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Posts by Tonyd  

Joined: 20 Oct 2014 / Male ♂
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Threads: Total: 5 / In This Archive: 5
Posts: Total: 17 / In This Archive: 17
From: Newport Beach, CA
Speaks Polish?: trying to learn

Displayed posts: 22
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Tonyd   
20 Oct 2014
Travel / Quality of life, women in Poland vs here in America - Is 14 days too long to stay there for holiday? [6]

American here. Am thinking of staying 14 days in Poland in springtime of next year. My main purpose is a fact-finding mission....to see what the quality of life is in the country vs. here in America. I am of Polish ancestry and am learning the language little by little.

I am thinking of staying in Gdansk and then traveling by train to Warsaw and other places of interest. The 2nd reason I'm going to Poland is to check out the women there....not for "sex tourism" but just see if they are any different/better than what we have here in California. I dated 2 American Polish girls prior and we seemed to be a good fit in a lot of ways.

Where can I go for nightlife (no strip clubs or raunchy bars). I'm in my early 30's, in shape, white male. I'm 3/4 Polish ancestry (great grandparents), the rest Austrian.

I own my own (small) business so if I were to move to Poland in ~1-2 years....I could afford to not look for a job for a very long time.

I really don't know where to start researching so I figured I would make a thread here.

Any input/advice is welcome.

Basically I'm tired of the high cost of living in this country (I pay $1,750/mo. for a 2 bedroom apartment....and this is down from the $3,800/mo. I paid when living in a more affluent part of Orange County). Yes, I know I could move to the Midwest, but I don't deal well with extreme heat, cold or humidity. I have seen the climate in Gdansk is "mild" and on the cool side....but not like super crazy freezing or hot. I also like being near the ocean.
Tonyd   
20 Oct 2014
Travel / Quality of life, women in Poland vs here in America - Is 14 days too long to stay there for holiday? [6]

Thanks...I was trying to get my Australian cousin to come out with me....but his girlfriend and I do not get along.

So I'm forced to travel by myself. All my other friends have full time jobs so they can't go with me.

I don't have problem making new friends....and I'm hoping I can just find a place where people congregate for drinks or whatever and meet some new friends. Are most people friendly in Poland?

I realize it's mostly the same wherever you go in the world.....but where I'm from people are more concerned about what you drive and how much you make. It gets old after a while.

So is there a lot of places to meet people in Gdansk? Is it more of a tourist trap or is it a thriving bustling city to perhaps start my search?

Or would you recommend I start some place like Wroclaw or Warsaw? Only reason I am thinking Gdansk is because my family is from that general area (many many many years ago).

I love history (medieval) and intend on visiting old places of historical interest, as well as checking out the social scene.

thanks again.
Tonyd   
20 Oct 2014
Travel / Quality of life, women in Poland vs here in America - Is 14 days too long to stay there for holiday? [6]

Thanks.

Is there much nightlife/place to meet people on weeknights? Or most people just come home from a long day at work and turn on the t.v. and make dinner and call it a night?

I found round trip from Los Angeles to Gdansk (one stop in Berlin) for only $1,000. I think that's the cheapest I'm going to find and if I wait any longer to buy the ticket it will jump up in cost.

Is there like an online dating site for Poles or something (that's not a mail order bride scam)? Was thinking if I could meet a girl (just for friends) on there, maybe I could hang out with her and/or her friends.

The last time I traveled internationally...I went to Australia and then Cairns. I was by myself in a hotel room for 1 week and I was bored out of my mind. Granted, I got sick on the plane ride over and I was not feeling too good, I could barely drive a car....but I really want to avoid that this time around.
Tonyd   
17 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

I just called the Polish embassy in the city I live in. Apparently, there's only two ways to get citizenship:

1. Blood relation is Polish. But my ancestors left the country in the late 1800's.....so the guys said I wouldn't qualify
2. Marry a Polish girl, apply for green card, then live in the country for 4-5 years.
3. Get a corporation to "sponsor" you.

I'm American born and raised, I own my own (small) company (so I won't be a drain on the Polish welfare system) and I will be looking to hire Polish workers when I move there.

Was wondering if you guys/gals had any ideas on how I can go about this? I'm not marrying some broad for a green card. I'm single...and will be looking for love, and will most likely find it eventually....

So any idea how I can move to Poland and LEGALLY live there on my own (no wife) for about a year or two? How long does a green card give me? Is it hard to get?

I'm kinda bummed now.....the Polish embassy threw a monkey wrench in my plans just now.
Tonyd   
17 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

Thank you Veles.....is it hard to get permission to settle in Poland? What is the process like?

I am self employed and make good money. So income should not be an issue.

I'm just concerned that if I move to Poland in 1 year from now....and set up my business (I do work on the internet).....I don't know the exact process I need to take in order to stay in compliance with Polish law so I won't get deported back to America.

I am trying to learn Polish now, I am studying a few nights every week. I should be fluent in 1 years time. I speak 4 other languages fluently, so Polish should not be an issue....even though it's a very challenging language to learn so far for me.

I will be looking to hire 1-2 Polish employees to help me with work.

So.....kinda hoping the government will look with favor upon me because I'm contributing to Polish society with my business and taxes. I'm not political and I just want to keep to myself an live my life in peace. Will be looking to get married eventually if the right girl comes along.
Tonyd   
17 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

Thanks. I tried calling the Polish embassy in America in the city I live in.....the guy sounded impatient, like he didn't want to talk to me.

