Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Interesting. I've been living in Gdansk for two years with a karta pobytu and and am in the process for applying for the third time. I've done everything here in Gdansk-no need to go to Warsaw. And every time I've needed slightly different docs. For example, this time I needed five photos whereas in the past it was just four. No big deal.

It's definitely easier to go through the renewal process than the initial application.

The Schengen area has made it a little more difficult for non EU citizens to get residency because of the 90 day thing, but it's certainly still possible.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Usually they do, although I've never had one. I'm told that this time they may come to my school to do this since I'm seldom at home during the day. Remember, every office is different so I'm only speaking about my experience.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]


Done? I did mine in Warsaw. A CELTA is a CELTA no matter where you get it and it will open doors that would otherwise be closed to you. And IH does have a good reputation.

One caution. You've only got very little time to get your CELTA and find a job in Poland. You're only permitted to stay in a Schengen zone country for 90 out of 180 days. Lots of threads about that on this forum and also another teaching forum. Start researching this now.

If this thing with your girlfriend doesn't work out, are you prepared to be in Poland by yourself? Believe me, you'll have to adapt to a major cultural difference between Poland and the US (which state?) and the language is a bear to learn.

Good luck.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]


I didn't know that. But I done good to learn it.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

That's my understanding as well. And yes, 45 days before the visa expires is correct. I can't remember if the decision comes in 30 or 45 days after application,but unless the application is rejected you're OK.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]

Yeah, we say that in the US as well even though we're aware that it's not grammically correct English, more of a colloquial thing. But hey, that's how we talk. And really, I was funnin when I posted that.

Travel / Is it safe to travel to Poland? [194]

Not a problem at all. It'll be safe no matter if you're by yourself or with somebody else.

Language / How to pronouce Szczygieł last name? [26]


Actually, that's true in any language. It's called communicating. I still struggle with Polish but my friends and people in shops understand me, so that'll have to do until I reach the proficiency level. I figure that's only going to take another 117 years.

Food / Polish Pizza !! The best in the world? [329]

Pizza in Poland is pathetic, period.

Food / Polish Pizza !! The best in the world? [329]

The "anywhere in the world" part made me laugh. As for vegetables, all I can say is you obviously have never been to a market in California. Vegetables in Poland are few and far between, and can't hold a candle to I used to eat there.

The title of this thread should have been: Polish pizza-the worst in the world.

Work / Polish Residency Cards. Is there a Permanent ID card for Foreigners? [37]


I've never waited more than 20 minutes and usually it's been more like 10.

Life / Do expats living in Poland speak Polish? [233]

After English, Spanish is the most useful language in the US. I never heard anyone speaking Italian or Polish.

I went to an American high school in Japan and learned enough Japanese to get around. I studied Italian for a year when I was at university but after such a long time my Italian is pretty rusty. I majored in French, and while I'm not at the proficiency level, my French is very good.

Polish easier than French? No way. Polish is by far the most difficult language I've ever tried to learn, but since I live here and plan to stay, I'm trying. Living in Poland and not learning Polish makes no sense.

Strangely enough, the non Polish speaking expats I know here are British and they're proud of it. I simply don't understand that attitude. This isn't a slam, just an observation.

Travel / What to do when it's raining in Gdansk [33]

On rainy days you can find me in Absinthe. Come to think of it, on nice days you can find me in Absinthe. Hmmmmm.

Seriously though, I often go for walks in the rain. Old Town is still beautiful and the streets aren't crowded.

Galeria Baltycka's not my glass of beer, but there are plenty of museums in Gdansk. Check out the Solidarity Museum if you're interested in history, or the History of Gdansk Museum in the Town Hall on Dluga when it reopens after renovation.

Drop by the Scandic hotel (used to be the Holiday Inn) across from the train station and pick up a free copy of Gdansk in your pocket. You'll get tons of ideas from this.

Work / Does it make sense to move from the UK to Wroclaw for this salary? [50]

7500 brutto less 18% tax is 6150 nett. As an English teacher in my third year here, I take home about 4000zl a month, including private lessons. I have a nice flat in the Old Town for which I pay 1200 a month and rent a room to a student for 500. I eat well because both of us cook and we usually eat at home, but on my salary I can go to restaurants, cinemas, etc occasionally. I spend too much money at my favorite pub but that's because it's like my living room and I meet my friends there. That's my choice.

Except for rent, I don't think Poland is inexpensive. I'm from the US. Let's say I made the same amount per month in US dollars. Then I'd think Poland was cheap, but since I'm paid in zlotys I have to think in terms of how long it takes me to earn the price of a beer or anything else. Still, I earn more than most of my Polish friends. I think you'll be fine on that salary. My Polish friends would think you're rich.

