Work / Advice on Teaching English in Poland [709]

From talking to teachers in the public system, there is to be a drastic dip in the school age population in 2017. One girl I know that works in a gymnasium says that currently there are 3 classes for every year at her school, but in 2017, there will be 1 class for of first year students. Teachers are already fearing for their own jobs as their will be lay offs. Not the best climate to arrive in to start a new life with 3 kids.

Life / I'm English, but I really like some Polish names. Can I use them for my baby girl? [25]

I was really worried about that 3 years ago when I was having a baby, but when we went to register a very anglo name it wasn't a problem. The woman told me that those rules no longer apply. A hyphenated last name on the other hand, is a little more tricky. But doable.

As for little Zosia, I don't think people will care that much, you may just get a lot of people asking, "Oh, are you are your husband Polish?"

USA, Canada / Fly from Canada on Polish Passport for longer than 5 month stay? [2]

A few years ago my son flew back to Canada for the summer. He also holds both passports. The Canadian Embassy advised that he leave Poland on his Polish and enter Canada on his Canadian. This is because as a Canadian his 3-month visitors time would have expired therefore making him illegal in Poland. The same applied for the return trip.

USA, Canada / Moving back to Poland after 7 years in Canada [22]


This is what I was going to suggest, if you are in Toronto then you probably already know Ronsacvelles. And Mississauga is the heart of the Polish community. They have a very large Polish church, which offers Polish school for children. There are also Polish clubs on Dundas West.

I'll tell you a little story about my friends parents as well.
They moved to Canada when their kids were about 18 and 13. The mother already knew English and got a job teaching at the Bickford Centre. The father retrained and also found work. Their standard of living wasn't the best but it was ok. Even though the mother knew English she had a very difficult time adjusting and for years pined away for Poland and her family. She just wanted to go home. Finally, once the kids were grown up and independent they decided that they would return to Poland. They still had a house there. I'm not sure exactly what transpired in Poland but they were back in Canada in 6 months. My friend told me that it just wasn't the Poland they were missing and that they were better off in Canada. It had taken her years to finally appreciate where she was.


There are some aviation companies that are Canadian that have factories in Rzeszów. I think the head office is in Mississauga. They send people from Canada to work there. Maybe look into that.

UK, Ireland / British people more intelligent than the Poles? [53]


I was raised Protestant and I'm telling you they believe that anybody can get into heaven, there is no limited number.

UK, Ireland / British people more intelligent than the Poles? [53]


That sounds like Jehovah's Witness, but predestination is definitely not part of the dogma of the vast majority of Protestant sects. However you are right about the "protestant work ethic."

Work before play!

USA, Canada / My wife wants to return to Poland...but I want to stay in the US [155]


Just to give you my two cents on the problem, I think that becoming a first time mother is a drastic adjustment one has to make, whether she's PND or not. I think I was shell-shocked for the first year of motherhood. Your wife is probably missing things about pre-baby days more than Poland per se, and it would really help her if she had some structure in her week, something to look forward to and something that gets her out into the real world. Maybe a class, or a group, anything really that would ensure a few times a week she can put on some proper clothes and walk out the door without all of the accoutrements of motherhood. Probably what she hasn't put into perspective is that her reality in Poland with a child would be much different from the youthful memories of student days when one hasn't a care in the world.

Like other posters have suggested, go back together for a holiday, maybe an extended one, one that would give her a chance to let the honeymoon period wear off and see things in a clear light.

I also think knowing that one has the freedom to come and go as they please is a lot less stressful than feeling like one is trapped and unable to go where and when they want.

I hope it works out for the both of you.

Love / Partner wants me to come to Poland? [21]


I completely agree. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
As a mother your first concern and duty is to your son. Moving him to Poland especially with his disability is the worst thing you could do to him. There is very little support for such children and probably nothing available in English. If you move him here it would be the most selfish thing a mother could do.

Law / French guy living in Poznan, needs information on theory and test for Polish driving licence [8]

You will have to do your theoretical again regardless. I was fully licensed in Canada but still had to write the theoretical test to switch to a Polish license.

Don't go with a translator it is a waste of money, especially if you have to take the test a couple of times like I did. I was originally going to have to do that in Rzeszow but found that Tarnow offered the test in English. They should have it available in Poznan as it is a much bigger city. The books I studied with were from sklep.sphcredo.pl.

Law / Need advice and help for obtaining a PESEL [8]

I had to give up my birth certificate (original) to my urzad miasta when I first came, but they said that I could borrow it when needed. At one point I needed it to renew my Canadian passport and I've never returned it to the office. It hasn't been a problem.

Food / PIZZA & KETCHUP served only in Poland? [159]


I'll second that.
MMM...poutine. Such a disgusting concept but so good.

Food / Where to buy British mature Cheddar Cheese and salted butter in Poland? [289]

I'm so glad to see that this thread is still updated. I am always waiting for lidl's themed weeks. I have been waiting for their cheddar for awhile now. Can't wait to stock up, so thanks for this. The original poster was asking about salted butter. Lidl has that right now too, if anyone's interested, though I didn't think it was very good and quite expensive, about 7.99.