can people of different cultures & from different backgrounds live a good social life in poland
Do people from different cultures/backgrounds have a good social life in Poland?
Yes, if they know Polish, or can gather around them a circle of friends that speak their own language or English. That's a lot easier to do in one of the progressive big cities with large university populations, like Wrocław, Kraków or Warsaw, and very difficult to do out in the countryside.
For example, I'm an American pathologist who speaks Polish and works at the university in Wrocław. I have a very large circle of Polish friends, most of whom I interact with in Polish, and a select few that I interact with in English (and a couple in German, as well).
It all depends how much Polish you know, and where you live. While you might find that just about everyone wants to speak English with you, few are able to have more than a very basic conversation. To live in Poland and have lots of Polish friends without speaking Polish is difficult, and would take a good deal of ingenuity and hard work, but it's not totally impossible if you are persistent and resourceful. If you're shy or non-assertive, and don't take the first (and second, and third) steps, then you will meet few people.
Why are you asking these questions? It would be a lot easier to answer if you told us where you are from, what you do, if you plan to come to Poland, and where and why. Otherwise you'll just get general, and probably useless, answers.
Otherwise, you'd be pretty much cut off from Polish culture.
For example, I'm an American pathologist who speaks Polish and works at the university in Wrocław. I have a very large circle of Polish friends, most of whom I interact with in Polish, and a select few that I interact with in English (and a couple in German, as well).
It all depends how much Polish you know, and where you live. While you might find that just about everyone wants to speak English with you, few are able to have more than a very basic conversation. To live in Poland and have lots of Polish friends without speaking Polish is difficult, and would take a good deal of ingenuity and hard work, but it's not totally impossible if you are persistent and resourceful. If you're shy or non-assertive, and don't take the first (and second, and third) steps, then you will meet few people.
Why are you asking these questions? It would be a lot easier to answer if you told us where you are from, what you do, if you plan to come to Poland, and where and why. Otherwise you'll just get general, and probably useless, answers.
Otherwise, you'd be pretty much cut off from Polish culture.
and don't take the first (and second, and third) steps
Genuine question: what are the second and third steps?
If you get someone's number and call them and they don't return the call, calling them again?
Yes. It means being persistent and not giving up, continuing the conversation when it seems to be dying, introducing yourself and volunteering information about yourself, not being defensive or taking the defensive position in a conversation, breaking the ice, finding common ground and so forth. Continuing being friendly and open even when it seems not be reciprocated at first.
It takes some skill and experience, but if you're not willing to go the extra mile on you're own initiative, you'll end up ignored by the local population, and end up very lonely.
Nothing really specific to Poland per se, although Poles do have a smaller and tighter group of social contacts than, say, Americans, and fewer casual acquaintances that they spend time with. They also tend to entertain and meet more at home rather than out, and live a good portion of their social lives within their family circle, so the best sign that you have been "accepted" is to be invited to have dinner with the family, or with other friends.
It takes some skill and experience, but if you're not willing to go the extra mile on you're own initiative, you'll end up ignored by the local population, and end up very lonely.
Nothing really specific to Poland per se, although Poles do have a smaller and tighter group of social contacts than, say, Americans, and fewer casual acquaintances that they spend time with. They also tend to entertain and meet more at home rather than out, and live a good portion of their social lives within their family circle, so the best sign that you have been "accepted" is to be invited to have dinner with the family, or with other friends.
patrycja85
21 Mar 2014 / #5
I have a few friends living in Warsaw from different countries. They are doing very well in fact. In Warsaw, people are friendly and tend to welcome foreigners.