Proper dose of life in Poland... the harsh realities.

Just back from a four day stint in Kielce and a real and proper dose of life Poland.

Where do i begin:

BAD-
The rude guy in the restaurant?
The terrible Hotel room?
The dog shite everywhere?
the crazy ass drivers?
Doctors taking cash bribes?
100's cuing for cancer treatment all carrying boxes of chocolate and bottles of Vodka to bribe NFZ workers in the vain hope of quicker chemotherapy?

The lady that loved England and blamed Poland's poverty on Russia and Germany?
Rude cleaning ladies in the hospital?
Growling large dogs in the street just on the loose?
An overflowing car park with a 1970's delapetated merc which has been there for over six months?

GOOD-
Many Poles talking English to me
The united front for the rude guy in the restaurant
Great Hotel staff
Food
The visit to Jasna Gora - Czestochowa on the way back truly awe inspring

If i didnt live in a Palace with the ability to shut them out i would have headed home long ago.

Theres so many things wrong with this country.

Define the real Poland, WB? In Japan, Izumo was the real Japan without foreign meddling.

Do you mean that the most devout Catholics are in the countryside representing the real Poland? I don't get your drift!

Understood and altered the thread title was not fare for all.

I'm feeling a tad down trodden at the moment, i witnessed some harsh realities here thats all.

Okay lets put things in perspective.

You can get terrible hotel rooms in the UK, I had one guy at work complaining his last hotel room (it was in Solihull though) smelt of old mans pants :D (yeah it gave me a laugh)

Doggi doo - well, I was rather peeved when I walked it in (not once but twice, I came in and then went out to put some rubbish out..talk about adding insult to injury!) on to my lovely light coloured berber carpet (mines 100% wool)...not a pleasant experience cleaning it off!

The whole hospital thing, had not heard about it first hand (not in Poland but in Hungary) I would not have believed it, but I will say this, Im still quite good friends with one of our secondees (he's back in Poland now) and his dad is having chemo in Warsaw and I asked him about bribes and he said nothing like this goes on in the hospital where his dad is treated, but knowing him, I dont think he'd stand for it..

As to the rude cleaning staff in hospitals, I dont think they get paid enough to be polite and how would you feel after a day of cleaning in such an environment...Its not an excuse, but put yourself in their shoes...

Hope who ever was being treated will recover in time x

Yeah, I've heard that Kielce has a special vibe about it. Did you encounter any flick-knives? They are renowned for their 'syzorki'.

You are quite an enigmatic guy, WB, it'd be a pleasure to meet you. I was thinking of asking SeanBM about meeting him in Kraków but I'd like to meet you up in Wrocław.

Did you notice any difference between Wrocław and Kielce? I felt that Wrocław folk were happier with their lot than here (but still Poles ;) ;)).

It really beats me how some Poles can hold it all together. You, being a rich guy, must see it more acutely than most.

Amathyst, no offence but he's talking about Poland. GB has many substandard sh*tholes too as we know being British ourselves.

ShellyS you really have no idea at all, you choose to forget that im British and have lived there most of my life. The only thing i have to say to you is, come and live in Poland for a few years and why have millions feld? I thinks that pretty much sums it up.

Would be most ammusing witnessing the behaviour of someone with your temper and mannerisms being faced with the everyday trials and tribulations of the average Pole. Perhaps that could all be undercut by your urge to live in a predominantly white society but i highly doubt it. What im basically saying is STFU biatch unless you know better.


It's highly unlikely she'll recover even with the bribes. Her life is in the hands of greater powers.


I'll try and make it dude, its tough with a little one.


Ohh please, renovating a palace is a tough and cash consuming business.

Charming!

Read my post properly you prick!

Yeah but you are a self-confessed "money-making machine". It shouldn't put you out too much.

Addressing the thread, we are all aware of the emerging nouveau-riche in Poland but still the majority trundle on in relative poverty. I don't know how it is in England but I imagine it to be broadly comparable to Scotland in terms of farmers. They are rich buggers in Scotland but not so here.

Shelley, he has a point. You really need to experience Poland otherwise you only have preconceptions and half-truths to guide you. Defo not enough.

I did, it doesnt change my opinion i could argue point by point but then some other unrealistic person would pipe up with the same argument, plus i dont like you.

