Life / Is Poland a safe country for people of color? [241]

I'm of Indian decent, but I was born and raised in Canada and truly think of myself as Canadian vs. Indian. I've wanted to comment on a thread dealing with Racism in Poland for a while now.

My wife is Polish and we met in University in Canada. The first time we backpacked around Poland together was back in 2003 an I was completely ignorant about any racism that might have existed in the country which was great because everybody we met was extremely friendly and we had a great trip - 1 month and 7 cities! - I fell in love with Poland after that trip.

Since that trip we came back two more times for vacations and now we're going to med school here and couldn't be happier. While it's true that in any of the bigger cities you're less likely to experience any racism, the one and only time I have had a problem in Poland was in Wrocław and it really wasn't a big deal, just some ignorant prick blaming others for his own problems.

I read your comment about how you don't feel like you should have to deal with racism if you come here, but I think that is a little ignorant. The simple fact is that racism really exists everywhere in the world and you can't really pick and choose when you'll be a victim of it. But in Poland it's not as big a deal as people tend to make it out to be.

My wife and I noticed a trend, and those who spread the worst rumors about Poland (prostitutes and pickpockets everywhere, skinheads everywhere etc etc.) are usually those expats who left in the early 90's and never went back, or people who haven't been there at all and just don't have a clue.

The point I'm trying to make is that if you come to Poland, yes you might experience some racism, but it could also happen to you anywhere else in the world, that's just the way it is. There's racism in Canada in the US, racism all over Europe (just check the news to see how many hate crimes have been committed against Polish people working in the UK and Ireland), there's racism in Asia, especially against black people in India and China. It's everywhere, but 99% of the population are nice, friendly people who want to make a living and support their families.

Come to Poland and have a great time!

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]

as a foreign student, can I register for a NIP number, and if I do does that mean I'll somehow be on the hook for taxes?

I need the NIP so I can pay for NFZ online. Thanks for any help.

Life / Winners-like store in Poland? [3]

hahaha £ukasz I can't believe you posted this question.

My wife and I moved to Poznan from Toronto and were laughing that there isn't a Winners here since in Canada they are always filled with 80-90% Polish women hahaha

Thanks for letting us know about TK Maxx cymru (forgot that it's the same company as Winners) - we'll be heading out to Malta shortly!

Travel / Traveling with a dog from Hungary to Poland [8]

I'm not sure how big your dog is but my wife and I brought our 14 year old dog over from Canada and the vet gave us medications to dope him us to make the trip more tolerable.

If you don't mind this option I would suggest flying and knocking the poor thing out just to get it over with faster.

Life / My own thoughts about life in Poland (have lived here for two years) [133]

Where do Polish taxes go? To pay for the salaries of the endless number of useless bureaucrats that work for the worst bureaucracy in the world except for maybe India.

I think this is a major issue that was missed that will be an incredible hurdle for the future economic development of this country. How many foreign dollars are directed elsewhere because Poland makes it so difficult to spend them here?

Also - separation of Church and State anybody? How about access to abortion? Spending tax payer money to protect a cross outside of the presidential palace? The list goes on and on...

Love / Polish girls fall for Indian guys ? [217]

I think it's important never to make any assumptions about mixed-race couples you might see walking around Poland because you never really know how those people met or what the story behind their relationship really is.

And ultimately at the end of the day, it's really non of your business anyways.

I think there are more interesting topics that can be discussed.

Law / Problems with Polish Bureaucracy, residency [17]

It's hard enough for foreign students to stay in the country legally just to complete a few years of study let alone trying to live a real life in Poland.

The language of the law is written so unclear that every task ends up coming down to a "decision" by some lame bureaucrats.

All I can say is that I'm soooo happy not to be paying taxes in this country to support this madness and pay the salaries of thousands of useless people who barely do any work at all and seem to enjoy making the lives of others miserable.

Law / Problems with Polish Bureaucracy, residency [17]


Fair enough, but somebody please try to explain this. In Canada I was able to go to the Polish embassy, hand them 5-6 papers and $100, come back in a week an have a 1 year Student Visa.

