News / Should Poles care who becomes French President or is it irrelevant? [45]

Hi

I'm French and voted for Hollande - Sarko being a nightmare, he had to go.

How shall Hollande do? Very simple and French is a very rich country (no. 5 in the world): he'll just use money to improve people's daily life rather than spending it on non sense (like for instance sarko did; wars around the world, or Air sarko 1 ......).

There is money, it's just a matter of priorities. It is so everywhere and not only in France.

News / Should Poles care who becomes French President or is it irrelevant? [45]

Please don't compare Greece and France ;).

Believe me, there is money in France. How much did for instance sarko spene bt on his sarko air force 1, on his wars around the world and other stupid things (they wanted to host the Olympic games and France shall have the football Euro in 2016). Do you know how much this election cost? I believe such money could have been spent for instance on education, on health (since sarko, middle-class in France can't afford dental care or to buy glasses....) and also to hire police to protect people...

If you prefer to keep tighten your belt and fatten up the richest, keep going, I don't.
In any country, there is money (even in Greece, check the very rich and the Greek church - they don't pay tax ;)) but governments have different priorities and I prefer a goverment concerned about the basic people's well being rather than spending money on wars, on fat dictators around the world and so forth.

Just a matter of choice and believe me most people think the way I do.

I assume you don't know France and don't speak French, so no need to talk further.....

News / Should Poles care who becomes French President or is it irrelevant? [45]

to close subject, I have intevened in public because of lack of knowledge made in public about topic most on this thread know nothing about. Some of you don't even know names of candidates. It is NOT Le PenN but Le Pen, which means "the head" in Briton (Celtic language spoken in Brittany) and the Le Pens are not extreme LEFT but extreme RIGHT and Hollande is not a communist but a social-democrat (French socialist party = SPD in Germany, Labour in GB, ... and even close to Democrats in the US) so why talking about a topic on the net one does not know ?

Yes, sarko made 48% but France is a democracy and it's always like that - things are not style ..... 90 to 10 ;). Yes, it's very low for sarko due to his big bucks machine and his friends' owned + controlled media and also as he'd had been running for election for almost 5 years.

Just for info, check who voted for Hollande and who voted for sarko and you'll see who means the future ;)

Why in the world do you make a personal thing out of it? Hollande has won and that's it and because of France's weight in Europe and the world, you'll have to cope with it. Tusk who boycotted him shall have now to meet with him and that's all. This is called .... DEMOCRACY and apparently you have trouble with idea = your problem

fyi, sarko shall lose his imnuity on June 16 and shall start being questioned by several judges (L'Oréal, Karachigate, Kaddafi, etc etc etc..... )

I have just commented upon post since 1. I'm French, 2. I've voted for Hollande and 3. I live in Poland.

Case closed and "Bonne chance François ! :)"

News / Should Poles care who becomes French President or is it irrelevant? [45]

Witam!

Thanks for finally intelligent comments! Yes, there is nothing to be scarred of for Europe, the world and even France with new President. Yes, French socialist party - like all those in Western Europe - are social-democrats and obviously have nothing in common with those who ruled Eastern Europe before 1989 but there is a lot of ignorance (incl. on this forum.....). Yesterday, I had to explain to a Pole, whom I had thought intelligent.

The world is relieved: arrogant and incompetent blingbling sarko is out :). No one is "scarred" of the "socialists" ;)

Have a good day!

PS: Paris stock exchange was up yesterday ;) "lol"

Law / Do foreign students graduated from Polish university need work permit before finding job? [24]

Hi!

Only people from other UE countries may work in Poland. The others need to find employers in Poland, who need to prove the Ministry of Labor that no Pole or no resident can do the work so better to forget it. I know that at least very recently (now I don't know) such work permit needed to be re-applied for every year.

There are plenty of countries more attractive in terms of salaries and economic conditions so no need to struggle in Poland (unless stuck for personal matters).

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

@Wroclaw + Milky

If banks collapse in Greece, the whole banking system shall collapse since in Greece they have foreign banks. I watched a program tonight with economists and journalists from around the world and they say that even in the US it is feared. If the Greek crisis was put on the G8's agenda, it is not for nothing.

Because of said banks, the zl has gone down to the euro (since "Polish" banks are mostly with western capital). It is no joke.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

There is also a big difference between money made by teachers and cleaning ladies.

