Real Estate / Advice Needed Second-hand Apartment Prices Warsaw (Praga) - Asking Price v Sale Price [6]

Thanks very much guys. Very interesting. I personally love Praga, and am sad to see that over the years since I was first there, there have been many changes, not for the better. Beautiful old trees cut down, gardens removed to make paved parking spaces, even some lovely old houses knocked to build very bog standard new developments. The impression I get from Polish people that I've spoken to is that they prefer to buy something new and they like to see the neighbourhood looking more modern. Upwardly mobile younger Poles seem to associate the older buildings with communism, poverty etc.

Long term I think the older housing stock is a great investment because at some point in the future, Poles will start to value what they have in the few parts of the old city that remain.

Work / Job Security in Poland [6]

Amit, it would depend to some extent on your contract of employment. I presume it's a fixed term contract and not a permanent position? Is there a trial period, for example does your contract specify that they can fire you after 3 months if they're not happy with you etc. Try asking on a forum for Polish programmers/IT workers. Many of them speak English so you should get some response to your query. They will have a realistic answer for you as they work in the industry.

Work / Job Security in Poland [6]

Hi Amit. Yes, your three month probationary period means that they can let you go after that time if they're not happy with you. But that's a pretty standard clause in many employment contracts worldwide, not just Poland. However I would say that in general Polish employers don't have the best reputation for how they treat staff, but of course it varies.

There's a forum called 4programmers.net. It's a Polish site. Register with them. Go to the section marked Praca (that's Polish for work) and start a thread same as you did here. The site is all in Polish I think but a lot of these guys know English so I'm sure you'll get some response. Also there is a Poland Forum member called Monitor who seems to be very knowledgeable about the IT business so you could send him a PM.

Love / Are Polish men chauvinistic? [35]

Manchun, you are being quite reasonable in expecting to hear from your boyfriend. It's just basic manners for him to send you a message to let you know he got there safely. This is not 'chauvinistic' behaviour. This is just plain thoughtless and uncaring. Not acceptable. You need to decide if you want to continue to be involved with this guy.

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

You seem to be talking about a secondary school? I imagine it would be very hard to get any significant government funding for a private school. If you're talking about finding land, then presumably you would be looking at building. Rather over ambitious I would say. As for regulations etc your best bet is probably to contact the British Council in Warsaw or similar. Starting a school of the size and scope you're suggesting is a massive undertaking and seems very unrealistic but you might be able to start something very small and expand.

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

'Bound to be successful' is a big claim Mark. Can you demonstrate this to potential investors in a business plan? Also, unless they're philanthropists, what's in it for them financially? They will want a return on their investment. A Steiner school is a no-no. You'll never find enough teachers trained in the Steiner method, and it doesn't extend to secondary level. The Montessori approach does, but generally only works well with children who've gone through the Montessori elementary system first and have the level of independent learning skills, literacy and numeracy to pursue a Montessori curriculum. I'm a Montessori teacher myself by the way. Anyway Montessori schools are supposed to be based in rural areas and incorporate either a farm or co-operative business venture for the students to run, and they are ideally boarding schools. A wooly idea of a Montessori/Steiner type school is not a good starting point for a business. But anyway, why don't you sit down and work out a proper budget and see what this project would actually cost. I think you'll be mildly horrified to tell you the truth.

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

Mark there's nothing wrong with having a dream as long as you temper it with common sense, realism and a bit of humility. Otherwise it's destined to remain only a dream and never become a reality.

To get back to your original query about funding, Roger5 was right that you won't get the info you need on any internet forum. The kind of information you need is simply not widely available to the public. The first thing you need to do is to write to the Polish ministry of education, just a brief letter stating your interest in possibly establishing a school and asking for information about funding and regulations. Bear in mind that they are unlikely to have anything prepared on paper which they can send you so they may simply ignore your letter. Depending on their response, or lack of it, you should write again and request a meeting. I strongly advise you at this initial stage, not to suggest a school ranging from pre-school to secondary as this concept will be way too much for them to grasp. Keep it simple. Choose either a primary/elementary or secondary. Bear in mind that pre-schools may come under a completely separate funding/regulatory scheme. In Ireland for example pre-schools are funded by the Dept of Health and Children, not by the Dept of Education.

