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Posts by JollyRomek  

Joined: 6 Nov 2014 / Male ♂
Warnings: 2 - OO
Last Post: 30 Aug 2015
Threads: 7
Posts: 475
From: Lodz
Speaks Polish?: troche

Displayed posts: 482 / page 1 of 17
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JollyRomek   
6 Nov 2014
Life / any online newspaper for Lodz? [6]

Hi,

the Lodz Post is relatively new (ca 1 month old) but it is constantly improving. It is a mix of Lodz news, Polish news, Lifestyle, Travel and Sports. At the moment there are about 2 -3 new articles a day, but it will change to an up to date newspaper / online magazine.

lodz post
JollyRomek   
17 Nov 2014
Travel / Best way to get from Lodz to Warsaw? [48]

@ Sara1984, train ticket to Lodz is 32 zloty which equates to roughly 8 Euro. Taxi from Lodz Kaliska to any of the hotels in the city center (Hotels on Pilsudskiego) is about an additional 12 - 15 zloty so all in all a trip from Warszawa Centralna to the Hotel in Lodz would costs approx. 44 - 47 zloty, not even 12 Euro . It takes maximum 3 hours (delays due to construction on railtracks and in the city of Lodz already taking into consideration).
JollyRomek   
20 Nov 2014
Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

Regarding the "withdraw money from the cash counter", I would be very surprised if that requires a PESEL number.
If you are able to open an account without PESEL, have your salary paid into the account, use the Debit card to pay for goods in stores and withdraw money from ATMs, there is absolutely no reason why you would need a PESEL number t owithdraw cash from that account via the cash counter. After all, to pay money into the account via cash counter, they wouldn't ask for a PESEL either.

It is not part of the Polish banking regulations to require a PESEL number to open a current account with a debit card. If you want to add a credit card however after let's say three month, you would need your PESEL.

I found it very easy to open accounts in Poland. Three years ago I opened one with Nordea with just my passport (EU citizen). In February I changed banks and opened one with Getin Bank with passport and employment contract.

I then realized that i actually need a credit card (for car rental purposes) so I applied for one at Bank Millenium. I chose Bank Millenium because their website is in English and the application process (online application, phone verification etc.) can be done in English too. All i needed was my PESEL, employment contract and three months bank statement from my (at the time) current bank.

Overall, opening a bank account in Poland as a EU citizen is a piece of cake. The only issue you may sometimes face is some older bank clerk who has missed the fact that banking in Poland has become a competitive business and is making it as difficult as they possibly can. If you face that issue, walk straight out and into the next bank across the road.

By the way, Bank Millenium offers free banking and free withdrawels in Poland and abroad as long as you pay at least 1000 zloty into your account every month. Their staff speaks English, their online banking is in English and their online banking has won several awards.
JollyRomek   
21 Nov 2014
Law / Opening a Polish Bank Account by a foreigner in Poland. Recommendations. [299]

Unless someone can confirm it is fair to assume that Polish currency regulations requires one to have a PESEL number to withdraw foreign currency physically in a bank.

@Superzul.........in your original post you forgot to mention that when you said "withdrawing cash over the counter without PESEL seems impossible", you meant US Dollars, not Polish Zloty. You were talking about cash which, given that we are talking about Polish banks in Poland, I assumed you meant zloty.

I have absolutely no idea how it works regarding any foreign currency, but withdrawing Polish zloty from the cash counter most certainly does not require a PESEL.

Need to be a bit more precise next time to avoid confusion :) :)[/quote]
JollyRomek   
24 Nov 2014
Love / Are women from Poland scared of good looking guys? [48]

What a great conversation this is. Makes me wonder how low the self-esteem of some people must be, if they feel the need to have deluded rants about "how many broads they smashed" ,in a forum.

Ever heard about "A Gentlemen does not kiss and tell"?
JollyRomek   
24 Nov 2014
Travel / Regular UK visitor to Krakow - How to meet people and make friends? [56]

Zach, the "Irish Mbassy" or "Bull Pub" are pretty good places to meet some people rather quickly. Particularly Irish Mbassy will not leave you sitting by yourself for too long. Depending on what you fancy, Mbassy normally has some kind of entertainment. Either pub quiz, live music or sports events (Premier League, Rugby etc.) on television.

