Work / I am currently 75% through an on line TEFL course & moving to Krakow [35]

Kraków is the worst place in Poland to look for a job as an English teacher: far too much competition from people much better qualified than you are. I've been living and teaching English in Poland for 9 years, in Skierniwice and Wrocław. All the legitimate schoools require a university degree. I'd be wary of one that doesn't; sounds like a scam outfit.

You could try to give private lessons, but it will take you some time to build up a clientele big enough to support yourself, never mind a family. That will be especially hard in Kraków because of the competition; there are lots of native speakers who live there and many of them offer private lessons. Breaking into the market would be a challenge.

The on-line TEFL course is worthless. No one will recognize or accept it. Whether you need accommodation or airfare is irrelevant and will have no effect on your job prospects.

As for jobs other than English teacher, forget about it. Competition for jobs of any sort is fierce, and the wages are generally depressingly low, even if you did have a college degree.

Again, it would be best for you to stay in Ireland and bring your GF over. It will be MUCH easier to find work in Ireland than for you to find work in Poland, especially if you want to earn enough to support a family.

Your chances of finding work as an English teacher might be somewhat higher in the "province", away from the larger cities where foreigners tend to congregate. But that's hit or miss, and I would count on it.

Your best bet is to stay in Ireland and bring your fiancee back there. Or to get a job with an Irish, British or even American company to work in Poland. Chances are slim, however, unless you have some very special skills to sell. Again, your lack of a university degree greatly reduces your chances.

Last of all, go back to school and get a university degree. You'll be glad you did when you have bills to pay.

Study / Anyone know anyone/ any school that teaches Polish in/around Zakopane? [6]

CJ Lektor teaches Polish for foreigners. Here is their website (in Polish):

lektor.edu.pl

but you can e-mail them for details in English: cjlektor@wp.pl

If nothing else, they can set you up with a competent one-on-one tutor.

Study / Bachelors in Civil / Mechanical Engineering Degree in Poland [39]

Wrocław would be your best bet. Great school, and a MUCH better place to live and study than Warsaw (I live in Wrocław).

The big problem with instruction in any technical field in Poland is an almost complete lack of practical or laboratory courses (they are too expensive for Polish University budgets). Instruction will be very high on theory, and short on hands-on experience, especially for undergrads. Laboratory equipment is also hopelessly outdated, and you will have to fight to use it because there is far too little to go around. I teach a lot of engineers from Politechnika Wrocławska, and this is their main gripe.

I also studied industrial microbiology in Germany and Denmark, where the laboratories are well equipped and cutting edge, and university departments have real budgets with real money. I cannot even imagine doing the sort of work I did in those countries at a Polish university, where the laboratories are equipped with museum pieces, with access jealously guarded by professors who are far from generous, and, quite honestly, have little to be generous with.

Best bet is to study in Germany, even if it takes you two years to build up basic fluency in the language. When you finish, you'll be far ahead of Polish educated engineers, especially in terms of hands-on experience.

Australia / Australian with Polish fianance -Legal Recommendation for Temp Visa/ Extension in Poland [9]

Don't waste your money on a lawyer without consulting with the Australian embassy first. If you couldn't afford the small fee necessary to keep your visa renewed, you'll definitely not be able to afford a lawyer. Besides, that's what the embassy is for. Best bet is to make your way back to Australia and get married there. You can have a non-official ceremony for your fiancee's family in Poland (or even an church wedding if that's what she wants, but don't register it with the civil authorities; do that in Australia).

You do realize that being married to you probably does not affect your wife's ability to enter, live in or work in Australia. You had better check with the embassy about that.

Law / Adventages - visa vs Poland residence permit [2]

You won't get conflicting information if you just contact the Polish embassy or consulate nearest you and ask them what to do. That's their job. Make sure that you have all your scholarship papers with your, including the invitation from the host university. You'll need your US passport, and your university transcript and diploma if you have one. You'll also need proof of health insurance for the time you will be there, and documentation from the Fullbright Foundation about the financial particulars of your grant. You'll also need some more paperwork that they will tell you about, and inform you how to get it (you can't get it actually; those documents are not used in the US. But the embassy will tell you how to get the equivalents). Of course, you'll need four passport pictures, too. Take eight. Do this as soon as possible. Polish bureaucracy can be VERY slow.

