Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

Hello All:)

Its been many months since I have posted here and I promised an update :)

I am glad to say that my life in Poland has been really cool. I work at a very reputable school and I feel totally comfortable and secure in my job. I get the occasional stares sometimes and recently I did have some teenagers tease me a bit while I was on the tram with my friend but it was the first time it happened in almost a year and they were kids of course:). I have made some very good friends here in Wroclaw and many of them include polish doctors, lawyers and business owners who come to my school to learn English and that has afforded me many luxuries here in Poland lol. Polish people are very honest (speaking from a friend perspective) and I have had many of my female polish friends tell me; "the guys look at me weird because I am talking to you but they are fuc**ng ignorant and stupid." It is always nice to hear this :) Most people in Poland actually believe I am from India or Brazil I guess from my racial mixing and they are always quite curious as to where the hell I come from. When I tell them of my multiracial background they are always genuinely surprised, pleasantly though I might add. In bars, people are always nice to me and very interested in conversing with me and questioning me about life in america and the question I always get "why did you come to Poland?" its like they are literally saying "why the hell would u come here of all places" More in a surprised way than negative, like they feel their country is shite lol. Currently at my school I am the most popular teacher(based on surveys) and always get excellent survey results. I've been offered an extension of my contract and a raise to stay another year which I have gladly accepted :). It is still a little awkward to be the period on a blank piece of paper and I can say that I may never be 100 percent comfortable here in Poland but of course I understand that and I expected it. My friends here are wonderful and so far the most uncomfortable I have been here in Poland was in Gliwice, where I was really a shocker to the locals LOL! I've had guys pull up next to me while I am walking my dog, blasting rap music and throwing up gang signs at me, which is actually quite funny (or offensive depending on how you look at it) and I have been warned by my friends about riding the trams playing with my Ipad because, of course, I am the easy target foreigner lol. I had a stare down with two drunk guys on the tram who thought I would be terrified of them, suffice to say, I wasnt. All in all, I am comfortable and happy here (Now If only I could get some air conditioning in my apartment and an ice cube or two in my drink, I'd be happy! lol) I look forward to staying here another year and believe it or not the gloomy winters dont bother me, I quite like them :) being at home with my ps3 never bores me:). My new favorite word is Masakra lol. I enjoy it here and I hope I have another happy, peaceful, and overworked year lol. Thanks for your positive words and well wishes :).

P.S. forgive my lazy writing as I've been up all night and I don't have the patience at the moment to write correctly lol

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

how did this topic turn into a who kills who more thread? Blacks do often committ a lot of crimes because often they become lost souls and pressured by their upbringing or lack thereof to be ignorant. Many become a product of their environment. I remember growing up in the innercity of NYC I would often wonder why people enjoyed hanging out on the corner in front of the store. It wasn't until I was in my teens that I realized they usually were selling drugs. My family protected me from that stuff. I had a very strict upbringing. Nowadays, some people are so absorbed with themselves and their poor standard of living that children go unchecked. There was a study done years ago, if i remember correctly, that said children define themselves 80% by what their peers say and 20% by what their parents say. If their are a lot of parents not doing their jobs...then kids go unchecked and start creating their own truths and laws to live by. I went to catholic/private school my whole life, my mother works for the United Nations, my grand aunt was a former president of a nice little island... and as a result I had a fairly priviledged/worldy childhood, yet still I was exposed to the negative aspects of innercity living. Imagine the children and people who are not as priviledged as I was, who did not have strict upbringings and are heavily influenced by their peers...thats why some of them end up going down the wrong path. They are products of their environment and they can be black/white/hispanic/asian etc.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


Well...I hope this isnt the case with me, maybe I need to brush up on my kickboxing again for the next 3 weeks lol.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


Very heart wrenching film and a sad reminder of what it was like in the old days in America. I hope people do not feel like my intention on this thread was to stir up race issues. I just genuinely wanted honest answers from polish nationals about how I may be perceived in Poland.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


I'm glad to hear that and part of me honestly agrees. I just dont want to be too naive but you know going to an unfamiliar place long term is always a bit nerve-wracking.


Interesting you'd think that Lyzko. I am really hoping to absorb the polish culture as much as I can. It's always eye-opening experiencing the world from outside your familiar cultural box.

I was surprised to hear a lot about skin heads and neo-nazis in high boots. I would think that the influence and memory of Hitler would be something that people in eastern/central europe would run from! I remember I took a course on eastern central european history in university and I must say it was THE MOST difficult course I have ever taken to this day. Such a tumultous history!

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


Oh really? Sorry about that I've seen pictures of Wroclaw from my friend but the pictures you've shown me certainly give a more tourist friendly impression that the ones I've seen. Maybe its the aerial view of the first picture :)


I've heard living near the Rynek (I'll be 10 minutes walk from it) is about as safe as you can get. I was informed by my friend that it is heavily monitored with police and cameras. Is that true?

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


So I am guessing its pretty much safe to say that being cautious will by far be anyones best asset in unknown or potentially unfriendly territory.

Jonni: those pictures of Krakow are beautiful love the Romanesque and Gothic architecture that I've seen in many pictures of Poland.


