Life / Living Expenses in Krakow [42]


Does it bother you, that we Germans, even though we are only a small 2 Million minority, earn more money than you ever would in Poland?

Next week I am going to buy my second house with my company buying the land. . Just keep moaning, we might anschluss you and dont cry when your wife wants to be among real men who move something........

Keep to the topic please.

News / Poland's President-Elect Duda leads in public trust - CBOS poll [185]


Interesting to hear that from you seeing that so far Duda has been doing nothng but lick Angela's ass. Are you going to become a "Germany Friend" too? :)

Life / Living Expenses in Krakow [42]


Shared Service Centers have been around for about 30 years and are not something that was invented in Poland.

Either you are not as qualified as you say, or you have applied to some call center that does not have the budget or you are talking through your ass spreading rubbish. As as German native speaker with a Master in Economics you can not earn more than 3500 PLN a month? Did you get your degree from Frankfurt / Oder Oberschule or why is nobody interested in you?

I keep going back to before Poland joined the EU. I used to take the train from Poznan to Berlin and it used to be packed with Germans going home on Fridays. Why? Because German efficiency and accuracy was appreciated well before Poland joined the EU and it still is. Getting an offer of 3500 zlotych per month, either your degree is fake or youhave nothing to offer.

But dont say it is the general Polish job market. Nobody but you is responsible for your failure.

Life / Polish people and racism. [943]



Well johnny, that is the difference between you and me. I live in Poland and talk about what I experience myself here in Poland. You just keep commenting on what you may have heard somewhere from someone.


Far from it because you wouldn't know what is going on here in Poland johnny. Your opinion is as valuable as the piece of paper I wipe my ass with, simply because you have never been here and would never be able to contribute a real opinion.

Life / Polish people and racism. [943]


The only people Poles dislike are the so called Polish Americans who believe that their dollar grants them more liberties than the locals have. They don't necessarily hate them but laugh at them and are quite happy to take all their dollars off them before they actually know what happened. Other than that, they hate people who will tell them that Russia is the best thing that could ever happen to Poland.

If you are not either of the two, you will be fine in Poland. Poles are a very friendly and welcoming bunch of people.

Travel / Ryanair flying domestic in Poland? [46]

Merged: Ryanair overtakes LOT as number 1 operator in Poland

Polish national carrier LOT has been overtaken by Irish airline Ryanair as number 1 operator in Poland


lodzpost/polishnews/ryanair-overtakes-national-carrier-lot

History / When will you Poles give back German land and the cities which you robbed? [557]


After having travelled and lived abroad for about 15 years and extensively travelled Eastern Europe, I would like to believe that you, "Pal", would be very surprised if you start talking to Czech people and tell them that "Bohumii" is no longer a Czech name but a Slavic name. Let us know you far you got with your quest on telling the Czech people off. Seeing that they love you Poles so much, I would even pay for the camera that you could take to tape your mission.

History / When will you Poles give back German land and the cities which you robbed? [557]


Exactly.......so why expect it in Germany or in Poland? I think that we have those is a very positive sign of accepting our past and the minorities that we live amongst. Something that not every part of Europe is capable of doing.

I think Germans and Poles are doing very well trying to reconcile their past. No issues to be raised whatsoever.

History / When will you Poles give back German land and the cities which you robbed? [557]


That is only your believe. There is no such thing as a "Slavic name". There are several Slavic languages out of which names derive from. There is no unified Slavic language and hence there is no such thing as "Slavic Names". You may want to approach the Sorbs in German and tell them that it is good that Cottbus also carries the Slavic name of the city. Let's see how far you get with your argument.

Ever been to Cottbus? ........ I mean, speaking of trolling.......surely you met some Sorbs?


I am not trying to raise any issue. Just pointing out that your concerns about the Sorbian language and the relationship of the Sorbs with the Germans, their rights as a minority etc. are not an issue. In fact, Germany has done literally everything it can to pre-serve their rights.

I can not remember walking through Belfast and seeing double language signs anywhere. Yet, here you are, as a Brit, raising the issue of "only" three towns in Germany carrying the German and Sorb language names. The way you wrote it seemed that it was an issue for you. Seeing that you are British, perhaps you should also raise the issue of towns and signs in Northern Ireland not carrying both languages, English and Irish Gaelic?

Or do you just raise issues whenever it is suitable for you?

History / When will you Poles give back German land and the cities which you robbed? [557]


That is not the right comparison. We are not talking about border towns but villages / towns far away from the border that adapt the German names next to the Polish names.

History / When will you Poles give back German land and the cities which you robbed? [557]


I wasn't aware of the fact that there was such a thing as a unified "Slavic" language". Care to elaborate on that?