As for banks, unless you have a very impressive background in education, or a partner with such, and an equally impressive business plan, it's very unlikely that they will back you. If you had money of your own to invest or if another investor was willing to back you, they might risk matching what you're putting in but you will not get millions out of any bank to fund your Utopian vision of a child-centred school.

I'm not sure what your teaching background is, but I sense a lack of solid training and experience. Mark, it is simply not possible to invent your own teaching methodology by cobbling together the best bits of several existing ones, not least because many educational philosophies which have similarities to each other, always have fundamental differences which make them diametrically opposed to each other and they simply do not work together. You're also talking about a vague, ill-formed concept of a child centred philosophy which you want to carry through from ages 3 to 18. Mark, it takes a lifetime of work with hundreds of children if not thousands of children to create such a thing. These things evolve over many years. They can't be created by building a beautiful campus and then saying 'ok children, here's your Paradise, go and flourish'. If you were an experienced teacher you would know this.

You mentioned a 'medium' sized school but then say you want to incorporate a pre-school, primary and secondary. Look, I've been teaching children for nearly twenty years and I've seen first-hand, just as an ordinary teacher, the practical difficulties of managing and funding even a relatively small school (the smallest I taught in was a State primary school with only 100 children). You're effectively talking about setting up, managing and funding three schools at once. You need suitably qualified and experienced staff for each and a director/principal for each but that's the least of your worries. How many children in each and how many staff? What will the fees be and what will the staffing costs be? Schools are not generally profit-making businesses and the possibility of repaying millions in loans/giving investors a profit-share whilst still covering your running costs is most unlikekly.

Here's an example of how people really do these things. The Hershey Montessori school in the USA is one of the few in America that offers Montessori through from pre-school to secondary. It started in 1978 with just a pre-school and finally added the secondary level over 20 years later. It's non-profit making. Another example is the first Montessori secondary school in America, the Montessori Farm School. It was founded by Dr Ursula Thrush in the 1970s, only after she'd established a pre-school and primary/elementary school and they had become fully self-funding with no grants or state assistance. Although she was an amazing educator neither the secondary nor the elementary schools survived although the pre-school she founded still remains.

So Mark, what I'm saying is, modify your dreams somewhat, reduce the scale of the proposed project to manageable size, read about what other people have done and how they've gone about creating their schools, learn from the experiences of others. When you have a realistic plan and a good tight business plan, then give it a go by all means.

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

Yes, Yogabbagabba, of course that's the business plan bit and the venture must demonstrate to potential investors that it can be financially successful. Indeed a good many of my comments have pointed that out to him already. If you'd read my 'essay' and other comments attentively young man you would have noticed this. However, the guy says he has a 'dream' and he's idealistic about education, so I, as an experienced teacher, who shares his passion for a child-centred approach, was addressing some of those issues.

By the way if you want some hard figures, I did a bit of googling and pretty quickly found reliable stats from 2003. At that time the Polish government was willing to grant around 200PLN per month, per child to private schools. On average they were contributing between 20 and 40 per cent of running costs. It's very basic stuff really. Fees, minus staffing, loan repayments for the initial building and equipping costs, insurance, rates, utilities,wear and tear to equipment, building maintenance, ongoing development and expansion. Can he make a living? End of story.

The educational philosophy bit is a completely separate issue but it's a relevant one because parents at an expensive private school generally expect their children to be prepared for further education,often regardless of the child's academic ability. If he's trying to deliver core subjects to a level that will gain good results in public exams, but envisages a no homework policy and minimal grading system in his school, he really needs to know whathe's at, otherwise his school can go down the tubes pretty quickly.

