UK, Ireland /
From Hertfordshire, UK to Śląskie, Poland - Are we crazy? [35]
Hi Mac, I'll call you that for short if you don't mind
Hi Atch, no i dont mind i've been called worse :-) thanks for such a considered response. much appreciated.
The slower pace of life is a dream for many but it's hard to achieve even in Poland.
You have a better view of it than me but i guess its all relative. From my perspective it has to be slower than the rat race of London. Perhaps Warsaw is just as any other city is. i'm not looking for city living and we would be moving to a much smaller town with access to a bigger city (Katowice).
As for better and safer environment for your children, in what way better and safer?
Good question. Being able to let your kids wander off a bit just as i did when i was a kid. I wasnt accompanied everywhere. Have a decent size plot of land to be able to mess around in/climb trees make a fort. Knowing your neighbours who will know our kids and look out for them, and report back when they see something !. Basically everything you would expect in a small town.
Also let's face it alot of Poland is more conservative than western Europe, at least the places i have been are. Some of those traditional values I admire and see value in now i have a family. It's more the sense of tradition and family rather than anything religious.
The education system in Poland is no great shakes........You have a border with Russia and Belarus
My wife raves about the education system in Poland. She says it's very good. Although this maybe as you say because of the changes POL have introduced. I've ofter heard about gymnasium and my wife thinks the Polish system is better than the UK?. At least that was her experience.
Im up to date on the border issues, i actually visited Michalowo in the Summer near Bialystok, close to where it's all kicking off. To be honest i dont see this as an issue. The UK has been having similar problems with illegal immigration across the english channell for years.
However, the education system from what I've seen of it is a bit chalk and talk.
Do you have kids or know of kids in the education system at the minute i'd be eager to hear anymore insight you have around the school system
Citizenship for you - why would you want it?? You're Irish, you're an EU citizen, you don't need it.
i'm not sure what the difference in rights an EU citizen has in Poland vs a Polish citizen. In the UK there are differences albeit minor. I just want the full rights as a citizen but if i get that with a EU passport and residence permit then great !?
Language - it's difficult.
Yes my eyes are open to this, but i have no doubt i can do it if i perserve. i've done some lessons over the years, formal classes, tutors, Rosetta Stone. My last trip to Poland i was starting to speak more and more everyday i was there. But it quickly fades when your'e back in the UK surrounded by English. I've been told by many natives that my accent is very good. I put this down to years and years and years of listenting to Polish conversation, radio and music.
Do you have any tips ?. You seem to have been successful which gives me hope !
The Irish have always been an outward looking people despite being an island nation.
I know what you mean but you also have a lot of insular people who would never leave their county let alone their country. My dad, god rest his soul, never left Ireland and he never had a holiday because he would never leave the farm !.
I find the conservatism in Poland is actually very similar to Ireland and that is one of the draws for me. But i do get the feeling that an outsider is always an outsider. Having said that, i feel it also a common thread with the Irish, at least where i'm from it is.
What area of business?
I'm a Commercial Director of an Engineering & construction business. I'm not so concerned with finding a job as there is work all around Europe and as i've said i'm willing to do the travelling thing. My concern is will i be stuck for life doing this. Have you or anyone you know given up a successful and well paying career to move to Poland and maybe work for a lot less with a lot less future opportunity ?. I hope that doesn't sound too derogative of the Polish job market, it's not meant to be.
My wife doesnt want to move to Ireland because......................................you guessed it the weather !. Seriously she has a big issue with it and i dont blame her. I think the real reason is that she wants to return home and ireland would not ever be that for her.
Thank you for the links to the articles. Very interesting. Regards to the driving i'm aware of situation and have driven up and down the country in big cities and on country roads. However i think i've been lucky generally. i get the feeling the more frequently you drive the more you increase the chance of one of these unpleasant altercations!.
THanks once again for the response. It's so nice that you've given up your time to help a stranger.