Mbassy's Sunday roast was something i found to be very delicious when i stayed in Krakow and even throughout the week, their food is quite good. From there, you can easily move on to other places around the Rynek and Kazimierz is not too far either (even by foot).
JollyRomek   
24 Nov 2014
Work / Shifting to Poland - 6000PLN after tax good enough for Krakow? [12]

Is that salary enough to spend a decent life in Krakow with little saving..?

Yes! You should be able to rent a small 1 bedroom for between 1300 - 1600 zloty close to the center. I used to pay 2000 zloty for a slightly larger one bedroom but it was also only a 2 minute walk from the Rynek. Plus extra costs you may be looking at 2000 altogether.

That leaves you with 4k left which is plenty even for Krakow.

I'll be moving to Krakow early next year. I would like to know if 20,000PLN gross salary is good enough for a decent living in Krakow?

I am not sure if this is a serious question or not........!?
JollyRomek   
25 Nov 2014
Life / Which nations do Poles like the most / the least? [148]

Intesresting how "wrong" some people are.

I would go with Germany. Simply because there is no denying that Poles appreciate Germany and Germans for their efficiency, correctness, motorways, time-keeping, accuracy, cars etc. etc. etc. etc.

Even though Poles like to give the impression to be rather negative towards Germans, they actually appreciate their neighbours quite a lot. Of course not many would openly say it.
JollyRomek   
25 Nov 2014
Life / Should I expect racism as a 'black' woman in Poland [149]

moniq
It means in cities like Lodz or Lublin (I'd recommend Lublin!)
I don't know this 2 cities so difficult to say more

So if you do not know the two cities, what do you base your recommendation on?
JollyRomek   
25 Nov 2014
Life / Should I expect racism as a 'black' woman in Poland [149]

I've recommended Lublin cause its more polish and that is what the girl was looking for.Lodz is a typical big city, close to Warsaw and she won't get there necesairly taste of polish roots.

Lodz is 130 km away from Warsaw, Lublin 180km. I am sorry but can you see you why I am questioning your reasoning?
JollyRomek   
26 Nov 2014
Life / The best English newspapers about Poland? [22]

The Lodz Post is relatively new reporting on news from Lodz and Poland in general. They have a sports section to cover mostly football as well as entertainment and travel tips around Poland. They are not always up to date yet, but the news are coming in more regularly constantly. Check it out.
JollyRomek   
27 Nov 2014
Law / Poland's Work permit questions - visiting European countries; working in the EU / switching job; dependants [86]

Am I missing something here? Since when do companies issue work permits???? Either someone is seriously taking the **** here or is trying to get information as to how to defraud the visa regime.

Either way, I don't think that any further answers have any remit seeing that arslan has used the visa for Poland as an entry ticket to Germany. We have immigration rules for a reason, just like any other countries / common travel areas have.
JollyRomek   
27 Nov 2014
Life / Racism & study with part time jobs in Warsaw ? [53]

Education does not start at third level education. It starts from a very early age when children learn a certain way of living. It is not a co-incidence that most southern European countries are struggling while still maintaining a high level of third level education.

What else would you name as the reasons for the struggle of southern Europe if not education?
JollyRomek   
27 Nov 2014
Polonia / POLES vs BULGARIANS [160]

the media says ''a bulgarian was captured stealing whatever''.

Well, let the media say whatever it wants. I have spent a couple of weeks in beautiful Sofia last year and also traveled to your old capital city Veliko Tarnovo for a few days. I loved it. The people were so genuine, welcoming, honest. Absolutely amazing. I also lived in Ukraine for three years and all my friends always asked me why I would want to live there. They asked me if it wasn't dangerous. If I feel safe. I have spend 5 days in Belarus and never felt so comfortable leaving my things in hotel room before because I felt safe and genuinely welcome. All countries that have a certain "reputation". Would I ever leave anything laying around by itself on a train in Germany (my home country)? Most certainly not but I know that I can do so in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. Nie ma problem.