I am visiting Poland early next year. I should speak enough Polish to walk into a government office and ask them the question in person.

If I am contributing a lot of money and jobs to the economy and society in Poland....they would be crazy NOT to give me citizenship.
Tonyd   
18 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's green card for American, and citizenship question [16]

Man.....that sucks.

What if I meet a cute girl, fall in love.....can I somehow extend my stay until the legally required time so then I can marry her and get citizenship?

I should mention....I own the corporation that I work for.

I draw a salary from the corporation.

Technically speaking....I'm not "self employed" as such.

I wonder if this will make a difference?
Tonyd   
18 Nov 2014
Law / Consumer credit rating from US to PL/EU [12]

Merged: Credit rating in Poland

I have poor credit here in America. This is due to an ex girlfriend stealing my credit card and running up charges.

If I move to Poland and live there (non citizen) for a few years.....can I apply for a Polish credit card?

Do the Polish banks pull my American credit report, or is the slate wiped clean in Poland?
Tonyd   
18 Nov 2014
Love / Observations and experiences so far about Polish women [93]

I'm 39 years old, but I can pass for "late 20's, early 30's" due to my baby face. I'm considered "reasonably good looking" and this is by Newport Beach, California standards. I'm tall and reasonably in shape.

Brad Pitt, I am not....but I can hold my own when it comes to attracting women.

Do you guys think I will have a hard time attracting a girl that's 25 years old? Or younger?

I make decent money in America...."really good" in Poland.

I'm being totally serious here.
Tonyd   
8 Dec 2014
Travel / Wroclaw or Krakow - 1st time visitor to Poland [3]

I'm visiting Poland for the first time next year in April.

I have three questions for you guys/gals:

1. For a 1st time visitor who will by then speak basic conversational Polish.....which city would you recommend I stay in? Krakow or Wroclaw?

I intend to do a little tourism, but not much. I'm more interested in discovering if I want to live in Poland for good. So I would want to meet people. I would also want to meet women my age (I don't have a hard time making new friends).

2. Is late April/early May a good time of the year to avoid snow in Poland? What are the chances the weather will suck?

3. Would you advise I rent a car? Or is the public transport system top notch?
Tonyd   
8 Dec 2014
Genealogy / Being ashamed of Polish ancestry? [156]

I'm embarrassed to tell people I'm an American when I travel abroad. I usually claim "Canada" as my home country (except for when talking to customs...then I tell them the ugly truth).

Americans are butt of every joke and for good reason (our tyrannical government for the past ~14 years).
Tonyd   
8 Dec 2014
Real Estate / House for rent - cost per month in Poland (Wroclaw). Affluent neighborhoods? [7]

Let's pretend I want to move to Wroclaw.

How much would a good house cost (per month) to rent in a very nice part of town (no crime, no drugs, no muggings/etc)?

The house would have to have high speed internet, hot and cold running water, dishwasher/etc and be in very good shape to live in. Basically like any modern house you would find in the USA.

Are there such things as "affluent neighborhoods" in Poland as there are in America? Gated communities and such?

I already looked online and I found some really good deals....but I have no idea if they are in safe/upscale neighborhoods.

Just looking to surround myself with people who have good jobs....and perhaps ingratiate myself with politicians and the sort.
Tonyd   
10 Dec 2014
Law / Consumer credit rating from US to PL/EU [12]

Merged: Does my American credit history follow me into Poland? Polish banks and credit cards

If I as an American move to Poland....and I try to apply for a Polish credit card, or a line of credit through the Polish banks...

Does my American credit history follow me into Poland?
Tonyd   
11 Dec 2014
Real Estate / Wroclaw....good parts? Any "affluent, quaint European, suburb" areas here? [14]

I was looking on Google Street View maps of just random streets in Wroclaw.

It seems the city is filled with old buildings (and not in a good historical way) and lots of graffiti.

Is it possible that I was looking in the bad part of town?

Is there such thing as a "suburb" of Wroclaw that is comparable to a suburb of America?

I'm not trying to start a fight here....but I was kind of hoping for a "quaint European town"....and what I saw looked like it was just some random street in downtown New York.

Thanks if you can give me any tips on which cities/areas by or near Wroclaw to search.

Are there any "affluent" areas that aren't in the middle of the city, and are maybe 20 minutes out side of the city? Nicely manicured lawns, wide open spaces....

I have to be honest....I do not like the "big city". I like suburbs....does Wroclaw have suburbs?
Tonyd   
11 Dec 2014
Real Estate / Wroclaw....good parts? Any "affluent, quaint European, suburb" areas here? [14]

North Wroclaw

Thanks man. Will look into the golf course area....I love golf.

I just saw a bunch of old, dilapidated buildings when I browsed Google Street View last night and it freaked me out. I hate New York, and living near buildings and many people make me nervous.

I need trees and open spaces and nice big front and back yards to keep my mental sanity.

I was hoping Poland was better kept and had a slower pace of life than America. I'm hoping I just accidentally browsed the bad part of town in Wroclaw.

And I'd have a better chance at getting shot in the city, than in a suburb....suburbs in California are some of the safest areas in town.ff

Just trying to find where the "rich" people live in Wroclaw and hopefully I can afford to rent a house/apartment in that area.