Study / Tell me about Collegium Civitas (Warsaw)! [34]

Agree 100% with Sobieski. I would say 99.98% of those 3rd world "students" are "interested" in Poland because they see it as a cheap way to enter the UE. They need to realize that their Polish diplomas shall be worth nothing and that they won't be able to live and work in western UE. It's unbelievable all those suddenly "interested" in Poland ;).

To the author of the post (sorry, I don't remember your name): all those schools you mentioned are considered close to jokes in Poland. In Poland, those not able to go to universities and who want to keep studying, go to those mickey-mouse schools who are not universities. Of course, their internet pages are great since they need your money.

If you are serious about your studies, stay in India or since you speak English, go to England, the USA where they have real universities. Yes, in England and in the USA, it's very expensive and if you don't have that kind of money, I'm sure in India you have proper schools.

Study / Are English only speaking students accepted into public Wroclaw school? Spanish ones too? [12]

Hi! Maybe some public secondary schools with bilingual sections in English like they do in Warsaw for English and for French but don't expect it in Spanish.

Study / Tell me about Collegium Civitas (Warsaw)! [34]

Hi! I taught at Civitas for a school year some years ago and I can tell that students there are not "intellectuals" and not from the "elite", basically middle-class kids not able to go to university.

As to Vistula, I know a teacher working there now. All I can say is that it's a school belonging to a wealthy Turkish guy so a lot of Turkish students.

In any case, all those schools in Poland have a much lower level than (public) universities and their diplomas are worth very little in Poland (employers are not impressed) and nothing in the west.

In short, a waste of money! Better to attend a good school with a good reputation and which opens doors everywhere.

Language / Tusk's uvular 'r' when speaking in Polish [49]

Hi! There is not such a thing as a "French "r" since this letter is pronounced in a lot of different manners acccording to areas. It can be rolled or pronounced almost like a Spanish "j" (which I do) and alot of other varieties.

Life / Inquiry about prescribed medicines in Poland - Xanax, benzodiazepines [30]

Delph: I assume that you don't have much of an experience with Polish medecine. Unfortunately I do. I wouldn't talk about NFZ doctors since I don't know but as far as I know, in private facilities (I personally know Damian, Medicover, Enel-Med, Lux-Med and Signal-Iduna in Warsaw) and I can assure that doctors prescribe anything very easily and also tend to exagerate. I'm really amazed because in the west, it's usually much harder. As to medicine mentioned by Thing, I had to have some prescribed to me some years ago and I know numerous people in Poland who did take or who take such medicines and no problem to get them. Should the author of the post want to contact me, I'll give him more info. And obviously, any Polish doctor shall be able to treat Thing and to prescribe whatever he needs

It is not because someone does not know about something that the said thing does not exist ;).
PS: no need to get a fit and insult people!

Life / Inquiry about prescribed medicines in Poland - Xanax, benzodiazepines [30]

Hi Thing! Don't you worry! In Poland, at least private doctors (and most of those working in foreign funded clinics speak English and other languages) prescribe medicines very easily (I'm often amazed). Juste note that it is often best to ask for the Polish version of medicines as prices up to several times lower. I don't know re Xanax in Poland but I know that Fluoxetin (such a name) is the Polish equivalent to Prozac and that it costs close to nothing whereas Prozac is very expensive. Although some medicines are still lacking in Poland and need to be purchased from abroad (for instance, Thyrogen, in the treatment of thyroid cancer, available from the west at some 800..... euros (....) ), there is no problem in Poland to be prescribed and to buy the medicines you are talking about. So please keep cool! :)

Life / Cost of Living in Lodz [50]

How true, Dominic. I really don't understand all that youth from some western countries wanting to come to Poland for less than 1,000 euros a month. I suppose that a lot must be desperate to come to unknown country, for peanuts. Poles do get by on sometimes very little because they have family, they share accommodation with parents and sometimes grandparents or they rent in a public housing wheras the outsider shall be on their own (very difficult in a country based upon the family) and pay everything. Unless with a good expat contrat or a love relationship with a Pole, what's so good about coming to Poland for what is even lower than minimum wage in Western Europe? This beats me;

Study / I want to move Poland from Chicago area and study.. Job prospects, cost of food, healthcare, other expenses [24]

I agree! A Polish diploma is not more than a piece of (toilet?) paper outside of Poland. There are too many mickey-mouse schools, attended a lot by 3rd world people as a cheap way to enter the UE and there is a big reputation in cheating in Poland. Poles who have money and who are serious about their studies go to the West as they know that western diplomas have more value. Why should an American or Western European or an Australian/New Zelander, for ex, come to study in Poland? No sense!