DO NOT just enter the country and apply for a residence permit once you arrive. I did that and it was hell. Things are worse now because I just had to leave Poland one day and come back the next with exit and entrance stamps issued on two different dates. I crossed the border at Cieszyn at 11:45 PM, and came back after midnight. With Schengen, that is no longer possible. And more dangerous, because if you have problems, you can be deported and banned from ALL Schengen countries. It's a lot safer to take care of everything while still in the states. It will also save you a lot of time running from office to office getting all the papers you need for an extension on time when you are in Poland, which can be overwhelming even if you speak Polish.

So look up the nearest consulate or embassy tomorrow, and make an appointment.

DO NOT rely on websites for information, even the embassies own website. Poles do not use government websites for information, and the information on them is often outdated or simply doesn't apply in your case. Talk to real people on the embassy or consular staff only.

Study / Need advice on MA programs in Poland [13]

I have to agree with Delphiandomine on this one. While all three schools are excellent, these English-language programs are for those who couldn't get into proper programs in their home countries, either for academic or financial reasons. The level of education is substandard, and the degree will be useless in helping you find a job in the real world.

Classes are generally divided into absurdly rich kids who really have no need for or interest in actually studying (often from Arabic countries), or pathetically poor kids who scrape by on noodles and potatoes (often from third-world countries), with a sprinkling of Amerians, Candians, Brits etc, both rich and poor.

It's better to take two years to reinforce your qualifications or earn some money in your home country and then apply to a serious program in your home country when you're ready. You'll be more likely to get financial aid, too.

As for quality of student life, Wrocław is tops (that's where I live; gorgeous city), Kraków s close second (gorgeous, too), and Warsaw a distant third (and ugly as hell). Unless you're POSITIVELY LOADED with cash, in which case it is the other way around. By Polish standards, the cost of living is very high in Wrocław, very, very high in Kraków, and just plain ridiculous in Warsaw. A studio appartment will cost you 1000 to 1200 PLN in Wrocław, 1300 to 1500 PLN in Kraków, and more than 2000 PLN in Warsaw (total with utilities). I pay a total of 1900 for a two bedroom apartment near the center of Wrocław.

Expect to spend 1000 PLN for groceries and food a month if you eat at home. Entertainment varies widely, depending what you like, but four beers in a student pub will set you back 20 to 30 PLN. A meal out will cost from 20 PLN rock bottom, maybe 15 in a decent student restaurant.

Bus/tram tickets will set you back about 80 PLN a month. Forget about getting a bike. Poland is NOT a bicycle-friendly country.

You'll also have to pay for health insurance (100 per month), cell phone (depends, but 50 PLN is minimum, and internet (varies widely- I pay 75 PLN).

Prices in Warsaw are higher, of course.

You'll live comfortable but basic with a total budget of 2500 in Wrocław, and at least 3300 in Warsaw. Otherwise, you will have to live frugally, because not knowing the language and culture, you won't be able to economize like native Polish students do.

Work / Chemistry jobs in Poland? [10]

Only for Poles and EU citizens who know Polish well. Why would you want to work in Poland? Wages are very low, and jobs are extremely hard to come by. Your best chance would be in an academic setting or with an international corporation. Jobs in Polish companies are pretty much impossible to get for foreigners, and, like I said, they pay peanuts. Where are you from?

Study / Need advice on MA programs in Poland [13]

@Mafketis: Yes, all three universites are good. Just these programs are not. And having a support network of family, friends and "contacts" can help you save a lot of cash and trouble. And don't forget that Poles aren't as pampered as Westerners. It takes a while to adjust to local prices.

