this does not make him dishonest. A lot of politicians and famous people like to have the media around whenever they do anything. You are not able to prove any wrongdoings

Love / Confused with my former co-worker - absolutely stunning Polish woman [21]

@Polsyr: No, 12 year-difference is not much, even if woman is older ;).

@Asn; Yes, like Polsyr says, she seems 'exotic" but very soon you'll realize that she is like most American girls (people are individuals and not "nationality blocks"). Obviously you want her and she wants you so do as you feel (nobody on the forum can give you advice) but as she is married, you'd get into a very complicated situation and you would suffer from it. Always wrong idea to go with someone married.

News / Heil-Hitlering Korwin-Mikke in European Parliament [29]

@Polonius: do you have reliable sources or your sources are of the same style as those which claim the Rainbow in Warsaw needs to be police dog protected 24/7 and which claim that there are "anal orgies in the middle of the street in front of churches"? As you most probably know accusing people of wrongdoing without any concrete proof is punished. Even when representing 11% of the voters, J. Palikot could not have made justice and media shut up. I have met the man and have respect for him. What else do you have against him and his movement?

@Jon : I did not know but nothing about surprises me. I've seen him a few months ago and he corresponds to my opinion ;)

News / Heil-Hitlering Korwin-Mikke in European Parliament [29]

Polsyr! ;)

As a matter of fact, I have met the latter and I have seen the former.