USA, Canada / American family moving to Poland - looking for advice! [44]

Of course, I'm talking about native speakers QUALIFIED to teach their language and not about any native of any given language. Sorry but if to teach English and in English, I'd rather trust a native of English with the proper qualifications than a Polish teacher who usually is not top at the language. I myself hold a Master's degree in foreign language education from an American university and believe me, I know what teaching means so I see a huge difference between real teachers and those who pretend to be. I have worked at most of those so called "international" schools in Poland (for several years at some of them), and I do know about them and that's why in order to have solid teaching in English, the British and the American Schools in Warsaw are the only ones to be considered.

Pity that some posters are so ... xenophobic.

USA, Canada / American family moving to Poland - looking for advice! [44]

Hi! you have misread me! Of course there are Polish snobs at both the British and the American Schools but what I'm saying is that all those private Polish schools pretending to teach in foreign languages (not only in English since there are similar schools for French) are pure jokes and aiming at Polish "nouveaux riches".

Yes, there is a "Montessori" close to the center but I can assure you that it's the same crap as the other Polish schools (most people have no credentials, most teachers not native of English but teaching it and not Montessori trained and all of them not staying long since low pay and bad conditions)

I assume it's very easy to open a school in Poland and that's why most Polish private schools in Poland are "bs"; usually State schools are much better and some are even great but this is not relevant here.

USA, Canada / American family moving to Poland - looking for advice! [44]

Hi! I know all these schools since have worked at most of them. Meridian School belongs to a wealthy Turkish financial group owning schools in a lot of countries. At least 50% of teachers are Turkish (some women wear scarves) and they teach in .... English. Montessori Primary School is staffed with people who most often don't have proper qualifications, who teach "English" even to natives although they are from Poland or from other non English speaking countries and who don't stay long as pay and conditions are very bad. The socalled "Canadian" School and the socalled "International American School" are just expensive Polish schools pretending to be "English speaking" - most teachers are underpaid non English speakers working around 40 hrs/week and who don't stay very long.

Basically, for English speakers, there are only 2 schools in Warsaw : the British and the American Schools - all the others are expensive Polish private schools with poor English, poor management and underqualified, overworked, underpaid and therefore not staying long teachers and suitable only for some Polish snobs. I personally believe that only the British and the American Schools should be considered.

(more info in private)

Work / Job Conditions and Monthly Expenses for students in Poland [16]

Hi! In order for you to work in Poland, your employer shall need to prove to the authorities that they cannot find anyone locally (Poles and foreigners with the right to work in Poland, like those from other UE countries) and therefore your chance to be issued a work permit is 0 (I assume that you also don't speak Polish and that you have no particular qualifications desperately needed in Poland). Besides, there is a huge unemployment rate (and no benefits) and most salaries are very low so why Poland?

Work / International Schools in Poland - the average high school teacher salary? [11]

Hi!
I happen to know such schools since have worked with several international schools. I can say that usually salaries are very good (up to 3 times "normal" teachers' salaries in Poland) but they can be no so high; it depends upon a lot of things (expat or local status, qualifications, experience) but in no case, you'll have as good as a deal as you now have. Also, do take into account that some of such schools do not pay their teachers during summer break. The best is of course to check with them.

Law / Karta Pobytu - Residence Card - Problem with address [13]

lol! Besides insulting people, do you happen to think? It is obvious that a landlord who means to escape tax (most landlords do in Poland) don't want to go to town hall and report as a landlord. Since zameldowanie is demanded in order to apply for residence status in Poland, the only way is for poster to find friend willing to register him at his/her place.

(PS: I happen to rent to tenants in Poland so I know what I'm talking about ;). Do you? I suppose you don't so don't come insulting people as it's a subject you don't know about ;))

Law / Karta Pobytu - Residence Card - Problem with address [13]

Hi! The only reason why your landlord does not want to apply for your zameldowanie is because he does want to report his income from the rent you pay in order not to be taxed. However, in order to apply for docs in Poland, a zameldowanie is demanded and therefore, I suggest you ask a friend (= officially you'll live at that friend's) and most probably it is the only way out.

Have a nice week-end!

Language / Slavic accent correction [110]

Hi! "ę" and "ą" are not like the nasal sounds of French (there are 4 nasal sounds in French and Poles (not to mention any other language speakers) cannot recognize and pronounce them so no relationship between Polish and French sounds ;).

Australia / Australian citizen wanting to go to Poland for as long as possible - needs Polish Visa [49]

Hi! And .... France within a couple of weeks! :)

News / Poland Unemployment: Nobody protests, because people are leaving [30]

People also do not protest when they don't believe in any possible improvement and this is the case in Poland where most people are apathic.

