News / British senior politician compares Poland to South Africa during apartheid [129]

I supposed you have to be careful not to tar the whole of Britian with the same brush and get England mixed up with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Each country has it's own problems and can be very different to England even in Britain.

If anything Britian has become too much of a PC nanny state and the perceived tolerance of other cultures is to make the middle class indigious population feel better about themselves as the country disappears down the pan.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Thanks Terri.

It's younger people I am coming over to train in a new office in Lodz. But I might be over for a few months living in Lodz.

No idea how I'll manage tbh. Better go shopping for some Polish phrase books!

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

Update.....

I have been in Lodz now for 3 weeks and managed to survive perfectly fine!

The people are friendly and very helpful. Most of the younger people speak some English and are willing to help you out.

It's a really vibrant and up and coming city with excellent transport throughout. Buy your bus/tram tickets from the newsagents or kiosks before you get on the bus and stamp it on the bus. I made the mistake of trying to ask the bus driver for a ticket! I learned quickly..... The MPK website is really good and in English.

Lots of independent restaurants, bars, and clubs and not been over run by big chain establishments yet. Although lots of new chain hotels springing up around where I am currently on Al. Pilsudskiego.

Getting what you want is not a problem as the menus come in English and most bar staff will understand or in a busy club just point to what you want. The local Okocim beer is nice too.

Piotrkowska is the place to hang out at weekends and the Galeria Lodz is close by too for shopping and has a Tesco. When you have seen one Tesco, you have seen them all...

So far I haved checked out Klub Pomarancza and Lodi's Club. Both are a bit too commercial for my liking. Both were busy and Lodi's has a great sound system. Although the 6am licence and managing to get into Foo Foo's Bar upstairs was pretty decent. :) I haven't had any problems getting into clubs as the security have been friendly enough and quite effective at dealing with trouble makers from what I saw! Most people have been friendly enough when I mention I am Scottish and not Polish.

Is any good underground dance clubs on Piotrkowska? Kaliska maybe? Gossip may be too difficult to get into!

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]

I have been here for a few weeks and will be in Lodz till the end of September. I'm back home in Scotland at the minute and off to Lodz on Thursday again.

It's pretty much as described above tbh.

I was worried mainly about the language barrier when I was coming over but it's not been too much of a problem.

But I'm living out of a hotel and not having to look for my own accomodation. I am sure the other students will help you out too.

Before that I spent 3 months in the US and Lodz so far has been a far more positive and better experience.

The hotel handed me a guide called Lodz In Your Pocket and it's got a website too. Have a look on there as it's full of good advice.

Drop me a PM if you have any specific questions and I will ask the guys in the office and see what I can find out.

Life / New in Poland! Not yet jaded and loving it [34]

I am Scottish and have spent the last 3 months in the US. Alot of Americans have Scottish surnames and will tell you their grand parents or great grand parents are Scottish. But when you ask where in Scotland they came from they have no idea. One even said they were shot and killed when they came to the US.

I was waiting to board a plane at the airport and there was an American family who were going on a European cruises from Barcelona. The daughter asks ' Mom, is the cruise company American?' The mom replies 'I expect so' The daughter then asks if the people on the cruise ship will speak American as the ship was leaving from Barcelona.....

It was an 8 seater plane from a regional airport and we had to turn back on take off as the American Dad forgot his IPAD. Despite being reminded lots of times by the 8 security and airport workers not to leave belongings behind.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


Granted I'm not far from the centre.

Not really sure why you think it is depressing with a new airport not far away, lots of new hotels being build, decent shopping centres, and several multinational companies setting up shared service centres in Lodz over the next 12 months. It's not the finished article by any stretch but certainly has alot going for it than most places.

Plus the weather has been fairly decent for the month I have been over.

Now if you want depressing I could recommend a few places far worse!

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


The buildings are a mixture of new buildings as alot of companies have set up offices in Lodz (Which is what I do) and undeveloped buildings from before the war.

The story I got told was this was due to the owners being un-known after the war, the buildings remain untouched. Couldn't tell you if this is true or not. The only thing which let's Lodz down is the amount of graffiti everywhere. On the way to work I do see lots of people looking after the place where ever I go.

If you survived a night out in Paisley, Lodz will be a breeze! I found the atmosphere to be very good when I was out most weekends and saw very little trouble. I didn't have any bother getting into bars/clubs either.

Work / Working in Lodz - work without speaking Polish? [25]


I flew back in today and it feels like home. ie It's pouring it down.

It costs me 13 PLN for a large Okocim at the hotel. But in bars and clubs it's pretty cheap for a night out. 8 PLN or 10 for more branded stuff.

There's plenty of 24 hour off licenses too it seems.

Another tip is the bus from the airport drops you pretty much in the centre of Lodz if you wanted to same some cash and not get a taxi. A map can be got from the information desk at the airport and tickets bought from a machine next to the exit.

Can anyone tell me what the better clubs are in Lodz and where the ex-pats hang out? Getting a bit bored kicking about on my own and here for another 3 weeks :(

Travel / Weekend In Lodz. Things to do? [10]


I started a thread on here about working in Lodz as I'm from Scotland and working here for 3 months. I'm in Lodz at the moment for the next 3 weeks.

The beers are less than a quid in most places. Plenty of off licences.

Someone gave you good advice about not getting drunk and acting like a clown as you will stand out and either get lifted or get bother. Also, the bouncers take no **** either.

The main street with all the bars and clubs is Piotrkowska. Google Lodz in your pocket and it will tell you what you need to know. Or drop me a PM if you have anything specific.

Travel / A week in Lodz - genuine taxi, trams, night safe? [7]

If you search under Lodz there's is plenty of information I have posted as I have been here working for the past 2 months and will be here until the end of the year now.

The taxi's and bus/trams are safe to use and pretty much like anywhere else.