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Posts by Richthecat  

Joined: 7 Jun 2017 / Male ♂
Last Post: 13 Jul 2023
Threads: 8
Posts: 69
From: Człuchów,
Speaks Polish?: y

Displayed posts: 77 / page 2 of 3
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Richthecat   
12 Nov 2018
Classifieds / English/Polish speaking Canadian looking for work as Electrician in Poland [26]

I don't speak German, I think it would be harder for me to find work in Germany if I can't even speak the language

In Germany with English, you will have more chance to get a Job as 90% speak almost perfect English

I don't want to be Mr negativity. I dreamt too about coming here with a handful of English Qualifications in my hand and starting in the same high position I had in England but quickly discovered that my best option was English teaching. Can I survive? Yes, but forget making money the only way I have a decent lifestyle is because my English money paid for a house without a mortgage. In Germany, I could have started where I left off but after calculating the costs of travel and renting a place in Berlin I choose the teaching.

I think step one is to find out are your qualifications transferrable, but forget doing it on the net like a normal country, I am willing to bet that it will involve lots of trips in person to various government offices with lots of people just shrugging their shoulders at you.

On the positive side, I love where I live and wouldn't go back to England, but that may change the next time I have to change my car or some other big expense because my English money is gone and my Polish salary just doesn't go that far.
Richthecat   
9 Nov 2018
Law / UK Citizen resident in Poland dying intestate - inherited debt issue [17]

Yonita16

Where do you live I used a Lawyer in London she was a Polish one and is now an English one I am not sure on her speciality but if you live anywhere near London I will try and get you a contact.

It may be worth an investigation into the size of the estate as houses here are not cheap and I am sure his half of the house would be worth more than 20k make sure the new wife is not trying to put one over on your daughters. Maybe she is not but signing a waiver would be the way she gets all the estate and also the taking the car out of Poland thing is rubbish they could potentially. Depends in whose name the car is in. There are plenty of English speaking lawyers here in Poland and they will be way cheaper than finding a Polish one in London.

Which city did he live in?
Richthecat   
8 Nov 2018
Classifieds / English/Polish speaking Canadian looking for work as Electrician in Poland [26]

I wish you the best of luck and hope your qualifications are transferrable. I would seriously doubt they are. I have many UK Qualifications both professional and personal and nothing so far is transferable.

After spending 7 years getting my Yacht Master certificate, I was told as I live in Poland, and am not visiting they are not valid. I had to attend a level 1 powerboat inshore powerboat course, which I failed, becuase the instructer felt that my Polish wasn't good enough. That is just one example of how if you piece of paper doesn't have a Polish stamp on its useless.

Again I hope yours is transferable but I would die of shock if it is.

Where does your wife live if its drivable to Germany that would be a way better option as it would be easier to transfer your quals over and you would earn 4 times as much.

Just an Idea
Richthecat   
5 Nov 2018
Classifieds / English/Polish speaking Canadian looking for work as Electrician in Poland [26]

Hey ,

Are you sure you want to do this??

Ok I am not an expert but this is how I see it

The pros are, good tradesman, are thin on the ground and there will definitely be a demand for your services. The Cons, however, are lots 1st I am pretty sure your Canadain qualifications will mean nothing here, and if you want to get any jobs more than just fixing a grandma's light switch you are going to need Polish Papers which means starting from the absolute beginning again.

The life in Poland is great in terms of if you can earn enough money but you will never be rich here trust me
Richthecat   
31 Oct 2018
Language / Learn individual words or sentences? Best approach? (Polish learners) [6]

Ok so,

I would not say that I am fluent but definitely can get by in polish and have a good detailed conversation so this is how I did it. It won't work for all but it may work for some.

The first trick is a mental thing when you hear stories that children learn a language 3 times faster than adults it is true but why? It is because as adults we make learning languages harder for ourselves because we add an extra step along the way. We hear a word, translate this word in our head. Then when we speak we know what we want to say in our own language, and then we translate it. Children don't if you tell them this is a chair, they don't think chair = krzesło they learn that a chair is what they see in their mind's eye as a chair, hence removing the translation step.

So how do you achieve this? You need to train your Brain to think in the language you want to learn. So when you are thinking of something try to form those thoughts in your desired language. Start off simple, with things like shopping lists and the like. When you are in the shop don't think I need bread milk cheese, think Potrzebuję chleba, mleka i sera do this 3 or 4 times a day and then start to make things more and more difficult. What you will find is when you come to speak your new language you will automatically form the words in your mind and not have to translate this will make it so much easier to have a conversation.

