A "dream"?99% or more of Poles can leave Poland at any given moment and they don't even have to have passports in order to do that.You call it a "dream", sucker?
So why did you leave Poland and drive a taxi in the US?
Reasons for moving to Poland
So why did you leave Poland and drive a taxi in the US?
This is just not true, the way of life is pretty dull in Poland,
I guess for young people it is....but when they get older they realise that all the things they thought were important.....just ain,t....
The reason for moving to Poland is in my opinion to see beautiful Slavs all around.It is a matter of esthetic.
dtaylor5632 18 | 1998
22 Apr 2011 / #274
Merged thread:
Expats in Poland, what were your real reasons for...
...firstly going there and then deciding to stay?
Seems likes some of us may have interesting stories that might change our opinions about certain members.
Right PGTX thanks for that! :P
Well I'll get the ball rolling then...
I first came to Poland about 8 years ago. Of course it was for a reason quite a few expats I have met before came (a Polish lass). I had been working in Glasgow at a private Psychiatric hospital for about 2 years when I met a Polish girl who was one of my auxiliary nurses, long story short we lived together for about a year in Kirkintilloch outside Glasgow before she had to move back to Krakow to finish her uni. We were not on the best terms when we moved over and shared her flat with her mum and dad in Nowa Huta. They both slept in the living room and we had the only bedroom. After a week of searching I found a job teaching English which she got pissed of at because she was a little jealous that my new earnings would be higher than what her parents made combined (her dad was a policeman and her mother was a clerk at Phillip Morris). Give or take a week or 2 we split up cos she didn't like her life in Poland and couldn't find a job, she moved back to Scotland but I decided to stay in a city completely unknown to me. I continued living there for about 7 years, in that time moving from teaching to proofreading and various other projects I done. I eventually moved back to Ireland first of all not because I got fed up with Poland (I still consider Poland as my home and wish sometime in the future to settle down there forever) but because I took a few months off work but got stuck in Scotland after accepting a high position due to being offered a management job in a well known Hospital/hospice after drinking with a friend of mine.
There are certain questions I get asked all the time by my Polish work colleagues, for example why do I prefer Poland to Scotland? Well truth is I don't prefer either of the countries. Scotland is my true home and it's the place I'm staunchly proud of. But in Poland the way of life, the priorities of life are better. Most my time here in Scotland for my fellow Scottish friends involve working themselves to the bone, only to spend their free time off getting lashed or partying. After staying in Poland I use my free time (which I don't get much of) much better.
Polish women? Ah in my opinion they are the same as any other woman when you are in love.
Polish food? some things are great (traditional meals, stews, pierogi, ect) others not so (cheese, pizza, seafood).
Polish education? The need for it is much higher in Poland, I mean that more people tend to go straight into higher education after school, though there is still this void of what happens next after graduation. I often think trade skills (plumbing, joinery, building work) are often overlooked and since Poland is developing more and more each day these skills are ones that will be of greater need in the future and possibly demand much higher fees than many of the University courses.
Family life? Families are more tighter knitted in Poland than here, I'm not saying that here families are more distant but the problem here is that everyone is spending so much time with their careers and own lives that they sometimes forget about their families. I always warmed at the fact when I was in Poland that families made a much greater effort to be with one another during holidays, Easter, Christmas ect and how willing they were to accept somewhat outsiders into their family groups.
Money? Aye ok, so while I lived in Poland I earned around 4x the national average so I can't really base much on that. My ex fiance who was a chartered accountant dealt with my finances, right down to the nitty gritty of where to buy my fruit and veg. I was always carelessly spending far too much money while I lived there and often forgot to save some cos I new at the end of the month i'd have more coming in but I did learn some lessons while I was there. Here in Scotland you have to make as much as possible cos everything is so expensive. A 1 bedroomed flat in downtown Clackmannan (small village where I live near) cost a staggering £420 pcm, add to that council tax £120, then bills and food £250 then you will see why so many people simply can't afford to live on minimum wage. Luckily I'm not in that position.
