American Muslim girl thinking to go to Medical school in Poland...

What did you do?

If you have only seen this once then this could be an isolated incident.

I am English have lived in £ódź for 2 months on holiday and for sure there are not many foreign people, in fact I did not see another English person the whole time I was there. I did see one Greek person however he spoke fluent Polish as his father was a Pole and I think that the fact that he spoke a good level of Polish goes a long way if he was getting any abuse or snide comments. I did see many Chinese people and a small number of people of Asian appearance and I did not notice anything untoward even when travelling on the same tram.

So... I have read this thread and I can tell you that I would personally not recommend studying in Poland if you are going to dress in clothes which stand out from the rest of the crowd especially as you are of African-American appearance UNLESS you have a very thick skin.

Unfortunately this is the reality of the situation.

Poland is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world and is predominately catholic.

I ask myself the question of what would I do in your situation... Well personally I would study in the USA as university is a very important time in your life as not only are you under enormous amounts of pressure but you also are going to have an extremely fun time as all university students do!

Welcome to the forum and if you do choose to go to Poland please stick around and discover more about Poland and the Polish culture here at Polish forums because no matter what creed or colour you are: Witamy! = We welcome you!


I would hope he reacted with something containing the k word and either of the s words.

;)

Do you think so?

I'm not so sure!!

Nothing I could do. It was at a tram stop (while the tram was stopped and people were getting in), I was jammed into the middle of a rush hour tram and wouldn't have been able to get out.


I used to chat a fair bit to the Algerian guys who ran the local kebab shop (before the place got demolished). They were very much of the opinion that Poland is no place for an observant black muslim woman.

I would have (I know enough Polish to give someone a harsh talking to) but I can't speak for Harry but he seems to be a man of integrity.

Shame. The problem is these little idiots always do this kind of thing when they know they can get away with it. A female colleague got her crotch grabbed by some Polish while she was walking past the school we were working. Of course the pervert ran off as soon as he could.

.. and you can whistle if you think you'll get any help from passers by...

I missed that earlier, as MrBubbles said it was a shame I don't know what sort of a kick people like that get out of doing such things but it's disgusting.


Sick fu*k.


True.

Sad but true.

If you wear a burka just tell them it's a babuska.

Just an observation, do you plan to return to Africa and practice medicine? Or do you intend to eventually practice in the united states?

Check with the accreditation board in Lodz to see if your degree is accepted in other parts of the world. US accreditation is universally accepted; but very expensive.

What I've noticed from other people when I was in architecture school getting my masters(in the US) many already had there masters, only it was not worth anything. They had to do a supplementary courses (a second masters program) that lasted two years.

I don't know if med school works the same way, but I would definitely find out.
My niece is thinking about going to Lodz and I hear people give it bad reviews.

On the traditional clothing if you must wear a head scarf, think about a wing, like some of the girls in France do; and some more "western" like dresses you won't stand out in a crowd as much. Mental midgets like the skinheads are only looking for people like you to bother; they don't pick on the Marius Pudzianowski crowd.

Good Luck.

Whats a babuska?

BTW: I dont wear a burka.

[quote=PolishCowboy]
Just an observation, do you plan to return to Africa and practice medicine? Or do you intend to eventually practice in the united states?

Check with the accreditation board in Lodz to see if your degree is accepted in other parts of the world. US accreditation is universally accepted; but very expensive.

What I've noticed from other people when I was in architecture school getting my masters(in the US) many already had there masters, only it was not worth anything. They had to do a supplementary courses (a second masters program) that lasted two years.

I don't know if med school works the same way, but I would definitely find out.
My niece is thinking about going to Lodz and I hear people give it bad reviews.

On the traditional clothing if you must wear a head scarf, think about a wing, like some of the girls in France do; and some more "western" like dresses you won't stand out in a crowd as much. Mental midgets like the skinheads are only looking for people like you to bother; they don't pick on the Marius Pudzianowski crowd.

Good Luck.[/quote

Return to Africa? I am not from Africa....I am an American. I plan on coming back to the states to practice.

Who are the "Marius Pudzianowski crowd"?

Thanks

He's a Polish champion strongman. Imagine the Incredible Hulk, but white.