Teachers at least in public schools are paid 12 months a year, get paid when sick, have retirement whereas cleaning ladies earn only when working. Teachers can also get credit whereas cleaning ladies cannot.

As to cleaning ladies, the hourly rate is in Warsaw 10-15 zl (see ads) (but I pay mine 20 and let her eat all she wants while at my place) so it is not sure that they make 150 zl per day every day. There are a lot of people bragging about making fast and easy and tons of money but the situation is very different.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

When I pay her 20 (for very light work only), I refer to the normal rates I see in ads (for instance Gumtree.pl) and I hear in expat community. She happens to be Polish but it does not matter to me where she is from.

Real Estate / Poland's apartment prices continue to fall [1844]

2,000 zl per month seems reasonable for a cleaning lady. I'm not saying it's "too much" but I'm saying that it is credible. I assume "mine" must make the same.

Food / Is Polish food still more natural than in the West? [142]

I agree 100%, it's totally bland, also in color -all is greyish/brownish with no effort to make it look nice on the plate. I'm French and thus food is a big pleasure for me so Polish food is nothing to really talk about. I only eat international food. I believe only Poles can like Polish food. It's really unsophisticated and it is for coal miners or truck drivers; it is full of grease and mayonnaise, and poor in vegetables/fruit.

Sorry but Polish cuisine has no reputation around the world and it is not a coincidence....

Life / Is Poland a poor country? [578]

Hi!

Absolutely! In the case of Poles abroad, at least 99.99% of them are for economical reasons. As to the British, French, Germans, Americans and other westerners for instance in Poland, 99.99% of them are business people (most of them are sent by their companies) or in mixed couples with Poles.

Furthermore, Westerners in Poland do not take the sh...ty jobs Poles don't want whereas 99.99% of the Poles abroad have to take the jobs locals don't want to take.

I believe Poland is a poor country since lives off foreign subsidies and too many Poles are forced to go abroad for bread. Poland shall be considered a "rich" country when it no longer needs foreign aid, when its people no longer need to emigrate for bread and when millions of foreigners shall move to Poland for bread.

Some people may dream but Poland is far behind.

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

@ Peterweg!

If we remember, it's allways what they claim after each major sports event and Poles in their comments in various Polish media are not naive. It is always like that and 2 or 3 years later (if not before) they recognize it was more like a failure. Besides, I assume that a lot of money made shall leave Poland since construction coes, hotels, restaurants and stores are most often foreign.

As to peole claiming to return to Poland for holidays, I have serious doubts. People said so whithin the football ambiance, the drinking parties and also it depends how the question was asked. Very soon, people will have forgotten about the 2012 Euro (next Euro in France, and also the Olympics, first in London, then in Rio, then the World Cup in Brazil) and people will have other priorities all the more as Poland is not the mecca of tourism. A few more foreigners will visit Poland this year and also maybe next year and that's all.

Sorry, I'm not naive and I believe same for most Poles.

Law / Apply Karta Pobytu (Residence Card) for my wife [7]

Witam!
The best thing is to go to the administration for foreigners (in Warsaw it's on ul. Długa 5) and ask. You know there are rules but also every situation can be different.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Hi!

To be paid some 50% under the table is very frequent in Poland and not only by restaurants (I've seen situation often even with "international" Polish private schools).

You have karta pobytu but this does not allow you to work if you are not a citizen of another UE country. If so, you also need a work permit issued to employer.

Even if you were employed legally, be informed that employees in Poland have no more than purely symbolic rights. I've seen even Poles completely ripped off, sometimes not paid and neither the PIP (Labor Inspection) nor the police (I've seen a case when the employer was a real crook and in most countries he would have had his company shut down) could do nothing. The Labor code was changed to please big Western corporations.

Please just do what Poles do in such a case, they quit and look for something else and they forget with time.

Sorry but this is an aspect of Polish life that foreigners should be ready to face as it happens often with small firms.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Sorry but probably there is nothing to be done as it happens very often in Poland.

If it were a big fortune, you could hire a lawyer. In your situation, a lawyer should cost you more than what boss owes you and there is no guarantee....

Sorry again but this is one aspect of Polish life and with time, you'll learn about what to do/not to do in this country.

I know 1,500 is a good sum of money and I'm sure that you have worked like a slave but this happens often in Poland and you have to know it.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Wroclaw: It's even worse than I thought ;)

In fact, it's almost normal to be "f.."ed up by smaller bosses in Poland and it takes time to be able to beat the system.