Next is simple Practice Practice Practice but actively practice because just listening to the radio won't work unless you really want to understand what's going on. You need to listen to something you really have an interest in, something that fascinates you in your desired language, as this will motivate you to actively listen and this will help you learn a lot quicker.

Next, the wonderful thing about living in Poland is that you have access to native speakers all the time and for free, so every time you have a chance to speak Polish do.

Every day there is an opportunity for a free lesson and I love this. Go to polish parties and don't just listen get involved with the conversation express your opinions and don't worry about making mistakes in my experience the Poles will just love that you are trying to speak their language.

So when you get to a point that you can hold a decent conversation with people you need to then start to ask them to correct you. In general, people are polite so they won't but if you ask in my experience people are more than willing to help you out.

I didn't bother with lessons or grammar and in my experience, this is the best way.

So that's my two pennies worth
Richthecat   
31 Oct 2018
Love / Polish girl confusing me [22]

Yeh So I kind of agree with the above,

I would check the going rate for a room in your location I bet it will be more than the half of the mortgage she is asking you to pay and if so you are actually getting a good deal. Of course, it feels like you are paying someone else's mortgage but that is what you would be doing if you rented and you don't get to have fun with your landlord :)

Totally fair in my opinion but if the credit is more than renting a room which I doubt maybe offer her the going rate for a room in your area.
Richthecat   
30 Oct 2018
Law / Can Zus be declared as a cost in Poland? [6]

Having Just registered a business, I am now looking at what provisions I need to make to pay my tax and I am confused by how the system works. Because my business is very small I have an income which is eaten up by the large zus payment I am having to make, but I am unsure if in the company accounts this can be declared as a cost or not. Common sense would suggest yes but from vast experience, I know common sense and the Polish tax system don't go hand in hand
Richthecat   
21 Oct 2018
Love / Recommendations for live wedding bands in different cities in Poland. [36]

Hey I got married in 2012 we used these guys

jurekband.pl

They are based in Gdansk so you wont have to spend loads on paying for them to get to you, They were great and learned the english song we wanted for our first dance.

Hope this helps
Richthecat   
9 Oct 2018
Law / Voting in Poland - Rights and Registration [11]

Merged:

Can a I vote in the local elections in Poland this month?



Hey,

Quick question here as my gmina seems to have no Idea.....

In the upcoming election will it be possible for me to vote if so what is the process of registration.

My situation I am a EU citizen with a Karta Residencia and I am Zameldowana at my home address (sorry about the bad Polish spelling not got to learning to write yet).

And I pay tax here in Poland

Does anyone know
Richthecat   
18 Jul 2018
Love / Polish Weddings the farce and how much money to give [22]

Ok so I have been to a number of Polish weddings and I have noticed a trend recently.

In my mind, a wedding should be about celebrating the love of a couple and helping them have a great day but I have noticed over the last couple of years that weddings have become an opportunity for the guests to show how rich they are and to show off their wealth to others in their families. Heres a few things I have noticed which seem absurd.

All arrive in very clean cars or cars they have borrowed from rich family members and insist on parking as close to the venue or church as possible for all to see. The girls seem not content with one dress 3 is now standard with changes throughout the evening again (ridiculous). Then comes the questioning of how much you put in the envelope some of the figures seem absurd. I work and earn Polish money so I know how hard it is to earn it here and we give 500 for non-close family members and more for direct line or close family. At the latest wedding, I went to I heard figures of 1000 or 2000 which I simply cannot believe as I know their professions and can therefore take a rough guess at income and these figures do not make sense.

Has anyone else experienced the same? Also, what is the truth please be honest what is a normal amount?

I don't want to be mean but also think that to invite a guest you should do so based on your desire to share your day not on their ability to put their hand in their pocket.

Discuss below

Many Thanks
Richthecat   
13 Jul 2018
UK, Ireland / Do British partners of Polish people in the UK speak their (Polish) language? [17]

To answer your question,

I think it's rare to find one that does but there certainly are some who do. Generally being a Brit with a Polish wife and speaking the language, I am yet to come across someone like me. I am sure there are thousands though. It is well worth learning a little Polish though as people will not expect it, and when you start to speak it they will be incredibly surprised and interested. Also, most will assume you speak no Polish whatsoever and I have often heard people talking about me at parties in Polish and nothing gives me more pleasure than to comment on what they just said about me in Polish.

HAve a go at learning it

Good Luck
Richthecat   
18 Jun 2018
Love / How do Polish girls like to be asked and what sort of first dates are preferred? [4]

Ok So......