Let people who do not know it better say what they want. If they are not ready to make that experience of good Bulgarian food, good beer, beautiful landscape, welcoming people and pretty woman ( just like anywhere else in Eastern Europe), then let them be........ no point in wasting your energy over it :)
JollyRomek   
28 Nov 2014
Genealogy / Want to find a person [754]

Hi Sven, have you ever thought about the fact that she may not want "to be found"?

I don't want to sound harsh, but i find it a tiny bit creepy that someone is posting personal details of another person on a public forum, in order to get in contact with her.
JollyRomek   
30 Nov 2014
Law / I have overstayed my visa and been banned from Poland. Is leaving Schengen zone and coming back a solution? [10]

No, this is not how it works, otherwise they could just abolish the rule completely. It is 90 days in any 180 day period, meaning if your friend has been in Poland for 3 months, she would have to leave Poland for 3 months and then come back.

Regarding the question as to why "I have to go home to apply for a visa or appeal against a decision".

You do not have to go home to the country you were born in, however, you have to do this in the country you are registered as a permanent resident. The reason is that for consular affairs, only the embassy in the country where you permantly reside in is responsible for you.

For example, if you are still registered in Australia, the Polish embassy / consulate in Australia would be responsible to handle your request. This means that technically you would not be able to submit a visa application or appeal against a decision from any other country than Australia, unless you can prove to have a permanent resident address and legal status in the country you are applying from.
JollyRomek   
3 Dec 2014
Work / Suggestions for starting a business in Poland ( I have 50/60,000 USD ) [59]

Hi Levi, may i ask you what it is that makes you want to invest in Poland?

It seems to me that you actually do not know what you want to do, how to do it and where to do it. You have now gone from "Lounge Bar" to "Hostel". To me it sounds more like you have been in Poland for three months as a tourist, enjoyed your time and believed that you have what it takes to start up a business here. However, you should remember that going on a holiday (even for three months) and real life are two different pairs of shoes. I do not know how many people i have met in Poland who were convinced that if they come back here and open a bar or a hostel, they would make it. Somehow, they all ended up back at home or never started their business in the first place.

The first question you have to ask yourself is what it is that you are really passionate about. Second is whether or not there is a need for it. Have you researched the hostel industry in Poznan? Is there a need for an additional hostel? What can you do with your hostel that other hostel can / do not do? Are you willing and able to deal / cope with the rather bureaucratic approach in Poland, i.e. paperwork and stamps for literally everything you do?

Do not waste your money just for the sake of going to Poland to open a business here. Unless you really have a plan, fully understand your business and industry and are aware of what you are getting yourself into.
JollyRomek   
3 Dec 2014
Work / Suggestions for starting a business in Poland ( I have 50/60,000 USD ) [59]

Polish growth is caused in big part through outsourcing of labor from western Europe. This will finish when Poland will not be cheap enough and there will be nobody to invest further with such a rate. Polish companies are too small, don't do much R&D and don't have access to cheap money as Korean firms have.

Absolutely agree on this. I would compare Poland's growth to the Irish "Celtic Tiger" back in the late 90' / early 2000's when centralized shared service centers popped up everywhere. Surely we have seen how Ireland ended up when the likes of Dell, Google et. slowly but surely started to move their operations to Poland.

@ Levy, judging by your last post, i can only conclude that my assumption about "you may have stayed here as a tourist for three month, but have not yet experienced real life in Poland" is spot on.

Particularly the fact that you have mentioned "opening an airline or a football stadium is too complicated and demanding" and that is why you do not do it, let's me assume that you in fact do not know much about Poland and the markets here.

There were at least two airlines in recent years that either collapsed or never even took off (due to missing licences) in the past couple of years in Poland. And with regards to the football stadia in Poland, well look at the capacity vs. usage of all the new stadia and you will see why I believe that giving these examples, only shows lack of knowledge regarding Poland.

Before you burn 60k USD and end up going home with deep hatred for Poland, think carefully, analyze the markets, double check whether or not there is demand / need.

At this moment, and i hope you will not take this personal, it sounds like you have no idea as to what you really want to do. Having a bit of airline / tourism industry experience does not mean that you have the expertise to run a successful hostel or lounge bar. Neither would any of your posts suggest that you really understand what you are talking about.