I think reality can be harsh when you pursue nuclear family options, i.e 2 kids. You live in fear that you won't be able to sustain your lifestyle. Some in the farming community are happy to accept small change for their produce whilst some more competitive firms can ask for exorbitant amounts. Poland lacks an old boys network like Scotland has. That was one plus of communism, full employment. It's more dog-eat-dog now and that brings out some nasty instincts.

Wrocław Boy, life in Poland isn't a puff with custard, granted, but wouldn't it be better for you to focus more on the good than on the bad and ugly? You said it yourself that you will be out of here in few years... Why would you want to lose those years being negative about everything? I mean, we will never be again as young as we are right now. Make the best of what you have and in few years time you will be laughing about it in Ottawa or somewhearez....

I had first hand experience with the main cancer hospital in Warsaw and it was exceptional. It is an older building that does give an air of old communist times but the doctors and nurses were superb. They do a lot with a little. I am sure the bribes go on but I will go so far as to say I know of people there getting free or reduced cost care because the doctors were looking out for them and not writing things down to be billed.

It is better to see the glass as half full rather than half empty but WB is just pointing out some areas that need work. To sweep problems under the carpet is to do what China does. WB has commented on the plusses of Poland and he has made us aware of them before.

Get a blog.

No you dont, but I was the only one to see though your post and wish your relative a sincer recovery...However that may seem remote at the moment...


They have to travel quite a distance (his parents), but he (my friend) lives in Warsaw and has for some time...his father has had some problems, but on the whole he is getting his chemo and things seem to be getting better in his health...thats all that matters..The NHS isnt perfect...take for instand the post code lottery! Ask Brit members about that!

I have always found this a stupid argument. It all depends on the initial condition of the glass. If it was empty and you filled it up half way it is half full. If it was full and you poured half of it out it is half empty. Simple. People are weird with their sayings.

Some don't look at it too deeply and understand the sense of expressions ;) ;) I've been picking up many discounted goods in Poland and that's a positive reality :)

No, its about "outlook" and you have to agree, on a bad day the glass is half empty on a good day, its half full..I like this saying...

A harsh reality is having to pay over 2000PLN a month in expenses (no shopping) in a region which doesn't pay that well.

Get a brain tumor...lose a leg or arm...have your whole family killed in a car wreck. THOSE are harsh realities not choosing to live in Poland working a low paying job...that is a choice.

They are realities in any country, B. Who said my salary was low? It's not but expenses are still high.

No there are realities...and there are things people whine about that are self imposed.

Eh, no. Having to pay ZUS at 840PLN a month is just the way it is. No whining, just reality.

You don't have to pay it. Only if you want to be covered in the national health system. If you never go to the doctor just pay cash when you go. It costs 100-150 for a typical office visit.

At 800+ a month you are paying 10,000 or more a year. Even one surgery wouldn't cost that much.

You do if you wish to have your own business.

It's a mystery to me as to how small businesses work in Poland.

There are tons of things that need a serious work here, no doubt about that. After all, Poland is in a state of a transition... but WB is not just pointing them out. He sounds like a man on a verge of a mental breakdown. This place wears him down to much. But if he is destined to stay here at least for more several years he might as well focus more on the good things and ignore some of the petty things like dog **** or delapetated mercs on overflowed car parks. It will only serve him good and make the time spent here pass faster. Constantly repeating "I hate it here, I hate it here, I hate it here" will make this experiance a long and painful nightmare and a waste of his youth.

I agree. Dilapidated Mercs are MUCH more an issue of Albania. Go to Tirana and prepared to be shocked. Doggy doo is everywhere.

As long as WB has outlets, he will be ok. Some Brits actually revel in it. They like a good gripe and Poland gives them that option.

... you haven't been to other ex-comm countries, have you??

Bingo! I was just waiting for that!! What do other ex-commie countries have to do with it? He lives in Poland and is commenting on Polish issues because this is a Polish forum. Kindly clear out with your deflection tactics and start staying on track, ok?

Read the thread, bucko!

This time you're the bucko - all I am saying is that this is the reality of other ex-comm countries - it doesn't impress me much, hope it will change one day ... and I still will be alive.

Use your strengths somwhere else!