I am going to generalize allot in this post, about Polish men and Women no offence is intended and for every generalization there will be thousands who do not fit that image.

So here we go, Most Polish men are very Macho and this can be attractive to allot of Polish women however this Machoness comes with downsides, namely lack of intelligence, sensitivity and creativity. So you need to present yourself as a guy with these qualities but without loosing your manliness. In general a Polish girl will expect the man to take the lead so it will be down to you to do the asking. Also they in general like to be swept of their feet so the first date has to be good and well thought out. Also she has moved from her country to the UK which means she is exciting and adventurous and willing to try new things which is good. So my advice for what it is worth is.

You need to do the asking and just invite her for an evening out without allot of details be clear it's a date so you don't get disappointed when she rocks up with a couple of mates in tow. Now time for some planning she is fairly new to the UK so you need to loo for something she won't have done something interesting like an activity e.g boating or pottery classes or cooking classes. I am sure you will be able to google stuff like that for your city. Make sure the first part of the date is with little or no alcohol so you can show her that you have a brain aand can make conversation be witty and charming play on the nice guy English thing but really be nice listen to her and take an interest. Ask lots of questions and actually listen to the answers. Then after the interesting thing time to start drinking and now step from the interesting English Friend xone into potential boyfriend material. Take her to an interesting or swanky bar I prefer interesting and then get her drinks and tell her in no uncertain terms what you want from her but do not expect her to put out on the first night most Polish girls will make you wait it might not seem like it but it will be worth it. Then after the bar to a club to show that you can have fun even if you can't dance try she will appreciate it but tell her you are not a good dancer so she doesn't think your and idiot. Finally walk her home go in if she invites you but this will not mean you are getting laid trust me I made this mistake, have a coffee be nice and then leave. Also you gonna need to pay for most if not all of the first date. If she buys a couple of drinks great but be ready for this not to happen. The 100 quid you spend will be well worth it when you have a stunning Polish girlfriend to show off to your mates.

So that's me done good luck fella and remember Intelligent, sensitive but without loosing your manliness.

good luck
Richthecat   
11 Jun 2018
Law / Registering Residence in Poland for a Polish Citizen [3]

To register you need to have proof of ownership or permission of the owner of the property. If its yours go to your urzad miasta with you act notrialna (spelling maybe wrong) This is the document you recieved upon purcasing the property. If it is not yours it can be more complicated you have to get the owner of the property to give you permission to register there. This can be easy i.e a letter but some urzad's will expect the owner to turn up with you with their documentation. Give me more details about your situation and I will see if I can offer more advice.
Richthecat   
10 Jun 2018
Real Estate / How much would it cost to build a house in Poland? [23]

The land was cheap because of no water or drains but we had to invest in our own well and septic tank. Once you have invested I think you are better off because then your water needs are almost free other than the electric to pump the water up and the 4 times a year pump out of your tank.

We do live in a village well sort of next to a forest but technically in a village. Also the price was cheap as we built a wooden house all the Pole think we are crazy and that we would freeze to death in the Winter but it is very warm and totally comfortable.

Wooden houses are cheap here because wood is plentifull
Richthecat   
8 Jun 2018
Real Estate / How much would it cost to build a house in Poland? [23]

Houses cost can vary allot but If you are talking in feet i/e around 150 square metres I built mine including the price of the Land for around 70k english it was cheap in my opinion but there is allot more involved than just a rough guess. I would say have a look at a site that sells plans for houses as they normally have an estimate of how much the cost will be. There will be two prices look at the bigger one as one will be just the elevation and the other will be a rough cost of a finished home but I think that you should come and check and ask as the land price etc will have an impact. I could write a book about all the pitfalls but not on this site for the regulars to pick it apart and tell me I don't know what I am talking about.

If you need any specific advice message me and I will be happy to help.
Richthecat   
28 May 2018
Work / Native English speaker looking to teach English in the Opole area of Poland. [29]

Ok so I am not in your locality but I went through a similar thing, as you and I will just offer advice hopefully more positive than the ladies and gents above.

Ok qualification I got one but you don't need it but some basic understanding of tenses and structure helps.

Teaching in a school is fairly rubbish money but depends on what you need to live people on here think that you will struggle on anything less than 5k pln in hand but I can tell you that's rubbish with low rent or no rent 3k is enough and this is about what you will earn in a school for around 25 hours per week going rate for a native seems to be anywhere from 35 pln per hour to 100 pln per hour depending on area etc. etc.