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

May the Lord give me patience and strength! Two separate issues: funding, educational philosophy. First Issue: The Polish Ministry of Education will give funding to private schools so it's worth contacting them. If he never asks them for money, they won't give him any. Second issue: decide on an ethos for school. Choose an approach, find teachers trained in it. Bob's your uncle!

Law / Advice on starting an international/British school in Warsaw, Poland [26]

Well, in Ireland where I am, and where the government is quite generous, state funded schools don't provide free books. There is a book rental scheme and children pay a contribution for art and craft materials, photocopying etc. I agree that it's most unlikely that the Polish government would contribute funds for setting up a private school but they certainly did provide captitation grants for established private schools back in 2003. If Mark contacts them he can find out if that's still the case.

Genealogy / Why Polish aren't white?? [272]

Rozumiemnic is right. There is no such thing as British ethnicity. British is a nationality but it's not an ethnic group. You're either English, Scots, Welsh, or a mix of any of those three. Of course you can be black and British but your ethnicity is Afro-Caribbean.

Genealogy / Why Polish aren't white?? [272]

Ok, HarriHasAbf - here's the official British line. The National Statistics Office of the UK states :

'Is a person's ethnic group self-defined? Yes. Membership of an ethnic group is something that is subjectively meaningful to the person concerned, and this is the principal basis for ethnic categorisation in the United Kingdom. So, in ethnic group questions, we are unable to base ethnic identification upon objective, quantifiable information as we would, say, for age or gender. And this means that we should rather ask people which group they see themselves as belonging to.'

So put that on your needles and knit it.

Work / What website do you use to seek multinational job opportunities in Poland? [7]

Try Glassdoor. Lots of info there too on actual salaries, reviews by people on companies they've worked for etc. If you have an area of specialty like IT or engineering, have you tried using a specialist site/recruitment agent?

Love / My wife is Polish and it's difficult for her to open up and talk about her feelings [14]

Hi befranklin. Just thought you might like to hear a woman's perspective. I'm not Polish, I'm Irish but married to a Pole and I lived in Poland for a couple of years. I would say that there are definite cultural differences in the way Polish couples conduct their relationships compared to Westerners.

I think the idea of a man and woman being friends and talking things through is less prevalent. Polish men tend to be accepting of the fact that their women are 'difficult' and Polish women, rather than talking about things, use a range of 'behaviours' to get their emotional needs met. They will talk to their female friends or relatives about their issues with the guy and then form some kind of convoluted plan to try to resolve it, rather than just honestly sitting down with their partner and saying 'Look, I feel this way, how do you feel, what can we do about this?' etc. I think they find it hard to talk calmly and it can end up in a full scale row if you try to engage them in a discussion, which may be why Polish men tend to just let stuff go and not bring up issues that may cause a melt-down. You say your wife has hinted she may not return to the USA. I observed this kind of thing when I was living in Poland. I think Polish women tend to use sulking or threats/emotional blackmail on their men quite a bit. Now, I'm not saying women of other nationalities never do that, but I saw a lot of it in Poland.

Anyway you've been married to her for five years so you must know her pretty well by now. I would say she certainly seems to be not happy on some level. Maybe she's always been reserved, but I'm interested to know has she become more uncommunicative lately?

Bottom line though, is that regardless of cultural differences a problem in your relationship in the end is really to do with you as people not your nationalities. All the best, befranklin.

Love / My wife is Polish and it's difficult for her to open up and talk about her feelings [14]

Hi befranklin. My Polish is very basic, but my husband's English is fluent, native proficiency level.

