Poland's Lost Generation

America tolerates failure. There is no stigma attached to bankruptcy and a failed business. So people in the States try and fail, try and fail, try and fail...In order to succeed one needs to be willing to fail.

For Poland to succeed they need to become more self-reliant but from what I read on this forum and other news outlets they don't sound very self reliant at all. They are too reliant on the EU (especially Germany). The problems with Poland are probably political.

There is a difference between Polish people and Poland. I believe you are grouping the country,government and workforce into one.
So,

Polish Government - Lots of internal fighting, difficult to get Policies through.
Polish people/workforce - Highly educated, industrious and willing to travel.
Poland - one of the success stories of 2009/2010.

As the saying goes ' take care of the future, you will be living in it for the rest of your life'

Well then, it's gonna be tough for the love refugees :)


I didn't mean to sound hard on them and I agree with everything you have said and therefore if I was to call any generation in Poland a "Lost generation" it'd be them.

They don't bother me in the slightest but you can see they are tough from having survived tougher times.
Just watch them in the cue at the post office :)))

I must say it is a pleasure to read the comments on this thread. Thoughtful, intelligent, observations and opinions.

I wish good luck to the 'Polish Lot' (no pun intended).

@ warszawski

What do you want from us?

Your generation has done nothing for us and continues on doing noting. You’re poor, lost and close-minded.

Just let it go.

I have done exactly the opposite to what people like you have been advising and i concluded that most of you back there have no focken clue about anything and you’re just trying to drag us down with you.

Now that there are so many of successful young Polish people, you want us to come back? Are you focking kidding me?

Tell you what, $200K is what I paid for my first house at age 24 and I earned that money on my own. Why would I re-invest it in some crappy business in Poland? And do what? Work my as$ off for YOUR retirement and hope to buy an apartment one day?

How old are you - Havok ?

I take it back.

I’m quite young, but I picture you as this old grumpy teacher in his late 50’s.

Well you need to guess again. This is how I picture you- Born in Poland and emigrated to the USA, you probably left PL when you were 8 -12 years old. Your knowledge of Pl is based on your parents negative view of the old socialist country. You find it difficult to find your identity on one hand the Americans don't accept you as truly American, on the other side the Poles don't consider you Polish as you have been schooled in the USA. You are at conflict with yourself over your identity.


This thread is about the Poles that left Poland after 2004, you are not one of them.


Let me assure you I have done a lot to help and assist many Polish families, I am very far away from being poor, I know exactly the place I am in life and what I stand for. I certainly am not close minded.

Adam, since you like Gandhi so much you should consider moving to India.


Thank you for the psychoanalysis there Bud, but you got the wrong guy.

I would like to assure you that my memories of Poland are crisp and people here don't realize I’m Polish unless I tell them.

Just because you went back to PL and pretend to be a happy consultant there doesn't make you an expert in anything.


Maybe you are or maybe you're not. I hope you don't feed this nonsense to all the families that you claim to be helping because all THEY want is a peaceful life with a nice house, a garden, and a car.

When are gonna stop feeling sorry for yourself and dragging Poland down?
The fact that you even dream of only a 'crappy' business, speaks a lot about you.
Should I play violin music when reading your posts?

I will say one thing to you - Havok. Take care of your future, you will be living in it for the rest of your life.

We both know,I got your picture.


I did not 'went back to Poland' and I don't pretend to be anything. I will remind you, I know exactly the place I am in life and what I stand for. I wish you the same peace when you get to my age.

I don't detect any sadness in my post so I'm a little confused by your reply. Whatever dude, go fock a goat too.


Don't get me wrong I whish you well too, but you need to pull your head out of your as$ and notice all the opportunities waiting out there for a better life. All you need is to think outside the box.

Ok how old are you? Was I right about your age?

cut the personal stuff

I am not old enough to have fathered a child your age, legally of course. But if I was your father I would suggest a different path in life.

We both know,I got your picture.

Havok- Be good and if you can't be good, get smart.

Indeed, and this sort of thing is usually why they seem to be so bitter. There are several examples on this forum alone ;)

The opposite of love is not hate - it’s apathy. It’s not giving a damn.

Warszawski, you don't get the picture unless the flash is on. I trained myself to let go of everything I feared to lose. The world is changing and you need to catch up.