So what about opening your own company this can be tough as you straight away get hit with ZUS i.e. national insurance which starts at around 400 pln per month then double and then goes up again and you have to pay it even if you make 0 so until you can guarantee an income close to 5k pln per month it is totally not worth it.

My advice is start in a school but give a **** and try really hard and go above and beyond for your students then you will start to make a name for yourself once you have a name then you want to go to local big businesses and offer courses to their employees in my experience that's where the money is at but make sure you do 2 things learn from my mistakes

1st sign a contract and in that contract ensure you get paid by hour not by student then the students cancellation policy if they cancel they still have to pay or you will sit in a company for hours for free.

The most important thing is to be professional and look the part and prepare and deliver your lessons with passion

I did this and make a decent income

O and one more thing save money in the winter cause in the summer you will earn nothing, as all students will want a break

Hope this helps any more info please pm me
Richthecat   
18 May 2018
Real Estate / Tenants Rights in Poland - who should cover additional equipment costs of the apartment? [3]

Unfortunately the landlord only has to maintain the aprtment to the same state as it was rented to you allowing for fair wear and tear. The price of the improvements which are your responsibility. The only line of attack you have hear is to claim that the heat from the windows is making the apartment uninhabitable as it is too hot. If you do not have a way of cooling it eg ac and it gets above 30C then you have a case for him to have to pay for the blinds however he or she will not have to put in the blinds of your choice he will probably do it in as cost efficient way as possible so you are stuck. My advice being a Landlord is to come to an aggreement any blinds you place you are entitled to take with you when you leave but they will be worthless as you will have to find windows that fit them but you could ask your landlord to cover a percentage of the cost on the basis that they will be left when you leave. i have had a smilar situation with a fitted wardrobe and me and my tennants split the cost 50 50 on the basis they would leave the wardrobe as this was not a requirement.

The leak is his problem and make sure you take photos and inform him of the damage as he or she could claim you are liable for this.

It also depends on where you live as in most cities now rentals are in short supply and generally if a landlord looses a tennant he/she can replace them very quickly which makes them less inclined to look after their tennants. I however believe in if you are good to them they will be good to you and look after your property so I try to work with my tennants to find a mutally aggreeable solution to each problem.

Good luck

Not sure I have been of much help but ....

PS I think that price is very high for blinds I did my whole house for 2500 and have 4 big windows
Richthecat   
24 Apr 2018
Love / Cards for occasions - Polish custom for couples? [4]

Hi there

I noticed this to upun moving here that finding a birthday card is near on impossible. Once before my Polish was passable I found in tescos some cards and picking one which had a pretty picture of a bird on it and what I thought was Happy Birthday I was happy that I could give this to my wife. Upon reciept however she explained that the card was lovely but the text read "get well soon" ooops one of the many challenges of living here with very little language.

The only market which is strong for cards seems to be cards for christenings communions and weddings as far as I can see

Hope this helps
Richthecat   
12 Apr 2018
Love / "I wait for you" - American Guy With Polish Girl Question [9]

I would imagine the translation would be czekam na Ciebie my polish is not excellent but my wife often says it to me which my interprtation is that she is waiting with anticipation of our next meeting. There are many with much better Polish on here than me but I would say that its an overtly positive statement.
Richthecat   
11 Apr 2018
Real Estate / Warsaw buyer or sellers market? Houses around the Milanówek area [20]

Good luck I hope it turns out well for you. I can see on some other threds you are looking for lawyers I would say you are wasting your money here. I would proceed without one they will charge you a bunch and you still won't get any certainty.

Honestly I think you will waste your money

I know it feels wired compared to the Uk but having gone through it a couple of times i am sure it will be fine
Richthecat   
9 Apr 2018
Real Estate / Starting an English building company in Warsaw. [24]

Hi

Good luck with your venture, I am now going to give my opinion which will be predominantly negative, please take this as just my observations and I could be completely wrong and it is not a personal attack on your idea but......

So the positives first.

There is definitely a lack of good tradesmen in Poland due to the good ones for the most part being poached abroad.

English is desirable as there are many Foreign Businesses looking to invest here in Poland I would say this would be your market rather than individuals.

Now Negatives.

The major issue will be getting a workforce the Poles Struggle to get good workers and you will need one with some kind of English understanding our you will have to speak Polish to him. With a complete lack of a decent workforce, many companies are employing the bottom of the barrel employees alcoholics dragged from the street and then turn a blind eye to them sipping vodka at 7 am. These people will ruin the reputable image you are trying to build. Also because you are a Brit, unfortunately, they will demand more wages from you than they would a Pole so you will get the worst workers for the highest price.