Not to rain on your parade, but I doubt that you'll be fluent after a year, especially if you'll use English at work. It probably will take a little longer and it'll require a lot of hard work on your part, but you can do it if you're really determined.

Good luck. Enjoy the experience.

Travel / What to do when it's raining in Gdansk [33]

No rain on Friday, so no splashing babcias! More's the pity. I'm just kidding.

Travel / What to do when it's raining in Gdansk [33]

Harry, I was there! Next time you're here let me know in advance and I'll buy you a beer or five!

Travel / What to do when it's raining in Gdansk [33]

Warsaw? Not likely. It would take a lot to blast me out of Gdansk. I love it here.

I think you missed me the weekend I went to Bydgoszcz. See you in the spring.

Life / Do expats living in Poland speak Polish? [233]

I completely missed the point of this post. What are you talking about?

Life / Lack of Spacial Acuity in Poland [69]

All of the above is SO true!

Food / Your all time favourite Polish Dishes! [108]


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I didn't like it in the US where it's called borsh (not sure about the spelling) and I don't like it here because I just don't like beets. I love golambki (cabbage rolls), bigos, golonka (either baked or boiled, but boiled is much more common). It's always tranlated as pork knuckle, but it's really a joint from a leg. I recently ate some incredibly good Kashubiam pierogi and that's moved up a lot higher on my list. I didn't mention any seafood because I don't think of it as a Polish dish. Carp's not seafood (it's a freshwater fish) and it's just crap spelled another way. Disgusting.

Language / WHY THE HELL CANT I LEARN POLISH?? [64]


That's 11 more than I know, but the one word I know is magic. It's "piwo", and it works wonders everywhere I go. When somebody asks me how I am, I say piwo and they smile. When I go to my favorite (yeah, I'm American) kiosk and say piwo, I get my Gauloises cigarettes. When I have to take a train, bus or tram, I just say piwo and I get a ticket to my destination. And when I'm in a pub and say piwo, voila and there's a beer in front of me.

Trust me on this one. You don't need to learn Polish. Just say piwo and the world smiles with you.

Work / Job prospects in Gdynia / Trojmiasto ? [5]

Will your husband have to get a karta pobytu to stay here even though he's married to you, a Polish citizen? Who knows? This opens up a new can of worms. If you're curious about teaching English in Poland, you should visit. esl cafe and check the forums on Poland. And regardless of your husband's qualifications and experience, a lot of the better schools will want him to have a CELTA, because teaching English here to Polish students is a completely different ball game. CELTA will open more doors for him if he chooses to go down that road.

BTW, I live and teach in Gdansk. I love this place.

Food / Why carp for Polish Christmas? [157]


No. Carp is just crap misspelled. It's a truly disgusting fish, even worse than catfish.

Food / Why carp for Polish Christmas? [157]


Not true about the biased part. The only carp I've eaten-or ever will eat-was on my first Wigilia in Poland. I ate, or at least tried, it baked, fried and in aspic. It was and always will be disgusting.

Fortunately my Polish fiancee doesn't like it either, so when I visit her in Germany we'll have salmon, prawns, and other edible dishes, but not crap-oops, I mean carp.

Food / Why carp for Polish Christmas? [157]

That's fine with me since I won't be there. After all, to each his own. But I don't ever want to be at the same dinner table with any kind of carp on it, and it's never going to happen in my house. If you like it, enjoy it. I don't.

End of my rants, at least about carp.

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Every office in Poland has different requirements. I didn't know about the police check before I got here and I didn't have one, so I merely signed an affadavit that I wasn't an axe murderer, and voila! Kata pobytu approved. Ah, what they don't know...

Law / Poland - Temporary Residence card - Karta pobytu - required documents [142]

Because he isn't on this site site at the moment? Give it a rest and be patient.

Language / Why in the world there are three ways to write simple U ?!?! [54]


Nine. I showed this in class last week. It always makes them crazy but they enjoy it. So do I. And try to figure out the logic in pronouncing comfortable. By comparison, Polish pronunciation is easy. Sadly, not true for the grammar.

Life / Winter in Poland? [161]


You'll love the city center and we'll be neighbors. I live about 100m from Hala Targowa. We'll have to meet when I get back from Germany on 3 January. And it's balmy here today. The sun just dropped below the roofs of the flats around me, and it's warm. It's gone from -16 this morning to only -12. When I went out today I wore shorts and sandals-in my dreams!

BTW, I'm from San Diego (Southern California) and if I can get used to this, so can you. Actually, I love seeing the snow on the ground. Today really is beautiful, and life is good.

Language / Why in the world there are three ways to write simple U ?!?! [54]


though, thought, through, cough, rough,bough, thorough, lough (like Scottish loch), and my favorite: hiccough. When I prounce it hiccup (both are in the dictionary) my students always ask where the p is. I just smile.

Seanus, is it nine?