Life / I hate Warsaw. The worst part about living here is the people who move here from small towns, villages.. [124]

I've lived in this city for nearly six years... I had enough money to go out and enjoy nice places, and friends to have fun with. I've made an honest effort to get to know the different neighborhoods of the city. I took walks in elegant parks, went to the ballet, saw amazing concerts, dined at great restaurants.

I can't say I didn't enjoy myself. But I never really got to love this city, and it's not because I didn't try.

It's grey, ugly and cold most of the year. It calls itself "Europe," but everyday on my street I have to dodge drunks in gateways and dog **** on the sidewalk because people don't clean up after their pets.

The worst part about living here is the people. I can't say anything about native Varsovians, because they are a rare breed and I liked most of the natives I've met.

What I can't stand are the people who move here from small towns, villages and cities, and they start making 3,000 zloty a month and think they're the kings of the universe. The arrogance is sickening, and no it's not like other big cities in the world. I've been to New York and London, and nowhere did I see the sickening stuck-up attitude that I do around here. What exactly is there to be so proud of?

I also don't understand why people stare and size each other up so much. In most cities I've been to, it's considered rude to stare at someone on the street, but people in Warsaw stare at each other and make no efforts to hide it. And if you look even slightly different than the norm, then people turn their heads and make wide eyes. I once walked behind a group of foreigners who were not dressed like Europeans, and people's reactions were either sad or hilarious to watch. I guess they don't have foreign people in the small towns where these people in Warsaw come from, but isn't it a bit rude to stare?

Whenever I travel to other cities like Poznan or Wroclaw, the atmosphere is so different and relaxed that it's a relief to be there. And I don't mean Warsaw is fast-paced, because it's a ghost town compared to Cairo or Los Angeles. Maybe i don't know quite how to phrase it, but there's something so awkward about Warsaw. Like it's trying to be something big, and failing miserably.

It's such a good feeling to know that I'm finally leaving this place.