I am Bulgarian, and yet even in Sofia I haven't met so many cold or even rude people than in Bratislava Slovakia. It's like I am surrounded by autistic people all around. I have a business opportunity in Warsawa but I am afraid people there will be the same - rather cold and unwelcoming. In Bratislava lots of the locals treat others in a passive aggressive hostile manner. Well at least on Google Street View Warsawa seems more beautiful than Bratislava and the Polish girls I've met are more charming than Slovak ones IMO. But is it worth it or maybe I should opt for Germany or the UK? Or maybe Poland being a bigger country there is a difference (I've found people from smallish countries tend to be more closed, more redneck-like)? The Poles at work here in Bratislava act better than the Slovaks to me but you never know, some people act different when abroad than when in their own country.
Real Poles (and real working class English people) certainly don't welcome pompous attitudes like yours, especially if you have such remarks on autistic people like myself. .... talk about bigotry, sheesh!
I suggest you go to Germany or London ...you'll fit in better there I would think. Good luck!
Slovaks I have met were ok. It's hard to say what you expect but Poles also may seem a bit reserved when approached by a stranger. There are exceptions, of course. Just because someone doesn't grin all over just because they see you doesn't mean they're unfriendly.
I have only met one or two Slovaks and they seemed nice enough. Obviously it is difficult to formulate an opinion on a nation off one or two experiences, but I have always heard that it is Czech people who are much colder and less friendly than Slovaks.
It doesn't matter, just the fact that his video clips used to be shown on a public television during the day when kids could see it too makes your country sick.
Although I can't personally speak for Slovaks, as I don't know any, at least not intimately, Polish hospitality is proverbial: "Gosc w domu, Pan Bog w domu!"
Unfortunately, I think that answers your questions. I found this board about a yr ago and the one thing I realized and mentioned to my dad when I told him about it was that the people generally all seemed very rude and blunt.
Brits can be blunt, this is true. The old American adage, "If you've nothing pleasant to say, say nothing!" appears not to resonate abroad for the most part:-)
Almost every forum to which I belong has more than its share of rude people! One simply has to deal with such as very best one can, spit out the bile and ROCK ON!!
Slovaks aren`t unfriendly. They are decent Slavs. Spot how their officials talk to Serbians >
"If someone should join EU soon, it's you, Serb brothers" b92/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2018&mm=06&dd=07&nav_id=104346
"If somebody should become a member of the EU soon, it is you, Serb brothers," Speaker of Slovakia's National Council Andrej Danko said in Belgrade on Thursday.
Slowaks are VERY similar to Poles in so many ways. History,culture,cuisine,character and language Most Slowaks understand spoken Polish. The reverse is not true. I put that down to Slowaks having a broader ear for different accents than Poles. As for work ethic......as a UK born man of 100% Polish blood it shames me to say that Slowaks win hands down..... I have never employed a lazy Slowak. Many Poles are as hard working as The Slowaks,but I have had a few lazy ones.....
Idk know but the Polish I've met at work have always been nicer to me than Czechs and Slovaks. Slovaks are more open than Czechs but still kinda too reserved/aloof. The Polish, at least abroad seem more open to foreigners, it's no wonder they fit in abroad better than Czechs, Slovaks and Russians. They are far more adaptable somehow. In the US and UK they become better integrated while still keeping many Polish customs. Not so with Czechs and Slovaks that interract less with the locals.
Sure, the Polish I've met have been well-travelled but that applies to my Czech and Slovak collegues as well. The Poles are more like the Scots or even Irish, they can engage you more, Czechs and Slovaks are like Londoners haha. Russians act smug and like they own the place, while Czechs are standoffish. Slovaks can be open but most often are not while most Poles have this nice, down to earth vibe without being all extroverted like Americans and Latin people. In fact I find most Italians much ruder than Poles. Polish people can be proud and patriotic without necessarily being xenophobic. Sorry but most Russians, Czechs and to a certain extent Slovaks are more xenophobic than most Poles!
Yes CZ/SKs are more workacholics but they also are more miserable. Poles also complain but they also have fun more. Poles seem more fun. I don't know, if I had to chose a nation to be left with on a remote island, I'd chose either Poles or even Ukrainians over their Cz/Sk/Blr/Ru brethren. As a Southern Slav, I find them better to be around with and I think maybe Poles thrmselves overestimate their cultural closeness to Czechs and Slovaks. I agree though that Slovaks are closer to Poles than the Czech. As an outsider for me it's much easier to see how you differ to Czecs and Slovaks. :)
I think the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth just made you less phobic of otherness. Sure, you don't want any dangerous reffugees and are conservative like all of us Slavic speakers but I see Polish people are glad when I show interest in their culture. Even a guy at work we are competitive with had his eyes light up when I told him I'd like to visit Warsaw. He even sent me an email with recommendations what to see. I've never met a Russian or a Czech (or a Western European/Scandinavian) who would do that! Americans and the Portuguese would as well.
The Czechs and Russians couldn't care less if you like their culture or consider visiting. Let's say I still like some Russian and Czech foods, producs and movies but I've been disappointed by their people. It's OK to be introverted and reserved but always avoiding eye contact, throwing a customer's change on the floor, bumping and skipping in queues, that's not OK.
I know my fandom might come off as too intense but it is completely true and sincere. It's much more popular to be a russophile in my country, as they "saved us from the Turks", it's not like there are any benefits for liking Polish culture there. Poland is not a popular destination like Western cultures. We no longer see any Polish series or movies. It's (unfortunately) not exporting as much culture abroad as the UK, USA or even Russia, Turkey and Italy/France etc. We get mostly potatoes from Polska lol. And yet I just like it. I guess one can't explain why some cultures and places make them feel warmth and resonnate with them while others, even related ones leave them cold. Apart from my compatriots and the oh so similar fellow Southern Slavs, I find Poles and Ukrainians the most friendly and relateable. I am glad so far most Poles I've met have been nice as getting let down is bad.