I would say part of your problem is that many Polish couples have a very different expectation of what marriage means in terms of happiness. On the whole there are many Polish men who are 'happy' if their wife is sexually available to them when they want her, a good cook, good housekeeper and good mother if there are children. Many Polish women are content if husband is a good provider, does the heavy work around the house and brings them flowers and chocs from time to time or nice little gifts that they can show their friends. That's a happy, successful marriage in their eyes. Your wife may actually be quite happy and doesn't feel any need to talk about what you perceive as problems, because to her, nothing is wrong. Polish couples also seem to accept quite readily that there may be times when they will live apart for work reasons or family committments.

Your wife may feel that she ought to stay around for her mother but she may not want to say that outright to you. She may simply expect you to get the message......there's no denying that women can be very difficult, regardless of nationality! I hesitate to advise, not knowing you both personally, but if she's always been reserved and not emotionally open, it would seem she's just continuing an established pattern and her silence doesn't necessarily indicate that there's any crisis in the relationship.

Life / Is this your Polish mamusia (mum)? [4]

I would say many of these points are true of mothers the world over! Would disagree with points 7 and 9. Polish mothers don't seem to be big on fresh air, except for Spring and Summer. As for the doctor, if anything modern Polish mothers are vastly over-protective and hypochondriac, bringing the child to the doctor for every cough and sneeze and demanding anti-biotics. Many of the the other points sound very much like my husband's Polish grandmother.

Study / International Schools in Poznan Reviews - which is better for my child? [21]

Hi Kavita. I'm a teacher. I have taught many Indian children in the 3-6 year age group. Now my experience is of teaching Indian children in Ireland but they didn't speak any English so it was the same situation for the child as it would be in any country where they didn't know the language. All the children I taught, some younger than your daughter, settled in within a few weeks and were very happy. Within about six months they were communicating in very basic English. At that age children can play together without needing to use much language. However, how easily your child settles, depends to some extent on the teacher and whether they are accustomed to dealing with children who don't have the local language. The teacher needs to be kind, patient and understanding.

By the way Kavita, when you talk of school, for a child of your age in Poland, that would be pre-school and your child is unlikely to be doing any academic work in the way she might in an Indian school. I taught many Indian children of your daughter's age whose parents expected their child to be learning to write, read, do basic maths etc. As far as I know they don't do this in Polish pre-schools but it may vary. For example if you put your child in a Montessori she should be facilitated with reading and writing if she shows readiness.

As you're only going to Poland for a year, I would try her out in a Polish pre-school just for the social aspect. As I say, if she has a good teacher she should be fine there. If she's already started reading and writing, just carry on with her at home and let her enjoy playing and mixing with other children at the pre-school. Any other advice I can give you, don't hesitate to ask.

Study / International Schools in Poznan Reviews - which is better for my child? [21]

Hi Kavita. I sent you an email.

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

Polonius, I don't think curry is considered very exotic by Brits these days. There have been curry recipes in British cookery books for well over two hundred years and Indian restaurants for about as long as that. Brits don't generally live on a diet of shepherd's pie and fish and chips anymore. Most people eat a mixture of traditional British stuff and international. It's very common for people to whip up a a quick Thai green curry at home or basic Italian dishes for example. As for lamb chops, in the two years I lived in Warsaw I can't remember ever seeing lamb in the supermarket. I think I may have seen some weird looking frozen stuff once. Since then I've only been back for holidays but I have actually seen teeny, weeny little things that look like they came off a rack of lamb, about two bites in each. Most depressing!

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

Hi Polonius. Authentic Indian recipes contain very little turmeric. I don't like it myself, but I use a little in rice to give it that nice yellow colour, much cheaper than saffron. I love Indian food and the variety is so vast, not just curries. Favourite Polish food would be golonki but I roast them in the oven, gołąbki, rosół, pasztet z śliwką, pączki, never touch kiełbasa. My Polish husband loves Indian food, Chinese, traditional British Sunday roast and fish and chips. He tries to avoid all the wędliny because of the salt and generally eats chicken, beef and fish. Like all good Poles he loves anything pickled! Oh and soups, homemade of course. Luckily I enjoy cooking!