This summer I decided to stay in Poland with my wife and figured I'd get the Temp Stay Card instead (since it's also good for a year).

- I handed them a stack of papers two inches thick that took me at least two weeks to collect
- I was forced to have several documents legally translated (at my expense)
- I was forced to go through an hour interview (with a translator I paid for) after I handed in EVERYTHING that was required because they just "decided" to throw an interview into the mix

- I was forced to register my marriage which meant getting my marriage license sent from Canada (two weeks wait), having it translated, having my wife de-register herself from Krakow and re-register in Poznan (for some stupid reason) and after all that we still had to wait for a "decision" as to whether they would accept our marriage or not.

I have paid around 600 Złoty, wasted I don't know how many hours (it's taken me at least two months), I was temporarily an illegal citizen as my student visa had expired while I was attempting to take care of all this madness, and at the end of the day its for the EXACT SAME privelidge of being able to stay here legally for a year as a STUDENT. How does this make any sense???

They treat us like criminals and soooooooo many other students in my program are experiencing the same issues (some with the threat of deportation) simply because the bureaucracy is out of control. It is not uncommon for students to hear conflicting instructions time after time because none of the bureaucrats actually seem to know the law, let alone how to apply it properly.

Love / What do Asian boys think about Polish girls? :) (and vice versa) [150]

My parents are from India but I was born and raised in Canada. In university I met my future Polish wife (who came to Canada when she was 8). I'm writing this to basically say that there are an infinite number of ways for two people to find each other. To generalize that Polish girls get with Indian guys for whatever reason is just ignorant. Ultimately it's between those two people and everybody else can suck it. I don't really understand why these threads keep popping up - does it really matter who a Polish girl (or any girl for that matter) chooses to date???

Law / Karta Pobytu interview... what do they ask? [12]

I went through this with my wife last summer and the worst thing about it was having to pay for a translator, otherwise the interview is nothing you have to worry about as was mentioned. They asked us questions about each others families like if we knew the other siblings. They asked what we did over the weekend. They also asked what was the last gift I gave her and things like that. It's not going to be anything that will trip you up so I would not worry about it.

Law / Karta Pobytu interview... what do they ask? [12]

I can confirm that in Poznan a sworn translator was required.

News / Poland liberalizes drug laws in effort to focus on treatment [35]


Comments like this highlight the hypocrisy of drug laws as they currently are written. Have you ever taken an aspirin for a headache? Ever had a cup of coffee? Ever taken an herbal supplement? Ever taken any of the Thousands of different medications that are available for the thousands of different ailments and diseases? If so, guess what - You've used Drugs! Granted some do more harm than others and should be monitored, but allowing the sale of alcohol and tobacco while prohibiting the sale of marijuana simply makes absolutely no sense and legalization is the only rational way to go.

It's not about drugs being "cool, trendy, etc" - drugs are Everywhere and are a common part of everyday life, it's just that people choose to be selective about what drugs they'll tolerate and which ones they'll demonize. When you take emotion out of it and get down to simple facts it's hard to deny that current attitudes towards illegal drugs need to change.

Life / Im a Black American Moving to Poland. Worried about adaptation. [47]

Living in Poland can be a real huge pain in the ass. There are no words to describe how bad the bureaucracy is - I have seen people reduced to tears by it. You will go crazy for the first while trying to sort everything out. When it comes to Polish people you will find they are either extremely friendly and open, or the exact opposite. They don't try to hide their feelings, and if they are an ******* on the inside, they will show it on the outside - and this goes from your everyday thug on the street to the cashier in your local grocery store. Don't be surprised by the attitude, rather expect it. Also, you will get a lot of looks and that is also something to prepare for. Best of luck, I hope it works out.

News / Poland a top pot producer? Legalization? [30]

From a medical point of view there are mental health issues to be considered, but legalization would allow for better treatment and help. As far as consumption, eating or vaporizing marijuana is virtually free of any adverse health effects.