I live in north Poland and although there are not many Black people around here there are a few, African, Afro-Polish and even Americans. What I have found (I'm white but I've been involved with Black people visiting Poland) is that people can be very curious if they haven't seen Blacks before (in the flesh) and have a tendency to stare from curiosity (not necessarily malice). (I've even found myself doing it, and I'm from Britain and grew up with Afro-Caribbean schoolmates). Some people can find this rather hard to deal with, especially if they are not used to being in a place where they are in a minority (I don't know what your experience of this is).

Two extreme examples I experienced involved visiting actors/dancers from France and UK. Two boys from London came over and just couldn't stand the staring. We had to explain that people just weren't used to seeing Black people. In another case a French dancer came to visit a local theatre company and they took him into one of the most remote villages in Suwalki (far north). People were friendly, polite but VERY curious (never having seen a Black guy in the flesh) and he found the attention VERY hard to deal with.

Many older women wear headscarves in Poland, particularly those from Eastern Orthodox churches (I think that's what a babuska is).

no offence meant Emoh but i dont think you really want to leave america to study in poland.(its hard to believe because its usually the other way round) i think you have just brought it up as a discussion just for the fun of it and not particularly because you intend on schooling in poland. however if you really want to do it. all i can say is best of luck.

Not really. A number of Americans study at Lodz medical school. I guess it's cheaper than the states.

very well then. i stand corrected.

i thought babushka's were ole ladies and it is the russian term for them...kate bush sung about a babushka.

Babuszka is the term mainly used for the Russian grandmas who wear the scarf to keep warm on head and have really huge cheeks, prominent with more eastern type Russians

Trevek, thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it.


Mr. Bubbles is 100% correct! Studying in Poland is a lot cheaper than the states, and that is the main reason why I am going there to study.

good luck, emoh :)

i,m in Poland for a long time now.but not so long.people here are fine and cool.just like in other country you have bad people and good people.so is normal.here is mail email if u care u can write me.leverpool4@yahoo i,m from Africa.but live in Warsaw which is the capital city of Poland

Where in Africa are you from?

Poles, especially in big cities, are tolerant, except for a few rascist morons. Black and Muslim people live normally in Poland.

See a few pics:

Be prepared for a lot of staring and giggling from people in the street. They do it to everyone though because most of them have lived a very limited life. Violent / aggressive incidents are very rare or unheard of but you might well get unfriendly behaviour in offices from time to time. Then again, that's the same for everyone...

Yes, it happens but not in big cities again. More frequently in villages or small towns far from civilisation. :)

This is the same the world over. In Izumo, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Let people gape :)

Hey, everyone!!!

Thanks, for all your replies. I appreciate it. However, I will NOT be going to study in Poland anymore. I got accepted into a US medical school, and I have choose to accept the offer. Maybe, one day I will visit Poland in the future for vacation or something...and see how things are first hand. Once, again thanks for all your help.

Congratulations! Keep in touch - it's good to know a doctor or two.

I heard of some kid in Poznan, Poland getting jumped by a group of skinheads, being harassed out of the Poland's English program by other Polish students etc...

You might want to keep this in mind. University in Poland is a lot cheaper and easier than the rest of the world however. I hear they push you through and give out unlimited repeats. Furthermore, they accept anyone, BUT they would prefer to accept white students. They apparently show a little favoritism. However, this is life and how things work in reality... your journey will be a lot smoother if you look at the Caribbean...

PLUS, you have to realize that the students that go to school in Poland are going there because they want to avoid black students... however, if you are a tough person, and push through and stay quiet, things will work out well for you... because they are somehow getting accreditation despite all of this...

I am a Muslim girl live in Poland for already 4 years, and I can tell you that, Polish people are so nice to me, always help me when i need help and I'm speaking now about the formal side if i need to do some paper and informal way too, It will be easy for you if you learn some polish words because not everybody here speak English and even if they do speak they are too shy to speak,but most of the student speak by or know English, I'm sure your stay in Poland will be good thing,

the number of foreigners who's studying in Poland are growing each year.
so no matter from what background you are, I'm sure you will be OK :)

He decided to invent some more anti Polish fiction.

He collected the sputum for evidence.