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Posts by Kasia Popowska  

Joined: 22 Feb 2011 / Female ♀
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Posts: Total: 5 / In This Archive: 5
From: Łódź
Speaks Polish?: Yes

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Kasia Popowska   
23 Feb 2011
Work / English with a Polish girlfriend. Experience in engineering, machines - working in Poland? [19]

Hi,

I speak with a little experience as I have an English boyfriend who lives with me in Warsaw.

When we met he couldn't speak any Polish and on subsequent trips to Poland before he moved over he only picked up the basic phrases. He was working in banking in London and the skills he has were not really transferable to Poland without fluency in Polish.

He had money saved up from his job but he wanted to integrate and use his time productively so after a 3 month stint at a language school he started teaching English private lessons, these didn't pay much so he started looking for things he could do without needing to know fluent Polish.

He now trades on eBay buying mobile phones in the UK (including broken ones and repairing them) and selling them in Poland, certain phones like iPhone and Blackberry sell for a premium. He doesn't do technical repairs, more like refurbishment with new screen and back. That along with other stuff he does online (other eBay/Adsense/Affiliate Marketing) provide a lot more money than he needs to live a nice life here. He didn't know how to do any of these things before he moved over.

There are plenty of opportunities in Poland if you take time to think things through, you don't just have to be an English teacher.

You only get opportunities to change your life like this rarely, many people spend all their life in their home town. Do some research, learn some Polish and move over and enjoy it. The worst case scenario is you might have to move back at some point, but at least you won't look back and regret that you never tried.
Kasia Popowska   
24 Feb 2011
Work / English with a Polish girlfriend. Experience in engineering, machines - working in Poland? [19]

Which kind of brings us back to teach English or start your own business, those are the options.

If you use your brain a little there are so many more options...same for Polish people who live in UK. I know many people who are educated to very good standard yet are working in pub/restaurant in the UK. They are afraid to try for other jobs as they don't have fluent English.

A little bit of belief goes a long way, English teacher and starting your own business are not your only options, many skills are transferable, you just need a little Polish language and "a set of balls" to push yourself to do it.

My friend also has boyfriend from UK (Ireland), he buys cars and fixes them (he is mechanic) and sells them, people got to know he is mechanic and now he is fixing many person's car for them as also selling. He makes good money also.

Don't listen to negativity, if you want to be with her and have half a brain you will find something to earn money. My boyfriend loves to meet with other British guys for beer and chat so if you want ideas come Warsaw and he will tell how he lives here.

Too many people pigeon hole themselves in the career they did already, there is much more you can do.
Kasia Popowska   
26 Feb 2011
Work / English with a Polish girlfriend. Experience in engineering, machines - working in Poland? [19]

Mario,

If you wish to work in technical support or selling there is little chance you would find work let alone anything similar to the relatively high paid work you had in Germany.

Without Polish you won't be able to complete simple tasks or communicate with any non English speaking colleagues.

If you can speak English and earn a lot more in England then I'd suggest staying there until you can at least speak enough Polish (it will take you a lot of studying) to find employment in Poland.