As far as mental health goes it's really a Chicken-and-the-Egg scenario about whether people who are crazy tend to abuse marijuana, or whether marijuana abuse causes mental health problems. A combination of genes and environment is probably the answer but obviously more research still needs to be done.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


Sigh, your assumptions and angry tone in your response proves my point and shows that I struck a nerve in a Poznan citizen with much undeserved city pride who also has much anger and rudeness within haha. Also you can talk as much smack about the school as you want, but my post has to do with the dumbness of the city of Poznan and not the University.

And on a side note - most Polish medical students cheat their way through six years of education and become terrible doctors with only a select few who actually care about their patients and do their part to learn what is necessary. Polish students need to pass a SINGLE exam at the end of their six years in order to become doctors where as those who want to practice in the US need to pass an 8 hour basic sciences exam, a 9 hour clinical knowledge exam, a clinical skills practical exam and another exam (Step 3) after that - so please don't even try to compare the competence of Polish vs. American doctors.


Is this really your response?? Just because it's done a certain way doesn't make it the correct way. The European system is dangerous! Walk in to the ER rooms in your city hospitals and talk to the doctors to know the truth about the dumbness of the traffic lights in Poznan. You're pride in your city is blinding you to the problems it has.


You are particularly rude to EVERYBODY, Polish people especially. In fact, most foreign students of non-Polish origin get treated much better than those of Polish descent and the consensus is that Poznan is by far the worst for this behaviour.


You have really done nothing but prove my point entirely, that people from Poznan are angry, rude and can't tolerate any criticism of their city. Truth be told, I came to Poznan to study medicine because getting into a Canadian medical school is amazingly difficult, and the opportunity to study in Poland with my Polish wife seemed like a great experience. As a smart Canadian I was able to write my first US Medical Licensing Exam and get a passing mark better than 90% of American medical students who took the same exam. I am actually well traveled, and may have exaggerated a bit with the "every city in the world" comment due to my frustration with the simple task of crossing the road in this city without getting hit by a car Every Single Day... but I digress.

Truth is that I love Poland and Polish culture. I have been to every major city in Poland except for perhaps Szczecin and Bialystok and loved them all. Poznan for me is the exception to the rule.

You obviously like your city and I'm happy for you and your ignorance, because once you see how it is like outside of Poznan you may never look at it the same way again...

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


Just because I'm a student in Poznan doesn't make my criticisms any less valid - you're assertions that it somehow does is ridiculous.

A traveler, permanent citizen or student will all experience the same things that I have mentioned. You are not doing anything but shooting the messenger and because why? I'm wrong about what I've said about Poznan having some serious issues? So far you've done nothing but prove me right.


You're ignorance is not surprising so I thought I would help you out a little by referring you to the following article:

cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/02/22/canadian-students-medicine-overseas.html

"The acceptance rate for first-time applicants in Canada is under 30 per cent."

Thus I am studying medicine in Poland and getting great experience with some excellent Polish doctors. In the mean time, I have to deal with the city of Poznan and it's lovely inhabitants and problems.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]

I don't think the city owes me anything and I'm extremely grateful that I was able to come to Poland to pursue a medical education (not purchase one). I just think as compared to other Polish cities the pride I see in Poznan citizens is well undeserved. For a city with twice the average income of the rest of country it certainly doesn't show in the city infrastructure (the roads and sidewalks are crap as has been mentioned by some other posters). The issue with tram tickets definitely does apply to first time visitors to the city getting nailed with fines for not being able to buy a ticket - a very nice welcome.

From a tourist perspective there is no reason anybody should stop through Poznan for more than a couple hours tops. The people are definitely ruder - there is a subtle undercurrent of anger that seems to be simmering just below the surface everywhere you go and it takes the dumbest thing to set people off here and I have no idea where it comes from. If you look at it from a value perspective Poznan is well overpriced for what you get as compared to other cities in Poland.