The question that springs to mind is "why should they carry two names" ? In said towns, particularly in and around Cottbus, everything is done to accomodate the Sorb minority. Being from Berlin, I know the area quite well and never felt that there was an urge for independence of Sorbian land or issues regarding equality. For as long as I can remember travelling to Cottbus I remember the double language signs.

On the Polish side of the border in Silesia there have also been developments in recent years with towns displaying both, Polish and German names, on the entry signs when driving into the town / villages.

I am not sure which issue you are trying to raise. Personally I feel that on both sides of the border the right measures are being taken to accomodate everyone and all minorities.

History / The story about German- Polish reconciliation [194]


Not that you would ever understand anyway ........

History / The story about German- Polish reconciliation [194]


There is absolutely no way that you are German, at least in my opinion. And if you are German, then you are a very narrow-minded German. Why? Because if you had any clue about Eastern Germany and it's relation to it's next door neighbours you wouldn't have used "Polish brothers" and "East German Nazis" in one sentence. Just for you to understand .......... there are now cities and villages that grow together as one on both sides on the border and are happy to do so. There are festivals either close to the border or on the borderline which are attended by the local youth of both countries. Silesian towns are using German names on their name plates when driving into them just as East German towns still use the German / Sorbs signs at railway stations and names signs of towns and cities.


Only an idiot would call him that, someone who does not know what the powers of the German president really are. A German certainly wouldn't call him that knowing that he has literally no influence whatsoever.


You may talk about the past while others look to the future. Polish / German relations are at a high. Germany has recognized Poland as one of the most valuable members of the EU on numerous occasions and will continue to do so. Germans are highly appreciated in Poland and have been since I first visited Poland by myself (without my parents) in the late 1990's. If you wish, continue to talk about "time needed" and "nazi cliques" but don't be surprised when some day you wake up in reality.


Exactly! That is why I find it hard to believe that above posters are German. Everyone knows that the German president is a 250k a year job to shine, smile but have nothing to say job.

News / If Poland were in the Eurozone... [39]

Guys, please, read up on the initial idea of this initiative. I have said that it didn't work because it was not thought through properly. The idea was to get people back into work and after some time the companies were supposed to take workers over on normal contracts. That didn't work out as planned because companies started to look for loopholes.

The idea though was not bad. Unfortunately it was exploited and ruined.


No, I have been lucky enough to be spared. However, if I was on benefits and the job center would give me the possibility to top up my benefits and actually get off my arse to work, I would not object to it.

News / Dunkin Donuts to come to Poland [46]


Yep and that is why it is going to fail. Why do you think that despite the overwhelming amount of super and hypermarkets, there are so many local corner shops in Poland? People like to talk to the person they buy / order from. They build up a relationship, come again to buy / order from the same person.

It may work in Warsaw but it will be very difficult for Dunkin Donuts to last in other cities. I am pretty certain that it won't work here in Lodz. As an example, we have Subway and a canteen in our office building. Subway is usually empty whereas in the canteen you will find a huge line of people trying to buy food between 11:30 and 13:30.

News / Dunkin Donuts to come to Poland [46]


Yep, like these guys here. I go there quite often for my dinner. Also been to their restaurant in Krakow "Pod Wawelem". If there are chains opening shops or restaurants in Poland then it should be these guys.

esplanada.pl

Travel / Can I travel from Poland to France by coach? [7]

You could go via Warsaw and catch the Moscow - Paris train from there. It runs daily but it is difficult to get pricing online. The PKP IC travel center at Gdansk Glowny should be able to give you the exact price and book a berth for you.

News / If Poland were in the Eurozone... [39]


And that was the problem with the concept. It wasn't thought through properly. Generally, the idea of those 1 Euro jobs in addition to social welfare benefits is not that bad. Unfortunately though a lot of company exploited the system.

News / If Poland were in the Eurozone... [39]


You do not understand the concept of these 1 Euro jobs. They are an addition to social welfare benefits. People who do these jobs get additional benefits. The 1 euro jobs are just a top up to their social welfare.


I am not saying that she isn't but she most certainly hasn't told you the whole story. Nobody in Germany worked / works in 1 Euro jobs if they do not get additional benefits such as social welfare.

News / If Poland were in the Eurozone... [39]


I know of the 1 Euro jobs very well, even if your example happened 10 or 12 years ago. I am not saying that your friend's wife did not refuse a 1 Euro job. That could very well have happened. What I am saying is that it is very unlikely that she was offered a 1 Euro job without any other benefits such as social welfare.

I strongly believe that your friends have not told you all the details.