Travel / Things to see along eastern Poland by bicycle [42]

You should be aware that Poland is NOT a bicycle-friendly country. There are no bicycle routes to speak of, and roads often do not even have a berm to ride on- the ditch is right at the side of the driving surface. Polish drivers are are not used to bicyclists and can be very rude. Most of all, the national sport is bicycle theft. Anything that's metal and unattended is considered abandoned and quickly stolen and sold for scrap by local alcoholics. Police are of no help in this regard. There are VERY few safe places where you can leave your bike unattended. Road conditions can be AWFUL, especially in Eastern Poland.

Unless you are experienced in cycling in bicycle hostile countries, my advice would be to vacation elsewhere. Try Bornholm. It's bicycle heaven.

When I lived in Germany and Denmark, I got around by bike. Now that I live in Poland, I have no desire to. It's just too dangerous, and, like I said, bicycle theft is rampant.

On the other hand, Eastern Poland is very beautiful and wild, though poor and backward. Just that cycling is unfornutately not the best way to see it.

Life / bicycle feasibility in Warsaw [11]

Poland is not a bicycle-friendly country at all, and Warsaw is no exception. Poland has nothing in common with Holland, Germany or Scandinavia in this regard. The biggest problems are:

1) Roads are not designed for bikes. There are few bike lanes, and those that exist are often poorly or illogically designed, especially at intersections.

2) Polish drivers - cars are a new thing in Poland, and most drivers are very innexperienced. They often do stupid and unexpected things, and the accident rate is 16 times that in the States. They are not very considerate toward bikers, by a long shot.

3) Theft. Your bicycle will quickly be stolen. Anything that is metal and is unattended even for a brief moment is considered by a certain element of the local populace (złomiarzy, or "scrap scavengers") to be abandoned and thus fair game. They sell it to the junkyard for money for alcohol. And then there are plenty of regular bicycle theives who steal to resell. You will have great difficulty finding a safe place to keep your bike, and it will quickly become an albatross.

4) You can't take a bike on public transport. Even a folding one. Buses and trams are crowded, and you will quickly be reprimanded if you tried to get on with a bike, even a folding one. Baby carriages and wheelchairs are allowed, but bikes aren't. I've never seen a bike on a bus in my nine years here.

All in all, cycling in Warsaw would be more trouble than it's worth, and it won't save you any money. If you want to try it, buy a cheap (200-300 PLN) "throw-away" bike with the help of a friendly Polish student and give it a whirl. If it gets stolen, you heart won't be broken.

Life / bicycle feasibility in Warsaw [11]

There are not very many Polish drivers that have been driving for 20 years. Most have been driving for five or less. And it shows. Like I said, the accident rate is 16 times higher per mile driven than in the States. That's not patronizing. It's just reality.

I've been living in Poland for 9 years, and in that time, the number of cars and drivers has more than tripled.

Add to that the fact that Americans drive like old ladies, and Poles are rather reckless, that the roads are much narrower and crowded than in the States, not as well designed, and in worse condition. Polish drivers haven't quite figured out that cars can kill, and they do a lot of stupid things. I've seen at least a dozen accidents happen here in Poland just from my balcony when I go out to smoke, and I'm not a heavy smoker. I've only seen ONE accident happen in forty years of living in the States. Several of my friends in Poland have had accidents with cars while cycling. One was hit and tossed into the bushes at the side of the road. The driver stopped, got out, checked to see that he was still alive, and tossed him a 100 PLN note before driving off. My friend had a broken arm and was bruised all over. Sorry, but Polish drivers are not the best in the world, and Polish roads are not made to handle bike traffic.

Work / Back from the UK and working in Poland [23]

700 Euro a month on top of food and accomadation is very good pay for a restaurant job in Poland. Are you sure about the terms of the offer?

1) Probably not, unless your employer decides to extend the offer.

2) Yes, you will have to do everything from scratch.

3) You can apply for permanent residincy only after five years.

4) Clothing, books, computer, cell phone, entertainment, travel... 2800 PLN disposal income means a pretty comfortable life for one person in Poland. You'll be able to save some money up if you spend it wisely. Leaving with 10,000 Euro in your pocket is not unreasonable if you live frugally.