Without contacts, you will find you will be paying retail prices for materials as most of your cost will sit there you will struggle to quote competitively, Of course, you will build these contacts up over time but the initial period will be difficult and again you nationality and language will be a barrier here.

In Poland, if you want to take a **** you need a piece of paper with a stamp on it from the town hall LOL a small joke but in the building trade, you will need so many pieces of paper it will be a nightmare. I am sure your wife can help you navigate the Town Hall, Good Luck, but you will need to find the people with the right stamp that you need for each project again without contacts expensive.

Also, you will have the joy that all new business owners have here in Poland ZUS basically you will need to pay 800 pln per month whether you make money or not doesn't sound much but adds up quick when you can get work for the first couple of months.

In summary, I think its gonna be tuff and unfortunately if you are a decent builder which I am sure you are you will conclude like the Poles disappearing for a couple of months to Germany or England to earn a year's money is worth it.
Richthecat   
7 Apr 2018
Real Estate / Warsaw buyer or sellers market? Houses around the Milanówek area [20]

Hey I find that a lawyer is no use. Do you know the house buying process here it is completely different from that in the UK. Generally, you make an offer it's accepted and you go to a notary who completes the paperwork and that's it. No 3 months checking this and that like in the UK, therefore, there is very little to get a lawyer to check.

You are right that land does normally hold more of a value than a house as many simply knock the house down and start again sometimes this is cheaper. I have bought a couple of times and never had any issues but its very nerve racking that its so quick and you feel like you could be getting conned but generally it turns out ok. I would say I have been lucky for the most part but if I would offer any advice it would forget the house look at the sellers be sure you trust them and the sale makes sense. On the whole, most poles are honest trustworthy people but like in any country, there will be some who want to have you over.

I would if you speak Polish just not admit that you lived in England or abroad for so long.

You said that you never lived in Poland but do you have a PESEL if not you will need one before buying ...
Richthecat   
6 Apr 2018
Real Estate / Warsaw buyer or sellers market? Houses around the Milanówek area [20]

Hey I do invest in property but not in the warsaw area due to it already being a mature market with fairly high prices. My experience will differ from the warsaw market but I will share it with you just incase it is of help.

In Poland there are some differences interms of pricing and the desirability of property. I found that the interior standard will really move the pricing of a property much more than in other european markets. Also the commuter culture is still in its infancy here so there are oppertunites to buy into what us western europeans would consider commuter towns as the relation of the petrol prices to salaries currently make commuting not as viable as an option. Also all sales are much riskier as surveys are rare and the sale completes very quickly and there is very little comback so be sure the property is structually sound.

Poland in general and especailly Warsaw is seeeing dramatic wage increases and therefore high standard properties are becoming more and more sort after. The likelyhood of getting a deal however I have found very much depends on the sellers personal situation Pole will advertise properties for high prices howwever these can be very negotiable if the seller needs quick money especailly if you are a cash buyer with no need to arrange a mortgage. Try to find out the sellers situation why are they selling does it look like they need a quick sale. If you are a cash buyer you can complete in about 1-3 weeks so you really hold all the cards. They unfortunately will presume as a foriegner you will have deep pockets and will probably push you hard for every penny possible. I would not be afraid to offer low and if you offend them you can blame it on your ignorance sometimes pretending to be dumb works it does for me anyway.

Also if buying off plan or from a developer the situation is very different what kind of property are you thinking of buying ????

Hope this helps
Richthecat   
5 Apr 2018
UK, Ireland / Buying a car in Poland from UK [16]

If it is the Jag which is the only one that makes sense buying so I presume it is, The guy selling it seems on the level he runs a business selling rocks and sand which has been trading for 11 years. The location corresponds to where the car is advertised and the business seems to be in good standing. The car is still on Uk plates and I would imagine he has never registered it here otherwise it would have Polish plates so you should get a jolly old V5 which will make it easier to check. The car is not MOt'd and the last one was in 2009. There was a failed one in 2007 for rust which would be my major worry with this car looking at the photos but the fact that it passed in 2009 means this has been seen to but to what extent would be the question. Also, it is untaxed and not SORN so you would need to see if you would be liable for the back Taxes and stuff. These cars range in these UK from 6K to 30K so at just over 6k it could be a good deal but you have to factor about 1700 pounds to ship it to the UK. The condition here is key as this will determine its ultimate value so as I said before a flight and an inspection is a must as it could be a great car or a money pit dependant on the extent of the rust and the condition of the body.

Don't know if this helps could be a completely different car but ht me up if you need more info