It should be a warning to all those naive young westerners moving to Poland.

Even a written contract is often no more than toilet paper in Poland so UWAGA!

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Acey: to me too, it's a lot of money but this is the reality in Poland. And you did all orally???? Even a written work contract is no guarantee in Poland (I've seen weird things) so how can you believe what your boss says orally??????

You have to forget about this money now....

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Maybe I was not clear; what I meant is that: when NOT citizen of another UE country, a work permit is necessary

As to supposed rights to Polish employees, based upon my experience I seriously doubt it. Of course, employees may go to court and so what? I've seen a lot of people going first to PIP and nothing. As to the police it was about a case with the boss being a criminal (whose business would have been closed down in most civilized countries).

But never mind, if our friend here has accepted to be paid under the table, it's another matter. It's common in Poland to have some 50% na czarno.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Sorry but 1,500 is a lot when we make let's say 2,000, 3,000 or 4,000 - the majority of people in Poland

Maybe 1,500 does not seem a fortune but it's hard to earn.

Law / Worked for a restaurant in Poland and the owner refused to pay me. [60]

Harry: can you give a hint?

Love / How i can make a relationship with a Polish girl? [20]

Hi!

Sorry, it's pathetic to read this kind of teenager's bs: "the Poles or the Belgians or the Urugayans or the Martians are the best or worst of this or that". In Poland like in any other country, the best and the worst can be found and as re "girls", in Poland some are girls are great and some are awful, some are beautiful and some are ugly, some are intelligent and some are stupid, etc etc..... This of course applies to men in Poland and also to people all around the world.

I have lived in altogether 7 countries (Europe + USA) and believe me, people are more alike than they are different.

I understand that girls in some countries are said '"easy" or "easier" (it was the case in Poland too) because of their economic situation and they are desperate to find anybody to take them out of the country.

In conclusion, Polish girls are basically the same as in any other Western country and they are not desperate to go with any idiot from a foreign country, thinking he's so great because he has a few dollars or euros.

The end!

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

Hi!

All these big western companies move to countries like Poland and so forth simply to take advantage of cheap labor and the result thereof is huge unemployment in western countries. I have heard a few Poles working in call centers and it is usually a disgrace, pure exploitation (the proof, employees never stay long and there are always vacancies).

whereas the companies make fortunes.

"Of course all is well" according to some media. Those who make money are these companies' shareholders and a few top managers and that's all. The average Pole makes peanuts and has to emigrate to make ends meet.

Those call centers sent abroad to cheap labor countries are a disgrace. They move to India for English and North Africa for French.

Don't be so optimistic because only a minority in Poland can really afford things. A big majority live on credit (easy to get), have relatives working abroad and sending money home, dress in used clothes shops (more and more) and shop at discount stores. I shop in small shops in the center and no matter what time of the day, customers are rare and don't buy expensive food.

A few weeks ago, I read that Poland was the European country with the highest income inequality. It is easy to tell that there is a very rich minority and all the others (more numerous) who struggle.

News / Poland's Economy Is Booming! The EU's Success Story? [711]

Hi!

Completely irrelevant to throw figures "just like that". "Per capita", it means that they divide the amount of wealth by the number of inhabitants and therefore it does not mean whether everybody is rich or poor and does not show the reality of the said society. Some are rather equalitarian, like northern countries, some in the middle like Germany or France and some are rather unequalitarian (mostly in the East of Europe).

Throwing numbers and figures like they do in North Korea does not make any sense. As to Poland, when we live in Poland, we all know that the government (like all governments) lies, that the economy in Poland belongs to foreigners and that most Poles are poor and that's all. No need to pretend all is marvellous in Poland (or anywhere else) because it is not. Such attitude is pathetic and shows how a lot of (I am not saying "the") Poles are full of complexes. In fact, people of Polish origin on PF are exactly like all people of foreign origin: they seem to seek revenge for their parents' and grandparents' harship, poverty and humiliation that they want to believe that their country of origin has become a wonder and the inhabitants thereof are simply the very best. I have witnessed such attitude for instance among North Africans in France and Belgium, Turks in Germany and also Pakistanis and Indians in England - their home country has suddenly become the world's diamand. Those of Polish origin think and act exactly this way and this is "psy".

Of course, Poland has moved ahead a lot (but needless to say thanks to Westerners and their money) but is still a very poor country (but need to move away from the glitter and blingbling of parts of Warsaw and Krakow - what most foreigners don't do - to realize it).