5) I would say that, as an Indian, you will be treated reasonably well in Poland, especially at your income level. You might encounter an occasional jerk, but I wouldn't expect any major problems as far as personal safety is concerned.

I would also take the time to learn as much Polish as you possibly can before you come. It helps a lot, and can save you a lot of money.

Travel / Things to see along eastern Poland by bicycle [42]

There aren't a lot of bike rails, and local roads are narrow, poorly designed and often do not have a berm between the driving surface and the ditch. There is not a good system of collateral roads, particularly in Eastern Poland. Getting from city to city on bicycle will involve travelling on some very busy roads. Contrary to what you might think, traffic is very heavy on roads in Eastern Poland compared to the rest of the country because there are so few roads there at all, and there is a lot of international truck traffic to Russia, Lithuania and the Ukraine. If you've ever been to Augustów, Suwałki or Białystok, you'll know what I mean. The amount of trucks on the road is incredible.


Exactly. Poland is not set up for bicycle tourism. It's just not part of their culture. If Holland is a 10 for cyclists, Poland would be about a 3. Closer to Lebanon than to Sweden.

Travel / Hotel / Hostel in Wroclaw in the city centre - any recomendations? [13]

Campanile is very close to the old town, and there is a tram stop close by if you're to lazy to walk.

If your looking for someplace cheaper, your best bet is Trio on Legnicka. Cheap, clean and very close to the center (and there is a tram and bus stop right outside). It's a hostel. No bathrooms in the rooms. Two person room costs 76 PLN. Not luxurious, but comfortable enough, and the price and location can't be beat. Exactly what your looking for if your on a tight budget.

I live just up the street, and I've been living here in Wrocław for five years, so I can help you figure out what to see. The town square is AMAZING, and there is a lonely mountain just outside the city that is an easy climb and well worth it. The Botanical Garden, Panorama, and Japanese Garden are must sees, as is the Cathedral Island. A boatride on the Odra River is also a good idea, or you could rent a rowboat from next to the National Museum and paddle around to your heart's content.

Another place to try is hotel Patio, right off the square. Their prices vary A LOT depending on expected bookings. I was able to get a double room for my brother and mom when they visited last year for only 200 PLN. Two weeks later, though, the price was prohibitive. Worth giving a try- the location is perfect and the standard is very high. My family was impressed.

Hotel Wrocław is another possibility. Sort of high end, but you can get good deals if you book early enough. Also worth trying. 20 min walk to the town square, and trams 6 and 7 go directly from the hotel to the square.

Hope this all helps.

Life / bicycle feasibility in Warsaw [11]


Same here in Wrocław. It's those places where they "just about connect" that you have to be careful of. And intersections, of course. It's slowly getting better, but there is still a long way to go. A big issue is theft and the lack of places to safely leave your bike. Złomiarzy will steal anything metal they can get their hands on if you leave it outside overnight, and bicycles are a prime target.

Travel / Things to see along eastern Poland by bicycle [42]


You obviously haven't done much cycling. Trails like this are not good for long-distance cycling. I get the impression you've never cycled yourself. Riding 100 km a day on "dirt tracks" like these would be a real challenge, and going from Puńsk to Lublin on such trails would be impossible. Cycling is not like hiking. For longer distances, you need a paved or at least even surface. Touring bikes are rather delicate. Hiking trails and farm tracks are not good enough except for short excursions with a heavy duty bike.

I took a student of mine on a biking trip to Bornholm, a Danish Island not far from Kołobrzeg. I told him that Danish bike paths are better than Polish Autostrady. He didn't believe me. Once we got there and started to ride around, he yelled out "These bike trails are better than Polish autostrady!", and I said "I told you so". We went around the whole island (110 km) in a single day. That would be impossible in Poland. You would be forced to use roads. There aren't many roads in Eastern Poland, so traffic is heavy, especially trucks going to Russia and Lithuania.

I take it you haven't spent much time in Białystok, Augustów or Suwałki. And based on some of your other comments, I wonder when you last lived in Poland. Your picture of the country is a little distorted and outdated. Things have changed a lot in the nine years since I've lived here, particularly as far as cars and traffic are concerned.