All the bashing of the medical students really shows how little people really think. Please consider the amount of money they pump in to the Poznan economy! I suspect the anger stems from jealousy at the amount of money the students are able to spend vs. the average citizen. And of course a lot of students are f-ing retarded, but if they want to practice in the US or Canada the tests they have to pass hold them to a MUCH higher standard than Poland - in fact light years beyond what is required to practice medicine here. Yes doctors here may complain that some students from abroad are idiots, but only those who are of European descent will actually be able to practice medicine back in their home countries without having learned a thing and that says something. Polish students learn to cheat their way through six years of medical education and that includes their final exam at the end of six years.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


WOW - You have NO idea what you are talking about. You are obviously not a medical student because your comment is hilarious to me. I am not talking about the tests that are given to me by the university. I am talking about the tests that are administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners in the US. The tests given in Poland written by the Polish faculty are meaningless, and that includes those given to English speaking students and Polish students alike. The SINGLE final exam given to Polish medical students at the end of their six years is a complete joke as compared to the multiple multi-hour/multi-day tests that Canada and the US administer to medical students in order to allow them to graduate.

And let me clarify because you clearly don't have a clue - I am talking about the comprehensive examinations that any medical student (US trained or foreign trained) must pass if they want to practice medicine in the US. The actual subject exams that are given in Poland are not even close to comparable to those given in the US and Canada as they largely focus on meaningless details that will never help the student be a better doctor.

The Polish doctors we have met here that have actually written the USMLE Step exams know first hand how bad the testing system is in Poland, how much Polish students cheat without consequence and how much knowledge is lacking when they graduate. If a foreign student cheats his way through his education in Poland he/she will never pass the qualifying exams to get back to the US or Canada, but that same reasoning doesn't hold true for Polish students. So again, unless you've actually gone through the medical school system here don't open your mouth because you have no idea what you are talking about and it makes you look stupid.

Let me repeat, what I am talking about are the medical licensing exams administered by the actual countries (ie. US and Canada), not the university. By far the vast majority of Polish medical graduates would not stand a chance at passing the USMLE based on the knowledge they receive in their Polish medical education alone.

Because we learn from doctors who teach in highly competitive hospitals here in Poznan they were thankfully part of the minority of Polish medical students who actually learned the material well in order to secure spots in the top hospitals. They do not hold back with their criticisms of their own countries failings when it comes to medical education and this is information I have received first hand vs. you talking out your ass.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


So please prove it.


This is true

Side note - please don't get me wrong, Poland has some of the best and brightest young people of any country, but the schooling system here turns them in to a bunch of cheats which is really unfortunate. There are no consequences for this and as such it becomes rampant. If they actually managed to crack down on this and hold students accountable to the same standards as elsewhere the quality of the medical graduates (and graduates in other fields respectively) would increase dramatically.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]

I understand now what you are saying and do believe you are correct as the standards for admitting foreign students in to Polish medical schools seems to be little to none. As many reading this will take the opportunity to flame me I want to point out that there are a minority of foreign students who actually do come here to study their butts off and become competent doctors.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


Medical students have far to much important material to commit to memory rather than to waste their time learning Polish. Would you rather know how to speak Polish or recognize the signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarction?

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]

@delphiandomine

I guess as a medical student you know what you're talking about right??? Oh wait, you have no idea and just talk sh*t hahaha

Why not come to the hospitals and follow around a group of medical students before you talk about our language competence. Most students will use the most basic phrases they know in Polish with patients such as greeting them politely, asking them to breathe deeply (prosze głęboko od dychać) etc. You talk about my arrogance but it's your assumptions about the way we conduct ourselves that really stands out.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


That's utter nonsense. The "real" reason they don't learn Polish is because they are students and not permanent citizens. They are all acutely aware that their time in Poland is limited so there is very little use in learning detailed Polish. I have never said anything in my posts about the locals being stupid and for you to say something like that makes you look very insecure.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


It depends on the program. There are four year and six year MD programs, and there is also a five year dentistry program.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


I'm not trying to say Poznan is a crap whole. To be honest, I was just venting after almost being run over by a car for the 100th time at the same intersection I cross every day. Of course there are places that are better/worse but I still stand by my assertion that there things they could do to make it safer for pedestrians, not just in Poznan but in Poland and Europe in general it seems.

Life / What is wrong with Poznan? [197]


I actually have a very good knowledge of Polish vocab and an ok understanding of basic Polish grammar. I can speak enough to get by with no problems, including talking to patients in the hospitals. My grasp of the language has nothing to do with my fear of dying due to poorly thought out intersections and terrible drivers.