The future? I've said it for many a year that some time in the future Poland will become another European powerhouse. HR is huge and costs are relatively low (now that is). My future remains in Scotland at the moment, my job is one that is hard to get away from. But I know one day I will be sitting on my balcony in the Polish countryside sipping an ice cold beer and feeling grateful that I made the decision to settle in Poland.
Right bla bla bla who is next?
I wanna here from...
Seanus
SeanBM
Wroclaw and Wroclaw Boy
Harry
Delph
Olaf
Sausage
Convex
Wildrover
JonnyM
And many more....
Expats in Poland, what were your real reasons for...
...firstly going there and then deciding to stay?
Seems likes some of us may have interesting stories that might change our opinions about certain members.
Right PGTX thanks for that! :P
Well I'll get the ball rolling then...
I first came to Poland about 8 years ago. Of course it was for a reason quite a few expats I have met before came (a Polish lass). I had been working in Glasgow at a private Psychiatric hospital for about 2 years when I met a Polish girl who was one of my auxiliary nurses, long story short we lived together for about a year in Kirkintilloch outside Glasgow before she had to move back to Krakow to finish her uni. We were not on the best terms when we moved over and shared her flat with her mum and dad in Nowa Huta. They both slept in the living room and we had the only bedroom. After a week of searching I found a job teaching English which she got pissed of at because she was a little jealous that my new earnings would be higher than what her parents made combined (her dad was a policeman and her mother was a clerk at Phillip Morris). Give or take a week or 2 we split up cos she didn't like her life in Poland and couldn't find a job, she moved back to Scotland but I decided to stay in a city completely unknown to me. I continued living there for about 7 years, in that time moving from teaching to proofreading and various other projects I done. I eventually moved back to Ireland first of all not because I got fed up with Poland (I still consider Poland as my home and wish sometime in the future to settle down there forever) but because I took a few months off work but got stuck in Scotland after accepting a high position due to being offered a management job in a well known Hospital/hospice after drinking with a friend of mine.
There are certain questions I get asked all the time by my Polish work colleagues, for example why do I prefer Poland to Scotland? Well truth is I don't prefer either of the countries. Scotland is my true home and it's the place I'm staunchly proud of. But in Poland the way of life, the priorities of life are better. Most my time here in Scotland for my fellow Scottish friends involve working themselves to the bone, only to spend their free time off getting lashed or partying. After staying in Poland I use my free time (which I don't get much of) much better.
Polish women? Ah in my opinion they are the same as any other woman when you are in love.
Polish food? some things are great (traditional meals, stews, pierogi, ect) others not so (cheese, pizza, seafood).
Polish education? The need for it is much higher in Poland, I mean that more people tend to go straight into higher education after school, though there is still this void of what happens next after graduation. I often think trade skills (plumbing, joinery, building work) are often overlooked and since Poland is developing more and more each day these skills are ones that will be of greater need in the future and possibly demand much higher fees than many of the University courses.
Family life? Families are more tighter knitted in Poland than here, I'm not saying that here families are more distant but the problem here is that everyone is spending so much time with their careers and own lives that they sometimes forget about their families. I always warmed at the fact when I was in Poland that families made a much greater effort to be with one another during holidays, Easter, Christmas ect and how willing they were to accept somewhat outsiders into their family groups.
Money? Aye ok, so while I lived in Poland I earned around 4x the national average so I can't really base much on that. My ex fiance who was a chartered accountant dealt with my finances, right down to the nitty gritty of where to buy my fruit and veg. I was always carelessly spending far too much money while I lived there and often forgot to save some cos I new at the end of the month i'd have more coming in but I did learn some lessons while I was there. Here in Scotland you have to make as much as possible cos everything is so expensive. A 1 bedroomed flat in downtown Clackmannan (small village where I live near) cost a staggering £420 pcm, add to that council tax £120, then bills and food £250 then you will see why so many people simply can't afford to live on minimum wage. Luckily I'm not in that position.