Perhaps you may want to look into investing into something smaller for the beginning? An online start up in Lodz is currently looking for a 25k PLN (7.5k USD) investment. If you want to know more, send me a PN but i really would discourage you to burn your 60000 dollars on something you do not seem to know a great deal about.
JollyRomek   
4 Dec 2014
Classifieds / The Lodz Post is looking for Expats / Foreigners / Travellers in Poland [3]

Hi Guys, the Lodz Post - lodz post - is currently looking for any Expats / Foreigners living in Poland and would like to tell their story as to how they "ended up" in Poland, how they experience the difference between Poland and their home country, what they like or dislike and any other thoughts they would like to share about Poland.

If you are interested and would like to tell your story, please contact me via PM. Thanks :)
JollyRomek   
6 Dec 2014
Work / Finding English teaching jobs in Poland [19]

(Silesians being generally more open).

Quite interesting that you agree "with most Britindortmund" has written yet you say that Silesians are more open that other Poles would be. While I agree, on that I am not sure how you can agree with Britindortmund's statement about Germany and then say that Silesians are more "open".

If you would pay a bit of interest, you would understand that Silesians hang on to their German history quite a lot. Oberschlesing is a language still spoken by many people ( even the younger ones), German is considered to be their second language, there is even a German newspaper published weekly that covers events from Silesia.

There is a good reason why you may find Silesian people to be more open than other Poles. It is because not many Silesians would consider themselves Polish, although they would not necessarily make their feelings public.

Regarding the teacher issue. I agree that living in smaller cities increases the chances of getting a better paid job. I was on 66 zlotych an hour when I worked for a language school in Chorzow.
JollyRomek   
6 Dec 2014
Work / Finding English teaching jobs in Poland [19]

There ARE deffo more friendly than here in snobville Gdynia

I have never been to Gdynia so I can not judge.

and anyway Katowice is Polish not Silesian...

True. Chorzow, Zabrze, Bytom etc, would be more Silesian than Katowice is. But Ireland is more Irish than Dublin could ever be.........
JollyRomek   
6 Dec 2014
Off-Topic / "fake" PESEL nr. [5]

I am sorry but........ do you realize that a PESEL is an 11 digit number that you can simply make up? If you want to order something from a shop and they ask for your PESEL, they will hardly check if it is correct, right?

Either make up an 11 digit number or use this link:
bogus.ovh.org/generatory/all.html
They will do it for you. It's not difficult
JollyRomek   
11 Dec 2014
Travel / Travel from Poland to Germany [4]

If you are willing to be stressed over Christmas, take the bus option.

From Warsaw, this train connection appears to be the easiest and perhaps most relaxing option to me:

24.12.14

Warsaw - Berlin
Dep. 05:55 - Arr. 11:15

Berlin - Heidelberg
Dep. 12:48 - Arr. 17:48 (which change in Mannheim).

Total cost: 148 EUR one way (620 PLN)

The Berlin - Warsaw Express is quite a comfortable train. I have taken it many times. From Berlin you would be travelling on the ICE to Mannheim and the last 10 minutes from Mannheim to Heidelberg on the Regional Express (even those are quite comfortable in Germany).

The train option is twice as expensive as the bus option mentioned abvoe, but you will be more relaxed upon arrival. Going by bus, i would be afraid to need a week holiday just to recover from the bus journey.
JollyRomek   
11 Dec 2014
News / Turkey abolished visas for Poles. [80]

oh oh so its based on turkey , I tought based on poland haha. suprised :)

I am confused. Since when would Nation 1 dictate Nation 2 whether or not the citizens of Nation 1 need a visa to enter Nation 2? If that would be the case, Kiew would just make an annoucement that from now on, Ukraine's citizens do not need a visa to enter Poland anymore.

it means they should put their mind together and get in to shengen.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Schengen or the EU.
JollyRomek   
11 Dec 2014
News / Turkey abolished visas for Poles. [80]

Ireland,

Ireland has a common travel area with the UK and is therefore not a full member of Schengen. Schengenvisas do not apply to Ireland.
JollyRomek   
11 Dec 2014
News / Turkey abolished visas for Poles. [80]

We are compensating for Russian tourists who wouldn't come to Turkey for their currency meltdown.

So what you are saying is that instead of Russian Oligarchs, it is now Polish "Oligarchs" bringing their dollars to Turkey? :)