America is inclusive not exclusive. Don't confuse us with England. If immigrants wish to assimilate, it's up to them.

Thanks for the advice Havok, one day I may grow up to be just like you.

I consulted an Urban dictionary: Apathy - YDFC - young, dumb and full of cum. Americanism's eh.

have you ever consider the fact that he - Havoc is younger then you, has different priorities and is in a different place in life, so are for that matter many other people. You don't seem to be opened at all. Being opened means tolerating people who are different then us:).

What makes you think that you are better then him, because you live in Poland and he doesn't.
ANyways,

Lost Generation - not at all. They have more opportunities, better language skills, are more open to the world. Some may be lost, some may not be- it all depends on how fast they learn to adjust to the changes in Poland. Poland has changed a lot in the last 20 years and I see some young people taking chances, some people who don't - just like in any other country.

aphrodisiac, of course I understand he is younger than me, that is not my issue. Living in PL in my choice, I understand the reality and every day is a new adventure for me, I appreciate many things about PL, admire the people of this nation and I have witnessed many changes along the way. There are a number of people on this forum, who are willing to share their experience with people coming to PL for the first time or people wishing to travel to PL on vacation. The time spent on PF is about promoting PL and making people realize that the country is still a hidden gem, with so much to offer. As with the Ying and Yang, there is always the negative/naysayers, people that wish to destroy and discourage. I am not the only one, to believe many of the North Americans of Polish origin (not all) on PF, seem to desire to promote a dark side of PL that is in the past and almost forgotten by most. Furthermore, when looking at someone's handle ( username) it tells you a little about that person. Aphrodisiac, maybe consider the meaning of 'Havok' if someone wishes to act like a man, then he should expect to be treated like a man...


You are failing to understand, that the country has lost a generation and the future will show this in 10 years time.

guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/09/poland-exodus-lost-generation

The average Pole had very limited ability to emigrate, so when the doors opened approximately 2 million left over the next few years.
2 million of 40 million is 5%.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_drain#Central_and_Eastern_Europe

How does it really compare to other countries?

I know Ireland has had the biggest emigration ever and we do not have a lost generation.

at the rate young Poles are learning german, they can say goodbye to the next generation too.

Someday, I'm hoping to close my eyes and pretend like you that there is noting wrong with Poland.

Remember, those who forget history are bound to repeat it and that's what scares me about you. You sound like one of those communistic party psychos pretending that there is nothing wrong with the picture while ignoring all the fax around you.

Why do you think everyone left and continues on leaving?

My family had to bend over and take it for generations in Poland. Some of them stayed there like you and continue on living in that "hidden gem" and suffer now because they're afraid to step out and take the bull by the horns.

I talk to my family on weekly basis so stop patronizing me like I got no clue what's going on there.

I've lived through more in my life than you can even imagine dadio. I don't think you're ready yet to be exposed to life outside of szuflandia.

Wroclaw


Here in Warsaw it is difficult to find a Job, if they don't have Polish, English and German or Russian. Russian will become very important in the future as more Poles move east with Business. I am already seeing this happening now.

were they really self-reliant they wouldn't wash the dishes in Pakistani restaurants and English pubs

yes, i see it in the 20-30 age group. quite small numbers, but growing.

Ok so now we are getting to the root of your anger about PL, your Jewish.


In search of better opportunities, and because it is easier than staying in PL.


I have heard this cry for years, that was then and this is now


Your probably a good kid, so stop acting like a putz.


Enough already.


Yes because they go back twice a month on Ryanair. lol
.

Yup definitely, I’m 6'4" blue eyed blonde hair catholic Jew, with a family of Jews who spent their better years working in steel plants and coal mines of Silesia.


You're insane.


Let me quote myself again:

"You sound like one of those communistic party psychos pretending that there is nothing wrong with the picture while ignoring all the fax around you."


Oh come on let me hear you say it. Szuflandia? Szuflandia? Szuflandia!

Read articles about your Poles going to work overseas and they cite the reason as more opportunity and money.
Read articles about your Poles working overseas and they cite the reason for staying in the adopted country is life is easier and the money, although they consider to go back at some point in the future.


Be be proud of your heritage and roots.


As a guest of Poland I am 'A' political, in the UK we call them poundwise and second hand shops. lol

Havok- consider, anger management course.