Poland is in such a way and that's all.....

Have a nice week-end!

Law / Largest Corp In Poland :Polski Koncern Naftowy S.A. [8]

And????

Polonia / Can I travel to france with a polish visa typeD multi? [7]

Hi!

The only way to find out is to ask French consulate since it depends upon a lot of things, like your nationality, the reason and the conditions of your trip to France. You won't find answer on Polish-Anglo/American forum.

Good luck!

Polonia / Can I travel to france with a polish visa typeD multi? [7]

Like said, I'd rather contact French consulate if I were concerned.
(I am French and therefore without knowing all details, I know that it is not so obvious since laws are strict and if you mean to work there on Polish visa, just forget it - in order to have right to work, potential employer shall prove that he cannot hire locally either French or resident and processus is heavy (DDTE, Préfecture....) and obviously "perfect" French shall be needed ;)).

Law / how does the legal system work in poland? [25]

Hi Midas!

My family were Spanish refugees and I have come across numerous people who had lived in Spain, Portugal, Greece or South America under dictatures (just to mention a few) and trust me, it was not any "softer" than in Poland et al. under communism. In fact, fascism and communism have a lot in common so the author's message is not "stupid" to compare Spanish and Polish legal systems so no need to look up in dictionaries. Besides, "communism" and "socialism" do not mean anything if for instance we look at China, which has both a communist government and the most capitalist economy (lending money even to the US) and what Western Europeans call "socialism".

PS : have you ever seen a fascist regime? I have (Spain, Portugal and Greece under the Colonels) and believe me nothing to be excited about. I saw Poland for first time on March 19, 1990.

Law / how does the legal system work in poland? [25]

OK Midas! I had thought that you were among the Poles who praise Franco, Salazar, Pinochet, Papadopoulous and the like. Trust me, it was as much hell as it was in Poland et al. My family escaped from Spain into France (there were even camps in Southern France for Spaniards since Franco was on Hitler's). I've also seen numerous Portuguese walking from Portugal into France and also have met a lot of Greek + South American refugees. Both extremes meet and both are evil. On the other side, my husband was Polish (with Jewish born mother) so believe me, I have an idea about life without reading books ;)

Besides, these terms does not mean anything since for instance China is the most capitalistic society in the world inspite of its communist government, all Westen European countries have "socialist" parties, which often are in power and believe me Norwegian, Austrian or French "socialism" has nothing in commun with what was in Central and Eastern Europe (although some countries had softer regime than others).

I personally don't believe in ideology and hate extremists, whatever they are: rightwing, leftwing or religious (ALL religions) - they are all nuts and most dangerous.

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

Witam!

As said above, if you forget about the UE funds (Poland is no.1 reciepient), foreign investors, the millions of Poles going to the West for bread and not willing to return (again the headline in yesterday's Polish media) and their monies sent back home, Poland is far from brilliant.

The socalled growth is because Carrefour or Tesco opens a Xth store in Poland and that's all.

Poland has no economy per se, it's all in foreigners' hands. In my view, Poland is following Spain's steps, a lot of wind and nothing concrete. I would like to be wrong but easy to make the parallele.

,

News / Poland versus Greece in economy [175]

To Delphi!

Yes there may be new companies opened in Poland but they are by foreigners because of cheap labor.

A "successful" economy is not when relying on foreign aid, when locals have to move out because they want to make a decent living and when people do not have kids because they cannot afford and are scarred of the future.

Don't make us believe that all those Poles applying for welfare as soon as they arrive in Britain (or elsewhere but it's mostly in Britain because the British government had the "brilliant" idea to open British labor in order to lower British salaries) and those cleaning homes, hotels/pubs, picking up tomatoes or taking care of elderlies or working on the building industries do it for the sake of having an .... "experience" abroad. "lol" . In yesterday' s Gazeta Wyborcza, there was an article on Poles getting 2,000 EUROS in the West whereas they would have made 2,000 ZL in Poland where the cost of living is often as high as in Western Europe.

I personally know alot of people going to the West for bread, among others, teachers of German who lost their jobs since a lot of classes close in some areas and who go to Germany to take care of old folks for some 1,000 euros there (poverty line in Germany but as seen from Poland, 1,000 euros seems a fortune).

With the crisis in Europe going deeper, if the UE reduces its funding (Poland receives the most) and if foreign companies reduce their presence, then we'll really see the economic situation in Poland.