The future? I've said it for many a year that some time in the future Poland will become another European powerhouse. HR is huge and costs are relatively low (now that is). My future remains in Scotland at the moment, my job is one that is hard to get away from. But I know one day I will be sitting on my balcony in the Polish countryside sipping an ice cold beer and feeling grateful that I made the decision to settle in Poland.
Right bla bla bla who is next?
I wanna here from...
Seanus
SeanBM
Wroclaw and Wroclaw Boy
Harry
Delph
Olaf
Sausage
Convex
Wildrover
JonnyM
And many more....
New experiences, a new environment and a fresh new challenge :)
dtaylor5632 18 | 1998
23 Apr 2011 / #276
That's it? how did u get from Japan to being hitched in Polskaland?
Nah, nothing like that. Just moved on and kept the faith with my missus :)
I did, thanks :)
Other reasons? The TEFL market was booming at the time. Also, Poland is a fine base and a beautiful country :)
I did, thanks :)
Other reasons? The TEFL market was booming at the time. Also, Poland is a fine base and a beautiful country :)
Are you a lawyer Seanus?
I thought I read you say you studied law.
I thought I read you say you studied law.
No, I am not :) I wouldn't have come to Poland if I was, I think.
stilwtrjen 2 | 18
22 Jul 2011 / #280
I may have replied to this already but I don't see it! I moved to Warsaw with my husband (for his job). One side of my family is from that general area and the other more near the mountains (I think). I've been unable to find out if any are still alive (they were 5 years ago, but pushing it)! We've been unable to locate birth certificates or information because everything had been destroyed in war(s).
Anyway, we have now been there for 3 years and have extended for 1 additional at this point. We would stay there several more if the company would let us! We are from the US and we find Warsaw pretty darn safe in comparison! We love how easy it is to get around as we don't have a car. We did take our Harley over there but haven't gotten out much due to our frequent travel for work. We have always found the people pretty nice. I mean Poles are not really outgoing or social with people they don't know, but we have found that if we just start talking to them, they warm up. Of course, our Polish is horrible because we've traveled so much, so maybe it helps that we make people laugh! I am now trying to work with Rosetta Stone and a Colloquial Polish book, but the most difficult part is recognizing what I'm hearing. I can read it much better than hear or speak it. I would just love to be able to hold a conversation in Polish with one of my aunts who would be thrilled to do so (before she dies)! I love Polish food as I grew up with it - although nobody make sit like my family does!! I do like that the kids are still mostly respectful to the elderly. We love being able to get on a plane and be somewhere new within a few hours! We had great plans to take the Harley through the Alps but have yet to have the time :( You know how life just creeps up on you! Being away from the US has really given me new appreciation for different cultures and traditions. We have traveled in Europe, have been to Egypt, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, India (my husband), Thailand, etc. I enjoy meeting people from everywhere, and although you can do this just by traveling around the US, it's totally different when you are dealing with people who are not so spoiled! :) I will be happy to return to the US when we do, but I am savoring every moment abroad right now!
Anyway, we have now been there for 3 years and have extended for 1 additional at this point. We would stay there several more if the company would let us! We are from the US and we find Warsaw pretty darn safe in comparison! We love how easy it is to get around as we don't have a car. We did take our Harley over there but haven't gotten out much due to our frequent travel for work. We have always found the people pretty nice. I mean Poles are not really outgoing or social with people they don't know, but we have found that if we just start talking to them, they warm up. Of course, our Polish is horrible because we've traveled so much, so maybe it helps that we make people laugh! I am now trying to work with Rosetta Stone and a Colloquial Polish book, but the most difficult part is recognizing what I'm hearing. I can read it much better than hear or speak it. I would just love to be able to hold a conversation in Polish with one of my aunts who would be thrilled to do so (before she dies)! I love Polish food as I grew up with it - although nobody make sit like my family does!! I do like that the kids are still mostly respectful to the elderly. We love being able to get on a plane and be somewhere new within a few hours! We had great plans to take the Harley through the Alps but have yet to have the time :( You know how life just creeps up on you! Being away from the US has really given me new appreciation for different cultures and traditions. We have traveled in Europe, have been to Egypt, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, India (my husband), Thailand, etc. I enjoy meeting people from everywhere, and although you can do this just by traveling around the US, it's totally different when you are dealing with people who are not so spoiled! :) I will be happy to return to the US when we do, but I am savoring every moment abroad right now!