Study / Multilingual School in Warsaw (English / Polish) [26]

Hi! I've worked at some of such schools and they need to be distinguished. The British School and the American School are very good, very serious and very expensive. The French school which is very good depends upon the French Ministry of Education. I don't know about the German School but it may be like the French School for the Germans. As to the others, there are Polish private schools, often expensive (over 1,000 euros/month) and often bs (unqualified and underpaid teachers (most often murduring the foreign language they are supposed to teach)who don't stay long, mismanagement. If money is no issue, I recommend the British or the American schools, for French, the French (nursery and primary at Sadyba, next to British School, and gymnasium + lyceum at Saska Kępa - as there are 2 or 3 other bs Polish private nursery schools calling themselves "French something") and probably the German School for German as most socalled "international" schools in Poland are no more than pure bs and the quality of foreign languages taught (by Poles) is a tragedy....

News / Poland Unemployment: Nobody protests, because people are leaving [30]

Hi! It's obvious that unemployed Poles when staying in Poland live with their relatives and it's true that it's sometimes better to be unemployed in one country than working full time in another and yes, most Spaniards stay at home inspite of their conditions.

News / Poland Unemployment: Nobody protests, because people are leaving [30]

I cannot understand how unemployed Poles can survive. Very few of them only qualify to get something like 600 zl/month and so for a very short period of time. The choice is either to go abroad but abroad things have become tough or to turn to ..... crime. What else?

Life / Poland monthly bills costs advice [17]

Hi! Your link is not updated since prices are now higher - for instance public transportation.

Language / How similar are Polish and Romanian languages? [75]

Calin: your "hate" for French is incoherent especially since you don't know the language considering your mistakes. As to the accent, be informed that there are hundreds of French accents and I doubt you have heard them all ;)

As to your hatred, unfortunately it is not shared by all the bums and crooks from Rumania who steal and beg in France and who seem to really like it since it is impossible to stop them.

Language / How similar are Polish and Romanian languages? [75]

PS. it isn't "bon soir" mais "bonsoir" in French. Both exist but are not employed the same way ;)

Life / The two sides of the Poles: friendly and honest / saying behind ones back [15]

Hi! Welcome to the real world! Poles are neither better nor worse than any other nationality.

Food / "Poland - it's the new Provence of food" [56]

Hi! How can food (for instance) be compared in Poland and in Provence? Poland has heavy greasy food as suitable for cold climate wheras Provence has a light Mediterranean diet (a lot of vegetables and fruit, grown under the sun (= real taste, not like what is found in Polish stores), olive oil, fish, herbs (thyme and "romarin" used a lot) grown also locally used fresh and not dried like in Poland, hardly any pork, (mainly) goat-milk cheese, red wine..). Provençal cooking and way of eating are more similar to what is found in Northern Italy and has nothing in common with Poland. I know both Poland and Provence (I'm French).

Love / Do Polish couples live together without being married? [18]

In fact, very few Poles do and they can be met only among the educated "nouveaux riches" or artists.
I know that Polish women have the lowest rate in taking oral contraception in all UE (cf UE sources) and I would not be surprised to find out that Polish non married couples also have the lowest rate in UE (together with countries like Italy..).

UK, Ireland / Benefit cuts for Poles in The UK? [143]

Hi Tory! Agree with you! I also believe this has to be stopped and not only in UK.

Law / Poland's job offers advertising salary less than a minimum wage? [15]

You must be dreaming! Employers do whatever they want and that's all, it's "take it or leave it". Because of high unemployment, there are always desperate people to accept anything and that's why employers act this way. It is the system and that's all, the police are not going to change the level of salaries ;)."lol"

There are millions of Poles going abroad for bred and it's their reaction to that

News / Crucifixes to stay in Polish schools [364]

Hi George! Why are you saying things that are not true (rather normal in this site but it's getting more than annoying ...). For your info, in January 1905, France became completely secular with TOTAL separation of Church (at the time, it meant the catholic church but now it refers to all religions) and therefore religious signs are completely illegal in public buildings. In French public schools (almost all kids attend public schools), obviously there is no religion taught and catholics even have to hide the small crosses they may wear around their necks. In 2004 the "Bayrou (= François Bayrou hence minister of education and now main Centrist leader) directive reinforced the idea and obviously no kippa, headscarf or any religious style. This is so also in all public spheres; religion (only around 15% of people practice a religion) is considered in France part of the private life. If you have seen religious signs, I guarantee it wasn't in state or related public buildings since against the law.

Furthermore, there is no public funding for any religion in France. Of course, leaders of any religion have no say in public affairs.
France was the first country to become secular (laïc) and was followed by Turkey (around 1923), then by Mexico and in 1975 or 1976 Portugal.
I am French so believe me, I know the situation over there (it's been this way since January 1905 ;) "loi sur la laïcité")

PS: it's really the pits to read so much garbage in this forum and unbelievable all this obsession with France, a country that nobody in this forum knows. Please stick to Polish and Polonia's things instead of talking about what you don't know.