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

Yes, I know Poles love their spices. There was a funny incident not long after we arrived in Poland. It was a bitterly cold winter and an elderly neigbour of ours called round and gave us a little parcel of goodies including some packs of spices and a couple of bottles of piwo. I was cooking liver that day and for some reason I assumed I was supposed to sprinkle the spices on in the same way as you might with kotlety. I thought it was a bit odd but who knows the ways of Poles! So we sit down to dinner and husband asks 'do you mind me asking, what did you put in the liver?' The spices that Dziadek brought' 'Oh Boźe jedene' responds husband, 'the spices are for putting in our warm beer'.

Life / Foreigners in Poland: migrants, immigrants and expats [13]

The problem with words is that they have can have many perceived meanings, other than the literal. People interpret them differently. There's no doubt that some people are offended at being referred to as expat in a country where they have settled permanently. It implies to them that they are perceived as opportunists or usurpers, who don't really belong. In their own eyes, they now live in their adopted country and their adopted country is as dear to them as an adopted child would be. So some people are defintely hurt by being referred to as expats.

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

Dry aged beef is when the whole carcass is hung for three or four weeks without any covering over it, wet aged is vacuum packed.

Food / What is the typical expat diet while living in Poland? [42]

Harry is right. Polish cuisine itself is the combination of a number of influences. No man is an island and especially not when located in central Europe.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

I would like the moderators to explain why they are removing my posts. I answered a query put to me by Gosc123456 and both his query and my reply have been removed. Fifth time asking this. I would ask the moderators to exercise some basic manners and respond to the question. This is not the Soviet Union. Thank you.

Please look in the "random chat" before posting again.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

Harry, the simple truth is that like most things in life, the theory and the actual practise of Catholicism are two very different things. First of all the average Catholic knows nothing at all about Canon law or what the Vatican says and wouldn't be visiting the Vatican website to check on it either I can tell you! Going to mass on a Saturday evening instead of a Sunday has become common practice and no sensible person, even of limited mental capacity would consider themselves to be committing a sin of any kind in doing so. Most Catholics learn their religion in primary school and from whatever practices are observed in their own home during their childhood with such practises varying from family to family. And that relatively simple form of religion is the one they practise for the remainder of their lives.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

Harry, just to let you know I checked it out and apparently the Saturday evening mass is actually the Sunday mass. It's a bit loosely defined but it's generally agreed within the church that if mass takes place from 5pm onwards on Saturday evening, it is classified as Sunday mass. As Father Ted said 'that's the great thing about Catholicism, it's all so vague and nobody really knows what it's all about'.

Just to add, when you go to mass on a weekday it only takes about half an hour, but the Sunday mass takes around forty five mins because you get the sermon and a few little extras. So Sunday mass is a different more elaborate one than an ordinary one. So if you go on Saturday evening and get the sermon you're sorted.

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

Harry, have a look at this:

Question:

What does the Church say exactly about the Saturday evening Mass? - J.G., Arras, France

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

'The norms permitting the celebration of Sunday Mass on a Saturday evening are not overly detailed and thus different practices and notions have arisen around the world.

Even though this practice is relatively recent with respect to the Sunday Mass, the Church had long maintained the custom of beginning the celebration of important feasts the evening before, with first vespers. This was inspired by the concept of a day in the ancient world which divided our 24 hours into four nocturnal vigils and four daylight hours, the day commencing at first vigil.

The general law does not specify the precise time after which Sunday Mass is possible. However, 5 p.m. is the common rule in the Diocese of Rome and in many other places. Any time much earlier is hard to conceive as being Saturday evening in any meaningful sense of the term.'

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur242.htm

Life / Why are Polish so conservative and religious? [240]

The local priest certainly would be happy to see even a half full church on a Saturday evening, rather than an empty one on a Sunday, whatever Canon law says. And of course God doesn't care whether people go to church on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. It's the job of middle management ie the Vatican to worry about that.