You may want to read about it here
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_opportunities_with_additional_expenses_compensation

Like I said, it is very likely that your friends have not told you the whole story but it more than unlikely that she was offered a 1 Euro job without any additional benefits such as social welfare. I can understand why your friends may not want to tell everyone the whole story. Noone likes to be on benefits and then tell the world about it.


Germany could not recognize the border until 1990. It was only when Germany got re-united when the border was finally and officially recognized. Why? Because if West Germany would have officially recognized the border, it would have automatically recognized East Germany as a sovereign state. Something which they would never done.

News / If Poland were in the Eurozone... [39]


That is very unlikely. The 1 Euro per hour jobs are usually forced onto people by the social welfare. If you receive social welfare and you are being told that you have to work in a 1 Euro job then you go and do that job. 1 Euro however does not mean that this is all you earn. You still keep your social welfare money, bills paid by the state and possible even the whole rent or parts of it paid by the state. So the 1 Euro per hour is more a top up in addition to your social benefits.

If you walk out of one though because you do not want to work for one 1 Euro and prefer to stay at home, you most likely lose all your social benefits.

Personally I think the idea of 1 Euro jobs was not bad. Unfortunately though the concept wasn't thought through properly and companies started to abuse the system.

UK, Ireland / How to export a car from Poland to the UK [13]


Yes, you have to pay VAT if you want to register your car in the UK.

Work / Finnish graduate (master in industrial management) looking for a career start in Poland [21]


Usually irrelevant in SSCs in Poland but ok. Awareness of the different accounting structures helps but is usually not required if you can make up for it by language skills.

News / Dunkin Donuts to come to Poland [46]


Well, I am sure he meant that he is one of the people of Berlin. However, yes, if you think about it he could have also meant that he is a doughnut :-)

I guess we'll never know

Work / Finnish graduate (master in industrial management) looking for a career start in Poland [21]


Usually, SSCs, Kemira for example, pay more than the by you mentioned BPOs such Infosys or Capgemini etc.

However, Infosys for example makes up for lower pay rate by providing company apartments to foreigners who relocate to Lodz from abroad.

So let's assume they would pay you 5000 PLN plus company apartment for which you do not have to pay rent, you are again looking at 7000 (5000 + ca. 2000 you would have to earn if you would have to pay the rent) .

I am not sure if Capgemini or HP offer something similar.

News / Dunkin Donuts to come to Poland [46]


That would only be in some regions.

Usually they are referred to as 'Berliner" or in Berlin as "Pfannkuchen"

Work / Finnish graduate (master in industrial management) looking for a career start in Poland [21]


Some experience in accounting won't get you too far on the Polish job market. Your native language will though. As a Fin with some experience in accounting you would not have a problem finding a "decent" paid job in a SSC or BPO in Poland. With your native language being a fairly rare commodity in Poland, you should be able to achieve at least 7000 PLN gross. As a Fin you might want to try Kemira in Gdansk. I am sure you recognize the company name.

But you will also be able to find work in Warsaw, Krakow or Lodz. If the company is not able to offer you 7000 PLN or more, they should at least offer you a relocation package with a company apartment included. That would make up for the lower salary.

7000 PLN gross would be about 4800 PLN net. Not comparable to the 3000 EUR gross you would get in Finland but taking the considerable lower cost of living into consideration and the fact that you are single it is not a bad salary in Poland.

Your native language is a massive asset if you are looking to work for SSC or BPO in Poland. Unike the Spanish or French native speakers, you will be able to negotiate a higher salary even without or very little relevant experience. It is your language that they are after.

Life / Help! Halifax bank card stopped working in Warsaw! [11]

Get your son or someone else to send you some cash via western union. Pick it up tomorrow, top up your phone or buy a Polish sim and call Halifax yourself.

Most likely your son, or anyone else for that matter, won't get any info about your card and account.


Yes, I have two accounts and two cards with my bank. If one card doesn't work or gets stuck in an ATM whilst being abroad I still have the second card. And funds can be transferred within second from one account to the other, just in case.

And if the second doesn't work either, there is the credit card that will almost always work no matter where.

Been in similar situations way too often. When I go abroad now I have my two bank cards, my credit card and usually some spare cash (Usually dollars because you can't go wrong with it in the east) with me.

Life / Help! Halifax bank card stopped working in Warsaw! [11]


They wouldn't be able to help you.

Seeing that you are not a registered member of this forum, I assume you googled "bank card Poland" or something similar and found this forum.

Why didn't you google "Halifax Customer Service phone number" instead"?

I am not sure what you expect to get on this forum? We do not have magic glass balls that tell us what is wrong with your card or your account.

Best option is to contact Halifax to ask what is wrong. Only they can tell you exactly what the problem is.