No not Lodz my friend. I was told to book a ticket for Krakow as that is where the training will take place. I have heard of Lodz though, maybe I got mixed up with all the information I've been trying to digest!

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


I will be in training in Krakow for a week before I begin in Wroclaw so I will be sure to check it out but I have heard is is a rather dreary and dismal place, more industrial oriented. Is that correct? I am excited! Sadly most I have seen of Krakow was when the city was being shown all over the news when the Premier unfortunately passed in the airplane accident along with all those other souls. R.I.P.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


Sometimes it's hard and frustrating but my great grandmother is half black, half english. My great grand dad is from India. My father is hispanic so generally I have seen that love can extend way beyond the boundaries that people put on themselves and others like race and skin color. I've traveled a lot and my mother works for the United Nations and all these things have allowed me to see way beyond race. So at the end of the day I know what some drunk shouts at me on the street won't shape the memory of my life when I'm gone and people like the majority of you all who have commented on this thread furthers that belief so Sokrates can go straight to hell lol.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


The Funny thing is I actually didnt see his post until you quoted it and for some reason when I search the thread, it still isnt visible. Maybe God is looking out for me or Admin lol. The word ****** doesnt phase me. Racists need to find something else to offend. The same joke for over a hundred years kinda gets old after a while :)

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


When you say work permit do you mean Visa? I am currently in the process of obtaining my work visa with the Polish Consulate in Washington D.C. The school I will be working for gave me a lot of documents that I had to bring to the embassy and things seem to be going smoothly. The biggest trouble I have encountered so far with getting paper work done pertains to my dog that I am bringing with me. Such a hassle!

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

Thanks guys I sent him an e-mail. You know I read a lot on this site before signing up and saw some of the horrible things some of these jerks on here write and it really made me doubt whether I made the right decision in accepting the job lol but I must say you people who have responded to my original post have truly made me feel a lot better. I know it's just the internet but thank you all very much you all have given me a lot of hope that I will enjoy myself and everything will be ok and that means a lot. I will be sure to stick around and keep those who care up to date on life in Poland :). Don't get mad at me if I b*tch a little ok? LOL. Only 3 weeks now until my arrival! Any tips on places to go and things I must experience while there? I'm sure my friend has a number of festivities lined up for me as she's really excited im coming. Haven't seen her in 3 years!

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

I think thats the case with many english schools throughout the world because I have heard of that happening to many friends. Luckily my boss in poland is also one of my closest friends that I met while teaching in Asia so I am sure she would be willing to give me the heads up on whats going on or just flat out tell me, "Look we are losing money because no one wants to get taught by a black teacher." Either way in terms of savings of my own not factoring the money I'll be making from working, I'll be ok and I'll look for another job or just take my happy ass back to the U.S. lol. Thanks for the advice and the heads up Delphian I really do appreciate it and I appreciate the generally positive responses from everyone.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]


lol, I was in South Korea Teffle and I think the presence of the american military led them to believe that I was somehow a soldier I guess.

@delphiandomine,

I would gather that that would be the case but thats ok I guess luckily enough I will make enough money and have enough savings to not have to give private lessons. My friend has mentioned to me that at the school their most popular teacher every year is the exotic half polish half indian girl in the mini skirt lol :). She is always the one that gets the best review apparently. If I put on a dress will that make it better lol j/k. I know I'd probably get skinned lol!

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

nunczka, I've taught in america for years as well but my want to travel and experience new places outweighs my desire to teach in america long term. Thank you for your, shall we say, thought-provoking response.

oh and by the way many blacks do speak ebonics but we also know how to speak proper english because there is an interesting phenomenon that occurs in language called dialect when people group up in regions long term and language is altered. It also occurs when they have similiar social status and language changes and it is then called a sociolect. Rest assured how many (not all) blacks speak at home with their families is not how they speak in casual dealings with strangers or when a scenario calls for formal behavior.

Work / Black English Teacher going to Wroclaw [247]

Interesting responses, well im from New York so I can safely say I'm no stranger to being cautious lol. My friend did also mention that I do not look like an african lol (father is hispanic) so that would be to my benefit even though its kind of sad to say that. Pepper spray sounds like a good idea. I'm typically the atypical american lol. I dont drink much prefer not to be loud and draw attention to myself (this seems to be the consensus in the places I've been on how americans behave) and just like to go with the flow. While in Asia I've had people walk up to me and salute me...try to drag me into corners and touch me for god knows what lol and been followed by children giving me gifts and holding my hand lol. For the most part, I've never had to fear for my safety. I honestly expect the students wanting a white teacher scenario to come up because once again in Asia it was similar. They somehow got the impression (wonder how) That blacks didnt know how to speak proper english lol. I blame TV lol. There were the typical stereotypes (fried chicken, watermelon, basketball), The occasional references to me being from Brazil because of the way I look and the occasional student screaming at the top of their lungs in the auditorium, "BLACK TEACHER!". A gasp here and there was the norm and the eyes watching me really didnt phase me. I guess if things are kind of like that it wont be so bad. I'm mainly worried about monkey sounds or physical attacks. Don't wanna have to get all kung fu on somebody! ;D

P.S. I will also be living 10 min from the Rynek. I'm guessing thats a good thing!