I am starting a new business life in Poland (coming from Sydney)

Yes

Zac

You said 3-4 people on 40-50 meters. Well, I used to live on approx. 50 sq. meters with my ex and two children, no problems there, and it was quite comfortable. It's what you're brought up to expect that makes you think something is comfortable or not. Living with the in-laws though is a different kettle of fish, and wouldn't be fun even on 200 sq. meters.

BTW, what's wrong with using public transport in a large city esp. when it's much easier and cheaper that way?

It's an another end of an extreme. If you had included rent or house mortgage and all the other expenses in your account I would agree that for 4 people family in Warsaw 10,000 PLN is a minimum for an unstressful decent life according to the European standards. However someone who earns 6,000 for househols is not poor either.

That all makes me thing about disparity between Polish life standards and so called "Western world" standards. We don't live in Kigali but still the difference is huge.

Would a statement like that: a life of an average middle class Pole would correspond with a typical British labours' class life standard at best be a far fetched conclusion?

I would also like to ask foreigners who live in Poland, if they have any ideas how to change that situation in general?

Well your first opportunity is to apply for your Polish passport and you would do that at the Polish consulate in Australia. The sooner the better.

Re above quote just so you know that was not me!

Zac

I honestly think you're comparing apples and oranges here.

I must apply for citizenship before I can get a Polish passport is that correct?

Yeah, sorry about that. The quoting machine went haywire yet again. I wanted to quote Wedle.

Sorry my last note was in response to Wedle.

Zac

Lets put things into perspective here, if you are a non Pole moving to Poland with your spouse, you would expect to have a lifestyle that was above basic, why move to another country just to survive- makes no sense. A.K , you can put all the figures in front of me you desire I am living life here in Poland and know what Warsaw has to offer very well, in fact I will go as far to say, I have forgotten more about life in Warsaw than most current foreigners know. I interact with both Poles and Foreigners in day to day real life. Most of these people are family oriented people and so when I quote figures it is based on real life, not on some research done by a government sponsored organisation.

At least you can use the quote function Magda. The function was taken away for those of us who use iPhones. When I quote someone I have to type the HTML code and copy & paste the message I want to quote within the brackets.

Like this:


Anyways, I'm glad Zach saved up some money as it might take time to find a new job in a country he's never lived in.

I gave a very clear example of a young married couple living with the in laws, in 40-50 m2, this is real life in Poland. As you mentioned it is what you are brought up with. This is also the issue in the UK, English people find it difficult to comprehend how poles can live 4 to a room.

I know. My friend who works in the industry predicts house prices will fall. To what extent who really knows.

Zac

Hi Zac,

Hope your plans are taking shape to settle down in Poland. If interested I am looking for a partner who can promote tourism/MICE out of Poland to India. Its just about exploiting your contacts and you earn yourself a good amount for whatever business you are able to promote. And if you enjoy travelling, you may accompany them on the tour as well.

regards,
Mohit

Really? That's interesting....

In Australia they are everywhere. I know a guy who opens up at 8am and finishes at 4.30pm. He reckons he sells between 400 to 800 cups a day. A small cup is about $3 and large $3.60. Starbucks coffee is even more expensive.

What is the average price for a latte in Warsaw or Krakow?

Zac

It all depends on the room and the people ;-p
Seriously though, most Poles in PL DO NOT live 4 to a room. And you know that as well as I do.

Hey Mohit! That sounds really cool actually. I will seriously think about it and hear what you have to say. Just so you know I will be in Poland in April and plan on staying there for 6 months checking things out.

Do you know any Indians in Poland at the moment?

Where are you based?

Zac

Yes Zac, it is actually cool. I am based in New Delhi and do not know any Indian or Polish in Poland.

best,
M

I am focusing more on the Poles in the UK and many of them do prefer to live in squalid conditions in order to save more money, as you mentioned previously, it all about what you are conditioned to.

A few of my friends employ Poles in London, before they came to visit me in Poland they did not understand the Polish mentality, after two weeks in Poland they became accustomed on how to deal with Polish workers in the UK.


10 TO 15 PLN

Not unusual around the world. People go abroad to save up some money or support their family at home and as ever salaries are as low as employers can get away with and rents are as high as landlords can get away with.

It's not actually 'going back to Poland' - I wasn't born in Poland nor have I lived there permanently, but I have travelled there quite a bit and also visited my friends & family many times. My wife is a native Pole and both our children are bilingual.

I am a trained psychologist, but have also been involved in property, but it's most likely I'll get involved in teaching English and translating work; I have many friends who have been doing this for over 15yrs and I am already doing some translating work so will expand on this.

I'll also see what else comes up; as I said I am fluent in both languages, have made a number of business contacts in Pl already, so will see what opportunities there are.

Apart from this, I will still receive a healthy income from renting property which I have in London and Warsaw.


I have already visited the British and American Int schools in Warsaw, and am aware of the fees and also the standard of teaching these schools provide; I had a few friends who taught at the British School and having checked the staff recently have recognised some acquaintances from the past.

The next 18 months here in England will be crucial and various things will determine whether we make to move over to Poland ... either Warsaw or Krakow.

I will be in Warsaw in just over a weeks time to visit a few friends, and enjoy the Christmas spirit which is still alive and kicking and not restricted by the political correctness brigade that is rife here in UK!

We are not debating the above points, more on how Poles in the UK are perceived by the Brits, when they choose to live in squalid conditions even when they have the financial means for something better. On that note Poles are all about how cheap something is, over how it can work better for you, even if it costs a little more. Cheap is not cheap in the end.


The PC lot do sicken me to the core, this cancer will establish itself here in Poland, the only question is how long will it take.

To save what they can, assuming they can indeed afford anything much better.


Not everybody. But those who go abroad often have concrete goals and are prepared to sacrifice a little comfort to achieve them. Not only Poles.

Anyone that is prepared to get off their a*rse and move to another country or city for a better quality of life, rather that sit at home sucking off the state has to be applauded. Getting back to the thread, from reading some of the posts on PF it comes across people with absolutely no idea of what real life is all about in PL, seem to have the misconception that the streets of Warsaw and Krakow are paved with gold. For every winner there must be a loser. PL is not an easy country to walk into in 2011 and have things falling at your feet.

the longer the better ....

Compared to some parts of the world, it's paradise.


Meaningless.

Yeah there is always somewhere better to live that is the reason 2 million left Poland for the UK.


I completely agree with you, the PC movement is completely and utterly meaningless. We have the Germans to thank for PC in the form of the Frankfurt School crowding out common sense and seeing public and private institutions take ridiculous and stupid steps to avoid offending anybody except white Christian males.

It's the way of the world - people follow work.


The what?

Political correctness (adjectivally, politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts, and, as purported by the term, doing so to an excessive extent.

The modern politically correct movement began at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is one of the most liberal institutions in the United States. Political correctness is often viewed as a liberalist degrading of the freedom of speech. George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four famously incorporated the notion of limiting thought through language (see Newspeak) Words or actions that violate political correctness are called politically incorrect.

So in effect, you think mimimising offence is a


You're perfectly entitled to that view and indeed any other, but it does seem rather strange.