Antek was talking about Augustów. And yes, kayaking is a much better way to see the Suwalszczyna than cycling. The Czarna Hańcza and Kanał Augustowski are excellent kayaking trails- the best in the whole country. And there are plenty of great kayaking areas near Białystok. Czerwone Bagno is superb, and the Narew and Bug rivers are, too. I have kayaked several times from Suwałki to Warsaw. Great trip. Don't know about Lublin, cause I've never kayaked there.

Travel / Things to see along eastern Poland by bicycle [42]


Like there are three times as many drivers, and most of them are innexperienced. Traffic has mushroomed as well. Since you left six years ago, the number of drivers and cars has more than doubled, and very few new roads have been built.


Then you ought to know that the roads are choked with traffic. Augustów is especially a big mess. The highway isn't finished yet, so traffic has to go through the town and use secondary roads. I spend a month every summer in Augustów, and the traffic is MACABRE.


I have, and it's very good, too. So is the Drawa. I still prefer the Czarna Hańcza/Kanał Augustowski, though. I've done the route eight times. Four times all the way to Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki near Warsaw.

Czerwone Bagno is spectacular. One of the few places in Poland where you can feel truly isolated and lost in time, there is no trace of man to be seen, and some of the best birdwatching in all of Europe.

Work / Back from the UK and working in Poland [23]

I also have my doubts. 700 PLN is more like it. I don't think there are any waiters in Poland that earn 2800 PLN and get food and accomodation thrown in. It seems fantastic.

Work / Need your help about studying in Poland (I'm from Vietnam) [12]

There are plenty of Vietnamese people who have studied in Poland. It would be better if you asked this question on a Vietnamese forum. The anwers you will get will be more useful. And be more specific. When you post your question in on the Vietnamese forum, make sure to say what you want to study, and where.

Work / English Teaching Opportunities in Szczecin [14]

Summer is not a good time to find a job as an English teacher. Most schools operate at reduced capacity, and pay only half wages for summer courses. Plus you should have been looking two months ago.

Here's a list of all the language schools in Szczecin. Look up their e-mail addresses and send cover letters and CVs to all of them. Avoid Callan method schools.

If you don't have a CELTA or TEFL certificate, you will have a hard time finding work. If you're from outside of the EU, forget it. They are not going to go through the rigamarole of getting work permission for you for a short term part time job.

Summer is a lean time for English teachers in Poland. Work is scarce and the pay is low, and most of the jobs are taken already.

Work / Chemistry jobs in Poland? [10]

Then he should get off his duff and start looking up and contacting pharmaceutical firms, plastics factories, paint factories, cosmetic manufacturers, cleaning supply producers, refineries, and so on and so on.

If he is not sending out 200 to 300 CVs and cover letters a month, he's slacking and never going to find a job. When I graduated from grad school in the states, I sent out 200 CVs and got only six responses, and that was during the Clinton years when unemployment was very low, especially in my field.

There is only one strategy for finding a job in a country with high unemployment: carpet bombing with CVs. Waiting for jobs to be posted is pointless, because there are going to be dozens if not hundreds of applicants for every job.

Of course he's going to have to be willing to relocate and work for peanuts for a few years to get experience. A lot of my former students who are now looking for jobs have unrealistic expectations, like they are going to find a high paying job near where they presently live. That's a big turn-off to a potential employer.

He should also contact and personally meet with ALL of his former professors and teachers at his university. They often have contacts in industry, and they are an excellent source of job leads.

Work / Need your help about studying in Poland (I'm from Vietnam) [12]


If you want to know about entrance exams, contact the university. They will tell you all you need to know. You can't get answers to that question on a forum like this.

Cost of living depends mostly on how much you are willing to pay for a room. You can get a basic student dorm room for about 600 PLN total, but expect to pay a bit more.

A student can live on as little as 600 PLN a month on top of rent, but that will be a hard life. 1000 PLN on top of rent is a pretty decent student life.

So you will need at least 1200 PLN a month for a very frugal student lifestyle, and double that for a decent but no-frills student lifestyle.