Looking to immigrate to Europe. How is life in Poland?

Some healthy advice, Anandi. Don't form too many preconceptions. Yes, many Poles are really helpful as I have experienced on multiple occasions. However, don't count on it. Some old folk will act like you are not even there. Try making friends first.

thanks guys, I am so glad I got hold of this sight...all your info really helps!

Anandi, just my two bobs worth, a lot of the comments from forum members is pretty good, but sometimes when you fall in love with a place immediately its a bad sign, to really enjoy Poland its a very slow gradual process, ie you don't really like it but it grows on you. I can understand that leaving a place like SA any place is great, but what will you do in Poland and how is your kasa, how much money do you have? What are the prospects of getting a job, Jobs in Poland or good jobs in Poland are rare, most jobs are low paid and be aware of the hidden crime rate in Poland, many new comers to Poland have been caught with their pants down so to speak, and please never trust anyone with your money, seek professional and independent advice.. good luck for now. Have you been to Praque?

Polish wage are more like 2000 zloty. They work hard for it hence the reason their are not many blacks or arabs here. You will fit in here been i white boar i take it but polish isnt a language you can learn in 4 weeks and hey your fluent the sounds the different word they are not easy to learn ask any pole they will say your getting better to be nice but getting better and speaking properly to the point where you could be employed here is another matter but what could a south arican import to poland sounds very strange many foriegners in the import export business

A week? That's pretty good if it is per week.


I wish you the very best of luck if you do end up moving to Poland. Having lived in SA for around 10 years (I was born in Poland), I can honestly say that South Africans are some of the most honest, hospitable, and straightforward people you would ever wish to know-true salt of the earth and a hardy people with big hearts. They are what you would call regte Boere (:

I currently live in Australia, but having been thinking about Poland. Come to think of it Poles and Afrikaners have quite a few similarities. The Poles have been carving out civilization in the east, and the Afrikaners have been doing it in the south, and both can be a hardy lot.

First.....I don't live in Germany.

So people in Poland just eat.....they don't dress themselves, have haircuts, socialise, TV/Internet, Mobile phone or any of the other 1000's of lifestyle choices people make that all cost money.

Meat and Veg is just one element of day to day life and well you know it.

Fuel prices.....1.58 zl per ltr.

All well and good if the only thing you will do is pay for your accomodation and food.

I took my father in law, my wife and myself out to the restaurant the other week in Warsaw....great little place by the University....not particularly expensive. Starter, main meal, drinks and 2 deserts and coffee....350 Zl....Yes I know I can eat cheaper......I can buy a kebab for 8 zl instead of a subway sandwich and fill my arteries with god knows what. Incidentally, coffee's are at least 12 zl these days.

I ate like an average European in an average restaurant and paid an average european price.

Imagine taking 350 Zl from the average Polish persons salary.

Sure, Poland is in the EU.....but life in Poland is not the same standard as the rest of the EU....Not yet.

Damn, I'm glad I don't live in Warsaw.

I had my two sisters visiting for a week. Coffee in a cafe on the Rynek in Tarnow is 5 złoty, 2 course set meal (plat de jour)in a restaurant with waiter service just off the Rynek

was 17 złoty per person. Warsaw sounds expensive.

How are you discriminated against in SA?

If you speak Afrikaans- is it not logical to move to a country with a similar language like Holland or Belgium? Or perhaps an English speaking country such as Canada or Australia?

I am just asking- not trying to be argumentative.

no longer gets preferential treatment is what he means I suppose.

Hardly. That was maybe a valid thing to throw at the rats who fled a supposed sinking ship back in the 90s, but for people who stuck around, bought into the rainbow nation thing it has become a nightmare. Mandela and Tutu are yesterdays men, the new lot are no better than Mugabe.


Yeah, listen to this guy,he obviously knows all about that,being native English........no, Ive no idea why he is saying you are a small, wild pig with tusks and an albino complexion either....

ps, Why everyone jumps to the conclusion the OP is an Afrikaaner or Boer? Plenty of other white South Africans and most speak more than one language.

Times that by four mate and you'll be a lot nearer the actual.

cos he wrote it

She wrote that she spoke English and Afrikaans.............or have I missed a post somewhere?
I speak fluent bollox,but Im not from Bolloxania :)

Did you think he was black too?

she wrote that her first language was AFRIkaanS AND that she is from South Africa..ergo...one might safely assume she is an Afrikaaner.
Bollox is an international language.;0)

Lol, no,not untill you mentioned it,then I looked at the screen name again and thought that sounds more Bantu than Cape Dutch ;)

yes ,yes, roz' just spotted it, "my first language is Afrikaans"....prob a big clue to her identity there :)

I thought the OP was a South-African Indian as her name is so close to "Ananda" which means "beloved" in India, but she says she is white and Indians in South-Africa are, or were, considered niether black nor white but rather "coloured".

Seanus asked the question not me, obviously the OP is not black.

Don't think this ones going to materialise somehow, just cant see it at all. Were all guilty of those lovely dreamy ideas which seem so plausible and gorgeous in our heads, problem is reality slaps you around the face and then you realize ahh fcuk that.

Fair play to those that actually follow through though, IMO the biggest regret is not trying. You need to be realistic and i dont think the OP has thought about this move as much as she probably should.

I still say go for it, just make sure you have an escape plan.

quote considered niether black nor white but rather "coloured".

for goodness sakes, you will be asking for a DNA sample next

what does it matter?

there are opportunities in Poland for sure but there is not the safety net that you would get in Western Europe

if you have infinite patience, steely nerves and a good sense of humour you will do OK here

what line of work are you in?

what trade or qualifications do you have?

Seconded, I had such a superb chance in my 20s to up sticks for a partnership in a buisness in Holland( yeah,I know,but admin and clerical work would have been someone elses ishue..isue..iisseu..problem.), stuck around here for some girl that lasted about another 6 months anyway and have been kicking myself ever since.

No I won't. I was pointing out what a backwards racist state South Africa once was.

The southern states of the US in the 50s and 60s was not exactly a utopia for coloured people either

Read the thread dude.

Better than the shitholes they originated from!

the lady has her own import export business
I did not notice it when I scanned it briefly

madam, might I enquire what products you are trading?


there is an embassy somewhere that needs you, with diplomacy skills like yours, you are sure to go far

You still banging that same old drum RN?

Just snorting the same lines of whatever drugs he can push on to others...

Yes, realised when I hit submit but couldn't edit.