sister act 2 | 88
7 Aug 2011 / #281
We moved to poland in 2010 I was filled with lots of hope for our new life in poland but now I find my self back in Ireland 16 months later. We are all glad to be back, it was a learning curve we made mistakes about location careers and other things it just didn't work out. But who knows maybe in time we will go back again and with what we learned during or 16 months in poland we might be more successful I would love to be fluent in polish but found it very hard to learn and I want my kids to be able to speak polish so in a few years we might try it again. Any one else expereienced this
Black druggies, white druggies, wasters and society dropouts accepted by UK and America just FREEZE to death here :-)
My girlfriend calls this 'natural selection' she also included, 'polish drunks' too.
Free astroturf pitches for those that like football :) It costs an arm and a leg in Scotland to play for just one hour at places like Goals or Barracudas. Sport on the mind, sport on the body :)
hague1cmaeron 14 | 1366
7 Aug 2011 / #284
I love the positive attitude, best of luck to you and I hope things work out well.
Wroclaw Boy
7 Aug 2011 / #285
I arrived in Poland with my wife on December 31st 2005 and left on April 25th 2011 with my wife and a little girl. A hell of a lot happened between those 5+ years, few busniesses some bought and sold property, quite a few holidays and lots of parties. I'll be back at some point, i dont know whether i'd ever live there again, in a ideal world i'd like to own a small holiday home near the mountains and just spend a few months a year there.
I always say the first three years were great, the last two were virtually uinbearable. The winters were harsh and i felt completely isololated in the winter, actually we were completely isoltaed in the winter
I think the biggest mistake i made was not learning the language properly when i first arrived. It would have been so much easier had i accomplished this early on.
I always say the first three years were great, the last two were virtually uinbearable. The winters were harsh and i felt completely isololated in the winter, actually we were completely isoltaed in the winter
I think the biggest mistake i made was not learning the language properly when i first arrived. It would have been so much easier had i accomplished this early on.
sister act 2 | 88
7 Aug 2011 / #286
Yes this winter was unearable for me to we had to move in to the city when the bad snow came and it snowed everyday for 3 and half months also the extemes of the heat indoors and then the minus 25 outside was just to much for me to get used the getting dark at 3pm Also arriving in the city in the snow. when everything was coverd in snow I couldn't get my bearings all the buildings and appartment blocks look the same in the snow. Even though we lived in the city I don't think I had a conversation with any one apart from my husband and daughter.
My Reason:- New experiences, a new environment and a fresh new challenge, good job Profile ..access to Europe .. wanna explore the whole Europe. Loved Krakow.
All set to move in July 2012.
All set to move in July 2012.
FUZZYWICKETS 8 | 1878
9 May 2012 / #288
I will be happy to return to the US when we do, but I am savoring every moment abroad right now!
Poland sounds great for you! Why not stay then?
Thanks, DT, for a very interesting relation.
Yes, it is possible in Poland. And when icicles or icy tree branches break the energy wires, they you are grounded.
The winters were harsh and i felt completely isololated in the winter, actually we were completely isoltaed in the winter
Yes, it is possible in Poland. And when icicles or icy tree branches break the energy wires, they you are grounded.
Why not?
History on every corner, a different culture to observe, economic challenges to test yourself against, good position in Europe for travel and new foods. That covers all the reasons I can think of at the moment.
Life is short, enjoy it as best you can!
History on every corner, a different culture to observe, economic challenges to test yourself against, good position in Europe for travel and new foods. That covers all the reasons I can think of at the moment.
Life is short, enjoy it as best you can!
Correct! It all resembles a climbing stunt in high mountains;. For true men:
And women.
And women.